Thanagar is divided into two worlds. In the skies, the decadent aristocracy enjoy their lofty perches which were built on by the oppression of the underclass and cast-outs who live in the slums of Downside. A squadron of wingmen led by Commander Byth Rok head to a flash zone which is basically a sector under crisis or as they call it jamming. Ensign Katar Hol observes the squalor in the slums but notices a statue of Kalmoran, the hero who defeated the legions of Polara and became the first High Mor of Thanagar during the Empirium Era. Captain Kragger offers Katar an experimental opiate from Illoral to relax his nerves before descending into the flash zone but Katar refuses. Katar spots a wingless hostile named Shindat Crespa holding a squeaker at gunpoint in a nearby building. Side note: Squeakers are Thanagarian juveniles who haven't fully matured. Wingless are Thanagarians who are fully matured but never sprouted any wings and are cast out into the slums of Thanagar. Captain Kragger and Ensign Katar find another entry point into the building in order to flank Shindat from behind. Before flanking the Shindat, Kragger inquires why Katar, the son of the esteemed Dr. Paran Hol from the High Towers, is getting his hands dirty with the Wingmen. Katar ignores the question and busts in. Shindat says he won't hurt the squeakers as long as he talks to Commander Byth. Katar lowers his weapon in order to negotiate but Kragger comes in from behind and shoots Shindat. Kragger notices Katar's unnerved reluctance to what just happened and offers the ensign the opiate one last time. Katar brushes it off and starts escorting the squeakers to the pick up rendezvous.

Afterwards, Katar does a sweep of the room where Shindat was and notices a peculiar wall with Velmar padding. Katar tears its down and discovers an arms cache. Commander Byth comes in from behind and congratulates Katar on his admirable performance with the squeakers as well as the discovery of the arms cache. Katar suspects Byth had a hand in arming Shindat. Byth brushes off Katar's suspicions by stating his reputation in the slums of Thanagar is infamous and any low life will try to discredit the honor of a wngman. On the way back to the High Towers, Kragger makes one last attempt to offer the opiate to Katar and Katar finally accepts. Later that night, Katar attends a party with his father who wants to introduce him to Commissioner Andar Pul. During the introductions, Katar also meets Administrator Porvis Thal and his ravishing daughter Shayera. Paran rambles on about Katar's academic obsession with Thanagar's history and his collection of artifacts. Shayera is intrigued by Katar's fascinations and asks him to escort her to the dance floor while her father gets drunk on Polaran wine. Shayera notices Katar's disappointment in Thanagar because the planet no longer crafts, composes or produces anything. Thanagarians simply live off of off-world goods and labor. Katar considers his father as Thanagar's last artisan who invents new ways to better those who live in the skies. All of a sudden, an alien waiter trips and spills wine over Shayera's dress. The aristocrat part of Shayera showed such anger and contempt for the alien's clumsiness. The host of the party informs Shayera that he will have the waiter expelled from the High Towers and into the Downside for this offense. Both Katar and Paran defend the waiter stating the socio-economic turmoil in the Downside will soon reach a breaking point if things continue to run they are now. Both the commissioner and administrator tell the Hols to keep their righteous notions to themselves less they attract opposition that could damage their reputations.

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