Grasp the Stars — Jennifer Wingert

CONFRONTATION AT EARTH PORT

Since the creation of Earth Port, Humans, one of the younger races in space, had played host to countless alien ships, and had established sometimes precarious diplomatic and trade relations with a number of sentient races. Though Deputy Rachel Ajmani of the Port Authority had often had her hands full with crises, never had the situation at Earth Port reached such a critical level as she was currently experiencing.

The Rofan spaceport of Igsha Reey had been suddenly closed down, and Earth Port was now being flooded by displaced spaceships and freighters. At the same time, the Xeno-Relations Committee of Earth's World Council had decided to do an audit of Earth Port, pulling vital personnel away from their duties to leave the station manned by a skeleton staff at this crucial time. And two unidentified agents, posing as staffers, had begun sabotaging operations and wreaking havoc.

As if that wasn't enough, Rachel was about to become embroiled in a true diplomatic nightmare. For a "stowaway" had arrived at Earth Port. Her name was Meris, Mother of Multitudes, a legendary being among her own species, the Jadamiin race. And all of the alien races who traded at Earth Port would kill to gain possession of Meris. For within her brain was locked a priceless secret that could prove, the key to the universe....