<b>National Best Seller in hardcover.</b><I> </I> Brilliant and brave starship captain Daniel Leary and ace spy Adele Mundy return to confront a pirate plot and once again save the Republic of Cinnabar.<P>#9 in the bestselling Republic of Cinnabar Navy space adventure series. Captain Daniel Leary with his friend–and spy–Officer Adele Mundy are sent to a quiet sector to carry out an easy task: helping the local admiral put down a coup before it takes place. But then the jealous admiral gets rid of them by sending them off on a wild goose chase to a sector where commerce is king and business is carried out by extortion and gunfights. With anarchy and rebellion in the air, a rogue intelligence officer plots the war that will destroy civilization and enlists the help of a brute whom even torturers couldn't stomach. And, of course, it’s up to Leary and Mundy to put a stop to the madness.<P> <P> <b>About David Drake’s previous RCN novel, <I>What Distant Deeps:</i></b><P> <P>“Drake deftly weaves a web of political machinations and intrigue that vividly depicts the costs of war. Fans of Patrick O'Brian's Maturin and Aubrey novels will enjoy this intricate, rousing space opera.” –<I>Publishers Weekly</i><P> <P><b> </b><b>About David Drake’s RCN series:</b><P> “[R]ousing old-fashioned space opera.” –<I>Publishers Weekly</i><P> <P> “The fun is in the telling, and Mr. Drake has a strong voice. I want more!” –<I>Philadelphia Weekly Press</i><P> <P> “[S]pace opera is alive and well. This series is getting better as the author goes along…character development combined with first-rate action and memorable world designs.” –<I>SFReader.com</i><P> <P> <b>About David Drake:</b><P> “[P]rose as cold and hard s the metal alloy of a tank…rivals Crane and Remarque…” –<I>Chicago Sun-Times</i><P> <P> “Drake couldn’t write a bad action scene at gunpoint.” –<I>Booklist</i>