Ransom gang that threatened Mars reached to Luna
Two arrested at Martius corporate HQ on Luna
MARS CAROUSEL, March 18 - The ransom gang that threatened to destroy the Mars Carousel orbital at the beginning of March had two members at the Luna base of Martius Endeavours, the orbital’s corporate owner said Tuesday.
“In cooperation with Luna authorities, two of our employees were arrested at Martius Endeavours’ headquarter on Monday on charges of extortion and making criminal threats of harm,” Martius Mars Manager Elric Balvicar said.
“The two, managers in the logistics and exploration divisions, were taken into custody by Luna authorities and will be transferred to Mars on the next available ship for trial,” told the Chaos Courier on Tuesday.
The arrests bring the number of accused gang members to 11, including the four who were arrested on a spaceship and the five taken into custody on Mars and in orbit.
“While we believe that we now have all of the gang members in custody, the investigation is continuing on Luna, in Earth orbit and on Mars,” Balvicar said.
Authorities have yet to identify any of the accused gang members.
The gang had threatened to steer an exploration drone returning from the Asteroid Belt into the Mars Carousel if they did not receive a 1 gigacredit (1 billion) ransom, but the threat was ended the day before their deadline when nine people were arrested on March 1.
The gang had also demanded a 100-megacredit ransom for a another drone returning from the Asteroid Belt with precious metal ore that they hijacked remotely and sent on a trajectory behind Mars.
Three of the gang members were orbital workers, two of whom had been sent to Ares Port because of the threat. Two more taken into custody in orbit were preparing to leave in a rebuilt scout ship.
Four gang members were arrested aboard the ship Doughty, which was waiting about 50 million km from Mars for a hijacked drone filled with precious metal samples.
Those four are being brought back to Mars aboard aboard one of the three private explorer ships that assisted in their capture and should arrive in just over a week, Balvicar said, declining to specify which ship or ships nor the exact date.
“We remain very cautious,” Balvicar said.
A long nap
The two arrested on Luna will be transferred, in hibernation mode, by a fast courier, but will not arrive in Mars orbit for several months.
“The timing is fortuitous as Earth will soon be approaching Mars, but they’ll both sleep for the whole trip,” Balvicar said.
The two Luna members were arrested after other gang members tried to access a 250 megacredit payment offered by Martius as bait.
“They left a credit trail and we followed it to Luna,” Balvicar said.
Martius CEO Horace Nummio said the company would continue a thorough and extensive internal investigation in cooperation with Luna and Earth officials.
“We won’t stop until we’re absolutely sure that we have found everyone involved,” Nummio said. “We won’t tolerate any threats to any of our employees, to the people of Mars nor to the continued success of our company, which has been a long-time leader in space exploration.”
The threat to the orbital also jeopardized the cities of the Valles Marineris as a breakup of the Carousel could have sent half-kilometer sections crashing to the surface.
“We welcome the news that they’ve rounded up more gang members and that they won’t stop until they have all concerned,” said Luca Matteo, president of the Tithonia City Council, which governs Mars’ largest city. “We also reiterate our request for more information about orbital defenses to protect us in the future.”
The corporation has declined to be specific about orbital defenses, saying such information would only help potential attackers.
Isolated Masursky Crater kids fret over bio-hacking
Crop blight only part of the worry
ORSON WELLES, March 19 - Several young residents of the Libartad settlement in Masursky Crater have reached out to Survey Mars with questions over whether they’re getting adequate nutrition and about the genetic treatments they say they’ve received, Health Mars tells the Chaos Courier.
The 272-person settlement about 1,000 km northeast of Welles in Margaritifer Terra sent out an urgent call for food on March 3, reporting that all their crops had failed due to an unspecified blight.
The settlement has taken what they call a “Be Mars” approach, meaning that they are bioengineering themselves and their children to be minimally dependent on Earth technology and supplements, such as nutrients and minerals.
“Every settlement is experimenting with crops, and while some people have experimented with themselves, it’s still pretty rare,” Health Mars Chief Paolina Galenus told the Chaos Courier on Wednesday.
“With plants you can get through a few generations very quickly, but with people you con’t know what the problems will be, when they might emerge, and whether they can be fixed," Galenus said.
About a third of Libertad’s residents are 8 annos (15 years) or younger and a fifth are 5 annos (9 years) or younger, according to the emergency message sent by the settlement
The young adults who reached out had taken the health tests supplied by Survey Mars and Health Mars and submitted them without the consent of their parents.
"Be Mars" might not be best
Those tests showed some concerning deficiencies in nutrition and minerals, Galenus said.
In addition, the children’s height, weight and strength all reflect a lack of adequate physical training.
“Their physical appearance reflects the ‘Be Mars’ approach and a lack of exercises needed to for optimal vigor for humans,” Galenus said. “That’s not only in case of an eventual Earth return but for good health for humans living on Mars.”
Many Mars food crops have been adapted to produce needed nutrients and minerals, but most Martians still rely on supplements designed to address shortcomings inherent even in modified growing soils.
"We're Martians now, but we evolved to be earthlings. We can't ignore that," Galenus said.
Galenus declined to identify the young residents who contacted Health Mars, nor their ages, but said they were not all from the same family.
The Libertad settlers left Orson Welles eight annos ago but decided to establish their settlement in Masursky Crater rather than the Libertad Crater 670 km north.
Some long-time Welles residents said the group had been enthusiastic bio-hackers for plants and for themselves.
Libertad community leaders have only communicated with Survey Mars by messages and have not responded to repeated messages from the Chaos Courier.
Survey Mars said last week it had delivered enough food and supplies to the settlement to last through the next month, but has declined to send personnel until they have analyzed the blight that has destroyed all of their crops.
The community has yet to provide plant samples for analysis, even though Survey Mars delivered testing equipment that can perform the analysis on site.
“It’s very unusual for all crops to be destroyed by one disease, and for a disease to spread through not just multiple farm terraces but every one,” Survey Mars Chief Ian Kuyper said. “Frankly, that’s worrying. That’s not a risk we can take, nor should any other settlement.”
Fly over Ares Vallis and Masursky crater, ESA
Chaos terrain in Masursky Crater, Nasa
Nomads of Mars stop moving for a week
Family cargo trains meet up in Coprates
COPRATES, March 22 - As the Caravansary family cargo train gathering revved up here on Saturday, the younger crowd wasted no time in getting to know the friends they’ve made across the remote reaches of the Valles Marineris.
First on the agenda for Maisy Tallis (7 annos, 13 years) was meeting up with her remote friends and classmates Marguerite Charettier and Liana Doncaster at the Ophir Galleria market in Chandresekar Dome.
The three girls were carefully examining a variety of crafts at the market, from fabrics, scarves and hats to polished stones and handmade jewelry under the watchful eyes of Katya Tallis, mother to Maisy and two younger brothers.
“This is a marvel for them,” Katya Tallis said. “They’re so used to being in the caravan looking at screens and the dusty landscape, and here, there’s so much to look at and touch, and smell.”
Amid the craft stands, vendors offer all kinds of snacks, but mostly featuring Coprates’ homegrown vegetables and fruits.
“They’re not just shopping for souvenirs, they’re all involved in different projects, and they’re totally looking for new ideas,” Tallis said. “And getting distracted by the flatbreads and turnovers.”
A dozen family cargo trains had arrived in Coprates by Friday night for the first Caravansary at the 1.6 km diameter Chandrasekar Dome.
The dome houses a small city, including hundreds of habitations, markets, a coffee shop and restaurants, meeting space and the fair grounds.
“We’re expecting about 10 more families over the next few days,” said organizer Marcia Charettier, who also runs the annual Coprates Tractor Swap.
Family caravans play a vital role in logistics and trade in the Valles Marineris, carrying heavier and less time sensitive cargo, including frozen foods from Coprates' highly productive farms.
Landslide ahead - the rough ride through Ius Chasma
At the Phobos Coffee House on Saturday, cargo train parents took advantage of the first day to compare notes about cargoes, routes and risks along the inter-city trails, particularly the messy terrain of Ius Chasma with its massive landslides that cover hundreds of kilometers.
Titus Haverhill says his family caravan usually runs the route between Tithonia and Ares Port to Noctis, Oudemans and Ius and Geryon Montes, and they’re used to picking their way through the landslides to the west.
“This time we made the full run through Ius Chasma, and getting over and through the landslides to the east of Ius, was nearly as bad as the western half,” Haverhill told Ed Charettier and Burton Anson at the coffee house. “We crawled through it. Luckily, we built in six extra sols to get here.”
Anson said that difficulty is why his family caravan usually focuses on Candor, Melas and Coprates.
“Candor Chaos can be confusing, but it’s not nearly as difficult, and there’s less risk of tipping over on a slope,” Anson said.
The families also talked about the difficulties of navigating the futures for their older children, including Tom Charettier and Ettoria Haverhill, who are both 9 annos (17 years) and looking to work in orbital cargo, at least for an annos.
“We’ve already learned a lot of the skills we need to do orbital cargo work, except for the zero G,” says Ettoria Haverhill. “Since the Air Mars shuttle started, I’ve had a chance to meet with their ground and orbital staff, so I’ve been able to make some connections.”
The meet-up at Coprates may prove useful to that end as organizer Marcia Charettier, who is Ed’s sister, has arranged for Air Mars co-founder and Coprates Councillor Rhian Llewellyn to meet with the families.
Tom Charettier hopes that he can find an apprenticeship in orbit or with Air Mars, which will be expanding its inter-city cargo operations when it brings its lighter air shuttles into service.
Currently, Air Mars uses older model Class 4 orbital shuttles for the weekly service.
“They’ll be running more flights and that means more cargo. Plus, they’ll still shuttle up to orbit,” Tom Charettier said.
Competition for orbital apprenticeships can be fierce, so building relationships is especially valuable.
While most Mars children start apprenticeships at 8 annos, the work that both Ettoria and Tom have done on their family caravans qualifies for official recognition as a first apprenticeship.
“We’ve both earned our surface cargo certificates as well as tractor driving and maintenance,” Ettoria said. “We’ve been doing that since we could pick up a wrench.”
The Caravansary runs through March 30.
Earth stops running away from Mars this week
ARES PORT, March 23 - Earth gets as far away from Mars as it’s going to this trip around the sun on Friday.
The two planets will be 400.4 million km apart, marking the point at which the blue dot stops running away from us and starts chasing its red sibling.
For those still clinging to archaic measurements, that’s a quarter billion miles or a roughly a thousand times as far from Earth as Luna.
Earth travels around the sun in 365 days, or 355 sols, but Mars takes nearly twice as long at 687 days 668.6 sols, or 687 days for its much longer and more leisurely journey.
Our home planet is moves around the sun at about 24 km per second while Earth speeds by at 30 km per second on its shorter path.
Earth laps Mars again in 385 sols when the two planets come the closest together this annos at just 60 (59.9) million km.
That will be October on Mars and on Earth, where it will aleady be next year.
Mei Aonio, Ares Port Correspondent
Arrivals and Departures
Scouts returning from space
The explorer scouts Beansí, Boudicca and Fortuna scheduled to arrive in Mars Orbit March 30 with the accused ransom gang members. Doughty arrives at Mars March 42.
Air Mars
Friday - Orson Welles, Coprates, Melas, Ius.
Monday - Ius, Candor, Coprates.
Tuesday Coprates, Wells, Orbit. No passengers to orbit. Message Air Mars.
Calendar
Family cargo train Coprates meet-up
Coprates Caravansary Family overland cargo train meet up runs through March 30, managed by Tractor Swap organizer and Corpates Councillor Marcia Charettier.
“Hidden Moon”
Tales from the dark side. Adventure threedee from the unseen side of Luna. See what evil lurks in hidden craters.
The Rosettas at Pub Seventeen
The Rosettas bring their Marsbeat sound to the Hab 3 brew pub near the Terrace One Arena. Friday, Saturday from 21:00
Cubby Samba
City Residence hosts the weekly Cubby part with the City Samba. Friday, Cubby Terrace at 20:00 Friday. Hab 1 Terrace 3. All resident are welcome.
Las Panteras de Marte
Singer Monique Solis, guitarist Hernando Senatobia and accordionist Ignacio Beck, play Mars style Norteño music. Ius Forum. Saturday 16:00
Rock Hounds
Old Earth style trio, guitar bass and drums liven up the Ius Forum. Friday 21:00
Melas Aquanauts
Fun a-capella group. Listen and sing along Bottom of the Sea Cantina, Melas Friday 20:00.
City Social
Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Friday 17:00
City Farmer’s Market
Saturday. Stalls available by appointment. Fabrica (Industrial) Tube Terminal Saturday 9:00-15:00
Spike
See how high you can jump off the sand, and learn to play volleyball Mars style. Saturday, Sunday sessions. 08:00, 10:00, 12:00. North Beach Hab 3 Terrace 1. Just show up dressed to play.
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
Classified Ads
SHIP REFITTING, BREAKING All craft, parts and refurb. PONTUS 100 751
BORING HEADS Diamond durable. Get the job done. CANDOR 286 49762
JUMP START. Tractor Repair. Mobile unit available. If we can reach it, we can fix it. NOCTIS 260-22098
DUST BUNNIES. Turn dust into dirt. Best for plants. MELAS 285-78329
SURFSUIT Refurbishing. Fabric and boot repair, seal replacement, visor refurbishing, comms upgrades. COPRATES 297-14210
CARGO HANDS, For overland cargo train. Ex-contract only ARES PORT 268 31211
SHUTTLE AGENTS, MECHANICS for Air Mars InterChasma terminals. PONTUS 100 763
CARGO HANDLERS. Space experience required. Contract exemptions considered. PONTUS 100 419
WELDERS. Experienced welders seeking space yard qualification. Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 639
CONSTRUCTION All specialties. Some outside. Ex-contract only. GERYON 278 68034
APPRENTICES Recycling systems. 8 annos and up. IUS 278 98559
APPRENTICES Metal smith, forging, casting, 8 annos (14 years) and up. URBS 269-37728
APPRENTICES Fabrics production, design. 8 annos and up. URBS 269-98523
APPRENTICES Ceramics. 8 annos and up. URBS 269-98523
APPRENTICES Environmental systems. URBS 269 81447
SPACE CAMP. Get ready for orbital work. All ages. ARES PORT 268 00910
BALLROOM DANCING Let's Rumba! URBS 269 49144
YOGA. Get the kinks out. IUS 278-43256
DANCING. All styles for adults. Hab 3 Rec Center. URBS 269 10311
STRENGTH Training for trainers. COPRATES 295 04716
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The header photo is the iconic mosaic of the Valles Marineris hemisphere of Mars from 2,500 km above the surface taken by the Viking Orbiter. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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Photomosaic: Viking Orbiter: NASA/JPL-Caltech