For almost a hundred years, Hadrian Marlowe has served the Empire in its war
against the Cielcin, a vicious alien race bent on humanity's destruction. Rumors
of a new king amongst the Cielcin have reached the Imperial throne. This one is
not like the others. It does not raid borderworld territories, preferring
precise, strategic attacks on the humans' Empire. To make matters worse, a cult
of personality has formed around Hadrian, spurred on by legends of his having
defied death itself. Men call him Halfmortal. Hadrian's rise to prominence
proves dangerous to himself and his team, as pressures within the Imperial
government distrust or resent his