The Nepis Galaxy, predominantly controlled by the Coalition, a politically aligned assembly of ambassadorial representatives from each aligned species; whose forum for political debate is the Coalition central planet of Agar.

Four planets, Agar, Lithia, Waii, and Ventek founded the Coalition after the termination of the vicious Drepan robotic wars. Years have passed since then, and the founder planets have coaxed hundreds to align under their unified banner, offering protection form those who chose to remain outside, such as the Sentec, the Aurian Bloc, and the warlike Quat-tar.

The Network’s main asset it deploys is four star-carriers, of which the Phoenix is the flagship. A veritable space-fortress capable of ferrying entire armies and mobilizing forces anywhere in Coalition space. She has her own marine attack force and two Special Forces detachments: the Rapid Assault Team, (RATs), and the highly successful elite Pierce Force, a regiment of battle hardened troops who go where no others troops dare, and get the job done where others would fail. Colonel Raga a veteran, a professional who has risen through the Phoenix marine ranks commands Pierce Force.

The Story.

Book one opens with a fierce fire fight in which Pierce Force retrieve a decoding device from an enemy planet; a device that will, unbeknown to them, prove useful in their next mission. After a brief, but intense exchange of fire Pierce Force board their transport and make their escape back to the starship Phoenix.

Several systems away, the Coalition space liner Pacificator ferries ambassador Morka of Tanteee to Agar. Morka’s mission is to negotiate Tanteee’s entrance into the Coalition. The Coalition assembly are keen for Tanteee to join, and the Network guarantees Morka’s safety.

The Pacificator is attacked by three Quat-tar military starships and boarded. The crew and passengers are massacred; Morka is captured and taken to Quat-tar’s prison planet, Secunda, where the Quat-tar chief inquisitor works on extracting certain desired information. They want the codes for Tanteee’s planetary defence shield and will torture Morka until he reveals them.

However moments before the Quat-tar boarded, Morka had managed to launch a distress buoy. Now, First Admiral Spate, Supreme Commander Network, has received notification of the destruction of the Pacificator and the capture of Morka. Admiral Torre, Commander of the Phoenix, is put on standby to retrieve Morka once the Directorate of Covert Operations, (DCO) have located his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Zix, emperor of Tanteee, also learns of Morka’s capture and he prepares for invasion.

Spate goes before the Coalition assembly to announce the capture of Morka and the impending operation to secure Morka’s rescue. Spate also announces another operation that will coincide with the rescue mission; this operation is to attack and destroy the shipyards at Ormacronis, who supply warships to the Quat-tar.

Raga and Pierce Force are briefed along with Phoenix commando and marine while the Phoenix makes for Torok where it is to rendezvous with a Tanteee stealth craft. This craft will get the Phoenix’s pathfinder teams onto Secunda without alerting the Quat-tar.

Emperor Zix refuses to flee his home planet, but sends his wife to be with her father on Theeka. The Quat-tar battle fleet sit on the Tanteee frontier awaiting news of the codes. They spot the empress’s ship and escort and attack.

The Phoenix task force cross the uncharted expanse of Executive space, a highly secretive species and move into Quat-tar space.

Network forces attack Ormacronis. While the Aries assaults the shipyards, the Cortez bombs the fuel refineries on the planet’s surface. Ormacronis is decimated. Their mission completed, they move to rendezvous with the Phoenix task force.

The Tanteee stealth craft deposits Pierce Force and Special forces onto Secunda. Pierce Force traverses Secunda’s dense jungle, searching for the underground prison where Morka is held. The Rapid Assault team move on Secunda’s military base of Burrena hoping to catch the military unawares and forestall any counter attack. Phoenix commando infiltrates Secunda’s capital Tormac-sol and takes out communications and the Quat-tar’s early warning systems. This done, the main assault body of Phoenix marine launch their attack.

The attack on the Tanteee empress fails. One Quat-tar ships is destroyed and another crippled, but the empress’ ship is forced to return to Tanteee. Here she finds the military high command struggling with a terrible dilemma – whether to use a weapon long since outlawed by the Tanteee religious sect, the Nor-trell. This weapon, in the wrong hands, could lead to universal domination.

Back on Secunda, Pierce Force finally locates the underground prison entrance. Once inside they are met by a DCO operative who leads Raga, along with Tanteee intelligence Colonel Lal, to Morka. Lal is instructed to kill Morka if they cannot get him out.

The RATs assault Burrena. A fierce battle ensues resulting in the Quat-tar troops going underground with the RATs in pursuit. The main assault on Tormac-sol is hard going; Phoenix marine suffer many casualties, the Quat-tar are well entrenched but slowly give ground.

Unexpectedly, the Quat-tar fleet turn up at Secunda and a fierce space battle ensues. The Phoenix is rammed and crippled. The small Network task force are outnumbered and outgunned and, suddenly, the tide has turned against the Coalition.

Raga and Lal locate Morka; he is still alive and hasn’t revealed the codes. Capturing the prison commandant and killing the inquisitor, Raga and Lal take Morka to the surface where Raga is told there is a large group of Quat-tar fighting a running battle with Pierce Force on the lower level; Raga races to his people.

The Quat-tar fleet is winning the space battle, the Network task force is failing, when suddenly the Tanteee deploy their secret weapon, their siege-station de-cloaks and enters the battle. The might of the siege-station quickly turns the tide back in favour of the Coalition.

In the depths of the prison Pierce Force fight a hand-to-hand battle with the Quat-tar, who have been driven underground by the RATs. There is a heavy loss of life on both sides, but eventually, caught between Pierce Force and the RATs, the Quat-tar finally capitulate. Morka is transported to the Phoenix. The Fourth Fleet turns up and occupies Secunda for the DCO. Raga and Pierce Force return to Agar and their next mission.