Baptism by Fire

On Kestral-IV, the desert doesn't forgive mistakes. Neither does war.

Berserker Lieutenant Rana Tess, fresh from the academy and untested in battle, takes command of a gravtank platoon tasked with securing a vital supply route through the treacherous expanse known as Bloodwind Cauldron. To her veteran crews, she's "Cherry": green, unblooded, and unproven.

When a massive sandstorm rolls in and a rival mercenary force, the Iron Jackals, moves to seize the basin, Tess's first real command becomes a trial by fire. Cut off, half blind, and facing enemy gravtanks equal to her own, she must earn her platoon's trust the only way that matters at the sharp end: through steel, grit, and the split second decisions that mean life or death.

Tonight, the storm is coming. So is the fight. And Lieutenant Tess is about to learn what it truly means to command.

From USA Today Bestseller Ryan W. Aslesen comes a hard-hitting military sci fi story that plunges readers into the chaos and intensity of futuristic armored warfare, where every choice carries a cost.

Part of the critically acclaimed Berserkers series, Baptism by Fire is a thrilling standalone short story set in the gritty War's Edge universe. Fans of Hammer's Slammers, Old Man's War, and Starship Troopers will feel right at home.

Note: This is a short story presented in a slim paperback edition for readers who prefer physical books.