COMPASS Mining Corporation was one of biggest companies of its kind to be based on Earth. It was a joint British and Polish company employing people from both countries as well as others. It was unique in the fact it held the distinction of being the most advanced in outer space exploration and mining. As well as having successful mining operations on Earth, it had become the first to successfully set one up on the Moon and on a couple of asteroids without there being any mishaps. Now it had achieved another first – to be the first to set up a mining operation on another planet – Mars!

The company had a spotless record when it came to business, profit, safety and security which CEO Gareth Jones had no intention of letting that slip. He wasn't one of those businessmen who were greedy and penny-pinching. He cared deeply about those who worked for him and always made sure they had his full support.

Whilst Gareth worked in the company headquarters back on Earth supported by his personal assistant Pamela Strycharska, the complex on Mars was managed by Gareth's wife Kasia who supervised the two teams that took turns in going down to explore the vast underground caverns that had been found during exploration trips to the planet. Team A was led by Sarah Cummings and her team consisted of Richard Harper, Joshua Andrews, José Fernandez, Peter Dickinson, Shannen Davies and Chloé Richardson whilst Team B was led by Adriana Romano and her team consisted of Faye Turner, Klaudia Klaudina, Lucy Wells, Connor Partridge, Paris Court and Stuart Armstrong. Catering for the miners was handled by Grace Wilson. They were the amongst the best in the Compass Mining Corporation and had all been handpicked by Gareth and Kasia to work on their most challenging project to date.

The Mars complex had been in operation for just over a week now with each team working ten hour shifts. They would be allowed one hour for breakfast before going down into the underground tunnels and one hour for dinner once they came back. They would then have twelve hours' rest period to sleep whilst the other team had their turn down the mine. It was a routine everyone had got to know well and it was a routine they were all happy with.

Team A were just finishing their final checks of equipment before stepping into the elevator that would take them down the shaft to the tunnels. Sarah was very strict when it came to safety and equipment and wouldn't let everyone proceed until she'd double-checked that everything was in order.

"Roll call guys," Sarah said. "Rich?"

"Here!" said Richard.

"Josh?"

"Here!" Josh answered.

"José?"

"Yes, I'm here," he said.

"Peter?"

"Ta-da!" said Peter which caused Sarah to glare at him for a moment.

"Shannen?"

"Yes," said Shannen.

"Chloé?"

"Present," Chloé said.

"Good," said Sarah. "We all have what we need. Let's go."

Kasia came over from her office to see them off. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yes, Kasia, we're all set," said Sarah.

"Excellent," said Kasia. She looked down at her watch. "I best not keep you waiting. Enjoy yourselves."

"Thanks," said Sarah as she joined her team in the elevator. Once the doors had closed it began to descend down the fifty metre shaft to the tunnels down below where there were three tunnels in front of them.

Once the elevator had arrived, the doors opened and Sarah led her team out. "You know where you're going," she said checking her watch. "It's 01:00 hours so meet back at our designated rest area for a break. Everyone clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," the miners all said together.

"Off you go then," said Sarah.

The miners headed off in pairs. Richard and Josh went together down one tunnel whilst Peter and José went down the second and Shannen and Chloé went down the third.

Kasia had returned to her office and made a video call to Gareth.

"How's everything going?" Gareth asked.

"Everything fine," smiled Kasia. "Sarah's team have just started their shift."

"Great," said Gareth. "I know we've had no luck yet in finding anything yet but I'm sure our patience will be rewarded soon."

It wasn't long before the miners reached their designated places to begin digging for minerals and any other secrets that Mars had to offer. Peter was probably the most eager out of all the miners and couldn't wait to have first go on the powerful drill that he'd been given to task of operating.

"Is she ready?" Peter asked José.

"Yeah, she ready, Pete," José replied. "Fire her up!"

Peter pointed the drill at the rocks in front of him and started it up. "Okay, baby, let's dance!" he said putting the tip of the drill into the rock.

Suddenly there was a loud shriek which caused them to throw their hands over their ears. The shriek echoed throughout the tunnels alarming the other miners. It also travelled up the shaft into the complex above startling Kasia and waking Adriana and her team up from their sleep.

"Guys, report!" Sarah said into her radio once the shrieking had stopped.

But before anyone could answer, there was a loud rumbling sound and the tunnels started to shake violently. The miners were thrown off their feet and looked around in alarm as cracks began appearing in the tunnel walls and ceiling. The complex above also started to shudder and shake knocking Kasia out of her chair and throwing the other miners out of their beds. Their spotless safety record was about to be shattered.

5! (DUN)

4! (DUN)

3! (DUN)

2! (DUN)

1! (EXPLOSION)

*Thunderbirds theme plays*

"THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!"