Wilcox Brown is a private investigator who is hired by Coradelle Hershall to locate the missing deed to a planet that should have been part of her inheritance. Wilcox and his investigative assistant, Nancy Louray, are thrown into one of the strangest mysteries they've ever had to solve. The client's representative at the Settlement Agency is of little help when they are told there is no such planet. A major clue leads them to odd skeletal remains of an alien species and the discovery of fascinating crystals. But when the client goes missing, they begin to lose hope in solving the case. Wilcox is asked to join in a military investigation into the deaths of the Sharrixian aliens that were found. Representatives for the Settlement Agency are confronted regarding mysterious crystals being sold on the black market. Across the galaxy, the Sharrixian queen empress runs out of patience with the humans and declares war, but one of the aliens in high command is doing his best to maintain peace. When those responsible for the Sharrixian deaths are discovered, will it be too late? After Coradelle learns who is behind the crystal avarice, will she even care about the missing deed?