Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla (known as Fiolla) is returning from a mission on Ulicia. Fiolla is an executive with the Corporate Sector Authority and she receives a priority X message from the office of the Prex, Chils Meplin. She is ordered to track down a band of rebels in the Abo Dreth system. During the trip to Abo Dreth, Fiolla's prisoner, Naven Crel, grabs her blaster. Fiolla turns the table and is able to re-secure Crel.
After they reach Abo Dreth, Fiolla and Crel are ambushed by a woman that turns out to be the Prex's assistant, Akeeli Somerce. Somerce is out to silence Crel and Fiolla. Crel saves Fiolla's life when Somerce fires, but dies in the process. Fiolla discovers that Crel had gone undercover in search of a traitor to the CSA. His investigations had led him to the Prex. Fiolla vows to stop the Prex's days of selling the CSA out to the Galactic Empire.
- The Essential Reader's Companion