The boundaries of the human habitat were subjected to a ruthless attack by an unknown race. Ships are destroyed, bases wiped out, even inhabited planets. And it seems the goal is complete annihilation of humanity. Gart, yesterday a prisoner of a special regime prison, a pirate today—and now the ruler of a cosmic empire. And the problems grow with every increase in status. Now he will have to decide how to deal with the invasion of an unknown armada. And the enemy is already at the gates.