The Pilgrimage of the Phoenix - Michael Smith - Bog

A routine mission for Captain Terry Dankin aboard the D.S. Clivett, turns out to be anything but. Sent to recover a derelict, rogue satellite, the Clivett barely escapes a kidnap attempt by the Ixet ship, Loquest. The Loquest's plan for the Captain? Trade him to the Parakon for star-drive power. But after being rescued by Phoenix and Acting Captain Jhenna, it is discovered that the recovered satellite, the Corr Torri, has its own secrets, including a way to take down the Parakon Empire once and for all. Now Captain Dankin must take the Phoenix into the heart of Parakon space, the Red Sector, wherein lies the secret to their star-drives, the Kaepec anomaly. But what is supposed to be a quick, efficient mission quickly goes awry as Phoenix is suddenly faced with twelve of the Parakon's most deadly warships, the Warlons. Now the Phoenix is faced with the most deadly threat it has ever faced, and not everyone will make it out alive.