Perimeter Defense

Ruslan signs a contract without reading it and finds himself commanding a space fleet in a virtual reality game he knows nothing about. Objective: survive for six months. A strange body that refuses to obey, a world full of powerful enemies, and a game where reputation and faction relationships are everything. After making inevitable rookie mistakes, Ruslan must rethink his strategy and abandon traditional gaming conventions. What new trials await him — ones even the game designers failed to anticipate?

In an attempt to delay his appearance at the Emperor's court, Crown Prince Georg accidentally triggers an alien invasion of his own star system. The whole Empire watches the live broadcast as his fleet battles the awesome invaders. The Iseyeks — gigantic sentient praying mantises — are suitably impressed, and promptly remind the Crown Prince of his allied duties. The Sector Eight Fleet rushes to aid the Swarm, but fatally misjudges the insects' hive mentality.

The enemy is at the gate, the situation worsening by the second — and Ruslan's employer has done a poor job of securing his gains. The star system of Unatari is now under alien threat. It is time for Ruslan to return and rescue everything he holds dear from imminent destruction — including Perimeter Defense itself, the game that has become his life.

The Empire is splitting at the seams. The Great Houses defy the Throne World, and even the most loyal Imperial Core systems are refusing orders. Is this a string of coincidences, or a coordinated campaign? Can a divided humanity rally around a strong leader to deflect the coming alien invasion? And are the creeping rumors true — that some influential aristocrats have allied with the enemy? This final book answers every question, including the most important: what is Perimeter Defense?