Avon and the crew of the Liberator are struggling to survive on the hostile world of Terminal: a stranger is on his way to find them but rescue is not on his mind.
When Avon is captured and Vila discovers that the silo containing Scorpio is impossible to open, it looks as though things cannot go any worse, but looks can be deceptive.
Avon needs to know why the Federation are suddenly making such easy territorial gains. The invasion of the planet Helotrix seems like a chance to find out.
A collision with an asteroid damages Scorpio's main drives. The need to replace them is urgent. To Avon it seems urgent enough to make facing the Space Rats worthwhile.
Justin is a genetic engineer who has knowledge which Avon needs. Since Justin was once her tutor, Dayna is sent to recruit him. She finds a horrifying experiment.
Muller is Avon's latest recruit and a genius in his field, but even a genius cannot come back from the dead.
Avon and his companions become targets for murder.
The planet Mecron is the only source of Feldon, a rare and extremely valuable crystal. Such wealth attracts thieves. Some are obvious, some less so.
The Federation's sudden concern for a long lost expedition to the planet Vim arouses the interest of Avon and his companions.
To Avon, stealing a gold shipment from an undefended pleasure cruiser en route to Earth seems too good an opportunity to miss. That's his first mistake...
A renegade Federation scientist makes an interesting offer to Avon: the ultimate weapon in exchange for Orac.
A mysterious man who hunts people for money seems to have an uncanny resemblance to Blake.
The crew think they are going to be able to run away from the Federation, but Avon has other ideas, and sets off to find Blake.
