Swift, silent, and deadlythey strike where no one else dares.Fear is the fastest-growing crop on Haulover, a newly colonized planet where someoneor somethingis destroying isolated farmhouses. The unseen enemy strikes without warning, then disappears, leaving no stone standing, no trace of families or farm animals. When the Confederation receives a desperate plea for help, its time to send in the Marines. Impossible missions are a matter of course for Fourth Force Recons second platoon squads, and the situation at Hauloverwith no witnesses and few cluesis no exception. But this assignment turns out to be even tougher and bloodier than usual because the devastation is a ployto lure the nine Marines into a trap, and to force them to bust the Confederations terrible secret wide open. And as for the Skinks lying in ambush on Haulover, they have no idea what trouble is . . . until they go up against a few good Marines.From the Paperback edition.