Mars

## The Liberation War

Mars was the first planet colonized by humanity just before the Liberation War. In the early days, Mars was primarily a research initiative. Few metals could be readily sent back to Earth, but further missions were launched from Mars towards exoplanets to save on fuel costs and some rockets were additionally built on the surface of the planet. During the Liberation War, Mars's surface was largely glassed from orbit as the Nell made their way to Earth. Few colonists survived the initial bombardment but managed to drive back the small brigade of Nell Soldiers on the planet's surface and eliminate them in guerrilla attacks before they stabilized their home using the machines that they already had available to them. Due to the limited interest in the Nell to capture Mars, its population was seemingly forgotten about.

During the century-long dark age, the population of Mars (Martians) found themselves without regular shipments of food and other supplies from Earth. Coupled with low gravity, a lack of atmosphere and the high amount of radiation on the surface of the planet, many of them retreated underground and formed networks of tunnels that still exist in the planet's crust to the modern era. Through limited radio traffic they learned that Earth had come under serious attack and was calling for help from its colonies. Many colonists began the construction of starships though without FTL capabilities these starships were six months away from Earth at best and often were targets for bombing raids carried out by a handful of corvettes that remained in orbit. Eventually the starship projects were abandoned and whenever the Nell sent reinforcements to Mars, they were met by self-sufficient and well-trained Martian warriors that fought with everything from firearms to spears.

Tunnel traps became common, fighting became a common subject of local schools and many governments rose and fell during that dark age. In secret, a handful of colonies began building dozens of vehicles that could reach orbit in the low atmosphere. Eventually when the time came to rise, they did so in force only to find that in their absence the Nell had settled a handful of outposts on their world and captured many citizens. The fighters of the day began to undertake a plan that took over a decade to see fruition; breaking the streetlights of the Nell overlords and encouraging their captured subjects to break the curfew, hide in the sewers and wait.

When they were armed well enough and had the numbers nearly a decade later, they rose in force with a surprise attack that left the Nell defenders staggering to keep up with the rapid pace of the conflict. The streets became washed with the blood of colonist and Nell alike. The latter were usually strung up high on streetlamps to hang by their necks, often still alive and disembowled to serve as a warning to any further invaders that they would suffer the same fate while the Martians retreated back underground and collapsed their tunnels to ward off pursuit.

## Modern Era

Mars has maintained its industrial nature and its will to fight for supremacy even in modern times. The tunnel cities are still very prevalent though terraforming has led to Mars being more like Earth before the construction of its megacity. Shipyards dominate huge swathes of land and in orbit while factories pump out more weapons, munitions and equipment than the Sol Republic military can reasonably use. Most of these are sold to the USC to equip their Marines and Navy or to other members of the USC for the same purpose. Almost everyone on Mars has, at some point, worked in a military production facility.

Not everything in the Martian economy relates to war, however. Mars is home to some of the largest sports centers in the Sol Republic. Its people enjoy regular sporting events; everything from starship racing to professional athletes competing in American football to paintball.