A blind seer sees an image in a young girl's future: a black angry cloud, full of red vengeance. While Celiste grows, she absorbs the Aryan distrust of her neighbors, the Beag, who are the children of former slaves. The atmosphere on Mars is failing; her people know they must return to Earth, if Lord Enlil will grant them permission.
After a two month wait, the shuttle pilot Deem brings Enlil's permission: all the returning Aryas and Beag must serve in the mines, the fields, or the Army of Enlil. Celiste chooses Deem as a mate but wonders if the handsome pilot will someday admit he loves her.
War is imminent. Celiste is warned and takes her village to a mountain cave. She sees the black angry cloud bloom above Sodom. Deem, however, is absent for three months; his shuttle lifts the Anunnaki and their children out of harm's way.
The Beag women survive and rebuild their village. The women see sadness in Celiste, and they know Deem is the cause. Celiste is with child. Through their trials, Celiste comes to trust her women, decides to rebuild Arad, and waits for Deem's return.
The Pilot's Mate sketches the Anunnaki history that includes an annotated bibliography and end notes.