Rogue Forces (Patrick McLanahan Series #15) »

Dale Brown is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, starting with Flight of the Old Dog in 1987. A former U.S. Air Force captain, he often flies his own plane over the skies of the United States.

What happens when America's most lethal military contractor becomes uncontrollably powerful?

Newly inaugurated President Joseph Gardner pledged to start pulling U. S. forces out of Iraq on his first day of office-no questions asked. Meanwhile, former President Kevin Martindale and retired Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan have left government behind for the lucrative world of military contracting. Their private firm, Scion Aviation International, has been hired by the Pentagon to take over aerial patrols in northern Iraq.

Yet when Iraq quickly re-emerges as a hot zone, can the president rein Scion in? And just where does McLanahan's loyalty ultimately lie: with his country, his commander-in-chief, his fellow warriors . . . or his company's shareholders?

Publishers Weekly

This solid techno-thriller from bestseller Brown (Shadow Command) focuses on Scion Aviation International, a private security contractor providing mission support to the dwindling U.S. military presence in Iraq. Operated by a maverick former air force general and a former U.S. president, Scion has resources, expertise and connections that cause resentment among active-duty American troops in the region. When Kurdish terrorists attack Turkey using Iraqi territory as a haven, the Turkish military follows precedent set by the U.S. itself in attacking terrorist bases, which brings them into contact with U.S. forces. While the current president attempts to cool tensions, Scion takes action that not only strains relations between NATO allies but also reveals the company's possession of a technological superiority that poses a destabilizing threat to the region. While Brown delivers plenty of red meat action, he leaves questions of loyalty and accountability unresolved. (June)

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