The Congo Directive (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781958115183)

In The Congo Directive, CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer Jon Smith and his teammate, retired SASR Sergeant Major Angus Hawkins, soar to new heights in a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure.

It's July 4th, Independence Day, and while the International Space Station orbits Earth at 17,500 miles an hour, Mission Control Center- Houston (MCC-H) relays a video call from the President that is broadcast nationwide to wish the station's commander, Captain Edwin Li, US Navy, a happy birthday and to announce his promotion to rear admiral. Surrounded by his crew, including Colonel Cindy Rider of the US Space Force and Russian Cosmonauts, Colonel Vova Yevgeni and Dmitriy Alexsandr, Captain Li thanks the President, and they celebrate with cupcakes.

An hour and a half later, all contact with the ISS is lost. While Mission Control attempts to reestablish contact, Captain Li reports shocking news via handheld laser to amateur observers on the ground on the dark side of the orbit. The message reads:

MCC-H, this is Li. Cosmonauts murdered Cindy. I am barricaded on the US side of the ISS. Comms and life support systems are inop. They are flooding the station with oxygen. Currently, 73% and rising. I suspect they are going to destroy the station. I am unable to reach the Dragon. Please advise if able.

NASA liaison in Moscow confronts the Russians. They deny any wrongdoing. Next, ground observers report seeing the Soyuz escape capsule undock from the ISS before it explodes. NASA calculates it will land somewhere in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Outraged by the blatant betrayal and sabotage, POTUS recalls CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer Jon Smith and his teammate, retired SASR Sergeant Major Angus Hawkins, from their well-deserved vacation to hunt down the perpetrators as fast as possible and eliminate them.

Soon after hitting the ground, Jon and Angie discover a far more sinister scheme that could imperil a billion people in the Western World. American and Allied Forces are quickly redirected to support their mission.

THE CONGO DIRECTIVE is the fourth standalone book in the Jon Smith series of action-packed military/espionage thrillers. It's perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Brad Taylor, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Jason Kasper. If you like their books, then you'll love THE CONGO DIRECTIVE. It combines all their best traits in a captivating thriller pulled right from today's current events.

Buy THE CONGO DIRECTIVE today and get a front row seat to this action-packed thrill-ride!

Author: Bob Asher
ISBN-10: 1958115185
ISBN-13: 9781958115183
Publisher: Red Shirt Publishing, LLC
Language: English
Published: 12/20/2025
Pages: 314
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.70d