« Critical Descent » Zachary Jones

Victory can have unexpected consequences, as Mason Grey, Jessica Sinclair, and the rest of the Federal Space Forces are about to find out. For Mason, after almost getting killed helping the Special Purpose Branch recover the prototype battlecarrier Independence from enemy territory, he is rewarded with a new assignment: forming a new special operations squadron from the remains of fighter squadrons decimated by the Ascendancy’s first attacks.

For Jessica, it is being sent on a dangerous journey to Earth to investigate the identity of those who created the Ascendancy, and perhaps discover why the Ascendancy decided to wage war against both the Earth Federation and the League of Sovereign Worlds.

For the Federal Space Forces at large, it is inadvertently giving the Ascendancy the opportunity to achieve a final victory without firing a shot. Namely, by creating a refugee crisis to put further strain on the fleet defending Earth after they expended a large portion of their precious fuel reserves supporting the operation to recover Independence.

The Federal Space Forces will have to turn to their old nemesis, the League of Sovereign Worlds for help if they are to ensure the Earth Federation’s continued existence.

But the League is in just as much danger being overwhelmed by the Ascendancy as the Earth Federation. The Federal Space Forces will have to find a way to save their old enemy before they can think about rescuing Earth from an impending invasion.