Setting

The setting of *Dark Colony* is the dark future of the 22nd century, when humans clash with an alien race over dominion of Mars - and by extension, the Earth itself. Powered by Petra-7, the conflict rages across the Red Planet to determine the victor - and the fate of humanity.

## History

Soon after the new Millennia, mankind's study of Mars revealed a remarkable energy source called "Petra-7." Only a few tanks of the precious gas could fuel entire cities for weeks, bottles of it could accelerate crop growth to feed entire continents, and more. As studies on the gas continued, plans to mine, colonize, and terraform Mars were quickly planned and put into operation. For the next several decades Mars was
prepared for Human habitation. Giant oxygenation factories spewed gases into the atmosphere, seed bombs exploded over irrigated terrain, and even insects from Earth were released into the new world. In the end, mankind's most ambitious project had turned the red planet into a thriving world, complete with lush jungles and colorful deserts. Now it was time to move in.

Soon after the arrival of humans on Mars, mining outposts began to experience strange equipment malfunctions and accidents which severely tested their resources and patience. Lizard-like creatures and strange arachnids seemed to appear overnight, artifacts and ruins of unidentifiable origin were discovered beneath the surface of the planet, and then, suddenly, entire colonies seemed to disappear into the darkness.

Amidst the increasing confusion and fear, eyewitness reports began to come in. Mankind was not alone on the planet. An alien race, dubbed the "Grays" by the humans, seemed to materialize out of the night alongside nightmarish scythe-creatures that cleaved human troops in half with a single sweep of their massive claws. As more reports of fighting broke out, Earth forces regrouped and strove to learn more
about their new enemy: The Taar.

The Taar, as the aliens call themselves, are a race of interstellar wanderers seeking a new home. Their planet has been ravaged by a plague which left them close to extinction. Worse yet, not only do the Taar lay claim to Mars, but to Earth as well! For five hundred years Taar scout ships have been secretly conducting bio-research on how to defeat Earthlings, and despite losing one of their ships somewhere in the New Mexico desert, they still remain undetected.

The Taar have also found the same ruins and artifacts on Mars that the Humans have. More shocking than that, is the rumor that not only are the artifacts able to evoke destructive power for whoever discovers them, but that there are more artifacts hidden somewhere in the underground catacombs of the ancient ruins. The Taar have one goal: to destroy any foothold the humans establish on Mars while searching for "Portalis," an ancient portal that when re-activated, becomes a doorway to gather together the scattered remnants of the Taar species. They will then be ready for the real battle: the war for Earth.

## The war

The clash between the species rages on across Mars. The horrific fighting on Mars was beginning to take it's toll as large sections of freshly terraformed land began regressing back to it's original, barren condition as bodies and debris piled up.

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