A thousand years from now, while Earth sleeps in virtual reality, three polities-the Confederated Worlds, the Unity, and the Progressive Republic-strive to connect the scattered, terraformed worlds of humankind by artificial wormholes. When they meet, they clash, in a decades-long struggle of arms that will embroil every human world, in which dedication to duty liberates worlds-and oneself. The first three novels in The Confederated Worlds series are now available in one volume. TAKE THE SHILLING The Confederated Worlds implanted in his brain the skills to make him a soldier. Tomas had to learn for himself how to survive interstellar war. OPERATION IAGO The Confederated Worlds lost the war. Can Lt. Tomas Neumann win the peace against elusive, deceptive foes out to turn the Confederated Worlds against itself? A BODYGUARD OF LIES Assigned to the halls of power, only Capt. Tomas Neumann can save the Confederated Worlds from the ultimate treachery.