Combat

"Combat" by Mack Reynolds is a science fiction tale set during the Cold War, focusing on American operative Hank Kuran, who is unexpectedly assigned a critical mission when aliens appear in Moscow. Kuran must travel to the Soviet Union and try to influence the extraterrestrials to understand the West's perspective, hoping to prevent them from siding with the Soviets and altering the balance of global power. As Kuran learns more about the alien arrival from his superior, Sheridan Hennessey, he becomes aware of the severe implications of their potential alliance with the Soviets. Posing as a tourist, Kuran embarks on a dangerous journey, struggling with his role in a covert operation that blends espionage with the unknown, as the world stands on the precipice of a new era.