"But a new capital is born - on the snowy, windswept planet of Algeron, birthplace of General William "Bill" Booly III. The move meets with great resistance from the Algeron natives, forcing the part-alien Booly to fight political battles just as a disturbing discovery is made. Intelligence has detected a faster-than-ship communications antenna in a Ramanthian fortress. If this technology is integrated by the aliens, battles will be lost before they are begun. A special ops mission to seize the research facility is launched, under the command of First Lieutenant Antonio Santana, who is no more by the book than when he distinguished himself during the LaNor Rebellion." "The stage is set for an epic struggle on both fronts, as two men - the much-decorated elder officer and the young upstart - each face enormous odds in their efforts to save the Confederacy at any cost. And in the course of the struggle, they will both suffer losses above and beyond the call of duty."--BOOK JACKET.