Assigned to a high-risk mission and determined to assemble the best team possible, Hoffman turns to the fearsome Pesang troops. But COG top brass isn't too happy with his ideas regarding commando units, so the Captain has two battles on his hands: one against the enemy, and one against his own bosses. Bestselling author Karen Traviss leads readers back through GEARS history, to the days of the Pendulum Wars and story spotlighting a younger Captain (now Colonel) Hoffman.