The Terran Gambit (Book 1 of The PAX HUMANA saga)

The Corsican Empire, or New Rome, as it styles itself, extends the reach of the "Pax Humana" across the thousand worlds, ruling with force and fear.
40 years ago, they returned to Earth, subjugating it and claiming the ancient home of humanity for the Empire.

Now, in 2675, Earth fights back.

Lieutenant Jacob Mercer likes fast motorcycles, faster women, and screamin' fighters. As a reckless space jock in the Resistance fleet he lives for the thrill, and to take out as many Imperial bogeys as he can. At least, more than his buddies.

But with victory in sight, the Imperials thwart the Resistance in a surprise show of devastating force, and Dallas burns from a thermonuclear blast—millions die—a merciless example of what happens to upstart worlds in the Pax Humana.

The Resistance goes underground to rebuild its strength, and in the shadows, the leadership devises a daring plan to strike right at the Empire's heart in a final, desperate bid for freedom.

A plan that will send Jake Mercer right to where he doesn't belong: The captain's chair of the most advanced warship in the galaxy, facing down a psychopathic Imperial Admiral bent on utterly destroying the Resistance, and Earth itself.