Page "Exultant (novel)" Paragraph 3

Pirius is a fighter pilot stationed at the front.

When a battle turns to disaster for the Coalition forces, he disobeys suicide orders to stand and fight, choosing instead to risk survival.

In a desperate gamble to outrun a pursuing Xeelee, Pirius captures a Xeelee fighter for the first time in history.

Returning to base via FTL travel, he arrives two years previous to the battle, when his younger self is still a cadet.

Rather than being lauded as a hero, both instances of Pirius are court-martialed for disobeying orders.