First published 2025
Rear Admiral Will Cole planned to retire from the Pacific Fleet after decades of service. The Navy operates at breaking point while China builds its combat capabilities. Both superpowers fight for control of Taiwan's semiconductor production facilities. Cole knows this competition leads to catastrophe. He wants to step aside for the next generation of military Coles. His eldest son Henry pilots F-18 fighters as a Navy lieutenant. Middle son Jaime serves as a merchant marine officer. Daughter Lu waits at home. The Cold War erupts into active combat before Cole can pass command. Missiles launch across the Pacific. Military leaders prove Cole's warnings correct by ordering him back into action. His mission becomes clear but nearly impossible. Cole must eliminate China's naval forces and recapture Taiwan before the window closes. The admiral faces a choice between family plans and national survival as two nuclear powers clash over the world's most critical technology supply.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, family-drama
Setting: Pacific Fleet, Taiwan, China
Period: Cold War
416 pages · Hardcover · Naval Institute Press
Content warnings: violence, war