Daughters

The fertile and green planet, Mars, was home to two advanced humanoid species. Each had but one sex and one gender, but could still reproduce sexually with members of its own species. They also could mate with the other species, giving birth to a sterile hybrid race, called the Daughters of Mars.

These Daughters were bred for specific purposes: slave labor, soldiers, conversation pieces, prostitutes, and artists. Few among the cruel Mothers considered them their legitimate offspring, but rather as things that they owned, bought, sold, gave away, or discarded. Most Daughters were not even given names, and they had few rights in the theocracy that officially considered them blasphemous aberrations.

But such systematic abuse and cruelty could not last. Revolts broke out over the generations, often among the soldiers and gladiators, fanning finally into a full-scale war: the Genetics War.

Daughters of Earth Colony
The Orphans of Mars series chiefly concerns itself with the Daughters who populate Earth Colony. By the end of their first day on Earth, only twelve survived:

Ress, the little viper;

Kellin, the naturalist, and Ress's sister;

Jarissy, a warrior, bright of spirit;

Quasha, a warrior, moody and dark, the second Imperatrix of Earth Colony;

Nerrine, widow to Garaka (the first Imperatrix), and herself the third;

Petara, apostate and spymaster;

Lask, the empath, one of Petara's spies;

Danalee, the assassin, one of Petara's spies;

Fennisa, a dancer of song, called Fenn, introduced in To Bell The Cat;

Tandra, the mistress of beasts, introduced in The Transit of Venus;

Valessa, introduced in The Transit of Venus;

Bessany, introduced in The Transit of Venus.