The Savlar Chem-Dogs are a notorious regiment of penal legion troopers who earn absolution for their misdeeds only in death – a far cry from the glorious Imperial Guardsmen that Commissar Bastun Hasp was hoping to lead. Lumped with insubordinate and unruly troops that he views as little more than mongrels, Hasp must nevertheless lead his kill team through enemy-infested terrain to secure vital intelligence. But there’s a catch, he needs them far more than they need him, and eventually he’s going to have to start trusting the Chem-Dogs if any of them are going to survive.