Stars of Blood and Glory

The only remaining path for the last free stars is paved in blood and glory.

War is all Danica has ever known. As captain of her band of Tajji mercenaries, she's fought more than her share of hopeless battles against undefeated foes. War has been her way of life ever since their diaspora from their shattered homeworld.

But when a runaway princess vanishes on the eve of war, the rescue mission quickly becomes more than just another payday. The last free stars are about to make their final stand against the Hameji Empire, and a young Hameji prince is determined to take the princess as his personal prize. With the high admiral of the federation assassinated by an unknown hand and their forces in disarray, the last free stars now stand on the brink of destruction.

It's not in Danica's nature to give up easily, though. Not on a job, and certainly not on her crew. But as the bloody end of the war comes into sight, it soon becomes clear that she can't outrun fate forever.