Dexta is the first book in a new series by C.J. Ryan. Dexta itself is an acronym for the Department of Extra-Terrestrial Affairs. The Department is a sprawling ziggurat comprised of 15 levels that handles the affairs of the 2643 planets under the control of the Empire in the 33rd century. While the technology has improved and humans have made contact with numerous alien species (and conquered all that refused to submit to us), little else seems to have changed by way of normal human behavior.

(Source: Spectra)