Starbreaker Protocol

She went looking for salvage.
What she found… could reshape the stars.


About the book

On the forgotten fringes of known space, the Rustborn endure. Scattered among remote stations and settlements, these fiercely independent clans eke out a living far from the comforts of the core systems, surviving on scraps, salvage and whatever work comes their way. For Jexa Krynn, a young salvage engineer with debts she can barely keep ahead of, that means taking whatever jobs she can find and hoping the next haul will be enough to see her through another day.

A routine salvage mission leads Jexa to a derelict unlike anything she has encountered before. Ancient and seemingly abandoned, the vessel holds little of obvious value until she discovers a strange metallic orb hidden deep within its interior. After finding the orb, everything changes — and Jexa leaves with far more than another piece of salvage.

The orb could be worth a fortune — enough to offer Jexa a rare escape from the struggles of Rustborn life. But finding a buyer carries risks of its own. If word of advanced technology reaches the Helion Authority, they won't hesitate to confiscate it and claim the discovery for themselves.

Jexa soon discovers that the orb's value may be the least of her concerns. Strange dreams begin to haunt her sleep, while unexplained glitches in her cybernetic implants leave her questioning what really happened aboard the derelict.

As questions surrounding the orb begin to mount, Jexa finds herself with nowhere to turn and no one she can truly trust. Even among her fellow Rustborn, offers of help may be driven as much by self-interest as concern for her safety. The First Light Assembly may hold some of the answers she desperately needs, but accepting their help means trusting that they don't have an agenda of their own.

As the stakes surrounding her discovery continue to grow, a dangerous encounter with the Crimson Circle finally forces Jexa's hand, leaving her little choice but to run. With powerful factions closing in and few places left to hide, she stumbles upon a new threat to her homeworld, one that only she may have the power to change, if she has the courage to face it.


What Readers Are Saying

“Captivatingly detailed world-building that stays approachable.”

“A cinematic space opera with mythic depth.”

“Jexa’s evolution unfolds convincingly as the stakes escalate.”

“Nail biting! … Approaching the conclusion, I was holding my breath in anticipation.”


Step into the world of Starbreaker Protocol


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© 2026 David McLeod. All rights reserved.