Founding of the Federation Series by Chris Hechtl

Book 1 details the First Steps of the Irons family to kick start mankind to the stars. They and several heroes of future space flight take on and do the impossible, build a program to explore and settle the red planet in a very short time period. Along the way they dig up old and invent new technology to overcome the many problems facing them. Mario and his wife are forced to take his brother's place when he is viciously attacked moments before launch... moreBook 1 details the First Steps of the Irons family to kick start mankind to the stars. They and several heroes of future space flight take on and do the impossible, build a program to explore and settle the red planet in a very short time period. Along the way they dig up old and invent new technology to overcome the many problems facing them. Mario and his wife are forced to take his brother's place when he is viciously attacked moments before launch. The team must overcome many problems, weather, radiation, and politics to get the colony started. Along the way they must divert an asteroid which has some far reaching consequences. Mankind will never be the same after the Mario brothers come on the scene! less

Decades after Mario and Luigi Irons led mankind to settle the red planet a new family began to take center stage. Jack Lagroose, his wife Aurelia, his friends and family, and others like him work together and sometimes against each other as they try to bring mankind kicking and screaming to the stars. Love, heartbreak, loss, genetic engineering, starships, AI, sabotage, terraforming, and all sorts of other things are tucked into mankind's past, present, and future... moreDecades after Mario and Luigi Irons led mankind to settle the red planet a new family began to take center stage. Jack Lagroose, his wife Aurelia, his friends and family, and others like him work together and sometimes against each other as they try to bring mankind kicking and screaming to the stars. Love, heartbreak, loss, genetic engineering, starships, AI, sabotage, terraforming, and all sorts of other things are tucked into mankind's past, present, and future. And right under Jack's nose an evil lurks and waits for it's chance to rise and take center stage... less