Mars

**Mars**, also called **Sol IV**, was the fourth planet in the Sol system, a terrestrial planet on the edge of the asteroid belt. The planet was also nicknamed "the **Red Planet**" for the color of the soil. Mars had a thin atmosphere and was littered with impact craters. Icecaps at the north and south poles indicated that Mars may once have been a Class M planet.

## History

*For more information, please visit the main article: Martian History.*

In the early days of humanity, Protheans colonized Mars and observed the fledgling sapient species developing on Earth. This colony was abandoned in the midst of the Reaper invasion that destroyed the Protheans.

Humans began exploring Mars early on -- launching the unmanned *Mariner 4* on November 28, 1964 CE. As the vessel approached Mars on July 15, 1965 CE it was able to capture the first images humans had ever taken of another planet. Further exploration continued for the next century. Humans first stepped foot on the planet themselves in 2050 CE, and began colonizing it in 2075 CE.

By 2151 CE, the humans inhabiting the Red Planet -- Martians -- sought independence from the United Nations that governed them from Earth. With their requests denied, it looked like a violent revolution was inevitable -- one that the Martians would win as they had built a powerful navy for themselves. Just in time to prevent a war, Solomon Epstein invented the Epstein Drive -- Mars was able to trade this groundbreaking technology to Earth for independence. Subsequently, the Martian Congressional Republic was officially founded in 2189 CE.

The MCR was a power in the Sol system rivaling Earth and remained that way until the Ring Network was discovered. With humans moving outside of the Sol system, Mars became something of a backwater colony and remained so for centuries.

When Earth was evacuated due to the pollution and abuse of resources, Mars became the most important planet in the Sol system. They became a center of trade and, indeed, of civilization. With their continuing advances in terraforming technology, they were ultimately able to render Earth inhabitable once again.

Mars truly regained significance with the discovery of Prothean ruins near the Deseado Crater. Within these ruins, they were able to find refined Element Zero and a malfunctioning mass effect core, and several ancient starships. This revolutionized space travel for humans and ultimately led to their introduction to the myriad species of the Citadel Council. These Prothean archives later proved crucial to the survival of all sapient, organic life in the galaxy for they contained blueprints for the Crucible.

Mars would ultimately become the location of the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, the largest ship building facility in the United Federation of Planets. This facility was destroyed in 3385 CE in an attack by rogue androids. Unfortunately, the terraforming that had been done to the planet had helped change the atmosphere -- which was left burning even into 3399 CE. The planet had been made uninhabitable strictly because of the efforts to make it more habitable.

Eventually the fires stopped burning and Mars was recolonized. It went on to become the first of the Forge Worlds of the Imperium of Man, and birthplace of Cult of Mechanicus.

## Locations

### Orbital

* Deimos (destroyed)
* Phobos
* Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards
* Spaiders From Mars (casino)

### Terrestrial

* Olympia (MCR capital)
* Lowell City (capital post-MCR)
* Cydonia (mining colony)
* Londres Nova (city)
* Alba City
* Tharsis (city)
* Olympus Mons (mountain)
	+ Hecate Base
* Mariner Valley
	+ Mariner Valley Shipyards
* Dhanbad Nova (research facility)
* Mars University
* Space Land (theme park)
* Carl Sagan Memorial Station

## Sources

Mars is derived from the real world and from *The Expanse*, *Cowboy Bebop*, *Mass Effect*, *Star Trek*, *Warhammer 40k*.

For real and canon information, please visit:

* Wikipedia
* The Expanse Wiki
* Cowboy Bebop Wiki
* Mass Effect Wiki
* Memory Alpha
* Warhammer 40k Wiki