A summary of "Princess from the Outskirts of the Galaxy" by Roman Zlotnikov

This book is a space science fiction adventure novel written in 2008. It combines large-scale interstellar battles and political intrigue within the human Empire, where the superpowers of those native to isolated Earth become the primary weapon in a war for survival against the ruthless Kanskebron machines. This work expands on the "Berserkers" series and is the third book in the series. It follows the novels "Mutiny on the Edge of the Galaxy" and "Fighters from the Edge of the Galaxy."

Return from captivity

Captain Sikonai is patrolling the Esgenta system’s border in a medium-sized raider. Suddenly, radar detects the appearance of a small ship, the Begun-24. The raider’s crew boards the vessel and discovers Lady Esmiel on board. She had previously fled the state with her husband, Oleg. Oleg was born on Earth and possesses unique berserker combat skills. Oleg’s sister, Olga, is traveling with the couple.

The fugitives report that they have escaped from Kanskebron captivity. They secretly smuggled a hostage from the artificial planet Minor Gronta. The captive turns out to be one of the enemy race’s top leaders, calling himself the Focus. The glowing sphere contains a mind possessing immense computing power. The human transports the hostage in an ordinary sack. The raider’s commander immediately reports the valuable find to Admiral Ekaniore, who is in charge of the defense of the Esgenta system.

Ekanor decides to conceal the arrival of the humanoids. He places the fugitives’ ship in the abandoned Primaries-24 dock. The dock is hidden on the outskirts of the second asteroid belt. The veteran mechanic, Klom, prepares the station for guests. The Admiral attempts to establish contact with the Core but fails. The Sphere communicates telepathically exclusively with Oleg. Olga explains that the machine recognizes only high-status intelligences as its equal. Junior Commander Sagrais organizes perimeter security. The humanoids spend time in isolation. Olga trains local soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. The girl easily disperses armed marines, demonstrating phenomenal speed and berserker strength.

Conspiracy of the Lords

Ruler Eoneus learns of Esmiel’s return. Lord Eisele, head of security, relays the information. Eoneus immediately departs for the Esgenta system. The young sovereign wishes to meet his former lover in person. Lord Eisele has long been keeping an eye on the high aristocracy. Senate Speaker Eomiren plans to strip the monarch of his power. Eomiren wants to hand over the reins of power to the High Guardian Council.

The Senate Speaker learns of Aeonaeus’s departure. The rebels secretly follow the sovereign’s ship. They plan to force the monarch to sign the necessary decrees away from the capital’s guards. The conspirators overtake Aeonaeus in a secret dock. Aeomiren demands an immediate transfer of power. Oleg openly mocks the politicians’ stupidity. The rebels gather the entire senior leadership in the border sector just before the enemy attack.

A gigantic fleet of Canskebrons is indeed invading the system. Six monstrous system destroyers appear on radar. Eomiren orders the guards to capture Esmiel to blackmail the monarch. Oleg and Olga instantly scatter the armed fighters. The humanoids offer the sovereign refuge on Captain Sikonay’s raider. Eoneus agrees and manages to broadcast a message about the lords’ betrayal.

Breakthrough and Earth

Oleg and Olga climb into the pilot’s seats. They steer the raider straight through the internal hangars of one of the enemy destroyers. The Humans unleash a barrage of fire on the vehicle’s internal bulkheads. The raider destroys the giant ship from the inside and escapes into hyperspace. The shockwave throws the vessel millions of kilometers away. The fugitives depart for Earth.

Emperor Aeonius spends several weeks among ordinary earthlings. The Emperor lives a normal life. The monarch fishes and communicates with former enemy machines who have defected to humanity. Aeonius trains his body under Olga’s strict guidance. Oleg and his comrades discuss the future of the Empire. They suggest the Emperor undergo berserker initiation, a procedure that awakens superpowers through stress.

The monarch accepts the earthlings’ bold offer. He is dropped into the icy ocean waters next to a predatory killer whale. On the brink of life and death, Aeonus activates his dormant reserves. He kills the predator with his bare hands and survives. The monarch gains new capabilities in his brain and body. Aeonus finally understands the full weight of the ruler’s burden. The young man develops a deep respect for Olga, who becomes his primary mentor.

Capital confrontation

The rebels hold the capital but are losing popularity. Lord Eisel uses the media to discredit the High Council. Journalist Laig Neveler constantly accuses the senators of treason. Rebel soldiers sack television studios. These actions provoke widespread hatred toward the conspirators. Eomiren’s son, Ecanth, self-proclaims himself head of the house and leader of the rebellion. The cunning Lords Exent and Erminai manipulate the inexperienced youth.

Oleg has a long conversation with the Core deep underground. The Earthling is trying to find a logical flaw in the enemy race’s algorithms. The machines seek to destroy organic life to conserve the universe’s resources. The Core views humans as chaos. Oleg understands that the war cannot be won by force of arms alone. The destruction of billions of machines will weigh heavily on the conscience of humanity. The Earthlings send four captured system destroyers to aid the Empire’s capital. The enormous ships are piloted by artificial intelligences with female names — Marilyn, Li Mei, Gretchen, and Tatiana.

A Canskebron armada approaches the capital. The enemy is deploying thousands of pennants within a fifty million kilometer radius of the planet. Earth ships arrive in time and contact Lord Ekanteus. Eoneus takes command of the defense. The artificial intelligence Merilyn calculates complex firing trajectories. Four Earth destroyers combine their weaponry into a single salvo. The combined strikes destroy the enemy fleet’s flagships. The remaining machine forces finish off the local squadrons.

Justice and Coronation

Imperial troops liberate the Esgenta system from the remnants of enemy forces. Local residents assist the paratroopers in bloody urban battles. The war takes on a new dimension. The Emperor hosts a gala reception in the capital palace. The monarch highly values Lord Eisel’s loyalty and makes him his chief ally.

Eomiren hides in a hunting lodge on a remote planet. The Senate Speaker hires local mafia thugs to assassinate Esmiel. The criminals burst into the girl’s bedroom in the dead of night. Esmiel desperately resists. She kills several of her attackers but suffers severe stab wounds. Olga miraculously manages to save her friend with the help of Professor Santroz’s experimental medical capsule at the Second Imperial Medical University.

Lord Eisel’s service finds the mastermind behind the nighttime attack. Mafia boss Stominer turns over Lawcroft’s nephew to the investigation. The trail leads to the fugitive Senate Speaker. Olga tracks Eomiren in the forest near his castle. The Dugout challenges the traitor to a judicial duel. Herald Estol records the rules of the crowning battle. The senator attempts to resist, but Olga brutally kills him with her bare hands. The Council of Lords officially recognizes the results of the duel. The Dugout receives all the wealth of the defeated house.

At the ball, Eoneus comes to Olga’s room. The Tsar asks the earthling to become his wife. The young man confesses that he has always suffered from loneliness among the greedy courtiers. The powerful warrior accepts the monarch’s sincere proposal. The girl understands that the Tsar needs an equal partner. The wedding ceremony coincides with the coronation of the new empress. Olga sits on the throne in a luxurious palace and laughs at the irony of fate. The powerful berserker is forced to subordinate her life to her husband’s affairs of state.