The Flight Engineer is a trilogy of science fiction novels, which can be defined as space opera, by S. M. Stirling and James Doohan and published by Baen Books.

The basis of the conflict is that the Mollies settled an otherwise worthless sector of the galaxy, later discovered to naturally have extremely rich sources of easily obtainable antihydrogen, an energy particle that is required for the high-technology space travel and civilization, and difficult to manufacture artificially.

Shortly after launch, Raeder becomes aware that there is a Mollie sleeper agent aboard performing acts of sabotage to prevent the success of the fast carrier design.

Fresh from the events of The Rising,[5] Commander Peter Raeder is called to a board of inquiry for certain questionable actions during the first missions of the Invincible.

[6] Going undercover with other Commonwealth military personnel as a pirate group, Raeder's assignment is to uncover an antihydrogen smuggling ring and gather vital intelligence on the Mollies and their Fibian allies.