The crew of the starship Mercury prepare for a short trip to Mars, both to test a miraculous new engine, and to serve in an assistance capacity to the first landing team to set foot on the red planet. Sabotage and mutiny strand the Mercury and all hands deep in uncharted space. The ship damaged, and the crew subject to the horrible stress of knowing they may never see Earth again, they accidentally stumble across something amazing that will shake our understanding of the universe, and our place in it. This is a story of human determination, achievement, and curiosity, set against all too human hatred, madness, and fear.