Sydney Banks, a sheltered recent college graduate is thrust into the world's spotlight as a leader on humanity's first expedition to settle the Red Planet.  Trying to conquer a new world is a demanding task. In a world beset by declining resources, economic disparity and a resurgence in nationalism, it becomes almost impossible.
Sydney and the rest of the Mars Expeditionary Team have to navigate not only scientific hurdles on their quest, but personal and inter-personal struggles as well.  Just as the world continued on a path towards nativism and selfishness, so go some members of the team.   One may even be willing to commit murder to achieve their goals.
Back on Earth, the Middle Kingdom Confederation fights an endless series of wars to exert itself as the dominant power in Asia. Can the combined might of the United States, the British Commonwealth and Australia stand against them?
What began as the next step in human evolution, morphs as the world head long crashes into another World War.  The Mars Expeditionary Team may become humanity's last hope for survival.