Star Crusader Series by Michael G. Thomas

Nate has a talent for space combat after hundreds of victories in the Star Crusader videogame simulation. His skills are unique, enough to gain him a rare privilege. The chance to join five other Alliance cadets and escape the dull routine of the classroom. They will enter a fierce competition light-years away in the ancient Byotai Empire. Yet days after their arrival a rebellious faction begins a bloody mutiny that spreads like wildfire... moreNate has a talent for space combat after hundreds of victories in the Star Crusader videogame simulation. His skills are unique, enough to gain him a rare privilege. The chance to join five other Alliance cadets and escape the dull routine of the classroom. They will enter a fierce competition light-years away in the ancient Byotai Empire. Yet days after their arrival a rebellious faction begins a bloody mutiny that spreads like wildfire. The time for competition has ended; the time of war has begun. A handful of capital ships attempt to avoid the massacre, but only Relentless escapes. Nate and his friends are aboard, part of the few to make it out alive. Relentless is a heavily armoured assault ship, a relic from another age, but most of her crew members are dead or missing. Nate and his fellow cadets have to face the unthinkable. Under the guidance of Lieutenant Higgins, the ship's last fighter pilot, the six cadets have just days to practice operating the ship's fighters. There are no others. Only they can defend the ship, or face death at the hands of the enemy. Books in the Star Crusader series: Hero of the Alliance Knighthawk Squadron less

Nate and his friends are expert gamers, and now veteran combat pilots. They have proven their skills by inflicting defeat on the enemy and saving their ship in the process. The passengers and crew regard them as heroes, yet after their violent escape, they are to be sent home to a life of study and boredom. Their ship, ANS Relentless, sets off to join the fleet to embark on a secret operation. A new battle is about to begin, and Nate and his gamers are unwilling to be pushed aside so easily... moreNate and his friends are expert gamers, and now veteran combat pilots. They have proven their skills by inflicting defeat on the enemy and saving their ship in the process. The passengers and crew regard them as heroes, yet after their violent escape, they are to be sent home to a life of study and boredom. Their ship, ANS Relentless, sets off to join the fleet to embark on a secret operation. A new battle is about to begin, and Nate and his gamers are unwilling to be pushed aside so easily. The dangerous assignment for Relentless is one that will require every pilot onboard to join the fight. The Orion Battlegroup assembles under the command of the war hero, Admiral Churchill. Desperate for pilots for the coming fight, Churchill gives Nate's unit their chance. They will reform the defunct Knighthawk Squadron, and join with their comrades in the battle to help their Byotai allies. Churchill's fleet is heads into hostile territory, a place where the enemy will outnumber them ten to one. As Nate climbs into the cockpit of his Bullnose Gunship, he still has no idea of the suicidal risks they are about to take. The Empire has already fallen, and the flames of revolution are spreading fast. Books in the Star Crusader series: Hero of the Alliance Knighthawk Squadron less

Nate faces his greatest challenge when his squadron embarks on a near impossible mission. Of the hundreds of pilots in the fleet, only they have experience operating alongside the alien pilots of the Byotai Imperial Fleet. Even if this experience was gained only in simulation. Over the past weeks, the videogame pilots have proven their mettle in battle. Now they will face the ultimate test, and join the elite Byotai pilots aboard the battleship Furiosa... moreNate faces his greatest challenge when his squadron embarks on a near impossible mission. Of the hundreds of pilots in the fleet, only they have experience operating alongside the alien pilots of the Byotai Imperial Fleet. Even if this experience was gained only in simulation. Over the past weeks, the videogame pilots have proven their mettle in battle. Now they will face the ultimate test, and join the elite Byotai pilots aboard the battleship Furiosa. Ahead of them lies the most critical phase of the conflict.A battle looms between the two superpowers, and the combined strength of the Imperial military and Alliance stands a small chance against the might of the marauding Star Empire. The vast squadrons of enemy warships, and unstoppable legions of Techno fanatics, acknowledge no borders or laws. Their sole aim is a cynical crusade to win glory for their half-blood leader, the Princeps Tahkeome. With time running out, only the mythical battleship Furiosa and her brave crew and pilots can make the dangerous run to locate the missing ships. They must rally every vessel and bring them to Helios Prime. The alternative, to face annihilation in the devastating battle that is to come. less

Nate and his friends undertake their greatest adventure yet, when their squadron joins BATTLE FLEET VICTORIOUS on a top-secret mission. The elite group of powerful ships makes up the fastest and deadliest Battle Fleet in the entire Alliance. They are heading deep behind enemy lines, to where the Star Empire has located an ancient and deadly weapon. One that would give them the means to defeat the Alliance in a single overwhelming battle... moreNate and his friends undertake their greatest adventure yet, when their squadron joins BATTLE FLEET VICTORIOUS on a top-secret mission. The elite group of powerful ships makes up the fastest and deadliest Battle Fleet in the entire Alliance. They are heading deep behind enemy lines, to where the Star Empire has located an ancient and deadly weapon. One that would give them the means to defeat the Alliance in a single overwhelming battle.As the pilots of Ironclad Squadron arrive on board the massive assault carrier, Nate discovers this is no conventional military force. Their commander is the infamous Colonel Gun, and the assault teams will be led by no other than Major Spartan, the Alliance's greatest warrior. Nate must leave the safety of the simulator videogame, and use his skills to prepare the fleet's rookie pilots to provide fighter cover for the entire mission. This is Nate's greatest challenge, and the fate of the fleet, and the entire Alliance lies in his hands. less

Nate and his friends in Ironclad Squadron are returning to the fleet when they detect a mysterious signal. Sensing a trap, Colonel Gun sends Nate out alone in his captured fighter to scout the source. The signal is emitting from inside the heart of the abandoned Kalar Anchorage. This massive facility was once the Byotai Empire's greatest shipyard, but now it lies cold and lifeless. Or does it? Upon arrival Nate runs headlong into the centre of a fierce battle... moreNate and his friends in Ironclad Squadron are returning to the fleet when they detect a mysterious signal. Sensing a trap, Colonel Gun sends Nate out alone in his captured fighter to scout the source. The signal is emitting from inside the heart of the abandoned Kalar Anchorage. This massive facility was once the Byotai Empire's greatest shipyard, but now it lies cold and lifeless. Or does it? Upon arrival Nate runs headlong into the centre of a fierce battle. On one side are the numerous forces of the insidious Orion Interstellar Empire. On the other, the powerful attack cruisers of the Byotai outlaw, Warlord Katanga.Kalar Anchorage has become a refuge for the lost and the damned. The former facility is populated by displaced people and wounded soldiers that have fought, and lost against Star Empire incursions. As well as the exhausted crews of a number of ships. Yet the forces of Katanga, though weakened by the fighting, still wish vengeance upon those that seek their utter annihilation. Katanga's desire for further violence may come earlier than expected. An entire fleet along with numerous ground forces has entered the system, and they will not leave until every defender is dead or captured. With no time to fully abandon the station, the preliminary skirmishes erupt into a major battle. The last stronghold that stands between the Orion Interstellar Empire and the hastily mobilised fleets of the Alliance. The Siege of Kalar has begun. less

Nate and his videogamer friends are given the chance of a lifetime, a six-month tour aboard the Alliance's newest battleship, ANS Dreadnought. She's the first in her class, and is the most powerful ship in the sector. Bigger and better protected than any ship before her, Dreadnought carries an arsenal of deadly weapons that can annihilate a small armada and can travel between the stars in a matter of days. There is no deadlier vessel in existence... moreNate and his videogamer friends are given the chance of a lifetime, a six-month tour aboard the Alliance's newest battleship, ANS Dreadnought. She's the first in her class, and is the most powerful ship in the sector. Bigger and better protected than any ship before her, Dreadnought carries an arsenal of deadly weapons that can annihilate a small armada and can travel between the stars in a matter of days. There is no deadlier vessel in existence.Two years at the Academy has tested Nate's flying, combat and technical skills to the limit. But nothing will come close to his greatest test. Captain Gaunt, one of the Alliance's most decorated officers plans to use Dreadnought to start a war, one that will engulf the region and cost many lives. As Dreadnought rolls out her guns to engage the very people Nate calls his friends, he has to make a decision. Does he stand by and let war spread through the sector, or will he lead the cadets in a mutiny against a beloved hero of the Alliance? less