Publisher's Synopsis
The Mission Team returned from their European vacation ready to begin reintegrating into their former lives. While attempting to make a repair, Tomas was badly injured in a fall, jeopardizing the Team's viability. He was rushed to Parallel for healing. When it seems as if life will get back to a new "normal," Derek is sent to Mexico by his company. Thanks to Bart, and the Ship, the intercessions continue, with new challenges threatening to jeopardize the Missions, Derek's life, and the lives of those he enlists to assist him. Bryce, Derek's brother-in-law, experiences a crisis with Tilden, a small alien, who is transported to his office in Roswell, New Mexico. They both show up in Omaha and Bryce has another crisis in thinking when his sister, Margo, reveals her and Derek's involvement with a parallel universe and alien cultures. In Mexico, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, and a second Mr. Jones provide both comic relief and irritation to Derek's time there. Hector, his chauffeur, becomes his driver for the remainder of his stay, his helper, his assistant investigator, and his friend. The Missions' enemies nearly succeed in killing Hector, the owner of the firm Derek is visiting, and the owner's wife. Numerous attempts are made to derail Derek's purchasing efforts for his company and the Team's Mission efforts. Encounters with aliens, terrorists, drug cartels, and mysterious gang members threaten to jeopardize Derek's efforts on every front. A visit to the pyramids near Oaxaca offers opportunities for attacks on Derek and Hector, making their tour difficult and dangerous. A "fair-trade" purchase on the way back to Mexico City enriches the duo's appreciation for local natives and their work, but especially for the owner of the business aimed at raising the workers and their families from poverty. Derek experiences several challenges from the time he says farewell to Hector. The "three stooges" briefly kidnap him, a war rages at the airport, and Mr. Smith gives him a mysterious package to "open on the plane." Derek receives a mixed blessing on the plane from Mexico City, before arriving on American soil. His reception by airport security is not the most welcoming either. Before settling in at home, Derek and the Team is sent to Australia, Bryce and Tilden visit Parallel, the Team goes on to Dahkla, Egypt to assist with humanitarian aid when the explosives of a terrorist group accidentally set off a chain of explosions. The entire Team and a new recruit are faced with incredible carnage and even more incredible resistance from Egyptian authorities. The message of the Team remains their constant mantra: Violence begets violence. Peace begets peace.
