Strife’s Cost
by STEVE RZASA
It has been three years since the Naplian Empire invaded Terran space in a desperate gamble to secure serjaum fuel reserves. They conquered the Baedecker Star System, but not without making a dangerous new enemy. The Terran Republic.
Squadron leader Taggart “Tag” Wester is neck deep in battles across the Great Desert Rift when Terran Intelligence drafts him for a vital secret mission. But he’ll only succeed if he can put aside his prejudices and learn to trust the least likely allies.
Lira Lin Reen’s career as a renowned thief has come to an abrupt halt. Her only way out is to play both sides of Tag’s mission, with more than a payday in the balance.
Elden Selva has come to terms with his new existence as a Truppen cyborg. What he can’t figure, is why his warriors are disappearing. Someone isn’t telling him the truth—and worse, he isn’t the only one.
With Terran forces drawn deeper into war and intrigue, their actions could spell the doom of millions.
Explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in this sequel to Empire’s Rift!
The Emperors’ War
Reviews
Trio of completely mismatched people go on secret mission.
In this second book of the series Tag Wester is pulled from his position leading a fighter squadron to work with Dyson and secret service agent who's android. Tag after losing several family members to an android rebellion, has no trust and anger at having to work with Dyson. Then the last team member is Lira (Blue Kitt) a galaxy wide infamous thief whose supposed to use her skills to sneak into a hidden installation and find information to make the Union of Planets join against the Naplians. Meanwhile you have Elden leading the Truppen a mechanical race containing the souls of those who were dying in an earlier conflict with Naplians. They're battling the Naplians while trying to solve the mystery of disappearing warriors and what has happened to them. What are the Naplians secretly doing with the missing people? You'll have to read this book to see how all these different groups are going to end this conflict. In the end Tag, Lira ( Blue Kitt) and Dyson are faced with a choice of what is truly important, results in integrity.
Fast-paced sequel to Empire's Rift. Steve Rzasa's second novel in the Takamo Universe is a great addition to the series. The characters from Empire's Rift are now fully involved in the expanding war against the Naplians and the Truppen cybers are following their own violent path as all factions struggle for advantage in the Great Desert Rift. The story is chock full of details about the Estra Galaxy that are the hallmark of the rich Takamo Universe backstory.
Strife's Cost includes a unique feature. The book was partially financed by contributions from supporters of the Empire's Rift Kickstarter campaign. One of those contributors and his family (even the family pets) feature as characters in this sequel. Can you find them?
