Sequel to national bestseller, Nebula Award finalist, and Compton CrookAward winner Fire with Fire.When reluctant interstellar diplomat and intelligence operative CaineRiordan returns from humanity’s first encounter with alien races, suddenwar clouds burst. With Earth’s fleet shattered by a sneak attack and itssurvivors fighting for their lives, Caine must rely upon both his first contactand weaponry skills to contend with the non-humanoid enemy. And when thetechnologically-superior attackers sweep aside the solar system’s lastdefenses, and traitorous corporations invite the invaders to land "securityforces," humanity fights back with its best weapons: cunning, inventiveness, andguts. But as Earth hurtles towards a final trial by fire that is certain to scarits collective memory, Caine discovers that there may also be large anddisturbing gaps in that memory.