With the Gosroth destroyed, the United Mankind is free to continue its path toward the planet of Sufugnoff. The Abhs did, however, fight ferociously until the end, letting Jinto and Lafiel gain a large lead over the enemy fleet in the race toward Abh territory.

Little do they know, but that lead will shrink significantly thanks to what was originally intended to be a very short layover for refueling in the Baron Febdash territory. Lafiel is quite uncomfortable with the excessive attention she receives from the baron's scantily clad vassals -- as well as with the lack of respect given to Jinto -- and seeks to leave immediately.

Right on cue, Baron Febdash appears on a video screen, apologizing to Lafiel that his space station lacks the fuel her ship requires. Furthermore, he informs her that the vessel is in need of repair.

Doubting the truthfulness of both statements, Lafiel is left wondering why Febdash seems to be trying to prevent Jinto and her from leaving. The intrigue only deepen

Less-than-stimulating dinner conversation with Baron Febdash -- particularly the part where he expresses his hatred for land people -- results in Lafiel losing her appetite, and she leaves her rude host to eat in solitude.

For Lafiel, it's too much of a coincidence that Jinto -- a land person -- was absent from dinner, and she tries to contact him after retreating to her room. His communicator is suspiciously unavailable, however, and subsequent efforts to reach him using Febdash's onboard computers are also futile. However, she does learn a valuable piece of information: The baron's vassals are the key to finding her companion.

Baron Febdash wasn't being untruthful when he told Lafiel over dinner that his father was entertaining Jinto, but he failed to mention that he kept his father confined, and that Jinto was his prisoner now as well.

Why would he risk the wrath of the Abh Empire by interfering with a vital mission undertaken by one of its princesses? Lafiel isn't quite sure, but s

With all access to Jinto -- imprisoned by Baron Febdash -- cut off, a desperate and now-armed Lafiel is left with only one option: storm the space station's housekeeping control center.

The baron quickly closes in after learning of her actions but leaves almost immediately in a huff because one of his servants has joined forces with Lafiel and has had the nerve to speak out against him.

Now left questioning the loyalty of all his vassals, Febdash is further incensed by a message that suddenly goes out over the intercom and by his inability to interrupt it. It explains that his actions have jeopardized the princess's mission, and that Lafiel's royal family will hire anyone wishing to aid her cause.

The baron still has one trick up his sleeve, however, one that will ensure Lafiel will never be able to complete the task given to her aboard the Gosroth. In response, she decides to destroy Baron Febdash, although her vessel has no weapons.

As an Abh, Lafiel would rather fight than surrender

Not wanting to unnecessarily drag anyone into her dispute with United Mankind, Lafiel insists that her anti-empire captors-turned-allies split from Jinto and herself in the underground tunnels in which they've sought refuge.

There are too many men in pursuit and not enough pathways, however, and Jinto and Lafiel eventually run into a dead end. Though the bombs lobbed in their direction succeed in causing slight injury, they also open the way for the duo to flee into the amusement park on the other side of the wall that had previously blocked their escape.

They haven't reached safety just yet, however, because the city police force -- also involved in the chase but familiar with Jinto and Lafiel's secret route -- has anticipated the pair's arrival.

Doing their best to avoid capture, they make the mistake of backtracking through the park and again encounter United Mankind's military. Now hunted by two irate and heavily armed groups, Jinto and Lafiel's options seem limited, even when the