Publisher's Synopsis
Directly following the events from Volume 1, PRELUDES... The Gongen: Inexplicably, Hijen Orochito, senior technician to the artificial intelligence that oversees Gongen society, 'Shocho' (and direct descendant of its 'maker'), has been appointed to be Director of Takumi, one of Gongen's most important cities. In his new role, Orochito must quickly learn to balance the tricky politics of the Gongen ruling body-the Atarashii Hajimari-with those of his own city...and the greater Solar System. Before he can even settle in, an attack by a group of rogue Earthers rips through the city, allowing highly sensitive starfighter technology to be captured. Orochito must determine the truth behind the attack and reclaim the starfighters before his political rivals see him disgraced. Will the Gongen get drawn into an all-out war with Earth before the planet is ready... The Earthers: Earth Ambassador to Mars, Kippli Darnel, has gone missing with top secret information. Once again it is up to XeLabs' elite duo Rogan Hallard and Jerlen Krae, and CISyn's Jannett Yens, to reform their unique alliance, this time to track down Earth's senior diplomat before the Mars government does. Their nemesis is Ito Ryu, a top-level official of Mars' powerful 'Hajimari' bureaucracy with direct connections to the AI tech, Shocho, and other more dangerous persons. The Earthers must tread especially careful as tensions are thin and all-out war threatens to break out with just one wrong move... The Mavericks: Among Jack Wilgress's many talents as a pirate and rogue, there is one he would prefer to do without-the elite ability to make more enemies for every one he checks off. And more powerful enemies at that after his last little excursion on Phobos hardly went unnoticed. Now Earth's CISyn puppetmaster, Jylan Rathe, desires Jack's unique skill-set for a hush-hush "job" he urgently needs done as war with Mars looms ever closer-and he thinks he knows just how to play the Knave 'leader'. What is Jack to do: The Cartel wants him - The Hellcats won't hear him - autonomy eludes him - and the one planet in the universe he's trying to escape needs is blackmailing him... Featuring popular characters, locations, and tech from Decipher Inc.'s WARS trading card game-including story lines developed by New York Times Bestselling author, Michael A. Stackpole-this trilogy collection of novellas detail events in the WARS universe in the 24th century leading up to the largest battle humans have ever experienced-THE BATTLE OF PHOBOS. WARS is a property of Decipher, Inc."
