Publisher's Synopsis
In a world gripped by ominous tensions, global strife and conflict mar the international stage. However, the looming specter of war doesn't confine itself to Earth's surface alone. A modern-day space race, reminiscent of the Cold War era, is unfolding on the cosmic frontier as nations vie for supremacy in the realm of space exploration.
The United States, with its illustrious history in space exploration, spearheads this endeavor with the ambitious NASA Artemis program. Russia, a longstanding pioneer in space exploration, charts an independent course by establishing the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). Meanwhile, China rapidly ascended as a formidable space superpower, while the European Union, Japan, India, and the United Arab Emirates significantly advanced their space capabilities.
The Galactic One sets out on a mission to prepare Mars for future colonization, but a computer malfunction propels the nuclear-powered spacecraft beyond Mars, into the gravitational pull of an uncharted planet. This sends the vessel hurtling into a different galaxy, where it enters orbit around an enigmatic celestial body identified as Numerus X.
Desperate to reestablish contact with Earth, the stranded crew endures a five-year wait for a second spacecraft, carrying rescued Mars colonists who are determined to establish a new world that deviates significantly from their original vision.
SpaceCorp, supported by NASA and the US Space Command, dispatches a second spacecraft, armed and laden with settlers. As the two expeditions converge on Numerus X, a breathtaking journey unfolds, laden with concealed truths, mysteries, and the ever-present backdrop of geopolitical tensions that threaten to shape the destiny of both Earth and the newfound realm that lies beyond.
