From the back cover of the 2013 Tor UK TPB: "One man has the skills to rally their cause: if he can stay alive! The nova war spreads across the galaxy, as the Emissaries wage a fierce and reckless campaign. They've already reached human-occupied space and forced the alien Shoal into a desperate retreat. And when Dakota leaves to pursue a lead, Corso's luck turns bad. Now commanding a fleet of human-piloted Magi ships, his authority crumbles before assassination attempts and politically motivated sabotage. Their best hope lies with Ty Whitecloud, currently light-years beyond Consortium borders. Only Whitecloud can decipher messages left behind by ancient star travellers - which could be crucial to their cause. But Whitecloud is imprisoned aboard a dying coreship, awaiting execution for war crimes against Corso's own people. For humanity's very survival, Corso must get to Whitecloud and keep him alive... if Dakota doesn't kill him first."
Source · ISFDB CC BY 4.0
Placement
- Shoal Sequence — #3