The crew encounter the System, builders and original owners of the Liberator (known to them as Deep Space Vehicle-2). They disable its defense systems in an attempt to try to get their craft back. A sister ship (DSV-1), in pursuit, is destroyed by Orac.

The Liberator reaches Space City where Blake seeks the assistance of the Terra Nostra, a criminal group who control the deadly drug Shadow. Blake must find out what the link with the Federation is, and why Orac is telepathically torturing Cally. The key appears to be the planet Zonda.

Horizon is a mysterious planet which neither Zen nor Orac can shed any light on. After teleporting down the crew are captured by Federation guards. Avon considers leaving the planet by himself with the Liberator.

The Liberator returns to Earth, and Blake wants to capture Federation Control, in the belief that it would cripple the Federation.

Blake is questioning his purpose and motives after Gan's death and goes to a barren planet to reflect on things. Travis is put on trial and court-martialled for the deaths of civilans all courtesy of Servalan.

The Liberator crew journey to a planet where a friend of Avon's works, in order to get TP crystals. The derelict spaceship K-47 is retrieved, and an on-board virus spreads throughout the complex.

The Liberator is ambushed by several Federation ships. Travis captures Blake's cousin. He claims to want to join Blake's crew.

The crew travels to the planet Albian in search of information on the location of the Federation computer system Star One. Avon defuses a bomb with the help of Del Grant, who had thought Avon deserted his sister.

A ""time bomb"" planted in Blake's memory by the Federation has been stimulated. He goes to an asteroid to meet with the legendary Shivar and Governor Le Grand, who also wish to overthrow the Federation.

Blake believes Docholli knows the location of Star One, and has traced him to Freedom City, a gambler's paradise. At the Big Wheel gambling casino, a miniaturized Orac helps Avon and Vila win large amounts of money. Little do they know Servalan has got there ahead of them.

In their quest for information on the location of Star One, the crew search for a member of the royal family of Goth who has an amulet containing a brain print.

The crew reach Star One, only to find it is already being overtaken by Andromedan forces. While Blake plots the destruction of Star One Travis plots the destruction of the entire human race. Avon kills Travis and the Federation computer is destroyed. Blake is seriously hurt.