In Agamemnon Volume 1: Palisade, Specialist Bale Jackson embodies the cost and complexity of military enhancement in the future. As an augmented soldier, Bale possesses superhuman strength, speed, and resilience—but he remains deeply human, struggling with grief, duty, and identity. When his performance and intuition earn him a promotion, Bale is thrust into officer training and advanced augmentation, an elite process that transforms his body even further.
But beneath the tech upgrades and hardened muscle lies a man shaped by personal loss. Bale’s family was annihilated by the Wolverines, a hostile alien species, fueling his dedication to protect humanity at all costs. Still, the narrative never lets augmentation overshadow humanity. Bale’s hesitation at the dinner table, his awkwardness with social customs, and his friendship with engineer Tracy Reynolds all ground him emotionally.
This tension—between man and machine, duty and self—makes Bale one of the most
compelling characters in the novel. His growth isn’t just measured in rank but in compassion, maturity, and courage. Duke presents a future where the tools of war may evolve, but the soul of the warrior remains firmly anchored in the deeply human need for connection, purpose, and redemption.
