The zeppelin Harvest, a Caravel-class cargo hauler in the service of the People's Collective, disappeared shortly after crossing the border from the I.S.A. en route to Omaha. The Harvest had 39 crew and 20 passengers aboard, but had discharged its cargo of grain in the I.S.A. and had no cargo of great value for the return voyage. Also aboard the ship was Air Action Weekly Editor in Chief Nero MacLeon. MacLeon was traveling to Omaha to discuss the construction of a new printing plant in the People's Collective—and to smooth over some ruffled feathers in the wake of the Collective government's decision to ban AAW sister publication, Spicy Air Tales. Publication of the syndicated magazine was delayed this week due to the editor's disappearance.

"We are searching the entire area thoroughly," said Comrade Captain Aaron "Easter" Whittaker, leader of the Collective's premiere 14th squadron, The Avatars. "So far there's nothing to say what happened to the Harvest." When asked specifically about the whereabouts of Nero MacLeon, Whittaker elaborated: "I have met Mr. MacLeon before, and he's a good man, but let me say clearly that we are trying hard to find all of those passengers; not just the famous ones."

No wreckage from the zeppelin has been reported, but rumors have surfaced that say the remains of several Marquette PR-1 Defenders were recovered from the countryside near where the Harvest vanished. The Collective has not confirmed these reports. The vessel was not considered a likely target of piracy, and probably did not have a sizeable escort. If pirates were responsible, none has yet come forward to demand a ransom. Air Action Weekly has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Nero MacLeon.