Space Opera First Contact

Eleven years ago, colonists from Earth made Galena their home. It is a planet of wondrous and deadly mysteries. Survival means adaptation—yet there can be no adaptation to an ancient corruption festering deep beneath the soil. Something is waiting down there, altering the plants and wildlife, twisting them to fit its dark plan. At the same time, progress has finally come to Galena. The dream of cities and superhighways suddenly becomes reality…and the only price is the total subjugation of the colonists who built them.

Xenophobia and itchy trigger fingers nearly ended the Sol Alliance. War—avoidable yet inevitable—ensued with the Arcoenum, an exotic alien species with overwhelming mental abilities. The Alliance survived thanks to the quick thinking of a brash, young starship officer, Nick Stone.

Adversity shows who you really are. For Max Tyco, nothing has been the same since he was taken from Earth and introduced to the Rowki. Chosen for his depth of potential, a new twist has changed everything. Max's weapon—the sardonium he can control with his mind—has turned a shade of red designated for only the fiercest of warriors. Unsure how to control this newfound power driven from a place of rage, Max must seek the only living warrior to experience this before.

A partnership with the Sait? Over Rima's dead body. But age-old differences may have to be set aside to battle a common enemy. The Enzite Federation will stop at nothing to control the portals. While the enemy of my enemy may not be a friend they might just be a means to an end. A new alien species will be discovered in the depths of the Ivandor oceans. They hold a clue as to where the second portal may be found. However, getting them to trust Max will require an event of gladiatorial proportions.

Former Emperor Dumakas, thought to be killed, is returned from Revein'sev, the sacred place where all Antarians believe their ancient ancestors reside. Now seeking to return to power, Dumakas has a stronger fortitude and plans to invade Earth. However, there is strong opposition to him retaking his seat; those closest to the Emperor continue to hold the Empress' song within their hearts. Will Dumakas succeed with his invasion plans, or will the Empress return to Antares in time to stop him?

In the Galactic Union, few Human corporations are as storied or as well-known as the Intergalactic Haulers. But the Haulers are no more — victims of Peepo and her minions at the start of the Omega War. Now, her followers seek to destroy the Intergalactic Haulers’ more secretive counterpart — Bull and his black ops rescue company. Yet, this is only one part of a larger story....

The planet of Azure is nearly idyllic: There is a high standard of living, industry is booming, and the two races — Human and Wrogul — get along well with each other most days. But underneath it all, there is tension between the races. Despite having no reason for it, the Humans don’t always trust the Wrogul, and there is a faction within the Wrogul community that doesn’t want its young growing up “Human.”

With the Merc Guild opening up contracts again, it’s Zuul eat Zuul to get one, as there are far more companies looking for work than there are contracts to be had. So when Taylor Van Zant gets an inside line on a 30-million-credit contract for Swamp Eagle Security, he races to Karma to throw his hat in the ring. Unfortunately, Taylor arrives to find that the other North Florida mercenary company - the River Hawk Defense Group - is also bidding, and Taylor is forced to watch as they steal the contract out from under the Eagles.

After the fight for Snowmass, Jackson Rains questions everything he thought he knew. As Force 25 regroups and prepares to rescue Snowman, Jackson steps away and returns to the trail of the elusive Kr’et’Socae. The disgraced Enforcer is not so easily found. Needing assistance, and to heal his wounded heart, Jackson turns to family.

During the Alpha Contracts, 100 of Earth’s finest mercenary organizations went to the far reaches of the galaxy to fight for credits. Only four returned. The rest, tens of thousands of humanity’s best warriors, were gone. Unbeknownst to most, a small, unconventional group chose a different path. Their foresight and unique talents set the stage not only for the long-haul shipping company of the present day, but of something else.

The great spheres and probes of Artifice, humankind's enemy, haunt every inhabited world near and far. The Omnians' long and arduous search for Artifice has ended. They've located Artifice's lair in the Talus system.

Against all odds, Gideon saved his crew from the Draconians. He even rescued the colonists—but they aren't his colonists; they're from a different Trailblazer. Now, they've found refuge on a planet called Sanctuary, but their Draconian ally, Rolam, has informed them that their safe haven belongs to a powerful race of sentient machines, and it might not be as safe as it seems. Gideon's mission is clear: to escape and find their people. But with the leader of the colony forbidding anyone to leave, and Rolam pushing his own agenda, the path ahead looks treacherous.

Captain Markus "Spartan" Nicolos is one of the Golden Horde’s premier hackers and communication specialists, and a top-tier CASPer pilot. His experimental Hoplite scout CASPer aided significantly in thwarting an attempt by a Besquith general to wipe out the Golden Horde. Now, while most of the Golden Horde goes out on a major contract, Spartan has been given a small team of less than 30 mercenaries - all specialists - to teach a race that has just joined the Galactic Union how to defend itself. And, in his spare time, Spartan is to spy on the Merchant Guild.

When Zuul-led thugs attack members of the Queen Elizabeth’s Own Foresters leaving the Lyon’s Den, the battles on Cimaron 283133-6A and Peninnah become enemy action, not simply mercs fulfilling contracts. What the Foresters don’t realize is that these attacks have been planned for years as part of an even larger series of plots aided by members of the Mercenary Guild.

With powerful forces working behind the scenes, Daisy seemed to be on the path to what may very well be a rousing victory. Or a glorious death, should she fail. For obvious reasons, she hoped for the former rather than the latter. She and her friends had persevered and come out on the other side time and again. Now they just had to pull together one last time to stand against their greatest foe. Success would mean victory. Failure would mean the loss of all they held dear.

When avid gamer Brandon awakes surrounded by endless snow and countless monsters, he knows his survival odds look slim at best. Not that he's planning to go down without a fight. Being a self-confessed nerd doesn't mean he's going to roll over and die. Brandon's determined to get himself home and protect whoever he finds upon the way. That includes a couple of stunning alien women who need his help as much as he needs theirs.

Earth's days are numbered. Two very different women race to prepare for the battle to come. The future of Earth is in their hands. One struggles to resurrect her ruined ship so she can navigate the politics at the galactic core in a desperate bid to recruit allies. The other strives to master alien technology to supply the forces of Earth with the tools needed to defend themselves against the ravenous Swarm.

The first major alien offensive against Earth has been blunted, winning humanity time to deploy new weapons and prepare new tactics as Earth's space navies prepare to take the offensive. But the enigmatic aliens have plans of their own - a full-scale attack on Earth that will either win the war in a single stroke or lose it. The stakes have never been so high. The fate of humanity itself is in the balance.

Taylor Van Zant has a lot on his mind. Like everyone in Jacksonville, North Florida, the early-20s bartender from Riverside saw his world upended when his brother, Terry, an interstellar mercenary and local hero, died suddenly in a freak starship accident. Five years later, having been stonewalled for answers, Taylor faced a choice: Honor his mother’s wish that he never go merc or defy it to save her life by resurrecting Terry’s company. That was 13 months ago. Now the newly reformed Eagles stand on the verge of a major milestone: owning their own flagship.

Three generations of people have been raised on Astra, a colony established by people escaping from the tyrannical government of Terra. Dalgard is embarking on his coming-of-age exploration of the unknown northern lands. In his canoe with a friendly merman native he travels north and discovers proof that Those Others, the evil master race that formerly ruled the planet, are still a danger.