The story opens with James Bolivar diGriz, known as Slippery Jim, discovering that a powerful Empire-class battleship is being secretly constructed on the peaceful planet Cittanuvo. Forced into service by Inskipp, the head of the elite Special Corps, diGriz embarks on an unauthorized undercover mission to uncover who is behind the plot. Posing as a wealthy aristocrat, he investigates the planet's leadership and the spaceyards, only to find that the local politicians are oblivious to the true nature of the project. The vessel is completed and stolen before it can be intercepted, leaving diGriz to realize he is dealing with a criminal intellect as brilliant as his own.
The stolen battleship begins raiding shipping lanes and destroying supply satellites, leaving a trail of murder and chaos in its wake. To counter this elusive threat, diGriz formulates an elaborate trap by leaking news of a fictitious billionaire space yacht loaded with wealth and advanced technology. The plan hinges on the assumption that the mastermind behind the theft will not be able to resist seizing such a prize.
The trap succeeds when the stolen battleship locks onto the bait and captures the yacht, allowing diGriz to infiltrate the giant vessel and confront the culprits. He discovers that the operation was orchestrated not just by the pudgy criminal Pepe, but primarily by a cunning and ruthless woman named Angelina. While Pepe is captured and surrenders to the authorities, Angelina manages to escape in a hidden scout ship into the vastness of space. Although the crisis is resolved and the stolen battleship is recovered, diGriz is left with a lingering desire for payback. The narrative concludes with the protagonist resolving to track down the escaped woman across the galaxy, setting the stage for a future reckoning.
