Read by J. S. Arquin

The end is near. Amid exhausting preparations for a battle to end all battles, Major General David Cohen celebrates a momentous event. At long last he's tying the knot. The good news keeps coming as enmity between rival worlds of Sextans B has vanished, drawn together to confront the sinister swarm. But numbers don't lie. Despite miraculous progress on all fronts, the math doesn't add up. No matter how many destroyers leave orbital shipyards or training exercises are untaken to get ships and crew up to CDF standards, David realizes they're fighting an uphill battle. Until hope springs anew. Dr. Hayworth's efforts with the precursor obelisk finally bear fruit when a stable trans-galactic wormhole parts the void. At long last, the Lion and her battlegroup can return home. But with reestablished communications, David confronts the old political wrangling that has long plagued the Terran Coalition. With combat imminent, he faces an impossible choice: disobey a direct order and stay to fight or abandon the galaxy he's fought to preserve to their fate. And behold Creation's ultimate destruction

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