Mars
From The Babylon Project
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Mars is the fourth planet located in the Sol system, named after the god of war in the pantheon of Earth's ancient Roman Empire. Mars was the site of the largest and most prominent Earth colony that later became an independent state.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early Exploration
Viking 1, the first human probe to land on the surface of Mars set down on Chryse Planitia on July 20th, 1976 and was the first of several such mission, with varying levels of success that progressed into the early 21st Century. Ares 3, carrying an international crew of four was Earth's very first manned interplanetary vessel and arrived on Mars on July 4th, 2057. The Ares missions continued until 2072 when the Ares 13's breaking system fails during Mars entry, killing all seven crew members and bringing a halt to any further missions until early in the next century.
[edit] Colonisation
Manned missions to Mars resumed in 2101 with the construction of a series of small scientific and military bases.[1] By 2148 IPX had built eight experimental station near Syria Planum[2] and in 2155 the first permanent Mars Colony, Mars One, is built on Solis Planum, although the site itself is not considered a prime location. In 2156, Earth makes First Contact with the Centauri Republic, precipitating a giant leap forward in propulsion technology when in 2161 the Earth Alliance negotiates access to Jumpgate technology, allowing the establishment of a colony on Proxima III in 2164 and by 2169 the first group of 768 colonists depart Earth for Mars in a ship piloted by John Carter. Thanks to the use of Centauri Jumpgate technology, the journey lasts mere hours and construction of Mars Dome One, the new colonial capital begins.[1][3]
However, tragedy struck 0n November 15th, 2177 when a bomb planted by an Earth isolationist movement destroys Dome One, killing 487, including John Carter.[1] Dome One is rebuilt and the Earth Alliance provides security for the citizens, making the colony a military governorship under Earthforce.
[edit] Rebellion
During the Earth-Minbari War the colony openly declared it's neutrality in the conflict, further deepening the bad blood between the 'Earthers' and 'Marsies'. The it's unlikely the Minbari were concerned with the declaration of neutrality, they nevertheless bypassed Mars in favour of an all out assault on Earth, resulting in the Battle of the Line.
After the war ended, supply shortages led to the so-called "Food Riots", which were eventually put down by Earthforce.
2258 saw a wide-scale rebellion on the colony against Earth Alliance rule and their puppet "provisional government." The President was reticent to used force to resolve the situation, but eventually caved to intense political pressure and deployed elite shock troops to put down the insurgency. The conflict was not limited to the surface domes, several ships were engaged in Mars orbit including one piloted by the notorious Free Mars terrorist Abel Horn, who was shot down over Phobos by the EAS Pournelle during the battle.
On May 14th, 2260 Mars officially declared independence from the Alliance in protest over the bombings of civilian targets because of the provisional government's refusal to accede to President Clark's martial law decree. Though Proxima III, Orion VII and Babylon 5 also declared their independence in protest and solidarity over the Mars bombings, an Earthforce embargo and blockade meant that for now, Mars was on it's own. Over the next 18 months the Resistance continued to fight a guerilla war against Earthforce, though they were quickly forced to occupy old supply and mining tunnels to hide from Earth troops and guard against a frontal assault. [4]
In mid May of 2261, senior members of the Babylon 5 command staff made it through the embargo and pledged Captain Sheridan's support and a promise that they will move against Earth at the appropriate time. Though as a show of support for Number One, Dr. Franklin stipulated that the bombing of civillian targets must stop.[5]
On November 1st they launched attacks on five Earth Alliance military bases on Mars simultaneously, while Sheridan's fleet engaged the thirty five Omega class destroyers under the command of General Robert Leftcourt that had gathered in Mars orbit. Most of his fleet was disabled by Shadow modified telepaths that had been smuggled aboard by Earthforce sympathisers on Mars. With the loyalist fleet disabled, the liberation fleet left Mars for Earth space.
After the conclusion of the war, the colony was granted independence from Earth, as a condition for the Earth Alliance's membership in the new Interstellar Alliance. Though no longer a colony world, Mars remained part of the Earth Alliance, though now as an equal member.
[edit] Independence
On June 15, six months after the Drakh attack on Earth, a conference of the the Earth Alliance Health Organization, overseen by Earthforce Captain Elizabeth Lochley was held on Mars to bring together experts from unaffected Earth colonies to plan a unified plan of research. The conference was the idea of Dr. Franklin, then head of Xenobiological Research at Earth Dome. The keynote speaker was Doctor Sarah Chambers of the Excalibur.[6] By this time, the population of Mars had grown to around 2 million individuals, 10% of which consisted of non-humans.[7][8]
[edit] Notable Locations
Most of the settlements on Mars are located under large domes linked by transport tubes. The tubes are heavily reinforced (reportedly indestructible), capable of easily withstanding blasts from grenades and explosives. While humans are capable of enduring the temperature and pressure on the surface, they require a breathing apparatus since the atmosphere does not have sufficient nitrogen-oxygen levels.
[edit] Surface Features
[edit] Amazonis Planitia
Downland plain on Mars, west of Olympus Mons. When Sarah and Aldous Gajic took a vacation with their children from Earth to the Mars colony, they took a Crawler out and were halfway across Amazonis Planitia when the ground gave way beneath them. Aldous survived but Sarah and the children were killed in the accident.[9]
[edit] Chryse Planitia
Downland plain on Mars, near Tharsis. Location of the Viking 1 Landing Site Park, a popular tourist destination.
[edit] Lunis Planum
Upland plain on Mars. Location of the Lunis Planum Prison Base, from which Abel Horn escaped on April 15th 2253.[10]
[edit] Olympus Mons
A large edifice on Mars, known for being the highest volcano and mountain in the Sol System, situated north west of Syria Planum. Location of an ISN station, from which Derek Mobotabwe broadcast a live report on the ongoing Mars Rebellion of 2258.[11]
[edit] Solis Planum
Upland plain on Mars, situated south east of Syria Planum. Location of the first permanent human Colony, Mars One.[1] In the mid-23rd Century, it is the location of a secret Psi Corps intelligence and training facility and the Earthforce Security staging area at Fort Walters. During the Mars Rebellion of 2258, Troops from Syria Planum were sent to reinforce patrols in Solis Planum and outlying regions. In 2261, renegade Captain John Sheridan was held at Fort Walters for interrogation, before he was rescued by Michael Garibaldi, Lyta Alexander and Stephen Franklin with the help of the resistance. [11][12]
[edit] Syria Planum
Upland plain on Mars, situated south east of Olympus Mons. Former board member of Edgars Industries, Mr. Paretti has a daughter living in Syria Planum, though his wife is apparently unaware of her existence.[13] In 2253 Syria Planum was the site of an IPX sponsored dig that uncovered a dormant Shadow Vessel that for a thousand years, had been buried 300 feet beneath the Martian surface. Mary Kirkish is the last known surviving member of the archaeological team.[14] Mr. Bester once claimed that when he used to go home that he'd take his wife and young daughter out under the dome on Syria Planum for a Sunday picnic and watch the stars come out.[15]
[edit] Satellites
Mars has two small moons:
- The larger and closer of Mars' two small moons, Abel Horn's escape ship was destroyed by the Earthforce battle cruiser Pournelle over Phobos in 2258, during the Mars Rebellion.
- The small and outer of Mars' two small moons.
[edit] Martian Cities
- Mars Dome One
- Mars Dome Two
- Mars Dome Three
- Gagarin City
- New Vegas
- Flinntown
- During the Earth Alliance Civil War, Flinntown was one of the cities held by the Mars Resistance until it taken by Earthforce.[16]
[edit] Orbital Facilities
[edit] LaGrange Station 2
- LaGrange 2 is a stone's throw from Mars and serves as a transit point to the outer sectors.[17]
[edit] Station Phobos
[edit] Ritchey Station
- Ritchey Station was destroyed by Free Mars, with Abel Horn claiming responsibility. Anna and John Sheridan had some very special friends on the station when it blew.[18]
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
- Mars on Wikipedia
