Serena MacDonald

Serena knows who she is, and she knows what her destiny is. But love and destiny don't seem to be in agreement this time. So, which should she follow, her destiny or her heart? It seems an impossible choice...  somehow she finds the strength to make it. But is there a price to pay for defying fate?

Bartok Vancura

Bartok seems to have a chip on his shoulder: he's arrogant, rude, filled with his own self-importance. He takes a particular dislike to 'lunar loony', Serena, his closest rival in the stellarnaut training programme. But when he is given command of Conquest Four, the two of them learn they need to work together if they hope to reach their destination.

Toshiko Nakatomi (Tosh)

With an astonishingly brilliant mind and the sweetest, most engaging personality, Tosh is one of the brightest stars in the Space Corps. By the time she completes her training, she is the most skillful navigator they have, and is assigned to Conquest Four, the mission to planet Aegir, mankind's best hope of finding the sky stone.

Xenia Romanov

The youngest member of the Conquest Four crew, Xenia is one of the best pilots in the Space Corps. She's always felt an affinity with OTMA, the daughters of the last Tsar of Russia, who she believes to be distant relatives: especially Anastasia.

Makena Mwangi

Medical officer on Conquest Four, Makena is Serena's best friend. Out of curiosity, Makena lets Serena put her into a trance to explore a past life: only to discover something terrible.

Emeka Mbanefo (Meka)

Meka is a real charmer: his honesty makes up for his philandering ways, everyone loves him, even the men. His ambition is to sleep with everyone on the ship, and he's half way to completing his mission.

Helga Müller

Conquest Four's security officer is a tough bitch. It doesn't take long before Serena realises she's encountered this dark soul before.

Vikram Mohanty

The Tech and Communications Officer seems like a nice enough guy, Serena always liked him when they were training. But as time goes on, she can't help wondering who he was in the past?

Gary Martin

The oldest member of the Conquest Four crew, Martin mostly keeps to himself. But he carries a dark secret he wants no-one to discover.

Dutch Meyer

Creator of the survival training programme that bears his name, Dutch is hard but fair. He expects the recruits to face the toughest challenges Earth, and Mars, can provide. But he never stops reminding them he'd rather send them home in tears than in a body bag.

Saita

Saita's life as the chief's daughter is one of privilege and luxury, but she gives it up to be able to follow a handsome young conquistador on the search for the City of Gold. Being treated as an ordinary Ye'kuana maiden brings more hardship than she'd bargained for: and that's just the beginning of her problems.

Tracey

It might be 2001, but Tracey knows a black woman still has to work twice as hard as her white male colleagues to stand any chance of getting anywhere in the competitve corporate world. That's why she's in the office early on this sunny, September morning. But what on Earth is that airliner doing?

Sybella Dabula

Sybella can't believe Mendor has been elected World President: no-one she knows would dream of voting for him. When the notorious GES men come to arrest her, she protests. But, as democracy crumbles around her, she is convicted of heresy and treason. Mendor himself offers her a choice between death and dishonour... but it's love that decides the outcome.

Swanhild

Saxon slave, Swanhild, is hideously disfigured following a childhood accident. Ancient Myrddin, the sorceror, claims he is her only chance of knowing a man. When, eventually, she is forced to succumb to his advances to repay a great debt, she falls pregnant. Her love for the child leads her to give him up, allowing him to live a better life than she could ever hope to provide. But, when the child grows to manhood, Swanhild realises Myrddin wanted far more than her body.