<p>Newly-promoted to Captain, Dan Lenson's first glimpse of his command is of a ship literally high and dry. The <i>USS Savo Island</i>, which carries a classified, never-before-deployed missile defense system, has run aground on an exposed sandbar off Naples. Captain Lenson has to relieve the ship's disgraced skipper and deploy on a secret mission -- Operation Stellar Shield -- which will take his ship and crew into the dangerous waters bordering the Middle East.</p><p>As a climate of war builds between Israel and Iraq, with threats of nuclear and chemical weapons, Dan has to rally <i>Savo Island's</i> demoralized crew, confront a mysterious death on board ship, while learning to operate a complex missile system that has not been battle tested. But when the conflict reaches a climax, Dan is forced to make a decision that may cost hundreds of thousands of innocent lives -- or may save them, but at the cost of his ship and his career.</p><p>Filled with dramatic sea adventure, authentic weapons and technology, and distinguished by Poyer's deep understanding of duty and the moral choices made in combat, <i>The Cruiser</i> is the fourteenth novel to feature Dan Lenson in military service that carries him throughout the world.</p>
