The USS Birmingham cut through the waters of the vast Pacific Ocean, its sleek form slicing through the waves with precision. The crew on board was on a routine exercise, the day had been uneventful so far. But little did they know, they were about to encounter something beyond their wildest nightmares. Captain Marcus Reynolds stood on the deck, his weathered face a testament to years of service. He scanned the horizon with his steely gray eyes, a sense of duty and determination etched into every line on his face. The salty breeze ruffled his graying hair as he gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles whitening under the pressure. "Another day, another drill," he muttered to himself, his voice a low growl that was almost lost in the gentle hum of the ship's engines. His first mate, Lieutenant Sarah Thompson, approached him with a clipboard in hand. Her auburn hair was tied back in a tight bun, her green eyes sharp and alert. "Captain, all systems are functioning normally. We're on schedule for the submarine detection exercise." Reynolds nodded, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "Good. Let's hope for some action today. These drills can get monotonous." Little did he know, his wish for action was about to be granted in the most horrific way possible. Suddenly, a ripple in the water caught his attention. It started as a small disturbance but soon grew into a massive wave that sent shivers down his spine. The water churned and frothed as if some monstrous leviathan was stirring beneath the surface. "Captain, what the hell is that?" Ensign Jack Foster shouted, his young face contorted with a mixture of awe and fear. He pointed towards a strange object emerging from the depths of the ocean. It was metallic, with a silvery sheen that glinted in the sunlight. As it rose higher, it revealed a sleek, rounded shape that seemed to defy all laws of physics. "All hands on deck!" Reynolds roared, his voice echoing across the ship. "Battle stations, now!" The crew scrambled into action, the once peaceful deck transforming into a hive of frantic activity. Weapons were manned, sensors whirred to life, and a palpable tension filled the air. "Sir, our sensors can't get a read on it," Lieutenant Thompson reported her voice tight with tension. "It's like it's cloaked or... or made of something our technology can't comprehend." As the object continued to rise, it revealed its full form a craft unlike anything they had ever seen. It was the size of a small submarine, but its design was otherworldly. There were no visible propellers, no conning tower, just a smooth, egg-shaped hull that glistened like liquid mercury. "Prepare to fire," Captain Reynolds ordered, his voice cold and determined. The USS Birmingham readied its weapons, aiming at the unidentified submerged object (USO) that now hung in the water before them. "Sir, look!" Ensign Foster cried out, pointing towards the windows of the USO. Through the glass, they could see shadowy figures moving inside, their forms twisted and alien. They moved with an eerie fluidity, their limbs bending in ways that no human anatomy could allow.

"The 'extraordinary' (Booklist) novel of one man's quest to find the source of his nightmare and to reverse it before he becomes...nothing at all. This #1 national bestseller from Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, "pulsates with evil...it will have you on the edge of your seat" (Publishers Weekly)"--

The Assault on Peleliu, first published in 1950, is a detailed recounting of the U.S. Marines' fierce battle for Peleliu, part of the Palau Islands in the south Pacific. Facing approx. 11,000 hardened, entrenched Japanese troops, the 1st Marine Division began landing operations on September 15, 1944. What followed were more than two months of bloody fighting resulting in heavy casualties before the island was declared secure in late November. Included are more than 90 photographs and maps.

In November 1991 the American flag was lowered for the last time at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. This act brought to an end American military presence in the Philippines that extended back over 90 years. It also represented the final act in a drama that began with the initial rumblings in April of that year of the Mount inatubo volcano, located about nine miles to the east of Clark. This book tells the remarkable story of the men and women of the Clark community and their ordeal in planning for and carrying out their evacuation from Clark in face of the impending volcanic activity. It documents the actions of those who remained on the base during the series of Mount Pinatubo' s eruptions, and the packing out of the base during the subsequent months. This is the story of the Ash Warriors, those Air Force men and women who carried out their mission in the face of an incredible series of natural disasters, including volcanic eruption, flood, typhoons, and earthquakes, all of which plagued Clark and the surrounding areas during June and July 1991.

This account of the Khobar Towers bombing tells the story of the horrific attack and the magnificent response of airmen doing their duty under nearly impossible circumstances. None of them view their actions as heroic, yet the reader will marvel at their calm professionalism. All of them say it was just their job, but the reader will wonder how they could be so well trained to act almost instinctively to do the right thing at the right time. None of them would see their actions as selfless, yet countless numbers refused medical attention until the more seriously injured got treatment. Throughout this book, the themes of duty, commitment, and devotion to comrades resoundingly underscore the notion that America's brightest, bravest, and best wear her uniforms in service to the nation. This book is more than heroic actions, though, for there is also controversy. Were commanders responsible for not adequately protecting their people? What should one make of the several conflicting investigations following the attack? Dr. Jamieson has not shied away from these difficult questions, and others, but has discussed them and other controversial judgments in a straightforward and dispassionate way that will bring them into focus for everyone. It is clear from this book that there is a larger issue than just the response to the bombing. It is the issue of the example set by America's airmen. Future airmen who read this book will be stronger and will stand on the shoulders of those who suffered and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Featuring 4 reports and 25 personal essays from diverse voices—both straight and gay—representing U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans and service members, this anthology examines the impact of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and its repeal on 20 September 2011 in order to benefit policy makers, historians, researchers, and general readers. Topics include lessons from foreign militaries, serving while openly gay, women at war, returning to duty, marching forward after repeal, and support for the committed same-sex partners and families of gay service members.

"The purpose of this book is to share Army special operations soldier stories with the general American public to show them what various elements accomplished during the war to drive the Taliban from power and to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan as part of the global war on terrorism. The purpose of the book is not to resolve Army special operations doctrinal issues, to clarify or update military definitions, or to be the 'definitive' history of the continuing unconventional war in Afghanistan. The purpose is to demonstrate how the war to drive the Taliban from power, help the Afghan people, and assist the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) rebuild the country afterward was successfully accomplished by majors, captains, warrant officers, and sergeants on tactical teams and aircrews at the lowest levels ... This historical project is not intended to be the definitive study of the war in Afghanistan. It is a 'snapshot' of the war from 11 September 2001 until the middle of May 2002"--Page xv.

ASTROBIOLOGY This unique book advances the frontier discussion of a wide spectrum of astrobiological issues on scientific advances, space ethics, social impact, religious meaning, and public policy formulation. Astrobiology is an exploding discipline in which not only the natural sciences, but also the social sciences and humanities converge. Astrobiology: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy is a multidisciplinary book that presents different perspectives and points of view by its contributing specialists. Epistemological, moral and political issues arising from astrobiology, convey the complexity of challenges posed by the search for life elsewhere in the universe. We ask: if a convoy of colonists from Earth make the trip to Mars, should their genomes be edited to adapt to the Red Planet’s environment? If scientists discover a biosphere with microbial life within our solar system, will it possess intrinsic value or merely utilitarian value? If astronomers discover an intelligent civilization on an exoplanet elsewhere in the Milky Way, what would be humanity’s moral responsibility: to protect Earth from an existential threat? To treat other intelligences with dignity? To exploit through interstellar commerce? To conquer? Audience The book will attract readers from a wide range of interests including astronomers, astrobiologists, chemists, biologists, space engineers, ethicists, theologians and philosophers.

The meat of wild species, referred to in this report as ‘wild meat’, is an essential source of protein and a generator of income for millions of forest-living communities in tropical and subtropical regions. However, unsustainable harvest rates currently