It is two years after Sogan’s meeting with Connor on Vishnu and starts out on the day of their second wedding anniversary. Sogan meets Gray Jack Dundee, Chief Admiral of the Federation Navy, while running errands in the spaceport. He also encounters Zubin of Malki, an old friend he had met on Tambora. Dundee is on-world for two purposes. First, he is dealing with a secret Arcturian diplomatic party seeking permission to enter Federation space to attack a Pirate Star ship and base that has been ravaging their ultrasystem. Second, he wants to borrow the Commando unit to knock out that same ship and base. The Commandos are to destroy the base. Sogan is also to assume temporary command of Dundee’s battleship, replacing her ailing captain, and fight her against the unknown enemy vessel. This battle in space will change Varn Tarl Sogan's career and life forever.