Loyalties — S.J. Madill

Humanity is in retreat. The relentless Horlan have returned, invading deep into human space. Entire colonies are being harvested into the holds of their living ships. Since leaving the navy, Eric Cho and the mechanic Saparun Vish have lived a simple life, farming on a distant colony world. But now the war has come to them, and they must find a way to escape their doomed colony. Commander Dillon is the reluctant captain of HMCS Borealis. An old ship relegated to the war's sidelines, her crew is restless to get into the fight. Dillon knows their chance will come soon enough, and with it will come pain and sacrifice. Fate has chosen the fiery Heather Gibson to be a spiritual leader of the alien Palani. An old civilisation in decline, the Palani now teeter on the edge of collapse. Along with her bond-mate Elan, Heather must prepare the Palani to face their nemesis once more, or face their own extinction. For a chance to defeat the ancient evil, humanity will pay a heavy cost.