It had all started on Mars almost six years earlier. The observation was a little thing really. A small scientific oddity that drew attention. But it was the kind of thing the Mars Rover Curiosity might be tasked with having a look at after all.
So why was Jack Culver killed? He was a talented young physicist who was involved in a special project at UC Berkeley, but as far as anyone knew, it wasn't anything special, and certainly Jack had never given any indication his work was at all dangerous. Jack's brother Tony wanted answers, and he was the sort to find them. An ex-military intelligence, ex-CIA operative, Tony came to Berkeley after learning of his brother's death to seek resolution to the matter.
Jack's girlfriend and his long time friend Paul are curious about Jack's death as well. It had been Paul who witnessed the unexplained murder. With Tony leading the effort they begin to find more questions than answers. Why is Ron Swenson, an ex-NASA space pioneer, involved in the campus effort? Jack had never indicated to any of his friends that his work had anything to do with space.
Their involvement becomes more precarious when they are inadvertently present at the time of an attack on the campus facility. Tony and his friends are observed at the scene by government agents and become wanted by Homeland Security as possible agents behind the strike. They are forced to flee Berkeley having learned only that Jack had been working with technology that is years, perhaps decades, ahead of what is thought to exist. They also learn that two of America's greatest adversaries, Russia and China, have become aware of the project as well.
Under presidential direction America has returned to space - in a big way. The effort is almost too aggressive given the state of the economy. Man is preparing a large base on the moon in the near future and an increasing number of scientific missions to the planets. Dr. Ron Swenson also appears to be a significant participant in these activities, suggesting a linkage between the University project and the expanded space effort.
When Tony finally discovers the truth behind the Mars project ENDRUN, he learns that the action is moving beyond Earth -- and even beyond the moon. A race outward into space will be required to preserve the mysterious effort that has been quietly taking place these past few years well beyond the moon's orbit.