Alex Tieran, senior surviving officer of the battleship Archon's Hammer, got his crew home. The Adriane's Point Defense Fleet has been overrun and he has returned to warn the Star Empire that its long-expected war has opened in disaster.
He receives mixed reactions from the senior admiralty, but is finally granted grudging approval for his conduct-and a new ship. Smaller, but still respectable, once the dust has been cleaned off the hull and she's been re-armed. Oh-and she's being recommissioned at the other end of human space.
But the war isn't waiting, and being mired in technical problems and regional politics while rebuilding his crew is taking time none of them have. While the Empire's defenses begin to unravel, Alex finds himself in a unique position to affect the outcomes--if his enemies don't kill him first.