Pyrrus is a world rich in animals, plant life, minerals — and death. Every insect sting is deadly, every thorn and blossom poisoned, every tooth and claw a mortal menace. Pyrrus' human settlers are the fiercest of warriors, fighting ferociously against an entire planet, locked in an unending war that is growing steadily worse. It is a conflict that seems destined to have only one outcome: their annihilation.

In a last attempt to check the flow of destruction they take a final desperate chance — putting their faith in the gambler Jason dinAlt. They give him all the funds the planet possesses, hoping that this stake will win the millions needed for ever more destructive weapons to avert planetary oblivion. It is mankind against an entire planet that has but one goal: their destruction.