A backwater mining planet that has not achieved federation status is suspiciously close to a suspected enemy communications relay.  The troopers land on the planet to discover a modest ship port, market, housing district, and industrial sector.  A few suspicious murders are enough to ground every ship on the planet...

After a quick redeployment, the conclusion of the unit's first mission was grim.  The allies on the ground had already been eliminated, with the exception of one.  Following a quick and dirty evac, Pierce was frustrated by SICON but encouraged by the performance and tenacity of his fellow troopers.  Upon...

Following his first disastrous encounter, Pierce became thoroughly disillusioned with SICON high command and its reckless use of human resources.  In spite of this, his views on service and citizenship remained unchanged, his determination to become an officer redoubled so that he might rise high enough in the command chain...