A masterful blend of horror, science fiction, and pulse-pounding thrills, the first book in Nicholas Sansbury Smith's bestselling Orbs series introduces the last survivors of an alien invasion.The year is 2061, and the planet is dying. Cataclysmic solar storms have forced leaders from around the world to finally put aside their differences and agree on one thing-to jump ship. The human race is headed to Mars.Dr. Sophie Winston is hired by New Tech Corporation to test a biosphere deep within the heart of Cheyenne Mountain, a mission she believes will help prepare the company for the three-year flight to the red planet. But just days into the assignment, things start to go wrong. When the blast doors hiss open, Winston's team finds a changed world outside. Humans are gone, vanished without a trace, and they aren't the only thing missing. The planet's water is gone too.As the team explores their surroundings, they find thousands of luminous blue orbs lining the streets. It isn't until they uncover what's inside that they realize the nightmare that lies ahead. And what it means for our most important resource.