Zak Cato Books

The national bestselling author of Battle Hymn delivers a high-velocity sci-fi thriller in which a lone lawman must take down those who would topple an empire… For centuries, the Uman Empire has ruled the civilized universe. But not all of the alien races who were “invited” to join the Empire have done so willingly. To deal with these alien species, the Xeno Corps was formed—bio-engineered humans with extra-sensory enhancements who can hunt down, capture or eliminate all such threats to Pax Umana. Jak Cato is a one of them—but he’s far from a perfect specimen. Saddled with a dislike for authority and a penchant for self-destructive behavior, only his devotion to duty and sense of honor have kept him afloat in the Corps. When he and his comrades are waylaid on a remote planet while transferring a lethal, shapeshifting Sagathi prisoner, Cato is sent into town for supplies, only to end up drunk, beaten and robbed. But worse news awaits him when he wakes. His entire detachment has been mercilessly slaughtered and the Sagathi is gone. Now Cato must use all his innate skills to hunt down the fugitive and pay back the bastards who murdered his team. But what he doesn’t know is that his pursuit will lead him outside the law and into a shadowy world of Imperial intrigue—where those who seek justice rarely get it, and rarely survive… “A testosterone-soaked tale of violent retribution.”— Publishers Weekly "Dietz writes fast-paced military SF.”— Library Journal

From the national bestselling author of Battle Hymn comes the conclusion to the electrifying sci-fi thriller duology begun with At Empire’s Edge… On the surface, the Uman Empire seems as glorious as ever, with its citizens reveling in their proud civilization, the Legions defending its borders, and the Emperor ruling benevolently over all. Yet it is a facade. In truth, the alien Vord are pushing deeper into Uman space even as the noble families maneuver for power within a waning Empire. But for Xeno Corps Centurion Jak Cato, all that matters is that he’s still alive. After a disastrous mission that almost cost him everything, he’s returning to the Imperial capital of Corin with his beloved Alamy for some well-deserved down time—which soon becomes no time. For as Cato watches a grand procession, he catches a glimpse of his mighty Emperor—and in one horrifying instant, Cato’s enhanced senses recognize that while the Emperor looks the same, it is not him. It is Fiss Verafti, the murderous Sagathi shape-changer Cato had just hunted down. The creature he thought was dead! As the Empire strains under attacks from within and without, Cato doggedly investigates the mystery of how Verafti made his way from the grave to the throne and who is behind the astounding plot. And when he does discover the truth, it will change Cato—and the entire galaxy—forever… “When it comes to military science fiction, William Dietz can run with the best.”—Steve Perry, author of the Matador series “Adrenaline-fueled, Clancy-esque adventure.”— Publishers Weekly