Humanity is on the verge of war with an alien empire. The Terran Federation is gearing up for the conflict, expanding its territory, training armies, and building space fleets. Officers are needed to lead these forces, the cadets at Orion Academy are some of the brightest young minds in the federation.Fresh out of school, called up to serve just as their lives were about to start, the price of failure is assignment to a combat zone as a grunt; and more than that, the complete destruction of the human species at the hands of brutal conquerors. Many challenges await these young men and women. They must master a tactical combat simulator, withstand the wrath of sadistic instructors, adapt to uncompromising military discipline; and worst of all, deal with each other.Can they survive, The Orion Crucible?
