Redemption is a costly commodity. It’s time to pay the price.

Caleb Franklin blends high-stakes combat with sharp political intrigue and deeply human characters in his debut novel and first installment in The Doomed Empire Saga. Launching readers into a world on the brink of collapse, a once-unshakable civilization collides with rebellion, betrayal, and an enemy that threatens to end it all. With cinematic battles, raw emotion, and a relentless pace, Franklin delivers a story that will resonate with fans of classic and modern sci-fi alike.

Wars begin and empires end, and in the midst of it all, stand conflicted men. Not heroes. Not villains. Just souls torn between the blood oaths and the desire of broken hearts. History will carve their names in stone, but the truth of who they are lies in the cracks.

The Golden Empire was built on conquest. Now it teeters on the edge of annihilation.

Rapid change and rising conflict grip the planet Archaea. As old powers fracture and new ideologies clash, the very fabric of society begins to tear at the seams. Through a volatile mix of fate and personal choice, Augen finds himself on the distant battlefield against a dangerous and cunning foe. Physically augmented and outfitted with the blessings and weapons of the Golden Empire, the young warrior seems well equipped to bring purpose to his own life and death to his enemies. Or is he?

Augen’s battles are not only against enemies on the front lines or his own arrogant commander, but with the remnants of his shattered past. Tossed into the fires of a bloody conflict from the wreckage of personal tragedy, he must learn to forgive himself and confront the darkness tormenting him within. If he cannot reconcile with the memories haunting him, they may lead him straight into the arms of death – a presence that lurks around every corner.

As the world unravels, what does redemption truly cost—and what decides who is worthy of it? Can an imperfect man rise to become a symbol of salvation, or will he become another casualty etched into the forgotten margins of history? When the smoke clears and the war ends, will there be anything left of a once-thriving empire or the Templar of Archaea who dared to fight for it?