Alpha Centauri: The Return

In this sequel to Alpha Centauri: First Landing and Sawyer's World, The USS Heinlein returns to Earth, hoping to refit, refuel, and return to the Alpha Centauri system within weeks to pick up the stranded crew of the USS Poul Anderson. Things don't work out that way. Commodore Drake faces a court-martial for the apparent loss of not justthe Anderson, but also the Krechet and the Chinese ship, Xing Hua.

The Chinese, meanwhile, have secretly reverse-engineered the Xing Hua and sent their own ...