An omnibus of books seven and eight in this fast-paced military SF series, full of action, adventure and intrigue, from the undisputed masters of the genre DIPLOMACY IS OVERRATED Soldier, Imperial bodyguard, Fleet Captain, Prisoner of War Sten has been many things in his long career, but theres one thing hes never been a diplomat. But when the Emperor sends Sten to the Altaic Cluster to support its dictator in quelling a civil war, a diplomat is exactly what Sten must be. As the war intensifies, he begins to suspect hes up against something more than a local disturbance. Someone operating in deep cover and seemingly backed by the highest authorities is working behind the scenes to escalate disaster. And that someone wants nothing more than to see Sten dead . . .