Golden Son

How it opens

Darrow commands a fleet in the last stage of an Academy wargame, chasing the final ship of Karnus au Bellona through a field of asteroids. Squadrons he sent ahead in secret catch Karnus on the flank and hit his ship with simulated nuclear missiles, and the game is won. Moments later a damaged destroyer that had been lying in wait inside an asteroid rams his flagship, and hundreds of his crew are lost as it breaks apart. Darrow carries his injured valet, Theodora, to an escape pod, but when he tries to launch himself at Karnus's ship in a starShell, the Proctors freeze his controls.

Who you meet early

• Darrow O'LykosDarrow, a Red whom the Sons of Ares carved to pass as a Gold, is twenty and a student at the Academy under the patronage of Nero au Augustus, ArchGovernor of Mars. He won at the Institute more than two years ago but has heard nothing from the Sons since.
• Roque au FabiiRoque, a Gold who finds poetry in the motion of ships among the stars, has been Darrow's friend since the Institute and now serves as one of his lieutenants at the Academy. He is a prodigy at fighting in space.
• Victra au JuliiVictra au Julii, the elder half sister of Antonia, is one of Darrow's lieutenants in the Academy wargame. She is twenty-seven and scarred, and she pushes to finish Karnus off quickly.
• Tactus au Valii-RathTactus au Rath, a Gold Darrow first met at the Institute, is one of his lieutenants in the Academy wargame. He takes stims on the bridge and talks of drugs and parties.
• TheodoraTheodora, an older Pink who once worked as a Rose courtesan, is Darrow's valet and advises him on society.