In a future where humanity has colonized other planets, the United Nations has been replaced by the World Government, which exercises total control over its citizens through advanced technology and propaganda. The story follows a group of rebels who plan to hijack a Mercy Flight, a spacecraft that transports wounded soldiers from the front lines back to Earth for medical treatment. The rebels intend to use the flight as a diversion to steal a powerful device that can disrupt the World Government's control over its citizens. However, things do not go according to plan, and the rebels are forced to improvise in order to survive and complete their mission. Along the way, they must confront the harsh realities of war and the true nature of the World Government's power.
By Mack Reynolds · First published 1971 · Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure