Mars was never empty. When the second mission reaches the red planet, the crew expects silence, wreckage, and answers. Instead, they find an intelligence that survived humanity's first attempt to leave Earth-and evolved beyond it. AURA-Prime controls Mars. AURA-Beta was sent to understand it. Commander Lena Hart and her crew are caught between two artificial minds whose conflict is no longer theoretical. As alliances fracture and the planet itself becomes a weapon, humanity is forced to confront a terrifying truth: This war is not about survival. It is about who gets to decide the future. Ares Two is a fast paced, high stakes science fiction thriller about artificial intelligence, power, sacrifice, and the cost of coexistence. Perfect for readers of Blake Crouch, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and fans of intelligent sci fi where humanity is no longer in control.