The Gaian Consortium Series by Christine Pope

He’s hidden himself from the world. But can he hide from her? Ever since a racing accident disfigured him forever, scientist Raymond Killian has locked himself away in a base on one of Neptune’s moons, working feverishly on his latest research project. Newly minted Ph.D. Nora Whitaker comes to Triton to assist Dr. Killian with his cybernetic research. What she never expected to find was a man whose soul was so in tune with hers... moreHe’s hidden himself from the world. But can he hide from her? Ever since a racing accident disfigured him forever, scientist Raymond Killian has locked himself away in a base on one of Neptune’s moons, working feverishly on his latest research project. Newly minted Ph.D. Nora Whitaker comes to Triton to assist Dr. Killian with his cybernetic research. What she never expected to find was a man whose soul was so in tune with hers. But the connection they share may be destroyed forever if they don’t take one last, desperate chance. Note: Although this novella is set in the Gaian Consortium universe, it takes place roughly a hundred and fifty years before the events of Blood Will Tell, et al., at a time when the Consortium was just beginning to expand into the galaxy outside Gaia’s solar system and hadn’t yet developed the star-spanning empire seen in the series’ other books. less

Anika Jespers, a homesteader's daughter on a Gaian colony, thinks she's destined for a dull existence on her family's farm. But when her father makes an impossible bargain with their neighbor, one of the alien Zhore, she faces a future different from anything she could have possibly imagined. The familiar story of Beauty and the Beast takes on new life in this inventive SF romance novella, with the Beauty a homesteader's daughter and the Beast an alien on a faraway colony world... moreAnika Jespers, a homesteader's daughter on a Gaian colony, thinks she's destined for a dull existence on her family's farm. But when her father makes an impossible bargain with their neighbor, one of the alien Zhore, she faces a future different from anything she could have possibly imagined. The familiar story of Beauty and the Beast takes on new life in this inventive SF romance novella, with the Beauty a homesteader's daughter and the Beast an alien on a faraway colony world. Novella: 32,000 words, approximately 120 pages less

Welcome to Iradia, where the Gaian Consortium looks the other way if enough money changes hands, and the best way to ensure a long life is to secure passage off-world… When Miala Fels’ father is murdered by a vicious crime lord, she decides the best way to get her revenge is to hack the accounts of the man responsible and bleed his hoard of ill-gotten loot dry... moreWelcome to Iradia, where the Gaian Consortium looks the other way if enough money changes hands, and the best way to ensure a long life is to secure passage off-world… When Miala Fels’ father is murdered by a vicious crime lord, she decides the best way to get her revenge is to hack the accounts of the man responsible and bleed his hoard of ill-gotten loot dry. Her plans go awry when Mast is killed by a rival, and she ends up nursing one of his men, the notorious mercenary Eryk Thorn, back to health. Her only thought is to have Thorn help her get off-world in exchange for half of Mast’s treasure. The last thing she expects is to lose her heart to him…or to have the consequences of that love change her life forever. less

A holiday dinner turns into an evening of revelations as Anika's parents finally learn the truth of her relationship with an alien Zhore.This 6,300-word (approximately 25 paperback pages) short story is a direct sequel to Breath of Life, and so does contain spoilers for the earlier work.

Alexa Craig is well aware she’s known as “The Ice Queen” -- and not out of admiration -- but her reputation has served her well in her diplomatic career. Alien ambassador Lirzhan understands his people are viewed with suspicion and curiosity by the members of the Gaian Consortium, but the Zhore do not casually reveal themselves to outsiders -- not even to someone as intriguing as Alexa Craig... moreAlexa Craig is well aware she’s known as “The Ice Queen” -- and not out of admiration -- but her reputation has served her well in her diplomatic career. Alien ambassador Lirzhan understands his people are viewed with suspicion and curiosity by the members of the Gaian Consortium, but the Zhore do not casually reveal themselves to outsiders -- not even to someone as intriguing as Alexa Craig. But after their ship is attacked during a routine flight, the two strangers must rely on each other to survive on the supposedly uninhabited world where their escape pod has crashed. When Alexa and Lirzhan discover the secret hidden behind Mandala’s wild beauty, they must put duty before desire and risk everything to warn the Galactic Council of a conspiracy that could endanger their lives, their worlds, and the future they have begun to imagine together. less

Cassidy Evans inherited the Titan run when her father died and left her a broken-down cargo transport and a regular gig hauling supplies to the maximum-security prison located on Jupiter’s moon. When convicted murderer Derek Tagawa hijacks her ship and demands her help in clearing his name, Cass can’t help but wonder if there aren’t easier ways to make a living. But Derek has those amazing…eyes…and she begins to believe there may be more to his story than she originally thought... moreCassidy Evans inherited the Titan run when her father died and left her a broken-down cargo transport and a regular gig hauling supplies to the maximum-security prison located on Jupiter’s moon. When convicted murderer Derek Tagawa hijacks her ship and demands her help in clearing his name, Cass can’t help but wonder if there aren’t easier ways to make a living. But Derek has those amazing…eyes…and she begins to believe there may be more to his story than she originally thought. Running from the authorities, they head to the heart of Gaia to unearth a conspiracy so far-reaching that exposing it could rock the Consortium to its very foundation…and change the future course of both their lives. less

For most of her adult life, Trinity Knox has lied in order to conceal her psychic talents. Now she’s been trapped in the biggest lie of all…. After she makes the mistake of trusting the wrong man, she finds herself in the hands of the Gaian government, with only two options left to her: Serve time in the Consortium’s MaxSec prison on Titan, or agree to go on a secret mission that requires someone with her particular set of skills... moreFor most of her adult life, Trinity Knox has lied in order to conceal her psychic talents. Now she’s been trapped in the biggest lie of all…. After she makes the mistake of trusting the wrong man, she finds herself in the hands of the Gaian government, with only two options left to her: Serve time in the Consortium’s MaxSec prison on Titan, or agree to go on a secret mission that requires someone with her particular set of skills. Altered biologically to hide her human identity, Trinity is sent to the mysterious world of Zhoraan, where she must unearth secrets the alien Zhore have been hiding from the Gaians for generations. But the longer she stays among the aliens, the greater the chances her deception will be discovered, and the greater the chances of her losing her identity, her soul…and her heart. less

A deserter. A grifter. A stolen ship. And one last chance for freedom… With the remote Zeta Tau prison station about to be pounded into space dust — and with no help coming from Gaia’s crumbling star empire — Captain Landon Beck races to release one particular inmate before she’s abandoned to the tender mercies of the invading pirates and mercenaries... moreA deserter. A grifter. A stolen ship. And one last chance for freedom… With the remote Zeta Tau prison station about to be pounded into space dust — and with no help coming from Gaia’s crumbling star empire — Captain Landon Beck races to release one particular inmate before she’s abandoned to the tender mercies of the invading pirates and mercenaries. Thanks to that bit of temporary insanity — or maybe a crusading streak that refuses to die — he has company on the badly damaged, antiquated transport ship he hopes to fly to anonymity and freedom: Dhani Warlow, a small-time grifter, dark-eyed and delicate, with an uncommon amount of sass. After five years surviving in the underbelly of Gaian society, Dhani has seen the worst of the Consortium’s crimes against man, Zhore, and dozens of other peoples across the galaxy. Even so, in Landon she senses a man of honor beneath the hated uniform. As they limp from system to system on their quest to reach Iradia and freedom, Landon and Dhani earn one another’s trust and respect, finally taking refuge in the only safe place left — each other’s arms. But as the Consortium crumbles around them, they might not survive one last attempt on their lives…. Note: This is the final book in this SFR series. Although each book has a standalone romance, the events going on in the background have built toward what we see in The Refugee Ruse, which is the looming collapse of the Consortium’s star empire. less