The seventh installment in the popular Carrera military science-fiction
series.
Carrera's held off his enemies coming by sea from the north, in the
process dealing the naval and amphibious forces of the Zhong Empire a
stinging defeat. The Zhong won't soon forget the blood-stained waters
and the heaped-up bodies on the shores of Balboa's Isla Real.
Now, though, his adopted country of Balboa is under assault from the
east, from the south, from the west, from the air, and from space. The
Zhong, smarting from the butchery around the island, have bounced back
and forced a lodgment east of the capital. Their lodgment is still
abuilding, but when it is done, Carrera can expect several hundred
thousand brave and determined Zhong to show up on his barely defended
flank.
The Taurans, remembering their military roots, have assaulted Balboa
from the south, taking half the area of and cutting the Transitway that
joins Terra Nova's Mar Fusioso and her Shimmering Sea. In the process,
they've cut off and besieged the second city of the country, Cristobal,
trapping inside the city Carrera's Fourth Corps and overrunning and
capturing a large portion of Carrera's artillery train.
West of Cristobal, the Taurans have created, almost from scratch, a
series of small ports and airfields to support their siege. Inside the
town, a sense of desperation is growing among the men and women of the
Fourth Corps: Has their leader forgotten about or abandoned them?
Meanwhile, another Tauran Expeditionary force secures Balboa's eastern
neighbor, Santa Josefina, as a base against them. In space, the United
Earth Peace Fleet, under the command of High Admiral Marguerite
Wallenstein, keeps as low a profile as possible, all the time spying and
feeding intelligence to both Zhong and Tauran.
It's beginning to look like the game is up for Balboa and Patricio
Carrera. But Carrera's been planning this war for 15 years. He certainly
hopes his enemies think they're winning.
