In Val Verde, South America a woman with a lethal "hellsgate virus" takes refuge on the Vast Explorer and the local government seals the ship, cutting it off from the outside world. The local government plans to use the crew to generate vaccine with no concern for the team's lives. Worse, the local colonel plans to use the plague as a biological weapon. Even the American consul is a fake sent in by the colonel but Gabriel sees through the deception. Complicating matters – some of the local soldiers are trying to kill them and destroy the ship rather than risk contamination. The doctor reveals all and finds a cure, then the team takes the fake consul's car and take out the colonel.