THEY WERE THE
TOUGHEST, DEADLIEST
MERCENARIES IN THAT PART
OF THE GALAXY...
AND THEY'D BEEN DOUBLE-CROSSED!

Celadon, a poor nation on a poor planet, engaged in civil war and a haven for every type of villainy in space, is ripe for cleanup. The military could pacify it handily, but it would take a statesman to fix it.

But statesmen have ethics, which politicians and megacorps find inconvenient. Celadon's President Bishwanath compounded the sin by being astute, ambitious and capable. Something had to be done, because a working nation isn't much use for pork and graft.

When the word comes down to replace him, the politicians move on with a new plan, reallocating resources, and finding a more pliable president to put in place.

There are three problems with this solution. Bishwanath does not want to be replaced. His mercenary bodyguards are more loyal than the politicians. And if they're not on contract—there are no rules.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Z. Williamson was born in Birkenhead, England and raised in Liverpool, and Toronto, Canada, before moving to Newark, Ohio. A 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, he is a state-ranked competitive shooter in combat rifle and combat pistol. His other books include Freehold and The Weapon for Baen, the Target Terror series for HarperCollins, (Targets of Opportunity, The Scope of Justice, Confirmed Kill) and The Hero, a collaboration with New York Times best-selling author John Ringo for Baen. He currently lives near Indianapolis with his wife Gail, also a veteran, their two children, and various cats that are not to be trusted.