Talents, Incorporated

The Mekinese fleet is coming to swallow the planet Kandar, and young Captain Bors is burning state secrets so the conquerors will find nothing worth reading. Then a space-yacht lands carrying a stout, cheerful man named Morgan and his daughter Gwenlyn, offering the services of Talents, Incorporated.

Morgan's staff, he says, includes precognitives, telepaths and a specialist in predicting dirty tricks, and his first forecasts come true to the minute. Bors doesn't believe in any of it, but Kandar has no other hope. Armed with Talents' predictions, the outnumbered Kandarian navy turns on the invaders, and Bors ends up playing pirate across the Mekinese empire, raiding tribute ships and stirring up revolt while wondering how much of his luck is real.