Anxious to forge her own path away from her father's shadow, the newly minted Second Lieutenant Esther Lysander jumps into her first command, an infantry platoon. Driven to excel, she's not going to let anything get in her way as she climbs to the top.

Leading a pack of Marines, however, requires more than just courage and understanding the tactics of war.

She has to lead, not merely command.

As much as she wants to succeed in her own right, it isn't that easy. For good and bad, everyone knows who she is and the legacy she carries.

She can't escape the Lysander name.

Now, despite some initial success in combat, her family name is still the reason she's recruited for the Reconnaissance Training Course. With women only recently integrated into the Federation Marine Corps, only one has made it through the course so far.

Esther can play it safe, stick with the infantry and hit all of the milestones she needs to be promoted through the ranks. . . or she can risk her reputation, family honor, and her future, all for the chance to stand on her own two feet.

Even if she gets through and becomes a Recon Marine, can she handle the weight and responsibility of being the best of the best, where interpersonal relationships—her weakness—are paramount?

Play it safe and ride the Lysander name. . . or gamble her future for the sake of her—the choice is hers, and there can be no going back.