The Art of War Trilogy Series by Richard Swan

Centuries in the future, humankind, an interstellar hegemony operating under the umbrella of the UN, exists alongside five other advanced alien races. Together they form “Tier Three”, bound by a diplomatic and trade accord by which little is certain except distrust and conflict.When the kaygryn launch a suicidal assault against an Ascendancy crusade fleet, the fragile imperial compact is thrown into disarray... moreCenturies in the future, humankind, an interstellar hegemony operating under the umbrella of the UN, exists alongside five other advanced alien races. Together they form “Tier Three”, bound by a diplomatic and trade accord by which little is certain except distrust and conflict.When the kaygryn launch a suicidal assault against an Ascendancy crusade fleet, the fragile imperial compact is thrown into disarray. The Ascendancy is quick to retaliate by massacring the kaygryn, and with a human colony in the midst of the crisis, the UN launches a series of heavy-handed military interventions which succeed only in embroiling it in a deadly alien war.Four UN officials – a petulant strike commander, an ill-informed mecha pilot, a decapitated intelligence agent and an elite, narcissistic diplomat – unwittingly share reservations about the provenance of the conflict. And when the Ascendancy’s crusade fleets – vast naval armadas which have been mysteriously pouring into the next galaxy for centuries – begin to slow down, it soon becomes clear that the very survival of the human race is at stake... less

The Ascendancy War has raged for six months. After two enormous fleet actions at New Port Louis and the Pillars of Cain, the seemingly unstoppable provari advance into UN space has finally been forced to a grinding halt. In the respite of stalemate, the UN gears up for its biggest counter-offensive of the war: Operation Talisman, a do-or-die effort to open up the coreward flank of the Ascendancy. Succeed, and the UN will seize the upper hand; fail, and defeat is inevitable... moreThe Ascendancy War has raged for six months. After two enormous fleet actions at New Port Louis and the Pillars of Cain, the seemingly unstoppable provari advance into UN space has finally been forced to a grinding halt. In the respite of stalemate, the UN gears up for its biggest counter-offensive of the war: Operation Talisman, a do-or-die effort to open up the coreward flank of the Ascendancy. Succeed, and the UN will seize the upper hand; fail, and defeat is inevitable. Andrea Constance, President of the UN and an anxious coalition of Tier Three allies, must prepare for either outcome as D-Day draws closer. But she knows that every human lost and every provar killed means two fewer soldiers to fight the Kaygryn Empire… *** Illustrated edition! The Ascendancy War contains 7 beautiful illustrations by Kelvin Liew. You can check out more of his work here: https://www.artstation.com/artist/lov.... Please note that the images will vary in quality and size depending on your reading device (a swift double-tap on most devices will enlarge the images to full-screen if they do not immediately appear that way), but I will also upload them to my blog (links below). The Ascendancy War forms book two of the Art of War trilogy. Keep an eye out for book three, Empire of the Fallen, coming in 2017. For updates, follow me at https://www.facebook.com/Reclamationb..., or my blog at reclamationbook.com. less

The Kaygryn Empire is coming. Amidst the embers of the Ascendancy War, old enmities must be forgotten and new alliances forged if the UN is to rally against the Imperial Fleet of Reclamation. Yet even on the eve of battle, the beleaguered forces of Tier Three are far from prepared. Power-hungry politicians, duplicitous generals and terrorists from all races threaten to destroy the fragile new alliance... moreThe Kaygryn Empire is coming. Amidst the embers of the Ascendancy War, old enmities must be forgotten and new alliances forged if the UN is to rally against the Imperial Fleet of Reclamation. Yet even on the eve of battle, the beleaguered forces of Tier Three are far from prepared. Power-hungry politicians, duplicitous generals and terrorists from all races threaten to destroy the fragile new alliance. In the face of annihilation, one last throw of the dice: a suicide mission deep into Andromeda, to the heart of the Kaygryn Empire. Its only objective: to stop the invasion at all costs... less