Trouble in the Orion Spur

Three ships move outward from Earth with the intent of reaching distant planets to colonize. After a year in space, one of the ships, New Hope 3, finds they are going to have to abort their mission. A course correction would burn up vital fuel they cannot afford to lose. Without it, they will run out of fuel before reaching maximum velocity and the trip to Epsilon Eridani will take a thousand years. Unexpectedly, a wormhole appears dead ahead. Unable to turn away, they suddenly find themselves sixteen and a half light years from home, approaching a very Earth-like planet. All seems to be going well until the other two ships, which had both been headed toward different destinations, arrive at the same planet. They realize that someone has orchestrated this. That shock is bad enough, but very soon after that, many of the female colonists disappear without a trace. Were they kidnapped for ransom, captured by slavers or taken for food?

[ Contains some violence. Consequently, this book is recommended for readers this will not bother. ]