In the world of Candescent Shell, a fragile peace is maintained between five distinct races. The power-hungry Vampires, the battle-hardened Warlords, the hive-mind Cyborgs, the devout Angels, and the annexed, corporate-governed Humans. This delicate balance is threatened only by Toxic Progression, a directionless and anarchic force that seeks to dismantle the global order through unpredictable acts of terror.To combat this threat, the world relies on the A.R. System, a controversial technology that allows "e;Pilots"e; to link directly into the minds of soldiers, controlling their emotions and chemical levels as if they were drones in a simulation.Enter The Flotsam Squadron...a mismatched unit of rejects from all five races who are considered the "e;unwanted cousins"e; of the military elite. Led by Kinoko, a hot-headed fourteen-year-old human desperate to prove her worth in a world that views her kind as little more than pets, the squadron operates on the fringes of the system.When a routine mission against Toxic Progression takes an unexpected turn, the Flotsam Squadron is thrust into a high-stakes struggle where the lines between reality and simulation blur. As the A.R. System begins to exert a terrifying influence over the world's most elite soldiers, this group of outcasts must rely on their own "e;flawed"e; individuality to survive. In a world where everyone is connected, being a "e;failure"e; might be the only way to stay free.