Gan's limiter malfunctions and he attacks the crew. They decide the only hope for Gan is to persuade a famous neurosurgeon at station XK72 to operate. The crew contact the station under the guise of a federation ship on a test run. Professor Kayn, however, sees through their pretence and alerts pursuit ships of the Liberator's presence. He boards the Liberator and warns that if they move the ship at all during the operation, Gan would die from the effect of the vibrations. Pursuit ships arrive just as the operation is completed, the surgeons teleport back to the station. The Liberator deflects a plasma bolt from the pursuit ship sending it towards the station which is subsequently destroyed ...