Coalition/Orthodoxy Universe

They are A'tuu'shahn'i, the Rim's mercenaries of choice, ancient, enigmatic shape-shifters rumored to be organic machines, possibly from a different dimension altogether. Invincible, implacable, unstoppable-except to an even more ancient, equally implacable enemy from within.For the crew of the patrol ship Baidarka, finding A'tuu'shahn'i warriors on a routine rescue mission is a disaster. Having to work with them is even worse,especially as both human and A'tuu'shahn'i are only waiting for the betrayal they are certain will come too soon. Young Ensign Sirin Corsali tries to keep her injured commander alive under the dubious rescue of the A'tuu'shahn'i. Chief Medical Officer on the Baidarka, William Amalfitano, must treat A'tuu'shahn'i as patients... possibly some of the same A'tuu'shahn'i who slaughtered his family. Most conflicted, though, is A'tuu'shahn'i Battle Commander Khusaaq, who has violated a direct order from his superior, only to learn that his action might result in the destruction of his entire people.Author J. E. Bruce writes a compelling space adventure, combining fast-paced action with compelling characters. With each twist of the plot, more secrets are uncovered... secrets that make it clear that nobody is blameless in the conflict, and that finding a solution, even survival, may be impossible. Ultimately, Khusaaq, Amalfitano and Corsali must learn to trust one another... but even that trust may become a weapon against them when their own governments have deeper agendas.Those looking for a sophisticated space adventure will want to grab STALKING THE APOCALYPSE... and hope for more stories from the Coalition/Orthodoxy universe. The human-dominated Coalition faces powerful alien forces intent on destroying it. One of the most dangerous is the mysterious Hahtooshans. But are they truly enemies or might their secrets hide something that can benefit both sides?

The alliance between the human-led Coalition and the mysterious mercenary Hahtooshans might just save both races... but there are plenty, on both sides, who feel that it's a disaster in the making. Considering that the Hatooshans were the biggest boogie-men in human history and the Hahtooshans feel that humans simply cannot help themselves from lying, it's no surprise that some of the opposition is willing to take extreme measures. When radicals attempt to kill the medical team searching for a cure to the human diseases that threaten to wipe out the Hahtooshans, kidnap Sirin, the woman married to a Hahtooshan, and abduct the Hahtooshan landing party left behind on Rasal Ghul, it seems that the new-born alliance will self-destruct before it could really begin.Hahtooshan battle leader Khusaaq has lost too many men already. Although his fellows proclaimed him as the 'hero of Cotopaxi," Khusaaq knows that his efforts only led to the destruction of a beautiful planet, its colony, and almost all his mercenary force. Now, the command he left behind on Rasal Ghul has been taken... and he intends to bring them back. What he doesn't know is whether his own leaders in the Hahtooshan forces are behind him or the alliance he forged with the humans. Gradually it becomes apparent that the forces attempting to destroy the human/Hahtooshan alliance are more than just a few disgruntled colonists. But how high does their influence run?Author J. E. Bruce continues her exploration of the Coalition/Orthodoxy Universe begun in STALKING THE APOCALYPSE with an exciting space adventure. Khusaaq continues to wrestle with his own demons, with the voices of the race that created his own and that continues to guide them, and with the constant opposition not only of humans but of his own race. Qar'qaah, whom Khusaaq left in charge of the Rasal Ghul crew, fights his feelings of inadequacy and failure... even when these feelings lead him toward destruction. The crew of the Coalition ship Baidarka is mostly behind Khusaaq but even there, extremists threaten the new alliance. I enjoy the way Bruce lets us see both the heroics but also the misguided efforts of these characters. Although there's plenty of cool technology, ultimately it's Bruce's characters that make this story special.PATH TO THE NIGHT MOUNTAINS is an integral part of the Coalition/Orthodoxy Universe. It can, however, be read without the need to start with STALKING. Fans of thoughtful space adventure will definitely want to check out the entire series. The human-dominated Coalition faces powerful alien forces intent on destroying it. One of the most dangerous is the mysterious Hahtooshans. But are they truly enemies or might their secrets hide something that can benefit both sides?

The alliance between the human-dominated Coalition and the Hahtooshan Orthodoxy was born of convenience and mutual enemies, certainly not the result of trust or affection. But too many lost family and loved ones in the long enmity between the Coalition and the Orthodoxy with the Hahtooshans having survived for tens of thousands of years as the galaxy's top mercenaries. Convenience takes a back seat to unsettled scores and long-standing prejudices as opponents on both sides try to sabotage the fragile truce, with Khusaaq, the mercenary officer who forced the alliance as their prime target. Now, as the Hahtooshans bring their doomsday fleet to bear on Poonda Five, a non-aligned planet caught in the middle, and the shocking identity of the prime saboteur is revealed, a new, and far more treacherous plot is exposed, one that could not only end the alliance, but throw the Orthodoxy into civil war.Khusaaq's human wife, Coalition Ensign Sirin Corsali could be forgiven if she thinks she's been through enough already. But a deadly company of renegade humans and aliens have once again captured Sirin... along with a teenage Hahtooshan, Qar'qaah, who also happens to be Khusaaq's closest relative and reluctant protégé. They plan to sell their captives to Cisne, who intends to use both Sirin and Qar'qaah to trap Khusaaq into violating the very alliance he created. With Qar'qaah suffering from major radiation exposure, followed by systematic torture and rape (especially troubling to a teen whose identity was tied to his ritual celibacy), prospects for getting a lot of help from him appear slim--especially since he thinks that everyone around him may be a hallucination. Once Qar'qaah learns Sirin is Khusaaq's wife, he may offer even less help--because the two Hahtooshans may be genetically close but emotionally they're a galaxy apart. The human-dominated Coalition faces powerful alien forces intent on destroying it. One of the most dangerous is the mysterious Hahtooshans. But are they truly enemies or might their secrets hide something that can benefit both sides?