The Playmasters

Never will so many have given so much for so few. The aliens came to Earth not for conquest, but simply to create a war and watch it played out by humans. But they were prohibited from using an technology not developed on the planet - and 20th century armaments are too primitive for good sport. The answer? To persuade the Air Force Chief of Staff to found a think-tank group under their secret guidance for the development of 22nd century technology. If Jan Ambers, an electronics expert turned warrior, cannot stop them, the results will be global devastation... (from the back cover of the Baen Books first edition)