History Literature / Insignia

--> Heather rolled her eyes, her lips curling. “Oh my ''God'', that’s so pathetic. Are you this out of touch with the way people work?”

--> Heather rolled her eyes, her lips curling. “Oh my ''God'', that’s so pathetic. Are you this out of touch with the way people work?”
* WoobieDestroyerofWorlds: [[spoiler: Nigel leaked information on Cam Cos, installed a virus inside Tom's head and attempted to blow up the Pentagonal Spire with his spaceship because he felt resent and hatred for his colleagues that mocked him. His [[EvilPlan plan]] is to emerge as a hero and become the new face of Cam Cos.]]

* NarratingTheObvious: Kincaid does this at times.

* ArchEnemy: Tom acts as one to [[TheBully Karl Masters]] and [[SadistTeacher Blackburn]]. Oficially Medusa could be one as well, although her [[AmazonChaser relationship with Tom]] [[DatingCatwoman is nowhere as antagonistic]].
** Vengerov to Blackburn.

* AllTheOtherReindeer: Nigel Harrison, a loner who is mocked by his peers due to his unusual [[CharacterTics tics]]. [[spoiler: This is the reason why he later leaks information on CamCos combatants, betrays Tom and [[FaceHeelTurn tries to blow up the Pentagonal Spire with the spaceship he's controlling]].]]

* ActionGirl: Medusa, Wyatt and Heather.
* AffablyEvil / FauxAffablyEvil
** Vengerov initially seems rather harmless. [[spoiler:That is, until he almost gets Tom killed after he refuses to incapacitate Medusa with a virus and electrocutes Yuri's brain.]]
** [[spoiler:Heather Akron. Later books reveal her {{chronic backstabbing disorder}}, [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] to become the face of Camelot Company and her former friendship with Wyatt. [[KickTheDog She proceeds to blackmail Tom]] and [[BullyingADragon later Blackburn]]. [[HoistByHisOwnPetard It doesn't]] [[CharacterDeath end well]].]]

* AnArmAndALeg / {{Artificial Limbs}}: [[spoiler: In ''Vortex'' Tom gets cybernetic fingers.]]

-->"Wyatt stared at her. “You only sit with me now when you want something.” She stung with the realization. “You don’t want to be my friend; you just want me to do stuff for you.”
-->Heather rolled her eyes, her lips curling. “Oh my God, that’s so pathetic. Are you this out of touch with the way people work?”

* BettyAndVeronica: Medusa (Veronica) and Heather Akron (Betty) to Tom's Archie. While both Medusa and Heather are [[ActionGirl action girls]], Medusa is a more dangerous option due to being a [[LivingLegend world famous space combatant]] [[FoeYay fighting for the opposing side]] [[DatingCatwoman in the international conflict]].

* Insignia (#1) (2012)
* Allies (#1.5) (2013)
* Vortex (#2) (2013)
* Catalyst (#3) (2015)

* CharacterDeath: [[spoiler:In ''Vortex'' Blackburn throws Heather down a vactube. Tom is well aware [[NightmareFuel how she will die]].]]

* MeaningfulName

The planet's natural resources are almost gone, and war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The enemy is winning. The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn't seem like a hero. He's a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.

As a new member of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom's life completely changes. Suddenly, he's someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there's a price to pay. . . .

* OfficialCouple: [[spoiler: Tom and Medusa.]]

* ParentalSubstitute: Blackburn is mplied to act one towards Wyatt as her mentor. He even remarks that Wyatt doesn't have much support from her parents and that she reminds him what it was like to be a father. [[spoiler: It's sort of a {{tearjerker}} knowing that he accidentally killed his own kids after having a neural processor installed in his brain.]]

-->"Wyatt stared at her. “You only sit with me now when you want something.” She stung with the realization. “You don’t want to be my friend; you just want me to do stuff for you.”