Spaceship Lyra Logs Series

    Being accepted for the Amelioration Expedition was the easy part. It only took twenty years of education and knowing the right people. Marlin Delaney had wanted to be part of colonizing another planet since she was a little girl. Everything was going according to plan…until she was raped. Then it seemed that everything that could go wrong did. Before she could get off the planet of Oriel, she discovered she was pregnant. It was a fact she hid until the spaceship was far enough from Oriel that she was sure they wouldn't turn around and take her home. Even that didn't work out because by the time they picked up the doctor, Marlin was too far along to terminate the pregnancy. Thins could get worse – and so they did. The killer of her grandfather and the cause of her parents' separation joined the mission when they reached the planet Purlieu. Things kept getting worse, but she refused to let it destroy the mission for her.     Donte was a mascot – a human genetically altered with animal genes. His mate had left him and he was no longer the Ruler of Bergen, but Dr. Oriana was convinced the expedition would be safer with his presence. Marlin didn't have to like him. She didn't even have to get along with him, so she didn't try.     By the time they reached their destination on planet Opus, everyone but Marlin was in awe of Donte. Dr. Oriana was the expedition leader, but even she allowed Donte to take over projects. Someone had to do something before the colonization of Opus became his project.     When Donte and Marlin fell into a cavern and the expedition thought they drowned, the only way they could survive was to work together. Marlin not only learned a lot about Donte, but herself as well. When they were befriended by a life form on Opus, they had to redefine simple words like people and humanity. Starving and losing hope of rescue, neither would find comfort until they learned to forgive each other and themselves.

Book 2 of the Spaceship Lyra Logs has some startling answers to old questions. Planet Arcane is where Fontalo began experiments combining humans and animal genes. The Sentinels are their first failure; the mascots their final success. Over sixty years ago, when something went wrong on Purlieu, Fontalo abandoned their experiments on Arcane and left their scientific team stranded on a hostile planet. When only one descendant of the team remains, she gets desperate enough to send a distress signal. The Lyra is a research and rescue spaceship and its supreme commander could never ignore a cry for help. A two-month furlough is replaced with two weeks preparation for a new mission. Donte must find a new spaceship commander, alert the new crew and address a growing problem in Bergen simultaneously. Due in part to his unique skills, Donte is an unconventional commander, often putting himself in danger. Such is the case when they reach Planet Arcane and try to resolve its problems. Arcane is one of the greatest challenges Donte has ever faced. This mission is one of the most tragic. He knows only one way to restore order to Arcane, but will the mother planet Oriel agree?

When miners start disappearing on colonized Planet Opus, General Richards takes his troops to investigate. He is certain he knows the cause, but each time he goes into the field, he loses two more men from the rear of his column. Planet Oriel asks for assistance from the Supreme Commander of the Lyra, a research and rescue spaceship docked at Planet Purlieu. General Richards is annoyed. He doesn't need assistance – especially from Donte, Supreme Commander of a fleet of spaceships docked three weeks away at Planet Purlieu. He doesn't want interference from Mascots – Arcane natives contaminated with animal genes. From the beginning, General Richards of the Opus militia resists any assistance from the Lyra. He finally gives Donte four days to accomplish what he has been unable to do in months. It takes the Lyra team only two days to discover pertinent facts. Donte thinks he knows what is happening, but wants to conduct a joint mission with General Richards to be sure. General Richards grudgingly accepts the assistance, but has conditions that put Donte's crew in danger. Eventually, the General's methods result in the capture of Donte's wife and child. When General Richards prohibits airships or Lyra troops from the area, Donte goes rogue. He threatens the Opus militia to keep them away while he finds his family. His actions draw criticism from three planets, but his family is more important. When Donte is critically wounded with a poisoned arrow, his wife and child take over the mission of quelling a futile rebellion. This becomes a deadly mission – one that opens the door to some changes for everyone.

According to Spaceship Lyra policy, wherever Donte goes, so does the Lyra and its crew. Consequently, the Lyra has embarked on one mission, only to be sent on another – and another. As Supreme Commander, Donte bears the responsibility of prioritizing missions, but life has a way of prioritizing things on its own. The search and rescue mission to planet Quay is so simple that Donte thinks the Lyra will be back at Arcane in no time – that is, until Rianne doesn't wake one morning. She has been infected with an organism and they don't know what it is, how to fight it or even where she got it. While they are still trying to resolve that problem, Purlieu calls with an urgent situation they want Donte to resolve. The Lyra heads for Purlieu. While working on the problem on Purlieu, another emergency calls the Lyra away. It is the first time Donte doesn't have the backup of their specialized crew. The Lyra doesn't need him, but he discovers he needs the Lyra. Donte's superpowers are not required to resolve the problem on Purlieu, so he must handle the situation the way anyone else would. With the Lyra off on a mission, Donte faces yet another emergency. Purlieu is threatened by a meteor shower caused by the first disaster. Now he faces multiple problems, but he isn't alone – he has people who want to help and people who want him dead. All he has to do is figure out which is which.

When Spaceship Lyra takes its trained troops back to Planet Purlieu for a celebration and fresh troops, it picks up three visitors. Each visitor has a goal, but only one may benefit Planet Arcane. Donte has his own problems when Rianne, who stayed on Arcane, becomes ill and may lose the twins she is carrying. As if that isn't enough, the peace on Arcane is fractured by escaped dinosaurs and a hostile presence that no one suspected. When Donte and his family become targets, something must be done before lives are lost. Donte's reaction leaves him contemplating morality. Is it possible that he is no better than the people he is fighting? Hesitation may be his undoing. Who will command the Lyra, if not Donte?

A trip to planet Oriel ends in tragedy for Donte and his family. In one cowardly act, Donte loses the respect of his son and the trust of his troops. He feels he has disgraced his uniform, so he refuses to wear it. In name, he is still the Supreme Commander of Purlieu's Spaceships, but in spirit, he is lost. Arcane, Purlieu and his family find their footing without his guidance. They no longer need him. Emotionally exhausted, he surrenders to grief. For a while, friends and family allow it. When he doesn't get better, they all start challenging him. Donte has no choice but to accept the changes in his life. Just as he begins to come back, he is struck another blow. This time, he finds his own solution. Life is starting to look good again when the next tragedy strikes. Donte doesn't want to die, but he knows that his sacrifice will save his family. He walks away from them with a heavy heart, ready to accept his fate. Will this be the end of the Lyra missions? A story so intricate that it is told in three parts. While each book in the Spaceship Lyra Logs is a stand-alone, more understanding can be gained by reading them in order – especially "Intimate Domain" and "Exonerated" before this book.