Set in the second half of the 22nd century, Mars has been 84% Terraforming, allowing humans to walk on the surface without pressure suits. Martian society has become matriarchal, with women in most positions of authority. The story concerns police officer Lt. Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), who is sent to a remote mining outpost to transport prisoner James 'Desolation' Williams (Ice Cube). Arriving at the remote mining town, Ballard & her team find all of the people missing. She learns that they had discovered an underground doorway created by an ancient Martian civilization. When the door was opened it released disembodied spirits or "ghosts", which took possession of the miners.