The Ghost of Victory

People still couldn’t figure out where the enemy came from—an enemy that attacked the Empire and its neighbors, the jangors, simultaneously. The blow was so powerful that it could only be repelled by uniting—but the jangors didn’t want an alliance with humans, and the war turned into a catastrophe. The Jangor state ceased to exist, and humanity stood its ground, but only at the cost of losing the Metropolis and the death of the emperor. Many skills and technologies were lost; the Empire is rapidly falling apart, and it seems nothing can make humanity one again. Lieutenant Ilya Chekhov is one of the few surviving officers of the imperial army, which was almost completely wiped out in the decisive battle. Like other veterans, who became unnecessary to anyone after the war ended, he tries to survive in a world plunging into chaos, but unexpectedly receives a fragile, ghostly chance to revive the Empire and prevent humanity’s nearly inevitable destruction.