Plot introduction

Set in a future when humanity has forgotten its origins in Earth, the novel describes the political equations and power struggle between the emperor, a quasi-religious group, a pre-sentient computer named the Mag Comm and the Lord Commander.

Plot summary

Humanity is trapped in a "gravity well", the so-called Forbidden Borders and two remaining human empires Regan Empire and the Divine Sassa poised to fight one last war for domination of Free Space. The Lord Commander, Staffa Kar Therma a.k.a. The Star Butcher, is a mercenary who leads an elite group of soldiers (the Companions) and he has aligned himself to The Seddi Order, former quasi-religious group in effort to stop humanity from making itself extinct.

Regan Emperor has been assassinated, Internal Security Minister Ily Takka has now taken control of the Regan empire. She has bigger plans, she has ordered little respected, but brilliant Division First (Commander) Sinklar Fist return to Rega and become the Regan Empire's highest military leader, Lord Commander of Regan Military. Using him and she will attempt to rule all human control worlds in Free Space.

But at what price?

Characters

• The Others : The (supposedly alien and superintelligent) beings who confined humanity inside the Forbidden Borders. They also built the MagComm.
• Staffa Kar Therma aka the Lord Commander of the Companions : A protagonist & possible savior
• Ily Takka, Minister of Internal Security: A protagonist & she is unofficial ruler of Regan Empire
• Seddi Magister Kayalla Dawn : Current leader of the Seddi Order
• Sinklar Fist : Son of Staffa Kar Therma, Lord Commander of Regan Military
• Skyla Lyma, Wing Commander and 2nd in Command of the Companions & Staffa's current lover.
• Ben MacRuder, Division First: Coommander of the 1st Targan Assault Division: He is best friend with Sinklar Fist and commands Regan space Battlecruiser
  Battlecruiser
  Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
  
  Gyton
• Anatolia Daviura, Regan Researcher: Close friend of Sinklar Fist
• Arta Fera, Regan Assassin: original Seddi Asssasin, originally cloned from Chrysla to kill Staffa
• Myles Roma, Sassan Divine Legate Prima: 2nd highest leader of the Divine Sassan empire.
• Chrysla : Wife of Staffa. Thought killed when Staffa personally destroyed the Battleship Pylos.
• Mag Comm : Self-Aware Computer built by the The Others, in Makarta Mountain on the Planet Targa.

External links

• - 11k - Book review on fantasticfiction.co.uk