[Merkiaari Wars 01] • Hard Duty

Humanity's last encounter with aliens saw sixteen point two billion people

killed in a war with the Merkiaari that had spanned decades.

Two hundred years later, the Alliance is cautiously exploring beyond its

borders again, but the survey corp is considered a mere gesture by some.

General Burgton of the 501st Infantry Regiment believes a lack of expansion is

leading the Alliance into stagnation. So when one small ship discovers a new

alien race, it should be an easy decision to make contact, but what if the

aliens are like the Merkiaari?

Captain Jeff Colgan of the survey ship ASN Canada is at the tip of the spear.

His ship made the discovery, his crew's lives are on the line, and his

decisions will decide the outcome. Will the Alliance make new friends or will

he be responsible for another sixteen billion deaths? When the aliens discover

his ship and begin hunting him through their system, his mission changes from

one of study to one of survival.