Alex Blackwell is an Earth born man that makes his living as a bartender.  Wanting more for himself, he enlists in the Federation Armed Forces, despite never holding a gun before in his life.  The story follows Alex through bootcamp, into advanced infantry training, some police actions when he gets to the fleet with his Marine unit, and then finally first contact with a brutal and savage alien species on the most remote Federation colony.  Over the story, Alex will go from being highly likable, low competency, and high activity, to medium likability, high competency, and low activity as he experiences military life and war.