He is a magnificent Emperor, a stupendous hero and a technical genius, and he is surfing on the crest of victory breaking on the ocean of freedom. On their return to Earth, Pakow finds himself presiding over two new Emperors and vast battalions of displayed Guards, all of whom he needs for the construction of his Planetary Defence System. But these are powerful beings with ambitions of their own. When he discovers that one of the Emperors has chosen to emulate the beasts with a view to trading with them, Pakow deals with him, permanently, but not in time to prevent a great deal of suffering.