In the near future, the solar system is being struck by mysterious power surges of unknown origin, threatening all human life. After surviving an incident on an immense space antenna caused by one of these surges, Major Roy McBride, son of famed pioneering astronaut H. Clifford McBride, is informed by U.S. Space Command (SpaceCom) that the source of the surges has been traced to the "Lima Project" base. The Lima Project had been set up to search for intelligent life from the farthest regions of the Solar System under Clifford's leadership, but nothing had been heard for sixteen years after they reached Neptune. A SpaceCom officer informs Roy that they believe Clifford may still be alive, and he is tasked with the mission of traveling to Mars to try and establish communication with him. Roy accepts the mission on a quest to find out about his father and solve some personal disconnects in his own life.