The Ascendant Stars

Factions vie for control of the newly discovered planet Darien, each seeking powerful weapons at its core, while inhabitants fight to defend their future. Unbeknownst to many, hostile AIs have infiltrated key minds, seeking to unleash destructive machine intelligences beneath the planet. Protected by hidden guardians and an ancient ally, the inhabitants face an existential battle against droid armies aiming for freedom and chaos. The conflict on Darien sets the stage for a high-stakes war between machine and human forces.