Description
Trouble followed him, ambition drove him, and honor guided his actions.
The first book in a new series by Philip Nolen, an epic tour de force that will draw, hold, and envelope you in a tale of Earth's first star colony; the coming of age of a people.
Steve Alten — NY Times & international best-selling author of The MEG series
New military sf with both the physics and the history meticulously worked out in interesting ways.
David Drake
2173 CE — Kraken Colony of Tau Ceti
At twenty-one years, Tyron Barry was the youngest XO in the North American Union's (NAU) merchant fleet. Less than a year into their mission, mutiny strikes. Barry corners the mutineers into a shuttle, they demand the release code. He yields but then destroys the shuttle. On return, a friend sends warning — a senator's son was one of the mutineers. Life in jeopardy, everything lost, he flees to the colonies in a small ship.
Years pass; war now exists on Earth between the NAU and oriental CTAC forces. Jankin Decatur's freighter limps into Kraken Colony. Although a neutral, they were savaged by CTAC forces but managed to escape. Expecting to be broken, Decatur instead is ordered to a politician's estate on Kraken. Commissioner Hollen knows about Decatur's past life as Tyron Barry. Kraken is under attack — both NAU and CTAC forces press common spacers into service, murder the officers, and confiscate ships. Kraken will declare independence and offers Decatur a commission and a military frigate, Alfred.
Decatur draws upon old mates to staff and finish Alfred. Their maiden cruise shuttles a convoy to Jasper. Convoy captains vary from cooperative to not even appearing at rendezvous. One no-show vessel is found in the process of being boarded by a CTAC frigate. Decatur approaches innocently while his rangers secretly board and take both vessels. The merchant was smuggling goods for the same person responsible for his past-life mutiny. Worse, prisoners are found in harsh conditions on the frigate. Decatur learns of a prison on distant Mars and is torn between completing his mission and attempting rescue.
Captain Decatur must decide: follow the detailed orders of his commission or attempt a prisoner rescue on the enemy's doorstep.