Henderson, Teal and York try to make first contact with the Queppu but are instead greeted by crossbow fire and are accused of being rebels. Meanwhile Jeffers, left in command of the ship, enters into a space race.

Vine buys a planet while Teal contrives to be alone with Henderson at the officer's ball.

Henderson, miffed at being usurped by the Americans negotiating peace between two alien races, takes matters into his own hands with explosive consequences.

Clare Winchester, a record-breaking British space-sailer, has been driven a bit mad on her latest solo expedition when she comes across the slightly more mad crew of HMS Camden Lock.

The crew of HMS Camden Lock are subjected to an extremely strict assessment test causing Henderson to seek the solitude of his cabin leaving York in command.