Note: Revision and expansion of Cosmic Checkmate (1962).

Synopsis: Mankind's Ten Thousand Worlds had expanded and prospered until they encountered their first aliens. These were people, almost as human as those who had originated on Earth, but with some slight differences. One of their differences was that they would never associate with aliens, never surrender, never compromise. They would conquer the Ten Thousand Worlds - or die trying. And they were able to do so. Because they were barbarically cunning warriors with a fanatic military talent, unapproachable by arbitration. Earth's master spy was prepared for this. He would challenge the enemy to two games, and he was prepared to lose the first. But the second would be crucial. On that would depend the lives of billions. It was scientifically inconceivable that he could lose that second game. Until he did... (from the back cover of the DAW Books first edition)