After the catastrophe that struck a hundred years ago and led to irreversible mutation of 99% of all Earth organisms, the remnants of humankind found refuge in an oil-mining colony on Mars. From the ruins of abandoned cities, new forms of life rule — lifeforms capable of existing in the harsh conditions of this altered world. But humankind will never surrender without a fight. Amid the tropical forests that hide traces of the former grandeur of civilization, a network of resource-extraction bases stretches out; their personnel are occupied with extracting the vital resources for Mars and with scientific study of the many-dangerous secrets of the New World.