In the 25th Century the British Space Empire thrives in Earth's corner of the Milky Way. The only threat is the gathering menace of the evil Ghast Empire whose arachnoid stormtroopers are hell bent on galactic domination & the extermination of all humanoid life. Captain Isambard Smith is the square-jawed courageous & somewhat asinine new commander of the clapped out & battle damaged light cruiser John Pym. His entire crew comprises his trusted friend Suruk a seven foot tusked & mandibled headhunter his android pilot who is secretly a fugitive sex toy & a hamster called Gerald. Their mission is a simple one: to collect new-age herbalist Rhianna Mitchell from the laid back New Francisco orbiter & bring her back to Earth. Straightforward enough
- except the Ghasts want her too & in addition to a whole fleet of Ghast warships Smith has to confront void sharks a universe-weary android assassin & John Gilead psychopathic naval officer from the fanatically religious Republic of Eden.