Ten years ago, the planets of the solar system were plunged into chaos by war between the high and low castes of a Community divided by color. But the division in the Community goes deeper than caste divisions. Darrow, a former miner turned Lord Emperor of the Republic, faces betrayal just as he is being celebrated as a victor. The Senate brings a serious charge against him, strong allies abandon him. The commander crowned with laurels will face arrest, and perhaps something worse. Was he betrayed by one of his close associates or friends? Who is trying to manipulate him? Darrow values his freedom too much, and he decides to take an extremely risky action, which could entail many victims. But in war, all means are good. For the first time in Russian!