The Soldier may be the first novel in the Rise of the Jain series, by bestselling science fiction author Neal Asher.

Her mission is essential. Her failure is unthinkable.

A hidden corner of space is swarming with lethal alien technology, a danger to all sentient existence. It’s guarded by Orlandine, who must keep it contained at any cost – since it has the power to ruin entire civilizations. She plans from her state-of-the-art weaponry station, with just an alien cleverness to share her vigil. But she about The Soldier doesn’t talk about everything with Dragon .

Orlandine is hatching a plan to obliterate this technology, removing its threat forever. For a few will do anything to exploit this historic weaponry, created with a long-dead competition called the Jain. This consists of activating a Jain super-soldier, which might breach actually Orlandine’s defences.

Meanwhile, humanity and the alien prador empire preserve a careful view more than this sector of space, as neither can allow the various other to claim its power. Nevertheless, things are going to modification. The Jain might not be as dead as they seemed – and interstellar battle is a heartbeat away.