Seed of Power — R. Peter Ubtrent

The escape was successful! Ailanthus, Tethys and they friends have escaped from the penal colony and the first place they find themselves is the black market planet of Kali Prime, home to some of the worst criminals and cheats not locked up. Wanting to ditch their stolen transport for something a little less obvious, they quickly learn that life outside K'ar Krack'a isn't all that different than it was inside. Meanwhile, Rohini and his spy master begin their attempts to hold the Imperium together from the rebellion boiling over at the heavy-handed methods of the new emperor. The Dei Glorium and her High Confessio of The Church of the Blessed Prophets begin their effort to destroy that which they want to save and Lord Cardinal Cebrenia Caroli begins her bumpy road toward revenge.