The Earth is recovering from the consequences of its occupation, using the Hegemony technologies it inherited, and the most far-sighted politicians begin the formation of a single world government, uniting their countries into the Continental, then the Planetary Union. There is a rapid development of industry, especially extraterrestrial, medicine, psychology, computer intelligence, new opportunities for obtaining energy are opening up, most countries are moving to a deficit-free economy. Earthlings confidently explore space, build improved spaceships, send an expedition to possible allies from another star system and, despite obstacles, found an interstellar alliance.