General Garrett Sinclair and team attempt to rescue an American being held hostage by some breakaway group in NW Africa. Dahkla is a hub of activity in what used to be Western Sahara, which has been annexed by Morocco. A land grab not universally recognized.
Like most all clandestine rescues, the team hits a roadblock. Almost looks like the bad guys had been tipped. In the process of the rescue, Sinclair’s senior non-com, Sgt Major Sly Morgan, gets captured and is beheaded on the spot. By all appearances, Sgt Major Morgan had been targeted.
At the funeral back home in NC, Morgan’s daughter Zoey tells Garrett that her dad had been gathering intel in the area including notes about a meeting between governmental officials from the US, France, and China where the topic of discussion was the so-called China US Partnership (CUSP). While some agreements have been signed, mostly about China being transparent about its intentions in the region, the real reason for the partnership is the proverbial New World Order where China and the US establish a universal worldwide government (with China having plans on shouldering the US aside). Zoey is hot for revenge of her father’s executioner and disappears.
Garrett tries to alert the President (a childhood friend of the
General) about the behind-the-scenes goals of CUSP and who is plotting behind the scenes. Plus, he's butting heads with the
Secretaries of State, Defense, and the President’s staff advisors, all of whom
favor this new world order. It’s bound to happen eventually so best be on board
at the start. Sinclair wants to go after Zoey but is expressly told not to
intervene. Why he isn't to go find her doesn't hold water.
Of course, loyalty to Sly Morgan and daughter Zoey take precedence resulting in the General’s teams reassembling to find Zoey wherever she is being held in the western Sahara. Upon learning that Sinclair headed back to Africa, the Sec’y Defense advises the President to cut off all support leaving Sinclair and team effectively in the dark with no resources.
What they find in the sands east of Dahkla are two separate
but connected expeditions. One, mostly a diversion, is a treasure hunt for untold
hidden wealth in an area called The Eye Of Africa (look that up, too) and possible proof of Atlantis. The other is the development of a
Chinese base for land-based lasers that will be used to target orbiting hypersonic
nuclear missiles. The idea is China launches these missiles/satellites into orbit.
When a target is selected, the lasers signal and target the missiles for ground
targets.And they aren't hesitant about using them.
Without Presidential direction, Sinclair realizes he has multiple
tasks. First, find Zoey. Second, learn what he can about this Atlantis dig.
Third, gather intel on the growing Chinese presence and their goals. Fourth, if
anything happens, he’ll need to incapacitate the laser system. He, his Apache
pilot, his team of about a half dozen loyal operatives, and, currently, the
world’s best sniper, a Moroccan now have to plan on the fly to attack on multiple fronts. Walk in the park, right? If that isn't bad enough, the General also has to keep looking over his shoulder for DC-based interference.
The boys at MRB have reviewed one book by AJ Tata. It too was a bit outlandish. General Sinclair is a lead-from-the-front type, refusing to sit in a room watching satellite imagery of an ongoing op. As such, he’s considered a borderline rogue warrior who should be heading for retirement, not crawling through sand caves and engaging most anyone who doesn’t look like him or his handpicked team.
This book (and I’m guessing his 14 other novels) have two things in common. Not much character development and plenty of slam bang action. And that’s fine. Tata has a huge readership, so the story arcs of his books are resonating with a considerable audience. As military actions books go, this one’s got a ton of action. Given Tata’s history in the military, the descriptions must be on point . . . if a bit over the top.
Thanks to the good folks at St Martin’s Press for making a review copy available on NetGalley.
Available March 21, 2023
East Coast Don
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