To capture a group on criminals, Steve, Matt and Venus pretend to steal XL5.

On a survey of Pharos, the crew of XL5 disocver the planet is unstable and must be destroyed. After setting up bombs, someone traps Steve and the others in with it.

Whilst on patrol, the XL5 comes across the wreck of an old spaceship. Setting out to investigate, they find it to be the TA2, that disappeared in the 2020's, and the hunt is on to find her pilot...

On planet Floran, the crew of XL5 try to discover what is killing the plants there, however the native people believe they are an invasion force and drug their food.