Forbidden knowledge

the long version

From first page Bantam paperback August 1992: FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE Beautiful, brilliant, and dangerous, Morn Hyland is an ex-police officer for the United Mining Companies -- and the target of two ruthless, powerful men. One is the charismatic ore-pirate Nick Succorso, who sees Morn as booty wrested from his vicious rival, Angus Thermopyle. Thermopyle once made the mistake of underestimating Morn and now he's about to pay the ultimate price. Both men think they can possess her, but Morn is no one's trophy -- and no one's pawn. Meanwhile, within the borders of Forbidden Space, wait the Amnion, an alien race capable of horrific atrocities. The Amnion want something unspeakable from humanity -- and they will go to unthinkable lengths to get it.