Badlands

In "The Periphery War" by Tony Healey, Captain JD Ambrose, once a highly decorated officer of the Sovereign Fleet, struggles with the aftermath of his capture and mutilation by the Krians as he embarks on a perilous mission to recover a top-secret vessel. Meanwhile, Private Lorna Beck awakens from cryosleep with an alien infection, determined to return to the battlefield despite the changes within her. Both characters are drawn into a complex web of warfare and personal turmoil, discovering that their fates are inextricably linked by the powerful vessel they seek and the lingering darkness of conflict. This engaging military science fiction saga delves into the lasting scars of war and the hidden threats that emerge from within.