The year is 2059, and it seems that nothing can stop the recently colonized Mars from falling into civil war. Two rival factions, the powerful “Greens” and the rebel “Reds,” are on the verge of taking up arms and causing Mars, named after the Roman god of War, to live up to its namesake.

    Decades before, after years of prolonged wars, decisive politics, and energy crisis, the United States and the other space-faring nations decided to put their full effort into human missions to Mars, in order to unite the countries of the world in a common goal. Utilizing the Mars Direct plan, the international space venture succeeded in landing the first manned mission to Mars in the year 2020. Within years, a small space colony had developed from the cluster of Mars Direct habitat . This self sufficient scientific station flourished for years and provided scientific advances in alternate energy, medicine, recycling methods, and chemistry. The “First Hundred” as the initial group of colonists were called, became symbols of all the potential that a united peaceful Earth could become. Mars was seen as a pristine new beginning for humanity.

    Within a few short years however, things began to change. Private corporations began to build their own rockets and transports in order to get their cut of the Mars research, which would mean huge profits. Then, mining companies began to land and mine the precious metals such as gold and platinum which could be found underneath the red soil. Mars also has more land area than the Earth (which is 75% covered by water), while overpopulation at home was becoming a huge problem. The most populous countries on Earth began to urge for terra-forming Mars, which would eventually create a thicker atmosphere and allow plants to live on the surface. This would open the door for thousands or even millions of humans to immigrate to the red planet which had plenty of room for a new branch of human civilization.

This critical issue split many people into opposing groups. A meeting of the United Nations Office on Martian Affairs, or UNOMA, was scheduled to decide the fate of Mars.  Two of the “First Hundred” colonists gave televised speeches from the surface of Mars to argue for their side. 

First to speak was Ann Clayborne, the leader of the “Reds” who wanted to preserve Mars in its natural state, allowing only small science outposts and small settlements that would have little impact on the pristine Martian world. She pleaded “When I walk on the surface of Mars, I fell in love with it! With its beautiful terrain and landscapes a hundred times larger than their equivalents on Earth. There is evidence here of not just the beginning of the planet, but of the whole solar system, which has been undisturbed for billions of years, and you want to destroy it. You want to terra-form just  to see if you can, like kids playing in a sandbox making castles. We could live here and study the planet without changing it if only we wanted to. Mars is a symbol of freedom and the ability to break out of the rut we have made for ourselves on Earth. But instead you just want to make it into another Earth. You’ll build cities, roads, supermarkets, create a new atmosphere and ecosystem. And then Mars will be gone and we will fall into the same rut as on Earth. And we will wonder why our souls feel so empty inside.”

Next to speak was Sax Russel, the leader of the “Greens” who wanted to immediately start terra-forming. He declared “The beauty of Mars lies in the human mind. For centuries humans looked up into the stars and wondered what could be. Now we are here, and its not enough to sit in tiny shacks and study rocks. True science is about creation. If we created forests and lakes on Mars, does that decrease its beauty? No. It adds life, the most beautiful system of all. We can create a better branch of human civilization here. This would make Mars a monument to both humanity and the Universe. It should be done and it will be done.”

After fierce debate, UNOMA approved Sax Russel’s plan and authorized an aggressive terra-forming project. Genetically engineered plants were spread all over the planet, the Martian icecaps were melted to introduce more oxygen and hydrogen into the air, and waves and waves of people looking for a new start were landing. The most ambitious project however was led by Phillip Boyle, which was the construction of the Martian Space Elevator, allowing cheap and easy access to Mars orbit, even further raising corporate profits. The Space Elevator became a symbol of economic power and a link between Earth and Mars, as it could now transfer even more cargo and people between the two planets. The old version of Mars was quickly fading away under UNOMA’s efforts to create a second Earth.

    In 2057, a new treaty was created by the UN Secretary for Mars which hoped to slow the eradication of the “old Mars.” However this treaty could not be enforced and it soon became obvious that the situation was worsening. Groups of discouraged settlers, who had left Earth to get away from just the type of world that they found on this new Mars, fled to the vast frontier lands. Rumors spread that these settlers were forming a “Hidden Colony” which Ann had formed to escape the “Greens” and where a political activist named Arkady Bogdanov started preaching the need for the new Martian civilization to stop listening to the leaders of Earth and start acting in their own best interests.

Then one day in 2059, a corporate mining station at Bradbury Point was attacked and the mine was caved in by an explosion. Soon more acts of sabotage against mines and terra-forming stations were being committed by “Reds” who wanted to stop the corporate expansion and terra-forming of Mars. In response, the corporations brought in their own security forces to protect their investments. Tensions continued to rise until now UNOMA Peacekeeping troops are being brought down by the Space Elevator to reinforce the “Greens.” Meanwhile the “Reds” see no other choice but to fight back and launch a revolution. The first war fought by humans on another world will now decide the future of the planet Mars.

 

    Now both sides are looking for players to support their vision. Will you side with the “Reds” to preserve Mars and fight against the corporations? Or will you side with the “Greens” to therefrom Mars and create a new branch of human civilization? The fate of an entire world rests in your hands… REGISTER NOW!