Armath, an alien, explores his planet, Bendadn, as humans begin to move in and mine for minerals. He sees a dead member of his species after an explosion. Meanwhile, a human named Michael travels to the planet to teach history. He is being paid by the corporation mining minerals to teach the male natives, including Armath, a version of history that glorifies that conquest of humanity. Jacob Lynn, the company's project manager, joins him and they have a conversation. Michael is secretly opposed to revising history, and Lynn accuses Michael of being too idealistic. Another colleague, Stevenson, steals a report from Lynn. He explains to Micheal that the aliens have unique biology in which they are all born female, but one of them becomes male by besting the others in combat, therefore making him head of his individual family. The families do not interact or cooperate, but the males begin attending school taught by humans. Stevenson is worried because he believes that if the males allow themselves to be dominated by the conquest of humans, they will revert back to female, which will end the alien race permanently. Michael angrily confronts Lynn about this. During class, Michael intentionally offends the aliens. Armath becomes angry, and Michael tells him to approach the lectern. Other aliens in the class give Armath their blessing. Once Armath is standing next to Michael, Micheal tells the class that they should be not be slaves to the Universe, and shares with them the story of Spartacus. Lynn conspires to make it look like the aliens are revolting, which will lead to the corporation's forces eliminating them permanently. He also fires Michael and bans him from corporation property. Beyond the school, a female alien approaches a male outside of her family unit to tell him that her male has been killed by humans. The aliens begin attacking humans in earnest, but they still care for Michael as he helps them create a democratic system. An alien from another planet brings in a police system to enforce the rule of the corporation, but Armath tells them a sovereign government already exists on Bendadn. Lynn's schemes are discovered and the corporation uses him as a scapegoat. He and Michael fly back to Earth together.