Nathan Stewart hates politics. But that is what he finds on his return to Earth with the Star Glory and his shipmates. Politics even ruins his family get-together. All too soon he and his shipmates are called back to man the Glory in a solo effort to hunt down and kill Empire of Eternity fleet ships, traders and passenger ships, all as part of the effort to force the Empire into pulling its fleets back to defend existing Empire stars and planets. But Manager Smooth Fur of the Empire has no intention of allowing the primitive humans from Earth to block his fleet's expansion into Orion Arm. And he has some tricks and tech that he will employ to kill the Star Glory and any other ship sent against him. Nathan hopes his talent for anticipating problems and the solutions to them will save his life, the life of his fiancé and the lives of his shipmates. But can one talented young man stand against a galactic empire?