The year was 2030 and earth's natural resources had been depleted. World War Three had been fought over water and had devastated the planet. Book one describes the building of the Space Train, which was said to be the most advanced, technological spaceship ever built. It contained everything the one-hundred-and-twenty federal convicts would need to establish a colony on a distant planet which was called "The New World." NASA had discovered the planet which was habitable, and if successful, could provide a new home for millions of people from earth. However, Doctors Vidula and Ervin Kozenskie had other plans. Vidula and Ervin were both convicts, after they unsuccessfully tried taking over the world economy employing a sophisticated plot using hitmen and intimidation. Justin LeMoore, the Mental Health Coordinator, and several of his friends discovered the Kozenskies intentions to disrupt the mission, perhaps even hijack the train and divert it to another planet. When Justin tries to alert the command of the Kozenskies intentions, Vidula states she will make Justin's life "a living hell." In book two, the Kozenskies carry out their threat. The train is hijacked and diverted to another planet that Ervin and several of his astronomer friends discovered. The pilot and copilot are killed to preclude being able to return to earth. A meltdown of the of the train's electrical and computer system stops the train which is then almost destroyed by a meteor storm. Due to a miscalculation, the ship overshoots their intended landing site and makes a crash landing.