The 6th Extinction

Abstract

The 6th Extinction is part of the Sigma Force book series, with all the novels dealing with Sigma Force, a fictional division of the United States Department of Defense that employs personnel with military skills and specialised scientific training and knowledge. The 6th Extinction in particular tells about a number of scientists that were mysteriously found dead in a research facility; however, not only are the scientists dead, but all the surrounding area, including all animals, plants and microscopic organisms. Furthermore, the destruction does not seem to be a unique occurrence, and the blight spreads. Sigma Force investigates the situation, and it is eventually revealed that the destruction was caused by man-made indestructible viral shells, which contain a deadly substance produced through the DNA of organisms that were found in an initially unknown habitat beneath Antarctica, populated by ancient and strange creatures. The novel deals with themes such as the dangers of scientific research and possible global extinction, also enacting fantasies of scientific discovery in the context of field research. It also incorporates details on how genetic material can be manipulated, how the resurrection of extinct species can be attempted, and the challenges faced by scientists in diverse contexts.