Igniting the Reaches — David Drake

His acclaimed novel Hammer's Slammers is considered one of the classics of military science fiction. Now David Drake once again takes us on an epic journey to the farthest reaches of space...

A millennium after the great Collapse of the human empire, mankind is reclaiming the stars. Colonel Stephen Gregg and raw space-sailor Piet Ricimer sail forth from the clouds of Venus, prepared to reap the rich opportunities of this new and unpredictable age. But in their way stand rival ships, strange aliens, and human hybrids--all racing to have their names etched in eternal flame across the Reaches!