His first mission takes a sudden turn, and now he's fighting for his life against impossible odds...
After experiencing true failure for the first time in his young life, a shaken Highensign Westyr Shelhou embarks on his inaugural assignment for the Unity Fleet. In an unexpected re-assignment, he finds himself dirtside with troops prepared to engage an adversary resolved to fight to the death.
Panicked jitters threaten to derail his promising military career before it starts. Tasked to watch over an injured enemy soldier and an elderly byveri, he finds comfort in their exchange of words. All too soon, though, the grim reality of his situation crashes back upon him and his fellow troopers—his pelt. Now, as an overwhelming enemy wave closes in and his pelt’s options dwindle, Westyr’s first mission in service to the Unity Sphere may be his last...
