Mercenary Lon Nolan returns in a mind-blowing, far-future military science fiction thriller from the national bestselling author of Major. The year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace--and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best. Lon Nolan has distinguished himself at the DMC, and he has the battle scars to prove it. Now, the governor of the isolated mining planet of Bancroft again needs Lon's help. The Colonial Mining Cartel is terrorizing the planet, and Lon is the only person who can stop it. He'd never thought he'd have to return, and now he's going back to face a more disciplined adversary than ever before. This time, the responsibility for the Second Battalion falls on him. "Rick Shelley was a soldier at heart, and his books were written from the heart. They carry the real feel of the sweat, blood, and camaraderie of those on the front lines." --Jack Campbell, New York Times-bestselling author "Rick Shelly knows how to write compelling military science fiction thrillers that are so action packed, readers hardly have a moment for an oxygen break." --AllReaders.com