About the book: year / A young major of the Military Space Forces of the Earth Federation, forcibly retired, arrives on the "free" planet Livota - with the aim of acquiring a small "interplanetary" ship class. But, although it turns out that he paid his last money not at all for a “peaceful” ship hidden in an abandoned industrial zone, this does not bother him too much. Emerging memories of the past reveal the essence of current events, both his service and current “mission”, and his recent acquaintances... Some are looking for the “Lost Fleet”, others are looking for him, others would prefer for everything to burn in a man-made flame a cruiser that destroyed a certain scientific Center... Friends and women turn into unexpected “sides”, confusing him with either “false friendship” or “false betrayal”. Only he himself, a former combat pilot (and of the highest class), who now presents himself extremely modestly - “Vadim O, retired major...” - has more “skeletons in the closet” than many. But the Big Race is coming soon... Against this background, the “silver” creature living in the hangar of his ship, and stealing alcohol from the “major”, attracts the attention of no more than the wild cats of the industrial zone…