Mazursky soil biohacking bears bad fruit
Orbital quarantine ahead for residents?
ORSON WELLES, March 46 - Residents of the crop-blighted Masursky Crater settlement may be headed to orbital quarantine after the disease that killed all their crops was identified as a fungi-like bioengineered soil amendment.
The 272 residents of the Libertad settlement about 1,000 km northeast of Orson Welle have been offered the chance to quarantine in space while their greenhouses and other plantings are sterilized, Survey Mars Chief Ian Kuyper told the Chaos Courier on Tuesday.
“Right now, their choice is to move to orbit aboard a drone shuttle, or move to habs that’s we’ll drop down from orbit nearby,” Kuyper said. “At this point, pretty much everything and everyone in that settlement needs to be decontaminated.”
The news comes after Survey Mars received results from an on-site analysis of a variety of infected plant samples from greenhouses and in-hab hydroponics that were placed anonymously into the testing equipment provided to the settlement earlier.
While Libertad leaders have communicated with Survey Mars, they have not responded to repeated requests for comment by the Chaos Courier.
Kuyper declined to say whether the settlement’s leaders have accepted the proposed quarantine.
“We’re certainly hopeful that they will agree to what is a very necessary course of action,”Kuyper said, adding the samples had been submitted anonymously.
About two weeks ago, some younger Libertad residents asked Survey Mars for transportation out of the settlement to orbit or elsewhere on Mars.
Under the Survey Mars offer, residents of the Libertad settlement would be quarantined in the Guiding Star passenger ship that arrived with the November Earth fleet and remains habitable and stocked, Kuyper said.
Survey Mars will drop down pre-fab habs from orbit that were built for its Pavonis station expansion and provide disinfectant facilities for residents who wish to quarantine near the settlement or in orbit.
The quarantine would last about 100 sols, Health Mars Chief Paolina Galenus said.
“Everyone there is going to have to undergo decontamination, which is quick and painless, and be checked for any infection,” Galenus said.
Galenus noted that young adults who had taken health tests showed deficiencies in nutrition and key minerals as well as physical training to counteract Mars’ lower gravity.
House plants have to go
Samples submitted as coming from in-hab hydroponic plantings had tested negative, but those gardens will have to be destroyed and the habs repeatedly disinfected, Tithonia-based plant geneticist Belinda Patel said.
“It’s like plant rust and the potato blight combined,” Patel said, referring to the blight that devastated an North Atlantic Earth island more than 150 annos (300 years) ago.
“We’re developing an antidote, if you will,” Patel said. “We’ll apply that first, test it, then sterilize the greenhouses, recheck and then open them and let Mars do the rest.”
No personnel will be sent to the site.
The work will be performed by highly trained orbital bots, that can be disinfected on the ground and again in space.
The blight’s origin also needs to be investigated, Patel said.
“We need to know how it came about. It’s heavily engineered, but what were the results they were looking for and how did they get so off track?”Patel said. “Those questions need to be answered.”
Except for small plots, almost all Martian farms rely on bioengineered food and amended soil.
“Usually, experiments are contained in safe facilities, and not released until it’s clear that they’re beneficial,” Patel said.
The settlement largely consists of interconnected domed habs and five hectares of greenhouses, which is short of recommended areas for that many people, Kuyper said.
The Libertad settlers, who have been called enthusiastic biohackers by people who knew them, left Orson Welles eight annos ago and settled in Masursky Crater, stopping 670 km short of their target of Libertad Crater.
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 message sent by the settlement in early March.
“We will do everything we can to help the younger residents and children,” Kuyper said. “The adults are free to make their own choices going forward, but we won’t supply them indefinitely.”
Mars biggest city getting bigger
New habtube section to be family friendly
TITHONIA, March 48 - Tithonia’s newest neighborhood is going to get a new city vibe.
Residents of the newest HabTube section can expect more family-friendly habs in an intensely gardened setting interspersed with smaller parks, Councillor and Planning Commission President Joshua Asta told the Council meeting Thursday.
The plans include a wider choice of eateries and local support businesses in the first part of the Habitational Tube’s fourth 1.6 km section, expected to open in June.
“Okay, it’s not all that far from one end of the City to the other,” Asta said. “But, we are answering demands for more local businesses, more local eateries that we have heard consistently since before the November election.”
The City-run canteens, which provide most meals for its 62,000 residents, will get some competition from small independent cafés and restaurants which will be clustered nearby.
“We’re already allotting space for new restaurants in some of the underused city canteens in the other HabTube sections and WestHill, like City Speakeasy and Pub Seventeen in Hab 3,” Asta said. “Now we’re doing that intentionally.”
The new section will bring the total length of the 800m high HabTube to 6.4 km, and its residential capacity to a total 64,000.
The older WestHill Terraces section of the City houses about 15,000 residents.
All the grading, ground work and base layers have been completed for the entire fourth section along with all the 800m support rings and stabilizers, Tithonia Building Chief Shigeru Kashira said in his progress report.
The section is divided into quarters, with the first enclosed in its permanent sandglass tube and with all interior terraces completed, Kashira said.
“We’ve got all the major work completed and we’re building out the habs and the other smaller interior structures,” Kashinra said.
Family friendly
Third section resident Dakota Santorini, who has a 1-annos old son and twin girls born in January, asked if the plan includes more easily modified hab designs to accommodate families like hers.
“We’re happy in our little hab, but it would be great if my husband and I could move things around a bit more. I’m sure that’s true for other growing families, and there’s a lot of us here,” Santorini said to applause from the audience.
The habs have been designed with that in mind, incorporating a number of suggestions from Orla Calaveras, a design specialist who stowed away on the cargo ship Pallene with her husband in a heavily modified double cargo container.
“Depending on what you’re using at the time, the habs will seem much roomier, and the walls and furniture are more easily moved,” Kashira said.
Another resident expressed concern that the move to allow independent restaurants might lead to the phasing out of the City canteens, which provide meals for all residents.
“I just got here in November, and food and lodging are part of my contract, which goes for more than two annos,” said industrial design engineer Conner Altair, who lives in the worker dormitories, or Cubbies. “Is this a subtle shift by the City to make everyone pay for their food.”
“No,” several Council members replied at the same time.
“We have always provided sufficient nutrition for our residents, even when we were still heavy on potatoes,” said Mayor Claude Paddingbury, who was one of the first thousand people born on Mars. “We’re not changing that now, nor ever.”
“They were nutrient-rich potatoes, but still potatoes,” Paddingbury said to laughs from the audience and council.
The opening of the fourth section is timely as the HabTube’s third section is likely to fill up later this annos as the City’s population exceeds 63,000, the nominal capacity for the WestHillTerraces and HabTube combined.
“We had 1,983 new workers arrive in November, so that new growth is going to be babies who don’t take up a lot of space,” Tithonia Residential Supervisor Giulia Villanova. “But they’re going to get bigger and there’s going to be more of them.”
Escape scandal hits Mars’ developer’s stock
Mystery buyers at lows
LUNA, March 49 - The Mars ransom scandal is dragging down the stock of Mars developer Martius Endeavours after two managers wanted in the extortion threat to the Carousel orbital escaped last week.
Martius stock was down nearly 20 percent for the week following the escape, falling to 137.25 credits from 171 last Friday, and more than 330 credits last year.
The stock appeared to have hit a floor around 130, with several rounds of buying coming in at the level through the week.
“Someone sees value, but it’s not clear who that is,” Luna-based space industry anaylst Camilla Fortuna said. “We think it could sink below 120 if the company doesn’t announce a significant course change in the near future.”
The company, which built the Mars orbital facilities, the Ares Port industrial center on the surface and its largest city, Tithonia, came under steady pressure on the Luna exchange after the threat to crash a drone into the Mars Carousel orbital nine weeks ago.
The company believes the stock declines are overdone, Martius Endeavours CEO Horace Nummio said in a statement.
“There’s been a fair bit of short-selling, but Martius remains on track on Mars and in its development plans in the Asteroid Belt,” Nummio said. “Our survey results show a very attractive potential in the Belt, and our Mars operations give us the perfect base for those efforts.”
The company is due to release its nine-months results in four weeks.
Martius stock was hit by heavy selling six (Earth) months ago before it announced a huge restructuring involving tens of thousands of job cuts, handing over civic control to its Mars surface settlements to the residents and renaming itself from Mars DevCo.
Shares had rebounded, but the ransom threat followed by the escape sparked new selling on concerns about overall management.
“It’s the same old story. A company built by visionaries, loses sight of the big picture and starts drifting along on past glories,” Luna-based space industry anaylst Camilla Fortuna said. “They need a course correction.”
The company's Mars trading remains profitable, but results are being dragged down by high costs and a lack of innovation in their Luna-based shipbuilding and exploration operations, Fortuna said.
“They need to invest in the future, which is the Asteroid Belt, but they’re overly focused on unrelated issues.”
The stock has lost more than half its value over the last Earth year, and it’s under pressure ahead of their nine-month (Earth) results, which are expected to show continued losses,
The Mars Shuttle Dione, which has been confirmed to be carrying two Martius Luna-based managers accused in the ransom threat, changed course on an unscheduled half-speed return to Luna after reporting engine issues.
They are accused by Mars authorities of participating in a threat to crash a drone survey ship returning from the Belt into the Mars Carousel orbital and hijacking another drone carrying precious metal ore samples taken from asteroids.
The other nine accused participants are due to stand trial on Mars soon, though the exact charges and the trial dates have not been announced. Charges could include piracy, which carries penalties up to spacing.
Mystery meeting on Mars Carousel
Leading Mars figures gather on orbital
MARS CAROUSEL, March 48 - About a dozen of Mars’ top leaders and entrepreneurs arrived here Tuesday and met for two days in a nonpublic area of the orbital with Mars Carousel manager Johannes Tyco, who will become planetary manager for Martius Endeavours at month-end.
“It’s an appropriate time for the civic and industrial leaders of Mars to gather to discuss current issues and our planet’s future,” Tycho said in a statement. “It’s a long overdue meeting, and we plan to meet regularly at different locations in the future.”
None of the other participants would comment on or off the record.
The meeting featured a rare gathering of Martian leaders, including Luca Matteo, Council President of Mars’ largest city, Tithonia, entrepreneur Electra O’Ceileachair whose group has developed faster engine technology, legendary Mars builder and Xanthe Terra Councillor Jeremiah Volcan and Candor’s Freyja Svensdottir, representing the family that owns the BarVoom compact fusion technology developed by Sven Surtsson.
Other participants included Ius Councillor Brynn Gibby from Mars second-largest city, Air Mars co-founder Rhian Llewellyn, Coprates Councillor Perseverance Mendez and Melas Councillor Bryce Margate.
Tycho is succeeding current Martius Planetary Manager Elric Balvicar who was recalled by Martius three weeks ago and is scheduled to leave for Luna April 3.
- Alfwinna Webster, Orbital Correspondent
Arrivals and Departures
Pilgrim departs
The fast packet Pilgrim, captained by Peregrinus Aeolus, departs for Earth and Luna orbitals on April 3.
Hotel Itinérant, Melas
The Hotel Itinérant passenger caravan arrives Ius/Geryon Thursday March 61. Departs for Noctis and Tithonia Monday April 6. Message ‘Itinerant’ for bookings and information.
Air Mars
Friday - Orson Welles, Coprates, Melas, Ius.
Monday - Ius, Candor, Coprates.
Tuesday Coprates, Wells, Orbit. No passengers to orbit. Message Air Mars.
Calendar
“Farm Hand"
Scary SciFi Fright. An Earthing takes a job on a Labyrinth farm and digs up something very unexpected. No, not the first thing. . . Stage 3 Hab 1 Terrace 8, Wednesday-Tuesday, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00
City Strings
Plays a little night music. Marineris Hall WestHill Terrace 4. Friday, Saturday 20:00
City Samba
You'll want to dance. You'll have to dance. Hab 3 brew pub near the Terrace One Arena. Friday, Saturday from 21:00
Cubby Soiree
City Residence hosts the weekly Cubby soiree. All are welcome. Cubby Terrace at 20:00 Friday. Hab 1 Terrace 3.
Las Panteras de Marte
Singer Monique Solis, guitarist Hernando Senatobia and accordionist Ignacio Beck, play Mars style Norteño music, with a few show-stopping torch song solos. Ius Forum. Saturday 16:00
Song Share
Acoustic players gather at the Geryon Agora. Friday 17:00
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
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
Classified Ads
WALL GARDENS. Custom seeded and sized. Illuminate, water, grow, eat. IUS 278-14275
PLANT AIR MAT. Get cleaner air, ease scrubber wear. GERYON 278-72903
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
FURNITURE Printer Stock. And cushions for a comfy seat IUS 278 58897
PLASMA SPINMASTER Compact fusion designs. CANDOR 286 25120
CONSTRUCTION All specialties. Ex-contract only. GERYON 278 68034
AG ENGINEERS Hydroponics, aeroponics. Ex-contract only. IUS 278-71892
CARGO HANDS, For overland cargo train. Ex-contract only ARES PORT 268 31211
GEOLOGIST. Ex-contract only. MELAS 285 24455
ROCKET ENGINEER Engine upgrade project, Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 637
PLASMA SPINMASTER Compact fusion designs. CANDOR 286 25120
WELDERS. Experienced welders seeking space yard qualification. Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 639
CARGO HANDS, For overland cargo train. Ex-contract only ARES PORT 268 31211
SHUTTLE AGENTS, MECHANICS for Air Mars InterChasma terminals. PONTUS 100 763
APPRENTICES Ceramics. 8 annos and up. URBS 269-98523
APPRENTICES Machine repair 8 annos (14 years) and up. NOCTIS 260 21188
APPRENTICES Machining. 8 annos (14 years) and up. CANDOR 286 53480
APPRENTICES Tractor repair 8 annos (14 years) and up. NOCTIS 260 22098
APPRENTICES Cargo handling 8 annos and up. IUS 27841257
APPRENTICES Aquaculture. 8 annos and up. URBS 62128
SPACE CAMP. Get ready for orbital work. All ages. ARES PORT 268 00910
BALLET Poise, strength, balance, beauty. Très grands jetés URBS 269 62577
MARTIAL ARTS. Conditioning and confidence. Weighted and natural. GERYON 278 71435
PERCUSSIONIST City Samba Troupe. Looking for all the drums, bells and whistles URBS 269-54391
YOUTH CHORUS. Want to sing? URBS 269 13930
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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)
The Candor Chaos Courier, Candor Chaos, Valles Marineris, Mars, Publisher M. FitzPatrick
The Chaos Courier gets you over the rough spots
Future News from Small Town Mars
This is a work of fiction. All characters and other entities are fictitious. Any resemblance to any real person or entity, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2026, M. Fitzpatrick, all rights reserved
Photomosaic: Viking Orbiter: NASA/JPL-Caltech