Hot off the success of his last major mission battling terrorists on Planet Teura to save one of the most important pieces of the Galactic Empire’s energy network, mercenary John Ouzos decides to finally spend some quality time with family and friends. But what remains of the rot in the empire’s aristocracy—despite the best efforts of two generations of rulers—continues to plague him at every turn. Not only do lords and the military brass harass him, but he can’t even enjoy a family meal without the daughter of a disgraced baron trying to rob him blind! Even when he seeks a laid-back contract on a distant planet inhabited almost entirely by archaeologists and their crew, he finds that corrupt nobles still lurk in every institution. Perhaps something exciting will emerge from the ancient ruins, because after all, sentient superweapons have shown up in less likely places… Not that Ouzos is looking for excitement—anime and manga are fun enough—but it always seems to find him.
