The sequel to Under Two Suns. In Declaration of Independence, the new colony of Medlion prospers and, with some judicious trading with their new Eelark friends and with the Corporations which rule the overcrowded and exhausted planet Earth, together with some undetected larcenous activity, has become a viable community. The needs of their Eelark allies becomes pressing, and the people of Medlion make a generous offer to ensure that their friends remain a viable trading partner, able to supply the technology and machinery needed by the Medlions. The planet itself shows itself not to be as innocuous as first assumed and unexpected dangers arise. When one of the Earth Corporations reveals its aggressive tendencies the Medlions are forced to take steps to firstly rescue their own, and then to protect what they hold.