—And Devious the Line of Duty

A young Space Patrol lieutenant is thrust into a covert assignment on Vesta, the icy moon that serves as a neutral ground for a delicate diplomatic showdown. His superior, the seemingly genial but inscrutable Special Agent George Rockford, greets him with beer and cryptic warnings, hinting that the mission will involve far more than routine reconnaissance. As the lieutenant steps off the helicopter, he realizes he’s been handed a role that could decide the fate of the entire Terran Republic.

The stakes quickly rise: the Verdam oligarchy is massing for war, and the outcome hinges on whether the powerful world of Jardeen will side with Earth or its rivals. A tense summit is set at the rustic Royal Retreat, where a princess bound by a proxy marriage and a charismatic lord‑by‑proxy add personal intrigue to the political chessboard. Caught between seasoned manipulators and a looming conflict, the newcomer must navigate deception, alliances, and his own doubts to keep the Republic from being swallowed.