Two hundred years in the future, human beings have traveled to the stars, settled colonies on fifty worlds, and finally discovered intelligent life: the DrakkHar'large, cold-blooded reptilian creatures who see human beings not as equals, but as food. War was unavoidable. Ill-prepared for the sudden and vicious conflict, humanity finds itself on the losing side. After three years of retreating from the onslaught to gain time, humanity has dug in its heels, built up their forces, and begun to fight back. When intelligence identifies the distant Mindon star system as a source of Drakk?Har warships, a major engagement begins. Star Command Fleet Nine strikes the first blow in a new offensive campaign. During combat operations on Mindon-2, the plan goes horribly wrong. Casualties mount on both sides. The men and women on the raid find themselves in a merciless crucible that threatens to change them forever. The DrakkHar know victory can only come by overwhelming the humans with savage brutality.