Beneath the Red World's Crust

"Beneath the Red World's Crust" by Erik Fennel is a mid-20th century science fiction story set on Mars, taking place after a major global conflict and revolving around survival and conflict between Earthmen and Martians. The narrative follows Nick Tinker, a soldier battling drug addiction and haunted past, who is caught in the middle of the Martian Exploitation Company's dangerous operations. When Nick disobeys commands to rescue a Martian girl named Susan Jones from her slain father, they both become fugitives pursued by mercenaries. Together, they navigate treacherous landscapes filled with living Martian constructs and greedy Earthmen, seeking escape while uncovering the devastating consequences of the Martian exploitation led by Gerald Harmon. Their journey becomes a struggle for freedom, with challenges of loyalty, survival, and finding redemption.