In the 23rd century, genetic manipulation has replaced evolution and created a stable, non-warring, totalitarian society where women outnumber men by a ratio of nine to one, and genetic provenance is paramount. Five years ago a mysterious giant golden Ring, 500 kilometres in diameter, appeared in Earth's orbit. Now IESA command sends a small reconnaissance mission, headed by Mir Lotus, to the Ring. The mission is infiltrated by terrorists, causing an explosion on the Ring's surface, almost killing Mir. As reaction the Ring fires a concentrated energy beam at the Earth, taking out the IESA command centre in California, destroying everything in a 250 km radius, and badly damaging the space station Maracanan. An elite group consisting of Mika Seido, Sofia Galgalim, Tiki Musicanova, and Mario Musicanova barely escape the space station to board a newly constructed warship, the I.E.O. Bilkis, fitted with the prototype weapon known as, The Shaft. Only these four and Mir are qualified Driver candidates for Shaft. Under the command of Captain Hiroto Amagiwa, their mission is to investigate the origins of the Ring further and contain any threat to mankind. — written by foo2