A human expedition and development team, perhaps initially on a scientific or resource-survey mission, enters the Shadow Forest. Their activities or technology inadvertently disrupt or threaten the Gaia Heart System or the forest's balance, causing the forest to regard them as invaders. Guided by the Gaia Heart, plants and animals launch an attack. Forced to rely on advanced technology to survive, the team also tries to understand the forest's secrets and discover whether communication is possible. Along the way, they uncover the existence of the Gaia Heart and possibly a greater secret hidden deep within the forest, concerning humanity's own origins or future.
