Contestant: Pawns synopsis

Okay, here goes. This is a synopsis of Contestant: Pawns. It’s my first book, first in a coming series. I am nearly done with the first draft of book two.

Logan Parson wakes, disoriented and in unfamiliar surroundings. He realizes he can not remember anything from his past except his name. Suddenly he is pursued by a man named Jared and his squad. He is captured and nearly killed, but he is saved by Carter and some men. Logan discovers Carter and his men are members of a faction called Ghost Pack, while Jared and his men are members of another Pack.
Logan is bound and blindfolded by Carter and his men, and then led to the Ghost Pack base where he meets Carmen, the Alpha of Ghost Pack. After Carmen assesses that Logan is not a threat, she releases him and begins to explain the situation to Logan. Logan learns that he is on a large ship in space. Carmen explains the past of the other people on the Ship. She also explains the dangers of life on the Ship, including creatures called Shriekers that stalk the corridors of the Ship in the night hours. Logan learns about lockdown hours and the risks of being outside Ghost Pack’s base after lockdown. Logan then meets Archie and his new cabin mates (James, Tucker, Raymond).
The next day, Logan goes with James to eat. He learns more details about the other twenty-eight Packs, their symbols, and their leaders. The worry of starvation is a concern as supplies and food are limited. Logan and James are interrupted by a summons to Carmen’s quarters. Jared and his squad interrupt the meeting, claiming that Jared had been trying to help Logan instead of trying to kill him. He claims that Carter and his men assaulted them and stole Logan. He demands Logan be returned. Upon hearing Logan's pleas to remain with Ghost Pack, Carmen refuses. Jared threatens war and then leaves.
James assists Logan in getting established with a Pack mark, clothing, and supplies from Vince, the shopkeeper. James then explains the Code to Logan.

1) Be loyal to the Pack.
2) Help those in need.
3) Obey the Alpha.
4) Those that don’t work don’t eat.

Logan and James return with Logan's supplies and discuss getting Logan a job.
Carmen goes to the Chow Hall to eat breakfast and talks to Wallace, the head cook and an older man Carmen trusts for wise counsel. He tells her to go speak to Fen, the Alpha of Draxx Pack and Jared’s leader, hoping to keep peace between the Packs.
Jared and his squad return to Draxx Pack. In an attempt to instigate war, Jared intends to tell Fen that Carter had attacked him.
Carmen leaves for Draxx Pack’s base alone without telling anyone except Wallace where she was going. She plans to explain to Fen about Jared's attacks on Omegas, new comers to the Ship. Carmen finds comfort from Bible verses as she goes. Though Carmen also has no recollection of her past beyond her name, she has an unexplainable, clear memory of Bible verse she memorized at some point.
Along the route to Draxx Pack’s base, Carmen sees a large warrol as it flees from a hunting squad from Vortex Pack, close allies to Ghost Pack. Carmen speaks momentarily to the squad before continuing her journey.
Carter goes warrol hunting. He encounters a warrol and shoots it. Then the hunting crew from Vortex Pack meets Carter, who had just killed the warrol they were tracking. Carter gives them the warrol. Remembering he has message to deliver to Trent, Vortex’s Alpha, Carter begins to tell them the message. One of the Deltas says that he thought Carmen was going to deliver the message, because she had been heading that way.
Carter realizes where Carmen is truly headed and runs after her. Carter sprints all the way into Draxx territory trying to find Carmen. He gets incapacitated by a disabler dart and captured by Jared's men. Jared beats Carter in a vengeful rage.
Carmen decides to stay at Razor Pack base for the night instead of going directly to Draxx Pack. The next day, she finds the disabler dart that had hit Carter. Carmen realizes there is human blood on the tip of the dart instead of the sharp purple color of warrol blood.
She carefully continues to Draxx Pack’s base. Initially, Carmen is denied entrance. Finally, Carmen is led to Fen through the unkempt base. She finds Fen and Jared in the throne room. Carmen calls for peace. She explains that Jared tried to kill an Omega before he was stopped by Carter. She realizes Fen already knows about Jared's killings, but he has been ignoring them.
Jared claims Carter came to Draxx Pack base to murder him. He then brings out the injured Carter. Infuriated at the sight of her wounded friend and second in command, Carmen rebukes Fen for allowing Jared to attack Omegas. Fen releases Carter and lets him and Carmen go. Fen imprisons Jared and most of his followers. Carter and Carmen go to Vortex Pack to receive aid for Carter.
Ghost Pack is in a panic until Carmen radios that she and Carter are safe.
Jared prepares for an insurrection with the help of one of his men.
Due to the injuries sustained at Draxx Pack’s base, Carter gets a high fever and nearly dies. When he is stable, Carmen returns to lead Ghost Pack. Carter stays at Vortex’s base to continue recovering for about a week before coming back to Ghost Pack’s base as well.
Logan is attacked by a warrol that had gotten into the base and in the Shop. Logan later watches a tie fight, an activity for entertainment based on strength and strategy between two combatants.
Trent, Vortex Pack’s Alpha, meets Nathan of Draxx Pack. Nathan claims Jared has killed all of those in Draxx Pack who opposed Jared, including Fen. Nathan’s warning comes too late.
Carmen receives a distress call from Vortex Pack. Vortex and several other Packs are under attack by Jared and his followers. Carter gathers men from Ghost Pack and other nearby Packs to help Trent. Carter divides the new army into two groups. Carter's group goes to Vortex Pack to help Trent. The other half of the army, led by Wallace, stays at Razor Pack awaiting instructions. Jared arrived at Razor Pack before the second group arrives. He forces their Alpha to allow his army to stay. Jared and his men remain in hiding in Razor Pack’s base.
A Delta named George of Vortex Pack heads from Vortex Pack base to Emerald Pack’s base, but he is met by Carter and his army along the way.
Carter goes on to Vortex’s base which is now empty except for the wreckage left in the wake of the battle with Jared’s forces. Carter stays at Vortex base for the night. The next day he and his men search for Trent and his Pack in the nearby Pack bases. They find Trent and some of his people in New Moon Pack’s base.
Carter and his men return to Ghost Pack’s base to protect the Packs from Jared. Carmen meets Traber, a mysterious man who has chosen not to be part of any pack, yet frequently seems to leave helpful information for Carmen to find. Carmen goes with Traber through air vents to outside of the gates after lockdown. Carmen learns not to be afraid of the Shriekers. Because the Shriekers are blind and can only sense fear, she is not harmed by them when she conquers her fear.
Traber then shows Carmen that he has discovered a second level to the Ship. In the second level there are four chambers. Traber thinks that four people are needed in order to open the next level and possibly escape the Ship. Carmen realizes that only those who are not afraid of the Shriekers can go to Level Two.
The next day, Archie and Logan are sent to help George and some other survivors of Jared's attack. Archie and Logan become friends. Carter returns to Ghost Pack’s base, and Carmen introduces him to Traber. She explains to Carter about the second level. Carter cannot get past his fear of the Shriekers, and therefore is not one of the four people needed. Carmen asks Carter to take her place as Alpha when the time comes for her to go to Level Two.
Wallace and his army are captured by Jared. Logan and Archie bring those injured during the battle between Jared and Vortex Pack to the gates of Razor Pack’s base, but they see that Wallace and his army have been captured. Archie and Logan are sent to run all the way back to Ghost Pack’s base to warn Carter. Jared demands Carter’s surrender in exchange for the release of Wallace’s army. Carter intends to go, but he creates a plan to have an ambush ready.
Logan and Archie make it to Ghost Pack’s gates right at lockdown. Archie makes it inside. Logan is locked out, but Carmen goes outside to help him before the gates close. Tested as he faces Shiekers with Carmen, it becomes clear that Logan is one of the Four needed to enter the second level. Carmen, Logan, and Traber are three of the four needed, but the fourth person is still a mystery.
While most of Jared's army prepares for Carter’s arrival at base's gates, part of Carter's men, with the help of Traber, goes through the air vents to silently free Wallace and his men. They also supply them with weapons. The rest of Carter's army stays behind and waits for Carter's signal. Carter turns himself in to distract Jared until Traber can free the prisoners. Both Traber's army and Carter's army attack Jared and his men from two fronts. Carter and the armies are victorious, but Jared escapes and goes into hiding.
The Packs return to their own bases. Carmen tells Ghost Pack and the other Packs about Level Two, and preparations are made for the Four to go to the next level, but because only three of the four have been identified, they cannot go yet. Several weeks pass.
One day, Carmen goes hunting for warrols, and she is attacked by Jared. She shoots him in the thigh. Given to compassion, Carmen spares him and dresses his wound. She considers taking him back to her Pack but knows that someone might try to kill him. Jared says that he doesn't need to go to her base, because he can stay outside after lockdown. Stunned, Carmen realizes Jared is the last man needed to complete the Four. She then takes him to Level Two. Thinking that Carter might have a grudge against Jared, Carmen does not tell him about Jared. Via communicator, she calls for Traber and Logan to come to Level Two so she can show them Jared without anyone else finding out. When they come, Traber tries to kill Jared, but Carmen intercedes.
As the Four enter the chamber, a large set of gates suddenly closes and blocks the air lift. The Four are now unexpectedly committed to proceeding onto Level Two.
A voice on an intercom makes an announcement to the Four.
“You have completed the first level. This level, however, holds a different kind of challenge and has a limited amount of time to finish. Each of you must work together and work quickly in order to succeed. The level requires all four of you to complete it. To reduce possible distractions, all contact with those still on Level One has now been severed. Good luck, contestants. And remember: Fortune favors the brave. Captain out.”
All communication with those on Level One is cut off, and they are now on their own. Rezloc, the voice on the intercom, is introduced as the Captain of the Ship.