Heroes of Helios (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781909149144)

Heroes of Helios is the third book in the epic new series set in the Star Crusades universe that chronicles humanity's first steps away from Alpha Centauri and beyond.

A strike group of the dozen most advanced ships in the Alliance is assembled and sent to a summit of the remaining great powers of Orion. It is a measure of the reputation and military prowess of humanity that they are to be allowed to participate in joint exercises with the Naru Navy, a combined military force made up of ships from the five alien empires. At the same time a diplomatic mission lands on the surface of the planet to meet with the leaders in the Helion Council.

The heart of this strike group is ANS Conqueror, the first battlecruiser to be constructed since the destruction of CCS Crusader in the Great Uprising. In a shocking move, the ship is attacked with overwhelming force while orbiting Helios and is sent crashing through the world's atmosphere and down toward the urban sprawl that is populated by billions of citizens. As the hulk plummets down, it starts a diplomatic incident that could ignite hostilities between people that have so recently called each other friends.

Light years away from the politics and strife of Helios lies a fleet of ships with a Biomech command ship and its cargo of tortured prisoners. Some of these poor souls have been trapped there for months while others for much, much longer. Deep within this ship is a single prison cell that holds a man who dreams of escape and vengeance against those that seek to break him.

Star Crusades Nexus is a classic work of realistic military science fiction set against the background of the Centauri Alliance's expansion into the Orion Nebula. Also available is the prequel series, 'Star Crusades Uprising' set two decades earlier and covers the events of the Great Uprising that brought humanity to the brink of destruction.