The Deacon's Tale is the story of Cai Rui, Task Force Commander of the infamous "Black Section" of the Sol Force Intelligence Corps and a loyal Archdeacon of the Roman Catholic Church. Charged to investigate a brutal massacre of Catholic converts on a distant alien world, Cai Rui finds himself on the trail of a killer who can threaten not only his life, but his very soul. As a brutal new race emerges from the shadows, one man will be tested to the extremes of courage and faith by an enemy who dares to call himself..."The Deacon." This novel is based on the "Sword of the Stars" universe, from the acclaimed '4X' strategy game.