Wayward Soldier: The Cost of Loyalty (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781088249871)

Wayward Soldier is a military science fiction novel grounded in the raw, authentic lens of a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. Set in the year 2123 CE, the story unfolds on the distant alien world of Va'korenn, a planet recently "liberated" by humanity's supranational military alliance, USEC (United Systems of Earth and her Colonies). However, the so-called liberation masks a slow descent into the grim realities of occupation, insurgency, and moral ambiguity.

The story follows Specialist Artyom Mikhailov, a young soldier freshly deployed to Va'korenn with the 211th Autonomous Combat Logistics Unit. What begins as a routine deployment quickly dissolves into chaos. The alien world is rife with cultural complexity, insurgent ambushes, and a haunting presence known as the Voiceless (Saharinn) - humanoid hosts infected by remnants of an ancient alien parasite.

Artyom's unit is stationed at Bastion, a battered stronghold under near-constant attack. As they push out to more remote areas like FOB Charon, they face tactical uncertainty, shifting alliances, and deep emotional strain. Central to Artyom's journey is his evolving relationship with Technical Sergeant Aren Markussen, a Nashirian liaison officer whose loyalties and motives are constantly under scrutiny. Through Aren, Artyom confronts the cultural and historical trauma of a people once enslaved by the long-dead Usnijan Empire, now caught between foreign occupation and insurgent resistance.

Parallel to the main plot is a broader timeline of interstellar colonization, a mysterious AI shutdown event, and the rise of corporate military actors. These factions add layers of realism and bureaucratic absurdity to the war effort, mirroring real-world conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As Artyom matures under fire - emotionally, ethically, and professionally - he faces loss, moral compromise, and the painful realization that peacekeeping often feels indistinguishable from conquest.