Strength and Honor (Tour of the Merrimack Series #4) by R. M. Meluch
The forced alliance between the interplanetary Empire of Rome and the United States-led Earth is shattered as Ceasar Romulus declares war, striking at the U.S. Deep Space base and then following up with a direct attack against Earth. Merrimack has no choice but to retaliate with an assault on the Roman capital world of Palatine. In the midst of this chaos, the Hive renews its invasion. And even if John Farragut and his crew can survive all of this, the rogue Roman palterner Augustus - who was long beenassigned to his own mission aboard Merrimack - flees the ship when war is declared, and no one knows whether he is only biding his time, waiting to meet Farragut in a final deadly showdown. ...
You want space battles? Check.
You want sword fights and gladitorial combat? Check and check.
You want action, romance, philosophy? Check, check, check.
This, the fourth entrant in Meluch's Merrimack series (and I pray not the last!) delivers all the above and more. It's like a crazy cross mix of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Roman history and WWII - and for my money she pulls it off. Here's to many more.
