Baen 2005. Hardback with dust jacket, 392 pp.
Prince Roger MacClintock was heir to the
galaxy's Throne of Man and a spoiled young bratthat is, until he and
his Royal Marines were stranded on the barbarian planet Marduk. So far,
they've traversed a continent, taken over an enemy spaceport, and
hijacked a starship. But they're not home free yetbecause home is no
longer free.Traitors have murdered Prince Roger's brother and sister.
His mother, the empress, is still alive, but in the hands of Roger's own
biological father, who controls her through drugs and torture. A new
heir to the throne has been conceived, and once he is born, Roger's
mother will no longer be necessary to the traitors' plans. Prince Roger
must somehow retake the empire before his new brother is born and his
mother dies. It's an impossible taskbut Prince Roger knows all about
impossible tasks.