Database and Lore

Mars

“The red planet of the solar system…..little did we know it would be the heart and soul of mankind. To some, it is lifeless. To others, it’s salvation. To everyone, it saved us all.” Bingwen Adams, first chairman of the UWA. The importance of a single small red planet is one that often surprises many newcomers in the realm of human history. Mars was never a valuable planet, but it would serve as the leaping platform for the human race to survive against the savages of its past. From then forth, it would make its leap to the other worlds. Its history is one that can never be forgotten as humanity spans the cosmos. History Mars is a world that is half the size of Earth. It’s the fourth planet of the Sol system and one that developed among the other worlds when the star formed. There is much debate about Mars, much like Venus. Some speculate that Mars might have had a habitable environment, but something had happened during its time span. Its atmosphere was supposedly very thin, but it was stripped away by the weak magnetic field that the planet gave off. It might have had a magnetic field that was very similar to Earth, but the crust had cooled. When this happened, any hopes of life or developing life would cease to exist. The water that remained would freeze in the poles in the form of CO2. Its lack of a suitable atmosphere made it unlikely for any human interests to travel to. At least, that was how it seemed. Both Luna and Mars would be colonized around the same time period. With Mars, however, there was generally less interest in having it due to the more extreme range. Colonized in 2092, the Martian early bases were nothing extraneous. They were designed to simply test the early beginnings of settling on a new planet.  Early trips to the planet required at least three months of nonstop travel. These missions were challenging and filled with hardship, but the Direct Fusion Drive had worked. Things such as basic metal fabrication and 3d printers had simplified the process. The first of these was establishing bases in the canyons of Mars was a more viable solution. Even if it required digging into the rock strata, once this was done, homes would be more adequately shielded against the radiation. Base Alpha would be created two kilometers into the mouth of Valles Marineris near Oudemans. Other locations would also be made at Shalbatana Vallis. Being underneath the rock strata served as a natural shield against radiation. At the same time, small amounts of water and other rocks could be easily harvested to transform into building material. The threat of shifting crusts, widescale heavy Martian dust storms, and earthquakes was more muted. Even then, colonization was rather slow. Most of this was because of the deteriorating conditions on Earth. With heavy rampant pollution, rising sea levels, and dwindling resources, the desire to continue forth of Mars was slowly falling apart. However, the first bases did show that settling in another world was more than possible. Base Alpha would attribute to the highest success as the teams had the ability to create a self-sustaining environment. By the 2100s, more and more people were getting used to living inside caves and makeshift internal stone walls. This was attributed to the fact that humanity had to find new locations to house the displaced that were forced away from their homes during the rising sea levels. The worst-case scenario for Earth would cause a massive shift in Martian colonization. The advent of the Orange Muck and the eruption at Yellowstone would usher in the end of most living conditions for Earth. With a declining population, the threat of the heavy toxin was real. However, the bacteria couldn’t survive off-world unless tainted, polluted water was brought with it. The concept of a planetary evacuation was heavily debated in 2140. By 2130, the Super Direct Fusion Drive was introduced. This made transitions to Mars much quicker. Advancing technology did make things more accessible in construction. It was believed that moving to Mars was a more viable option. For one, it would allow humanity the ability to do something. Second, small amounts of water were found in the canyons and could be extracted through vaporators. Whatever the case was, the Orange Muck wouldn’t be able to traverse to the red planet. The exodus to Mars would be slow as it would take five billion surviving individuals to a new planet. The canyons of Mars were selected for the great cities, but it would be an ever-present course of turning the walls into chasms and future settlements. Some ships would be scrapped to also serve as temporary shelters. However, it was showing that the people were free of the toxins. Underground greenhouses were created, and oxygen could be safely pressed into the environment. Regardless, the process was slow. Conditions were cramped. Food rationing was pressed to the limit, and settling in was challenging. Despite the canyons being the size of the United States, having to press billions of people into them was difficult. Thankfully, it was done over time, with construction going on as far as 2240 to help make up for the difference. By the time of the Gabatrix Experiment, much of the population was noted of meager but adequate living conditions. In time, other portions of settlements were established, including the regions of Olympus Mons and checkpoints along the surface. The biggest event was that of the discovery of the Equatis Wreck. It was located in the central equator. The wreckage of an ancient spaceship that had been almost completely covered up in the dirt and dust made headlines. While much of the debris was unsalvageable, everything was carefully analyzed, and the technology of gate folding technology had been extracted. Gabatrix Experiment and Its Impact On Mars While settling in on Mars was challenging, the discovery of gate folding technology was incredible. Instead of living a beleaguered life on Mars or living in a harsh environment on Earth, the human population devoted its attention towards finding other worlds to settle. Even if it would take years to build the gate array and ensure that Deimos Shipyard was in full operations, it didn’t stop the lack of faith that this new technology could bring. Morale had increased, and all hopes were placed upon the first series of experiments. Eventually, Gabatrix would make his famous trip to Luna in a single jump. What took weeks to months of travel was shortened down to a simple hop to the nearby planet in less than ten seconds. There seemed to be nothing that could limit the early vestiges of interstellar travel. When the world of Cebravis was discovered, a vast majority looked at Cebravis as a paradise world. It was newfound freedom for the crowded cities and uninhabitable conditions that went beyond the safety of the Earth or Martian landscapes. Mars was pressed to build as many vessels as possible. When the day arrived that it was clear to colonize Cebravis, the subsequent significant exodus would begin. The immigration move was quick and harsh on the Martian economy. Many people simply walked out of their jobs, or the jobs simply folded up and left as well. However, economists, politicians, and backup programs anticipated this massive shift fully. Contrary to belief, analysts are careful to point out that the Martians were in good condition. Those who decided to stay on Mars suddenly felt the relief of room. What resulted in crowds of people walking through passageways underground was suddenly finding a vacancy in everything. Even Earth had felt a similar shift, but not to the degree that Mars went through. In less than ten years, the population declined by a billion. Shipbuilding facilities were pushed to the limit in providing new colony vessels and transports for the expanding infrastructure. At the same time, the political structure almost completely shifted away from Mars to the new world of Cebravis. However, it was argued by even Gabatrix that Mars needed to remain firm in its place. While he believed in the freedom of expansion and personally wanted to settle down on Cebravis, he and other essential supporters recognized that Mars needed to represent the human center. Even if it didn’t have the high population that it once was, it could still lead as an administration center and industrial complex. By the time that it hit 2280, the exodus was slowing down. This was mostly because many of the Martians who were hesitant in moving would either leave or stay and enjoy the new room they had received. The quality of life was improving on Mars. If anything, there was now a large set of spaces available for continued expansion on the red planet. With the formation of the UWA, Mars would become the central core world for the human race. While many on Cebravis argue to have their planet serve as the central administration platform, Martians remain firm in their decision. Other developing colonies would further back Mars’s decision on the matter, citing that Mars would be fair and balanced in how they approached all the new founding colonies and future colonies to come. By the 2280s, Mars would be allocated as the capital world of humanity and the UWA. Most colonies were well stable and operating sufficiently. In the first years of the 2310s, it was noted that the Martian population was starting to rise slowly despite having many other locations to go to. It was even described that the Martian economy had been perfectly stable by then. Land value had always been low, along with the space that was always advertised. The Martian industrial complex had remained firm and promised jobs to newcomers alike. Surprisingly, the habits that brought an end to the Earth environment would actually be a benefit to the Martian atmosphere. CO2 emitters had been constructed on the Martian landscape. The concept is to introduce a greenhouse effect. The terraforming process is a slow one, but it's hopeful that with a firm enough atmosphere, it can help shield against the harmful radiation and help establish an environment that people can live in. Mars does have enough liquid water to flood 1/3 of the planet. By the time it reached 2349, Mars had remained firm as the capital world of the UWA. Its legacy was that of defying the odds. The people had transformed it into a home and made a powerhouse of a barren red wasteland. Its culture and personality often reflect that of hardship but triumph that radiates outward into the other UWA worlds. A common phrase that the Martians utter is, “You live on Mars long enough; you understand enough of the things that you miss out on. When you see the other worlds, you learn to cherish everything around you, and you become stronger in the end.” Personality-wise, the attitude of the Martians is a similar feel. They embrace living in harshness but struggle to be contemptuous and accept the outside changes.  *Spoilers if you haven’t read past Gabatrix: Minerva arc* The fear of the Itrean invasions was one that had Mars nervous, as were all of the other UWA colony worlds. While the Martian defenses were at their peak, an all-out assault could easily overwhelm everything that was there. By now, the UHN forces were down to approximately 110 warships. Mars, Cebravis, and Batrice were the most valuable locations. Batrice argued to devote the fleets to protect Mars and Cebravis first and foremost. As a result, the defense fleet on Mars was that of about 40 warships combined with the main fleet devoted to protecting Cebravis. The Martian defense network consisted of numerous weapon emplacements on the ground, Phobos, and a satellite weapons array system. This, in conjunction with the fleet, would at least provide something to protect the main capital, although the Itrean fleet over Cipra defeat had mounted in hundreds of warships. After the “Minerva Takeover” events, the Martian people were momentarily rattled by the circumstances. A single but powerful super AI had been created under the secrecy of the Aniruddha chairmanship. This resulted in a very brief but complete shutdown of all but the most vital of systems. Minerva’s goal was to ensure her survival and her unborn child that the population wanted to have terminated. It was agreed to spare Minerva and her unborn child but at the expense of the Aniruddha leadership. The political upheaval would lead to a new leadership devoted to warfare. Regardless, the situation on Mars was at a critical standpoint. Humanity had little to repel an alien invasion. Pleas from other colony worlds were going unheard of in providing additional reinforcements to protect them. *Spoilers if you haven’t read past Gabatrix: The First Peace arc*   The result of the T’rintar clan alliance was one that radiated outward in all directions of the UWA. Under the protection of the Itrean clan, humanity could rebuild, rearm, and prepare a sizeable defense. The Deimos shipyard was pressed fully. Numerous new wells were being made to house, repair, and build new warships. Additional measures were installed to help ready the UHN for battle. The industrial complex was almost fully devoted to wartime production. By the end of 2349, a media analyst had quoted that “Mars is seeing red. It knows war is here, and its teeth are being bared.” The issue of giving Earth to the T’rintar clan was a softly disputed one. By now, Earth was not a favorable location, with the exception of the Lunar colony nearby. The idea of having the Itreans so close and operating in the same solar system was only divided by the extreme distance between Earth and Mars. Nevertheless, the T’rintar clan alliance made its promises that the people of Earth would be treated fairly and as citizens of the clan. At the same time, the people of Earth had a little issue with the concept since the Itrean clan was going to clean up the environment and make the world habitable. For many Martian politicians and analysts, everything about the alliance seemed cozy and convenient, but long-term considerations were also existent. The fact remained that Mars really didn’t have much choice, and they were fully aware of it. In order to survive, the Itrean clan had to have a presence in the system. Their fleets would be able to back up and protect Mars in case of an all-out assault by other Itrean clans. Thankfully, it seemed to work. At the same time, the Martian people were open to having the new alien visitors on Mars. It’s stated by some T’rintar analysts of the surprise and shock that they have in how the humans had managed to turn Mars into a habitable location. The alliance that exists still promises that Mars is to be left alone, except for hostile invasion. Even then, the T’rintar clan fleets have to be requested to enter into Martian space, much like the other worlds. This allows Mars to act independently in the Sol system while still serving as the capital of the UWA.