Their enemies on Earth feared them...now it’s the Galactic Union’s turn! Until the coming of the Galactic Union put them out of business, the Gurkhas were among Earth’s fiercest and most successful mercenaries. Now one man—Ganju Limbu—wants to use their heritage of courage and loyalty to bring prosperity to Nepal, and he is one of two men selected to head Mercenary Guild-sanctioned Ghurka mercenary companies. Nothing is ever easy, though, and there are forces—both Human and alien—who don’t want to see the Ghurkas succeed, and they will go to great lengths to stop the Ghurka Rifles from ever getting off planet. Other forces hope they do get off planet…so they can take advantage of them. When Limbu and the Rifles take their first contract, everything seems easy—too easy for what they’re being paid to do—leaving Limbu to wonder what he isn’t being told. Treachery abounds, and the Rifles are on a collision force with an alien army that outnumbers them ten to one, leaving them with only their courage and guile to stave off defeat. For the Ghurkas, though, it’s better to die than be defeated, so they will have to come up with a strategy that turns the tables on the enemy, or the Gurkha Rifles’ first contract will also be their last!