Rising Stars

The transition to senior leadership is proving to be a different kind of war. Major Julian Reed now commands a new company, but the tactical brilliance that served him as a Captain is being tested by the political and social minefields of his new rank. As he mentors a fresh crop of inexperienced officers, he realizes that his greatest challenge isn't the enemy—it's preparing the next generation for a conflict that has no front lines.

Across the globe, Specialist Liam O'Connell's unit is deployed to a remote, high-risk location to face a well-funded terrorist cell that operates with terrifying precision. While CW2 Alex Chen is forced into an uneasy alliance with a hostile foreign pilot to survive a series of deadly sorties, Major General Allison Cole fights a losing battle against a public relations disaster. The "Shadow Enemy" is no longer just a rumor; it is a coordinated force that threatens to overwhelm the unit's training and endurance. In a world of shifting loyalties, the Guardian Corps must decide if they are fighting for a mission or just for their own survival.