Heroes of Helios — Michael G. Thomas

Heroes of Helios is the third book in the epic 'Nexus' series, part of the growing 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 Narau 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.

The 15-book Star Crusades series includes:

STAR CRUSADES NEXUS
Legions of Orion (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 1)
Machine Gods (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 2)
Heroes of Helios (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 3)
The Great Betrayal (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 4)
Prophecy of Fire (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 5)
Call to Arms (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 6)
Battle for Helios (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 7)
Wrath of the Gods (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 8) ETA Q1 2014
The Black Rift (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 9) ETA Q3 2014

STAR CRUSADES UPRISING
Siege of Titan (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 1)
Tears of Kerberos (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 2)
Fires of Prometheus (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 3)
Battle for Proxima (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 4)
Fall of Terra Nova (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 5)
Slaves of Hyperion (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 6)

These titles are also available as combined trilogies including:

STAR CRUSADES NEXUS: THE FIRST TRILOGY
STAR CRUSADES NEXUS: THE SECOND TRILOGY
STAR CRUSADES NEXUS: THE THIRD TRILOGY ETA Q3 2014
STAR CRUSADES UPRISING: THE FIRST TRILOGY
STAR CRUSADES UPRISING: THE SECOND TRILOGY

For more information visit the official Star Crusades website. Keyword Starcrusader.