Are We Planet B

Julia Porteous leads a team of young Australian scientists taking samples from Antarctic ice, investigating ancient climate change.In an ice core taken from the five-million-year level, they find modern human remains under a polycarbonate dome.Her boss, Stan Nightingale, is reluctant to give the findings credibility, but nevertheless, funds the building of a lift to access the dome and the human remains.Inside he dome, Julia becomes infected by a bacteria that appears to share DNA with one brought back by a NASA Mars probe.Jim Somerville, Stan's American colleague's attempt to compare the bacteria samples draws the attention of Hiram Caxton, rogue CIA Director, who has Sommerville arrested and tortured.Caxton learns enough to have the dig sabotaged to protect the re-election prospects of his fundamental Christian president, who needs the votes of those who believe in Adam and Eve and a ten-thousand-year-old universe.Agents sent by Caxton disable the lift, trapping the Australian team under the ice, where they will die unless rescued quickly. But it is winter in Antarctica where nothing moves except the wind.