Outcast General’s Return of Triumph

Matthew Gilmore went into the army in his younger brother Zachary's place, because of what he felt for Zachary. He came out of three years of fighting as a Six-Star General, promoted on the strength of what he had done in the field. In that world rank is settled by martial strength. His father Benjamin Gilmore had not once asked after him in the three years he was gone. Matthew came back expecting something from the homecoming. Benjamin told him to sign his military merits over to Zachary. Matthew broke off the relationship with him on the spot. Benjamin took the merits anyway and entered them under Zachary's name, and Matthew told people what had happened. Then alien races invaded, and while the fighting covered it Benjamin had nuclear weapons used on Matthew to get rid of the one witness. Matthew came out of it alive with one arm gone. He set out his father's crimes in public, then went to the capital with the friend closest to him to enter the Star General Competition.