Jody Lynn Nye - Fortunes of the Imperium (Imperium #2, epub)[j_ray]

Sequel to A View from the Imperium. Jeeves in space! Rollicking
adventure featuring a seemingly dense, lovable nobleman and his
indespensible, droll aide, Parsons.

Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for
the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord
known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure
cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture.
(Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after
she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)

In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head
of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a
small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew's
overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being
detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As
usual, Thomas's reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem
precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader
on course.

Thomas's newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to
distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two.
Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas
a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him--much to Parsons's relief.
It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he
can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What's more, the smuggling
ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas's visit before he can cancel
them. As usual, it's up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless
master to victory--or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a
very determined enemy.

Title: Fortunes of the Imperium
Series: Imperium (Lord Thomas Kinago), Book 2
Author: Jody Lynn Nye
Published: September 2, 2014, by Baen
Language: English
Genre: Science Fiction
ISBN-10: 1476736723
ISBN-13: 978-1476736723
Paperback: 480 pages