In the 25th Century the British Space Empire thrives in Earth's corner of the Milky Way. The only threat is the gathering menace of the evil Ghast Empire whose arachnoid stormtroopers are hell bent on galactic domination and the extermination of all humanoid life. Captain Isambard Smith is the square-jawed, courageous and somewhat asinine new commander of the clapped out and battle damaged light cruiser John Pym. His entire crew comprises his trusted friend Suruk, a seven foot tusked and mandibled headhunter, his android pilot, who is secretly a fugitive sex toy, and a hamster called Gerald. Their mission is a simple one: to collect new-age herbalist Rhianna Mitchell from the laid back New Francisco orbiter and bring her back to Earth. Straightforward enough - except the Ghasts want her too and, in addition to a whole fleet of Ghast warships, Smith has to confront void sharks, a universe-weary android assassin and John Gilead, psychopathic naval officer from the fanatically religious Republic of Eden.