In 2020, the ''Mars I'' mission to planet Mars, is commanded by Luke Graham (Don Cheadle) with fellow astronauts Nicholas Willis (Kavan Smith), Sergei Kirov (Peter Outerbridge), and Renée Coté (Jill Teed). Upon arrival, the team discovers a crystalline formation in the Cydonia (region of Mars), which they suspect is an extrusion from a subsurface geothermal column of water, useful to future human colonization. After reporting this to the International Space Station, they investigate the formation and hear a strange sound on their communications system, which they assume to be interference from their planetary Rover (space exploration). When they scan the formation with radar, a large vortex kills everyone except Luke. After the vortex subsides, the formation is revealed to be part of a large Face on Mars.