The Star Collector

Book excerpt: Space-sheriff Joe Corbit may have just found the greatest collector's item in the history of the universe. (br)(br)He also may have doomed the human race. (br)(br)When a distress call leads him to the ruins of a lost, alien civilization, he finds an illegal archaeological dig underway. The Chinese Galactic Empire is working alongside the Martian mob in order to smuggle an ancient artifact across state lines. (br)(br)One deadly shoot-out later and Joe finds himself the sole custodian of the curious relic. His plan is to auction it off to the highest bidder, that is, until he finds out why the Chinese were after it in the first place. (br)(br)They believe it to be an ancient alien super-weapon. (br)(br) All Joe has to do is hold off the most powerful space fleet in galaxy, long enough to prove that this whole 'ancient alien super-weapon' thing is being blown way out of proportion. (br)(br)You see, Joe is hellbent on selling this artifact. (br)(br)Even if it kills him.