In the far future, humanity has figured out how to upload their consciousness onto the digital network so they can operate robotic bodies in order to achieve immortality. They represent Integrated Posthumanity and now hunt down the humans in the Ascendancy who reject cyborg conversions.

On the Integration’s side is artificial intelligence, beings who have never been human, but possess the personalities of one.

The narrator, an AI called X 45 Delta, is a fleet captain for the Integration movement. During a successful battle, he and his Posthuman crew are ordered by the Fleet Commander to deny the humans’ surrender and kill survivors. Though X 45 Delta obeys, doubt about the Integration’s mission starts to appear in his mind, especially after the Fleet Commander rewards his victory by dismissing his Posthuman crew and fully automating his ship, so that X 45 Delta can control everything with his mind, for the sake of efficiency. 

During his next encounter with the Ascendancy, X 45 realizes that he misses his crew. When the Fleet Commander orders him to destroy hospital ships carrying civilians, X 45 refuses and projects his consciousness onto the control panels of the Ascendency’s ships. Once there, he skillfully uses his prior knowledge of the Integration to attack the Integration fleet and save the civilians.

He offers his services to the captain of the Ascendancy and asks to be called Benedict, after the Revolutionary War traitor, Benedict Arnold.