The discovery of an abandoned alien city buried under the Martian plain propels Frank Brentford and his employer, MarsVantage, onto a collision course with Washington’s ruling class. Technology and knowledge can drive MarsVantage to self-sufficiency, but Senator Maura Severino submits legislation, which will quickly become law, to nationalize all alien technology.
Rather than surrender their hard-earned discovery and a secret that could destroy humanity if it fell into the wrong hands, Frank and MarsVantage chart a more challenging course… engaging a highly trained and heavily armed Space Force in an all-out battle to secure their freedom and prosperity.
Will Frank prevail?
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Characters
Frank Brentford
Since finding Bvindu technology, I’m helping MarsVantage to race toward self-sufficiency. Two more years and our reliance on Earth should be over. The question confronting us is, how will Washington react to the new technology? Everyone knows the politicians are greedy but it’s a huge leap for them to nationalize the alien technology.
Gretchen Blake
Washington sent auditors and inspectors and now a reporter is on his way. The politicians have their eyes on Bvindu technology. All they need is to find a rationale to take it. Or create a rationale. We will have to confront Washinton, and I need to convince Frank to see the situation for what it is.
To make matters worse, the reporter is my ex-husband who reports on international conflicts, not science and technology. Is he expecting to sweettalk Bvindu information from me or try to provoke me to reveal information by mistake?
Lorah Charendoff
I was sent to Mars ostensibly as Mr. Fordham’s liaison to bring Bvindu technology to Earth markets. Besides a cure for the common cold, MarsVantage has provided nothing. Surprisingly, Mr. Fordham is unconcerned. My other task is to provide an analysis of the Bvindu technology for the Knowledge Keeper Order. A strange assignment to say the least, the Order receives information directly from Frank. No one has disclosed why another perspective is needed.
Senator Maura Severino
Once the silly Marsees stumbled upon alien technology, their stubborn streak went from being an annoyance to a threat. They purchased over twenty square miles of land and supported it with holo recordings showing a sprawling underground city.
These miners, bolstered by unknown technology, could achieve self-sufficiency. They’ll become a wild card politically as they oppose the government’s actions, ignoring how they benefit the citizens. Worse, given history and human nature, when will the Marsees turn their eye to Earth?
Posts
Why I set this book two years after the The Music of Mars–click here.
A single situation yields different perceptions–click here.
A reporter is coming to Mars. Why are the Marsians suspicious?–click here.
Chapter titles are fun–click here.
Banning items like certain food products leads to creating black markets–click here.
Senator Maura Severino must decide how to deal with the Marsee threat–click here.