After the fiery events on Paradisa, Mordid the Traveling Tyrant and his ruthless band of mercenaries decide to lie low in the lawless region of space known as the Upper Arm. There, Mordid finds work on the planet of Pristine. Zaltrek, the planet's dictator, is losing his grip on the world, and Mordid promises to help-- for a price. Unfortunately for the Traveling Tyrant, a woman gets involved, his own command staff plot his demise, and his employer is having second thoughts about their arrangement. Worse, the morale of his men is flagging, and even an order to have Casual Fridays isn't lifting their spirits.

Between Mordid's murderous friends, enraged foes, and his duty to the shadowy investors- what's a Tyrant to do?