The Lies Arcana: Starship's Mage Book Seventeen

The Protectorate of Mars has suffered a military defeat. The star system of Chimera, once inhabited by both humans and the alien Reezh and symbolizing peace between the two species, has been conquered by remnants of the old Reezh empire and its imperialist church. Mars will need years to rebuild its fleets and retake Chimera alone. Ambassador Connor O'Hannagain, whose fate is tied to Chimera's, recognizes that Mars requires new allies to oppose the coming threat. He departs into deep space with a Navy escort to locate the other faction of the civil war that fractured the Reezh empire. Finding potential allies proves only the first challenge. Connor must persuade them to join Mars against their common enemy. As he uncovers the dark secrets of the shattered empire, he faces a difficult choice: whether he can ally with those who must sacrifice innocents to power the warships Mars needs.