On the planet Shourmager, the zoologist Mountvador is trying to explain why all the animals on this planet don't seem to have any connection to each other. Mountvador detects signs of intelligence in the Gurs, fifty-foot lizards living in the forest. A further study reveals that the Gurs are not from Shourmager. Mountvador tries to make contact with them but he almost gets killed.

Shortly thereafter, a fleet of twelve thousand spaceships in approach on Shourmager is detected.