Aldrich Isengrund, an ordinary British plumber, awakens centuries hence as the sole survivor of a clandestine Federation experiment, his body now a vessel of forbidden archeotech. Bound by the demands of his mechanical enhancements, he must harvest an endless tithe of xenos to unlock the full potential of his implanted systems. Armed with nothing but a scarred plasteel pipe and the will to endure, Aldrich navigates a hostile galaxy where survival hinges on ruthlessness and cunning. Each kill brings him closer to transcendence—or damnation. A grim saga of ambition and bloodshed across the stars, Herald of the Stars unfolds at the measured pace befitting an empire of unimaginable scale. Set in the Warhammer 40K universe with the intricate politics of a Rogue Trader's journey, this tale assumes familiarity with the far future, though newcomers will find their footing among the ruins of human glory.