In the 33rd century, unbridled pleasure and unparalleled peace make the world go round--under the watch of a vast corporate order that includes living goddess Gloria VanDeen, a powerful player as gutsy as she is gorgeous. More popular and more ambitious than ever, Gloria is entertaining two tempting offers: to become Empress, or to rise through the ranks of the Department of Extraterrestrial Affairs and take out some bad guys along the way--if they don't get her first. . . .  When someone takes a potshot at Gloria with a weapon unseen since the Empire's last great war, it's clear that success won't come without a price. For among power brokers, warriors,and rebels lies a dirty secret that could crack the Empire wide open. And Gloria is determined to get to the bottom of it--even if it means going to the top.