Blake tries to rescue the remaining prisoners from the prison planet Cygnus Alpha only to find they have a disease that can be cured by the power mad high priest Vargas.

A ship whose crew had been put in suspended animation is picked up by the Liberator, while Blake attempts to destroy the Federation Communication base on Saurian Major.

The Liberator runs into a web created by psionic means; the crew meets the race of genetically-engineered Decimas. Blake learns of the attempt at genocide being waged against the Decimas by the creator of the Web.

The crew steals a Federation deciphering unit and accidently leave Cally behind. Travis finds her and decides to use her in a hostage trap for Blake.

The flight of Federation pursuit ships, commanded by Travis, finally succeed in trapping the Liberator.

Travis devises a plan to destroy Blake and capture the Liberator.

Gan's limiter malfunctions, and the crew go to space station XK-72 to have it repaired, at the risk of being discovered. The neurosurgeon notifies the Federation and delays surgery long enough for Federation forces to arrive.

The crew land on the planet Lindor, where a deposed leader has been held in exile. Blake and Cally ask him to return to his people. Meanwhile, a ship in distress is helped by the Liberator, only to encounter a group of bounty hunters who seek to turn Blake and the Liberator over to the Federation.

The Liberator crew brings back the survivor of a ship that blew up while delivering some medical supplies to Ensor, the survivor's father. Jenna is captured on the planet, while the survivor of the destroyed ship forces Blake to leave the planet by holding Cally at gunpoint. On the planet, Avon is considered a god by a priestess leading her people there.

The Liberator crew fly to Aristo to deliver the supplies to Ensor, in exchange for radiation drugs and the computer Orac, which Ensor gives to Blake before he dies. Orac predicts the destruction of the Liberator.