Two lawful owners. One vanished liner. A survivor neither claim was built to protect.

The Aster Vale vanished twenty-eight years ago. Now it has returned through Kepler Gate carrying two authentic ownership claims, a cargo history that cannot be true—and a heartbeat hidden where neither title says a person should be.

Independent salvage surveyor Iona Mercer needs to stabilize the aging liner before its rotating structure tears itself apart. Dr. Rafiq Nadir, a cryogenic physician and former rescue commander, needs every claim frozen until the survivor can be found and allowed to choose what happens next. Their methods collide as sharply as their priorities—until the ship begins recognizing each of them as the sole lawful custodian and locking the other out.

Working with Claims Hall 7's securely married investigators, Iona and Rafiq must follow physical damage, legal records, permission logs, and one split cobalt seal through a mystery where every valid claim becomes more dangerous the more complete it appears. The closer they get to the truth, the more they must decide whether sharing risk means surrendering control—or trusting another competent adult enough to build something neither owns.

Salvage Rights at Kepler Gate is an adult science-fiction romantic mystery with mature protagonists, medium heat, a fair external puzzle, and a complete HEA.

Reader Promise

A clue-driven derelict-ship mystery grounded in salvage law, rescue medicine, and engineering evidence
Competent protagonists over forty and a mature heterosexual woman/man romance
Medium heat, direct consent, and a complete happily-ever-after
An optimistic six-world station setting with meaningful local stakes
A secure recurring married investigative team at Claims Hall 7

Each Interstellar Claims Bureau novel contains a complete mystery and a complete woman/man romance and may be read on its own, while publication order provides the strongest Null Petition payoff.

Salvage Rights at Kepler Gate

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