Scientists aboard the deep-space vessel COBE discover a complex of subterranean tunnels on the planet Omicron-2, located deep within the Cygnus region. When they track a mysterious craft to the distant Lalande system, they uncover an alien species intent on depleting the resources of the planet using forced labor. As the Galactic Federated Systems (GFS) battles to regain the system, Dr. Ken Ferguson and Lt. Carla Roessler find themselves becoming deeply attracted to each other. Part III opens with an expeditionary task force bent on destroying the aliens in their own home system along with the liberation of the remaining captives.