Soynte Abil, who stayed behind in Cassiopeia after the RAS TSCHUBAI withdrew, enters the LUMINOSITY, which has a new commander in Vetris-Molaud. The dwarf android Holar Wolkwart, Commo'Dyr of the MONITOR-C, awaits her in the Cosmocrat-cylinder. Abil surmises that it is the sloop she is allowed to take possession of. Together they make their way to DAN, the on-board brain of the LUMINOSITY.

Soynte Abil reiterates to DAN that she was once Factor VII. The MdI are well known to him, replies DAN, who wants to hear a story from Abil. So the former MdI tells stories from a time long past.

She was currently active under the name Trousha Padmoon. She meets up with Comden Partan, Factor XIII. Factor I has appointed Partan to command a fleet of 300 starships, on an equal footing with Soynte Abil. Partan's new playmate Allidavia Gerush is also there.

Soynte Abil makes it clear to DAN that the story took place more than 13,000 years ago, shortly before the rebellion of some Maghans, i.e. MdI, against Factor I.

Then she continues: On board the fleet flagship APTARU, Soynte Abil is immediately fascinated by Allidavia Gerush. Later they both get closer. But Allidavia Gerush is not Comden Partan's playmate. The former MdI conjectures to DAN that she encountered Factor I at the time.

The fleet is enroute to the Vranamark sector. The Fesoasoani live in the Quemander system there. Much more important is the occurrence of hypercrystals there. A conference is planned on the inhospitable planet Quemander II. Soynte Abil wonders if that's enough to order two Maghans there. Isn't it a likely trap for Soynte Abil and Comden Partan? A revolt? Treason? Soynte Abil keeps the relevant information that speaks to it for herself.

It later turns out that Abil and Partan have actually been lured into a trap. The two Maghans must fight their way through an inhospitable world alone. They are rescued by a cruiser, specifically by Allidavia Gerush, who informs the two MdIs that the fleet is involved in a space battle. Abil and Partan switch to their flagship APTARU via transmitter. Allidavia Gerush stays behind. The flagship is not in good shape, it is in fact a wreck, so to speak. The cruiser with Gerush on board is destroyed.

Abil and Partan manage to rectify the situation and preserve the Maghanic Peace. The APTARU is then repaired. Abil and Partan go their separate ways.

On board the LUMINOSITY, DAN makes his decision: He wants to entrust the MONITOR-C to Abil – with Holar Wolkwart as pilot.