Schlock Mercenary Emperor Pius Dei

"Tagon's Toughs are on shore leave indefinitely: no ships, no payroll, and no prospects. The godlike A.I. they accidentally installed in the Galactic Core isn't hiring, and has plans they're better off staying out of regardless. Then a ship becomes available at a price that's just too low to pass up, even if it does mean that there might possibly be some strings attached--long, invisible ones trailing right back to the Galactic Core ..."--P. [4] of cover.