Enmity & Eternity — Tony Harmsworth

This is the final volume of a trilogy of novellas about the discovery of a badly damaged alien artefact in low Earth orbit. Dr Evelyn Slater, its discoverer, managed the construction of a Cluster laboratory near the ISS to hold the device while it was examined by scientists. She returns to Earth and takes charge of the investigation of the data downloaded from the device. Images are found. Secrecy was in danger when an image of an actual alien was downloaded and Evelyn is given the task of preparing the world for the news that we are no longer alone in the universe. A second device is found in orbit around Mars. It is being returned to Earth while irrational hatred of the aliens was growing. A message comes from MARS ONE to say that the alien device has come to life in the hold of the ship and Evelyn is to head a team to meet the alien when it arrives at the Cluster. What will it have to say? What was the purpose of its mission? Can it be kept safe from the xenophobes?