Lien is a Wasp-kinden officer and the highest ranking member of the Engineering Corps. He is lean, bald and usually unhappy, having long felt bitter about the lack of recognition received by his Corps and disliking men like Varsec with whom he is forced to work.
Heirs of the Blade[]
Colonel Lien is summoned to a meeting with several of the highest-ranking Imperial officers, including General Brugan, Colonels Harvang and Vecter, Major Ostrec, and two former officers turned prisoners, Angved and Varsec. Empress Seda arrives and announces the creation of the Farsphex program, freeing and promoting Angved and Varsec, the two men whose work made it possible. She also promotes Lien to General and places him in overall command of the program.
The Air War []
Lien oversees the implementation of the Farsphex program. When the Farsphex bombers are unexpectedly destroyed over Collegium, Lien's newfound status is suddenly balanced on a knife edge and he and Varsec travel to Chasme in order to rebuild the program with the aid of the Iron Glove.