Insignia

Tom Raines has spent years drifting between casinos with his father, a gambler who relies on Tom's gaming skills to survive. His life changes when someone notices his talent for virtual reality and offers him a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. At the Spire, Tom's combat instincts will be tested. If he succeeds, he will join the Intrasolar Forces and help lead his country to victory in World War III. For the first time, Tom has the chance to be important—to become a superhuman war machine with advanced tech skills. He gains friends, the possibility of romance, and a life where his actions matter. But this opportunity comes with a cost. As Tom navigates his new world, he must confront difficult questions about the relationship between humanity and technology in an age of advanced warfare.