In the twilight of the Terran Empire, one man exists who can save his empire-- and civilization itself--by hook or by crook, whether his "betters" appreciate his efforts or not. Flandry is both a James Bond style agent of empire, and agent-provocateur of change. Flandry is a heroic but tragic figure: a man who knows too much history, who knows that battle and scheme as he will the Long Night of Empire is approaching. If that darkness is not to fall in his own lifetime, must do what he can. And anyone, human or alien, who gets in his way, will most definitely regret it. Contains