Starfist

Written by former soldiers David Sherman and Dan Cragg, who drew on their own experience of combat, this installment continues the Starfist line of military science fiction. The story takes place on Ravenette, a distant world where Marines of the Confederation's 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team are fighting a full rebellion under a reckless, fanatical commander. The unit has already taken heavy punishment in close, uncertain clashes with breakaway worlds.

The Confederation, wary of an alien enemy determined to wipe out humanity, has strengthened its defenses. Settlers on the outer reaches of human space near Ravenette, unaware that such a threat exists, see these measures as oppression, and ten planets have answered by seceding. Despite its losses, the 34th FIST refuses to give up, even though its next assignment is so perilous that few of its troops are expected to come home.

Ensign Charlie Bass and his Marines face a brutal amphibious landing, where they will be badly outnumbered, outgunned and outarmored against fresh enemy forces. Bass refuses to hold back, believing that a Marine facing hopeless odds attacks with everything he has.