The Liberator is ambushed by several Federation ships. Travis captures Blake's cousin. He claims to want to join Blake's crew.

A ""time bomb"" planted in Blake's memory by the Federation has been stimulated. He goes to an asteroid to meet with the legendary Shivar and Governor Le Grand, who also wish to overthrow the Federation.

Blake believes Docholli knows the location of Star One, and has traced him to Freedom City, a gambler's paradise. At the Big Wheel gambling casino, a miniaturized Orac helps Avon and Vila win large amounts of money. Little do they know Servalan has got there ahead of them.

In their quest for information on the location of Star One, the crew search for a member of the royal family of Goth who has an amulet containing a brain print.

The crew reach Star One, only to find it is already being overtaken by Andromedan forces. While Blake plots the destruction of Star One Travis plots the destruction of the entire human race. Avon kills Travis and the Federation computer is destroyed. Blake is seriously hurt.