The Spectre General

p>On a remote world, a hard-worked battalion of space marines still follows orders handed down from a vanished empire. Life is crude, discipline is old-fashioned, and most of the men no longer understand the technology they are sworn to maintain. When an impulsive young soldier discovers more than he should, he stumbles into a crisis that reaches far beyond his isolated garrison. Across the stars, a failing regime hunts enemies both real and imagined while its machines, ships, and leaders all begin to break down. An ancient battle suit, a false inspector, and a desperate search turn a forgotten outpost into the center of events. What follows is a brisk mix of action, satire, and military science fiction with a light comic touch.