About the book: 2023 / XXV century. Humanity has colonized and settled many planets in the galaxy. The quiet life in the star republic of the earthlings of Terraria is based on a shaky peace between people and Concordia, an alien military syndicate that seeks to capture and subjugate new systems and planets to its will. At the epicenter of events find themselves four young friends, officers of the Sixth Department - a secret organization in Terraria, where they prepare and train intelligence officers. A sudden internal political crisis in Concordia threatens to escalate into a full-scale war with Terraria and forces Section Six to send young scouts on their first missions. The heroes will not only have to save their home world from the impending war, but also face the biggest threat in the galaxy - the invasion of the mysterious “children of the wasteland”. Author's notes: I would like to express my gratitude to: 1) My beloved wife for inspiration and boundless faith in me - Olesya Vaingolts; 2) My beta reader, editor and great friend - Alexander Iskhakov. Book illustration artist: Iveta Medina-Padron.