The Paladin's quest to save the Andromeda galaxy begins to escalate as they seize a disputed planet from two obstinate lower level races who are blocking travel and commerce through it that other systems are depending upon to fuel the war effort against the Asferja. The thing is, after the Paladin uncork the traffic jam, they're not giving the planet back for the malcontents to muck up a second time...and that doesn't go over very well with the locals.