The time of the duel is inexorably approaching. Each of the parties wants to improve their position before it begins, but only one of them decided to commit outright fraud, realizing that the current dueling captain is doomed to lose. Difficult negotiations and bribery of the SLTK arbitration are bearing fruit. Representatives of the Star Patrol are confident of their victory because they have the most advanced technologies in weapons, armor, control and communication systems. The Terra Nova captain sees his success in using the Federation's latest photon torpedoes, the Fire Rain, but whether all this will help in the duel is a big question.