Privateer Captain Holland McGee believes he has found the legendary Atlantis Treasure Fleet. Naturally, he is prepared to sell his knowledge to the highest bidder, who just happens to be the Proximan monarch himself. There's only one problem: The trail leads directly to the surface of the planet Justicar, which just happens to orbit an unremarkable sun in almost the exact center of the most treacherous and lawless region in known space.

McGee wisely enlists the aid of Lord-Captain Gael Oakshotte and Captain Jason Hunter to explore the planet surface and discover if the mighty warships are actually where they appear to have set down. It isn't long before the three captains learn why Justicar is such a treacherous world: modern technology is forbidden in the settled lands. It has been replaced by what McGee calls "more fanciful alternatives."

When a band of ruthless and violent barbarian humanoids ransacks and loots the village Hunter and his officers were using as a home base, the situation goes from bad to worse. After their ship loses power and their gear begins to malfunction, Argent's crew finds itself on the run. A displaced group of refugees needs their protection. Armed horsemen, bands of ogre-like beasts and hostile brigands roam the countryside. The humans face a multi-front war armed with weapons from centuries in the past.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Skywatch, Heretic forces are concealed in orbit. They are preparing to use an unimaginable weapon against the captain. Their objective is not to destroy him.

Their objective is to turn him against his own fleet.