An alien fleet stands poised to invade Federation space. The only vessel available to hold it back is the Liberator, commanded by Roj Blake and his crew.
An attack by Travis and a squad of Federation pursuit ships leaves the Liberator damaged, its engines in desperate need of repair. Blake is forced to take his ship into The Derelict Zone.
The assistance of the Liberator crew is urgently needed on Straxis - but Roj Blake has acute problems of his own - After taking drastic emergency measures, Blake, Vila and Cally teleport back into a war zone in a bid to make new allies.
Orac has tracked Space Major Kade to the planet Vere. Jenna wants her revenge. Blake needs her to pilot the Liberator to Stellidar Four, where he has a small window of opportunity to solve the mystery of a new Federation device.
Roj Blake and the President of the Terran Federation stand face to face. Two men with polar opposite political views, meeting for the first and last time.
