Introduction: The Risen Empire (Succession #1) Captain Laurent Zai of Imperial Frigate Lynx must rescue the Child Empress, sister of immortal Emperor worshiped by 80 human worlds for 1600 years. The forever young co-ruler has been taken hostage by Rix, machine-augmented humans who worship AI compound minds - cool relentless fanatics bent on domination. Separated by light years, bound by an unlikely love, Zai and pacifist senator Nara Oxham face the Rix and hold the fate of the empire....