Warrior: Coupe — Michael A. Stackpole

THE HONEYMOON OVER.

The armies of Prince Hanse Davion continue to advance through the CapeIlan Confederation out unopposed. Maximillian Liao's realm crumbles around him, yet within the madman's court, his two faithful advisors plot Hanse Davion's downfall. Justin Xiang, disgraced and exiled by the prince himself, devises a plan that will use Davion's own technological advances against him. Justin's partner, Tsen Shang; executes an even more crippling blow--a strike into the heart of the Federated Suns meant to destroy the ability of Davion's forces to ravel between the stars...

Half a galaxy away, assassins stalk Archon Katrina Steiner and her daughter, Hanse's wife, Melissa Steiner, through the secret passages of their own palace while scheming nobles form treacherous power alliances that threaten to deliver the Lyran Commonwealth to Katrina's enemies. Theodore Kurita masterminds an invasion of the Commonwealth that will cut it off from its ally, the Federated Suns. Yet the only MechForce capable of blunting that invasion--the Kell Hounds--are involved in a deadly game of search and destroy with the most fearsome Kurita unit ever formed--the Genyosha!

In a world where 10-meter-tall war machines are the soul of battle, assassins are tools of state policy and a spy's loyalty is always for sale, nothing but death and destruction are certain. Who can you trust, and for how long? And in the bitter end, how will you be betrayed?

Hanse Davion's forces are winning. For now...