The 25th Colony - Larry Rhodes - Bog

In the near future, Earth becomes caught in the middle of an extraterrestrial turf war and hopelessly entangled in a race between two species to colonize the galaxy. At a time when Earth's resources are stretched to their limits, a seemingly friendly alien species offers advanced technology if humans will help colonize distant planets. Planning expert Mike Silver shocks his family and friends by joining a colony destined for the supposedly uninhabited planet Kepler 14b. Even as he steps up and is elected city planner, he is shocked to be appointed mayor just before the colonists leave Earth. Unknown to the friendly aliens or humans, a clandestine team of the other alien species is sent to disrupt the planned Earth colonies. Mike and the other colonists struggle to adapt to a new world inhabited by numerous animal species, cave-dwelling tribes, and unknown saboteurs. As these obstacles are slowly overcome, Mike is recruited by the friendly aliens to help other human colonies that are struggling and potentially failing. When the two alien species both lay claims to the same planet, Mike must act as a mediator and prevent resumption of hostilities between the two species that could threaten the human colonists as well.