Young lieutenant Lon Nolan and his companions in the Dirigent Mercenary Corps journey to the distant planet of Aldrin, a world torn apart by a fierce civil war, only to become caught between two warring colonies and faced with the betrayal of their employer. Original.
Even though this is the third book in the series, this is the second one I have read. I apparently lined the books up in the wrong order and didn’t notice until all over halfway in. In some ways I’m grateful because that means that nothing from the second book was spoiled other than the obvious. On the other hand it surprises me that so little was mentioned from the second book, at least anything that could be directly noticed.
My only real problem with the book was certain events being spread along, but other than that, I’m enjoying this series, and I enjoyed the book.
Lon Nolan leaves Earth'e military academy to emigrate to the mercenary world of Dirigent who send their troops throughout space. Rising to the rank of captain and meeting the woman he wants to marry, he is sent with his unit on a contract to Aldrin where he encounters fierce fighting that could prevent him from going home again.
They're getting better. A little worrying, the level of homesickness for earth, but with a marriage on the cards things are looking up. Though the title is a little misleading; he's still a Lieutenant all the way through!
This one is a little more 'talkie' than the previous two, but Shelley had to establish some personal life for his character. The politics of the world they are on this time gets a little dull, but still a fun series and a nice battle at the end of this entry makes up for some of the diplomacy.