Mars

=== Location ===
Milky Way/Local Cluster/Sol System/Fourth Planet
== Description ==
Once considered a prospect for terraforming and colonization, the discovery of faster than light travel turned Mars into a quiet backwater. Its southern pole is a historical preserve centered on the Prothean ruins found there.
== History ==
Mars was explored by humans for nearly a century with robotic expeditions before the first manned research stations were created in the 2080s, and the foundation of the planet's capital Lowell City.
In 2148, a prospecting team led by Mateus Silva began exploring near the Deseado Crater, and found the source of notable "Bermuda Triangle-type" disturbances when they unearthed a subterranean Prothean ruin. The ruins contained a malfunctioning mass effect core and several starships, as well as refined element zero. After a global effort, the information remaining in the ruins' computers was translated, identifying the structure as a former observation and biosciences station, set up to receive and process data from Earth as the Protheans studied early humanity. The fragmented data cache greatly accelerated humanity's sciences and paved the way for FTL drives as well as directing humanity toward the Charon Relay.
In 2186, the Mars Prothean Archives were attacked by pro-human terrorist organization Cerberus to gain access to a weapon schematic found by a research team headed up Dr. Liara T'soni with the support of Admiral Hackett.
== Every One That Asketh ==
=== Notable Locations ===
==== Mars Prothean Archive ====
An area that appears to have experienced relatively little of the upheaval caused by the Reaper War and the star Sol's degradation, the Maritan Prothean Archive has seen almost a frenzied pace of research since 2188. A small but dedicated team of refugees who understand Imperial Prothean (Asuusian) or are willing to learn have been searching for answers to the problems facing the galaxy at large.