Peanut Hamper strands herself on a planet and bonds with its winged inhabitants, but has a plan of her own.
After refusing to help the Cerritos against the Pakleds, the exocomp Peanut Hamper was left behind in space. Threatened by Drookmani scavengers, she builds a ship from wreckage and lands on a world inhabited by the winged Areore, who are amazed by her technology. She seems to soften as she joins their tribe and falls for the chief's son.
The Areore's ancestors once had spaceflight but gave up technology after it led to war. When the Drookmani arrive to scavenge the ancient Areore starships, Peanut Hamper calls the Cerritos for help, but it emerges that she invited the scavengers to stage her own redemption. She is imprisoned at the Daystrom Institute, where the computer AGIMUS proposes an alliance.