The Liberator reaches Space City where Blake seeks the assistance of the Terra Nostra, a criminal group who control the deadly drug Shadow. Blake must find out what the link with the Federation is, and why Orac is telepathically torturing Cally. The key appears to be the planet Zonda.

The rebels and the Federation are searching for the stolen prototype of Imipak, a deadly new weapon. Servalan and Travis use a Blake clone to get information on this weapon from one of Blake's friends.

Blake is questioning his purpose and motives after Gan's death and goes to a barren planet to reflect on things. Travis is put on trial and court-martialled for the deaths of civilans all courtesy of Servalan.

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.

The crew strike a deal for crystals needed for Liberator's weapon systems. In exchange, Vila must help in obtaining a treasure on the planet Keezarn but in doing so he finds a gateway to another world.

Avon wishes to hunt down the Federation inquisitor, Shrinker, who killed his former girlfriend, Anna Grant. He finds her alive, now working as an agent of the Federation.

The crew visits the Teal and Vandor systems, currently at war with each other. A representative of each system is chosen for a battle. Tarrant kills the warrior who killed his brother.

Dorian, owner of the spaceship Scorpio, rescues the crew from Terminal. He tries to enlist the help of Orac to build a teleport mechanism for Scorpio and attempts to kill the crew.

After Orac traces Blake's trail to the planet Gauda Prime, Avon and crew travel there, leaving the destroyed Xenon base behind. Scorpio is attacked on approach to the planet and crash lands on the surface of Gauda Prime. Avon and crew travel in search of Blake, and discover that he may have sold out to the Federation.