"[U]nusual among military science fiction for its concentration on the psychology and politics of societies in conflict." — AnalogA thousand years from now, while Earth sleeps in virtual reality, three polities—the Confederated Worlds, the Unity, and the Progressive Republic—strive to connect the scattered, terraformed worlds of humankind by artificial wormholes. When they meet, they clash, in a decades-long struggle of arms embroiling the settled galaxy, in which dedication to duty liberates worlds—and oneself.TAKE THE SHILLINGThe Confederated Worlds implanted in his brain the skills to make him a soldier.Tomas had to learn for himself how to survive interstellar war.OPERATION IAGOThe Confederated Worlds lost the war.Can Lt. Tomas Neumann win the peace against elusive, deceptive foes out to turn the Confederated Worlds against itself?A BODYGUARD OF LIESAssigned to the halls of power, only Capt. Tomas Neumann can save the Confederated Worlds from the ultimate treachery.