Machine Gods — Michael G. Thomas

Machine Gods is the second 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.

After decades of war, the Alliance reached the Orion Nebula and discovered the advanced but shattered remnants of the T'Kari. People and ships are diverted to this rich area of space to continue its exploration and exploitation. At the same time a secretive faction of the T'Kari, known simply as the Raiders unleash attacks on any ships or facilities left unguarded, be it human or T'Kari.

A special operation against a Raider ship by elite commandos led by Spartan from the APS Corporation is the catalyst for something much greater. The simple operation quickly leads to disaster as the ship vanishes through an unknown Rift with Spartan and his team still onboard. With this disappearance, the T'Kari offer information that will change the lives of both races forever, the location of the mysterious star system known as Helios. This almost mythical central nexus is used by all known sentient beings to travel through the stars.

A grand expedition of civilian and military ships is formed to travel to the most important location in the Galaxy. Little do they know that something terrible and violent awaits them, something that has waited centuries for this very moment of weakness. If the Alliance military fails, then a darkness will fall upon Helios and every world connected to it, a darkness that will leave entire planets barren and sterile.

The 15-book Star Crusades series includes:

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)

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

These titles are also available as combined trilogies including:

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

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