New Adelaide Territory

Flag of the New Adelaide Territory

Map of New Adelaide (Navy Blue)

The **New Adelaide Territory** is New Australian intrasolar colony located within the Margaritifer Terra region of Mars. It is an expansive territory over four-thousand kilometers east of the Valles Marineris region, which was the first region of Mars ever colonized and which holds the largest population of humans on the planet. New Adelaide is one of four chartered New Australian intrasolar territories and the largest by population, alongside the New Melbourne Territory on the Moon, the Viking Territory located within the Kasei Valles region of Mars, and the New Sydney Territory on Europa.

Founded by New Australian and corporate colonists in 2108, New Adelaide was originally home to only thirty colonists, and was established with the purpose of mining rare minerals and water in mind. The first thirty colonists of the territory lived at New Adelaide for only around nine months, before being rotated back to Earth upon the arrival of the Dynetic Systems Interstellar resupply vessel, DCNS *John Oxley*. Permanent settlers did not arrive to the colony until the necessary infrastructure and energy equipment made it to New Adelaide in 2110, after which the fifty passengers of the DCNS *Ernest Giles* touched down on April 8th, 2111, and became the first official citizens of the colonial territory. From then on, the colony began to grow exponentially, as more corporate partners of Dynetic Systems - the de facto authority which presides over New Adelaide alongside the official New Australian colonial government - flocked to the colony in hopes of establishing their own offices, mining operations, or entirely independent outposts. New Adelaide became the largest corporate transit hub on the Martian surface, and efforts to construct a space elevator within the territory's capital (also named New Adelaide) began in 2127, with a wide pool of investors. The elevator, referred to as the New Adelaide Spaceport, finished construction in 2135, and opened officially on May 12th, 2135. From then on, the colony's growth increased to an even greater magnitude, as Dynetic Systems and numerous other corporations began to establish new settlements outside of New Adelaide proper, such as Merridan, New Yulara, Port Ive, and more. Beginning in the 2130s, the Autonomous Resupply System began operations as well, with Dynetic-operated Aldrin Cyclers making their rounds from Mars to the Earth and back carrying material, goods, and colonists.

Divided into fourteen authorities corresponding to each of the fourteen recognized settlements, the New Adelaide Territory is a self-governing presidential democracy, with a unicameral legislature located in the territory's capital of New Adelaide. The Territorial Senate dates back to 2111, making it one of the oldest legislatures still in operation on Mars. The Territorial Governor is the head of government and head of state of the New Adelaide Territory, and is directly elected by citizens of the colony every five years. Governors may serve a total of two terms, equaling ten years. The Lead Counselor meanwhile is the head of the Colonial Oversight Foundation, a collection of representatives from all of the major corporations involved in New Adelaide's construction, maintenance, defense, and economics. The Lead Counselor represents these corporation's interests in the New Adelaide Territory's government, and advises the Governor on all matters of state.

As of 2149, the New Adelaide Territory had a population of 41,106 permanent residents, making it the most populous of all New Australian intrasolar territories.

## Etymology

The New Adelaide Territory is named after the city of Adelaide, South Australia, which is the capital of New Australia.