A disguised Malvanna Wilde injects a cyber bug into Crowbar's body, making the Shadow Force able to see and hear through his eyes and ears. Crowbar unwittingly endangers a secret mission to transport a new computer modem to Ganymede with Dash and Slim.
Young colonists Tom and Jenny (Slim's nephew and niece) and Lt. Bob Anders get lost in a sandstorm on Mars, only to find the recently uncovered Lost City of the Ancient Builders.
Scientists aboard the survey ship Houston think they've discovered intelligent life on Europa. Meanwhile, General Torvek launches an attack Starcom from his station another of Jupiter's moons, Io.
A search-and-destroy probe attacks a Jupiter research station manned by Dash's mother and sister. A rescue mission is headed by Crowbar, Slim, Dash and his brother-in-law, Sgt. Victor Rivera.
Crowbar offers to fix a malfunctioning new Automated Defence Satellite, but Slim refuses to let him bend the rules to do so. Meanwhile General Von Dar and Malvanna plan to take the satellite for themselves.
Emperor Dark has invented an EMP device that disables all machines and vehicles. When Shadow Force tests the device on Mars, it's first casualty is the new 'Razor' StarWolf being test piloted by Slim.
Lt. Bob T. Rogers' Starmax is shot down and he has to abort. General Torvek strips it of it's main operating chip, making him able to remote control all of Starcom's vehicles and weapons.
Slim is ordered to train a group of cadets aboard the Theodore Sturgeon and is soon clashing with unruly Cadet Jim Hatch. Then the Sturgeon is found by Shadow Bat commanded by Major Klag.
A four man Mars convoy carrying supplies is stranded near the abandoned, heavily booby trapped Star Ranger base. Kelsey Carver asks former Star Ranger Lucas Hall to come out of retirement.