Riflemen Captain Lannet faces the most brutal battle of his life. Just a little more, and his enemies - insidious and ruthless robots who have taken on human form and seek to destroy all living things - will achieve a final victory. And Lenneth, who is fluent in the art of killing, but knows how to be merciful even to the inhabitants of a hostile planet and who puts military honor above his own life, can only hope for luck and the support of the powerful Astara, the priestess of the mysterious cult of the Seeker.