Name: Mars
Entity: Citizens’ Republic of Mars
Polity: Compact of Humanity in Assembly
Astronomical Name: Sol d
Class: M
Diameter: 3396 km
Mass: 6.4171×1023 kg
Satellites: Phobos, Diemos
Mars is the fourth planet in Sol System and the first home beyond Earth for sapiens. Robotic exploration began in the 1960s Old Calendar, with colonization efforts commencing in the mid-twenty-first century. The end of the World War Era on Earth accelerated this process.
Mars is the model for the Class-M designation for planets, a large but low-density rocky planet with a thin atmosphere. Like most Class-M worlds, Mars has no natural magnetic field of its own. Terraforming the world depends on artificial means utilizing the planet’s high iron content.
Even before the Interstellar Era began, Mars demanded more and more autonomy from the United Nations as it became self-sufficient. Things came to a head in the mid-second century IE when open warfare erupted between the two planets. Earth attempted to coerce other human worlds into taking sides. However, Etrusca, reachable only by projection drive, remained both neutral and independent. Additionally, the outer worlds and asteroid belts of Sol seceded from UN authority to form the Jovian Federation, which deprived both planets of much-needed raw material.
Mars was a signatory of the original Compact of Humanity. As a core world, the planet grew in wealth, becoming one of the “Big Five.” As a signatory of the first version of the Compact, it became a permanent member of the Compact Security Council.
Climate and Geography
Mars is a naturally arid planet due to its atmosphere bleeding away for most of its history. Terraforming and an artificial magnetic field have allowed polar melting and a warming of its atmosphere. After over 450 years, low-lying areas have become habitable with minimal protection.
In the distant past, oceans covered Mars. During this time, it had a motlen core that generated a magnetic field. The combination of prevalent liquid water and its eventual loss into space left Mars with dry river beds and eroded hills and mountains. Additionally, ancient volcanic activity gave Mars two of its most distinctive features: Olympus Mons, the largest mountain in Sol System and fifth largest in Homo Sapiens space.
Culture
Mars was originally settled by explorers from the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union, with successive waves from Japan and India. Initially, Mars embraced a neo-libertarian political philosophy. Over time, however, frustrations with Earth oversight gave rise to a more socialist system. Still, Martians tend to be more self-reliant than other core worlds.
While much of Belter culture in the Jovian Federation and elsewhere in the Compact derives many of its customs and mores, However, Martians tend not to have anxiety about open air. Some of this stems from the planet’s proximity to Earth, which has allowed short trips since EM drive was perfected. Additionally, as terraforming continued, some low-lying regions those outdoors to move about with minimal protection and little or no oxygen source.
Terraforming and shipbuilding are Mars’s two biggest industries. Most Martians work either in the terraforming effort or commute to low-orbit to work in the Mars Orbital Shipyards.
Government
Like most core worlds, Mars is a democracy. It has a nominally socialist economy, though the Compact’s standard cryptocurrency is used in trade. The planet’s political entity is the Citizens’ Republic of Mars. It is governed by a unicameral legislature who choses a chair to act as chief executive. Its planetary guard is the Martian Defense Directorate.
Mars maintained multiple colonies. Most notably, Amargosa and Farigha were transferred during the Gelt Incursion to Metis in an effort to keep the world from seceding during a revision of the Compact. Amargosa served as a bread basket for Mars while Farigha was a proving ground for its terraforming technlogy, given its similarities to Mars.
Appearances:
No Marigolds in the Promised Land Beyond Amargosa (novella)