The date is 1970 of the Galactic Era, almost 3,000 from now, and the
Republic, created by the human race but not yet dominated by it, finds
itself in an all-out war against the Teroni Federation, an alliance of
races that resent Man's growing military and economic power. The rebel
starship, the Theodore Roosevelt, under the command of Wilson Cole, is
preparing to lead Cole's ragtag armada into the Republic, even though he
is outnumbered thousands to one.
Cole is convinced that the government has become an arrogant and
unfeeling political entity and must be overthrown. The trick is to avoid
armed conflict with the vast array of ships, numbering in the millions,
in the Republic's Navy. For a time, Cole's forces strike from cover and
race off to safety, but he soon sees that is no way to conquer the
mightiest political and military machine in the history of the galaxy.
He realises that he must reach Deluros VIII, the headquarters world of
the Republic (and of the race of Man), in order to have any effect on
the government at all--but Deluros VIII is the best-protected world in
the Republic.
But a new threat looms on the horizon. Cole, the Valkyrie, David
Copperfield, Sharon Blacksmith, Jacovic, and the rest of the crew of the
Teddy R face their greatest challenge yet, and the outcome will
determine the fate of the entire galaxy.
