The Pell star system finds itself at the center of a conflict between the conservative earthly empire and the freedom-loving star colonies. An orbital base above the planet Pell controls the Earth's defensive perimeter, and power over the base can give its owners unlimited advantages. But Pell wants to remain neutral... In the novel, the reader will meet many memorable characters - both earthlings and aliens - whose future directly depends on the outcome of the struggle for power in this complex and confusing duel of greed and sanity.