Susan Morgan – Between Fire and Silence

Date of Birth: October 14, 2057 – Dublin, Ireland

Position: Deputy Chief Engineer, Minos Settlement, Mars

Education:

• BSc in Mechanical Engineering – Trinity College Dublin

• MSc in Aerospace Systems – Imperial College London

• Advanced Certification in Martian Logistics and Resource Management – European Space Agency

The red-haired woman who carries more than just the mission

Susan Morgan is not someone you forget easily. Her striking red hair—sometimes tied back in a no-nonsense braid, sometimes left loose after hours—has become a visual fixture at Minos. During work shifts, she might appear worn down, grease-streaked, with a tired posture that speaks of long days and relentless decisions. But when she enters the communal space with her hair loose, a touch of makeup—something shifts.

The engine that keeps Minos running

Susan is responsible for the lifeblood of the colony: mining operations and the construction of off-grid supply routes and covert shelters. Both are critical. Both are confidential. And both are run with uncompromising dedication.

The equipment is aging. The risks are increasing. Accidents are becoming more frequent. But Minos holds—and much of that is thanks to Susan.

She’s the kind of leader who doesn’t just issue orders—she grabs the tools herself. She’s been seen crawling under a jammed extractor belt or stabilizing a cracked support strut. When something goes wrong, she’s the first one on-site and the last to leave.

“Not under my watch.” It’s not a motto. It’s a mindset.

Leader without ego

Susan is also the social and emotional glue of the engineering team. Where David Everhart is reserved and methodical, Susan is present, warm, and quietly supportive. She builds morale through kindness, action, and example—not micromanagement.

The engineering crew doesn’t just respect her. They like her. She listens. She teaches. She lets people fail safely. And if someone becomes a real problem, she quietly sidelines them—without drama, without spectacle.

David is the one who makes the final call if someone needs to be removed. But everyone knows it’s often Susan’s presence that made the crew worth keeping in the first place.

A life redefined by distance

Susan came to Mars at age 30, following a divorce and a desire to start over. What began as a four-year contract became something more. Now, four years in, she’s not ready to leave. Here, she feels whole. Seen. Needed.

She still speaks to her parents back on Earth, but her real life—the one she chose—is here.

In time, she hopes to start a family. Perhaps back on Earth. Perhaps not. There’s someone she cares for—a man she respects deeply. David Everhart. They keep their distance. For now. But the connection is unmistakable, and at Minos, everyone sees it.

Susan is just one of many compelling voices in The Mars Chronicles. Explore the tensions, the technology, and the deeply human choices shaping the first Martian settlements.

📖 Read the novel Icarus – the beginning of humanity's new chapter on the Red Planet.👉 https://www.themarschronicles.com/blog/categories/book

Disclaimer: All characters, events, and storylines presented on this website are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental. Visual representations of characters were created using AI-generated imagery and are intended solely for illustrative purposes.