Lieutenant Frank Harsmith is heading to Kzarch to investigate reports of pirate sightings. Unfortunately, it turns out that the reports left a lot to be desired. Now he, and his sixty-man marine platoon, have to roust out three thousand plus pirates and their nigh-psychopathic leader, Bloody Jack. They do have the (somewhat dubious) help of a thousand and a half or so Kzarchians, but that's hardly suffcient when going against a pirate force that outnumbers them greatly, and which controls the planet and the skies. And being betrayed ain't gonna help any either...