Ius gets boring on Geryon Montes
City objects to expansion project
IUS CHASMA, June 34 - The Ius Chasma Council approved by a 5-2 vote on Wednesday a long-debated expansion project that would add enough living and farming space for up to an additional 10,000 people at Geryon Montes in the southwestern Valles Marineris.
“We're quickly filling up capacity in Geryon," said Ius Councillor Seamus Mitsutomi, who has been a strong proponent of the project from the first proposal. "We have a lot of growing families who need extra space, and many young people looking to start their own families.
The Ius Chasma project, about 500 km SSE of Urbs Vallis, has sparked strong opposition from Urbs Vallis officials who maintain that Ius lacks the authority to embark upon such a substantial project without City approval.
“We have final authority over all development in the Valles Marineris,” Urbs Vallis Council President Claude Paddingbury said. The expansion project, which includes terraced farms and housing climbing an 5km stretch of the north slope of Geryon Montes, can be completed without any outside support, Ius Councillor Brynn Gibby said.
The project, adjacent to the existing habitats, could roughly double the population of Geryon Montes, providing living space for up to 10,000 people in addition to the 11,000 already living there and more than adequate farming space to support them.
Around 12,000 people live in habitations stretching along the bottom of the slope and out across the chasma floor, and that number continues to grow by several hundred each annos as dwelling and farming space are continuously expanded, Gibby said.
Ius opponents had called for a smaller project, saying the current plans significantly exceed projected needs over the next 5 annos (9 years).
"We could just as easily tailor the expansion to projected growth, rather than commit ourselves to a larger-than-necessary project and an overly ambitious schedule," Ius Councillor Eugenia Velazquez said. “And, we have yet to bring all of the chasma floor villages under cover. Many of those residents can’t reach the Ius Forum and the central area without going outside in a surfsuit (surface suit) or taking a tractor.”
Mitsutomi argued the council should keep longer term growth needs in mind as well as the attraction of undeveloped and unexplored spaces further east in the Valley.
"We'd like to make sure that our children can raise their own families here and not be forced to move elsewhere in the Valley."
Ares Port build-out on track
Bigger shuttles to take off next year
ARES PORT, June 34 - Ares Port plans to build a new shuttle terminal, adding to the existing two at its current site 50km west of the City and closer to northeastern Noctis Labyrintha, Ares Port officials said Wednesday.
"We're expecting the tempo of shuttle landings to increase substantially over the the next five annos, and we want to have the infrastructure in place," Ares Port manager Ernesto Bosch told the Candor Chaos. “We also want to make sure we can move people and supplies more easily between the City, Ares Port and the Mars Carousel."
Ares Port handles all the shuttles traveling to and from the Mars Carousel (Pontus Caelestis orbital). The expansion plans include a significant upgrade to the Urbs Vallis underground to handle larger cargo and passenger cars, Bosch said. That involves increasing the diameter of the tube to allow the bigger cars.
The new Ares Port terminal will be able to accommodate the larger Class 5 shuttles being built in the City shipyard between the City itself and the Port.
Class 5 shuttles can carry up to 40 passengers as well as 20 tonnes of cargo, roughly twice as much as older Class 4 craft that have been in service for more than 10 annos (18 years).
The first Class 5 shuttle is expected to enter service when the additional docks on the Mars Carousel are completed in January 102.
Four more docking ports are being added to the Pontus Caelestis (Mars Carousel) space port that floats above the Valles Marineris, increasing capacity for the Carousel to 16 docking ports.
Both the Ares Port and Mars Carousel projects are meant to handle more frequent port calls for increased immigration as well as trade between Terra, Luna, orbital factories and the L5 habitats.
The increased docking capacity will also help support growing research and development centered on the asteroid belt, Carousel manager Johannes Tycho said.
“There are almost unimaginable resources in the Belt, and a lot of public and private interest in developing them as well as for independent settlement,” Tycho said. “People are very eager to get out there.”
Missing Xanthe Terra crew tractor beeps
Tractor nominal, no word on crew
ORSON WELLES, June 33 - Survey Mars has received a locator signal relayed from an overdue survey crew’s tractor in a deep Shalbatana Vallis cavern, Survey Mars said Tuesday.
The crew of six exploring the Xanthe Terra region entered the cavern about 2,800 km north and east of Urbs Vallis, some 17 sols ago after excavating the entrance. The crew had been expected to report back 11 sols ago, Survey Mars spokeswoman Stella Regina said.
“We received a signal from their tractor early this morning that was sent from a relay beacon ,” Regina said. “It didn’t indicate any faults or problems with the tractor, so that’s good news. We’ll wait and see what information we get. Based on that, we can send a back-up crew if necessary.”
The signal did not include any information about the status of the crew, Regina said.
“They’re a very experienced crew led by Chief Eustace Saint-Lazare, who has nearly 10 annos experience exploring the Tharsis, Corprates and Margaritifer Sinus quadrangles," Regina said, adding that their tractor is very well supplied.
“They carry about 10 weeks of supplies, but the tractors get some pretty rough use. Some kind of mechanical problem or power fault is still possible.”
Survey Mars has been exploring deep caverns in the region in preparation for expanding habitation beyond the Valles Marineris.
In addition to the official surveying, independent exploration and even settlement has picked up pace over the last several annos in the region around Orson Welles.
“Once people get underground, Mars DevCo can’t track them, and according to the Mars Charter, existing settlements gain legal status and ownership once they become self supporting,” Orson Welles Council President Sylvana Phison said. “There’s more of that going on in Xantha Terra now, some successful, many not.”
Launch ahead for Mars-based insurance scheme
Mars entrepreneurs back "P&I club"
COPRATES, June 35 - A group of entrepreneurs that has been meeting at the Phobos Coffee House in Chandrasekar Dome here is planning to offer insurance to Mars-based space exploration, transport and shipping as early as February 102, group leader Rhian Llewellyn said Thursday after their weekly meeting.
While based in Corprates, about 1,500km from the City, the group includes investors from across the Valley, who meet in person and remotely, Llewellyn said.
"To date, the shipping and transport losses have been absorbed by government or by the Earth-based space conglomerates, but we favor a more local solution. This will encourage and enable more independent exploration, scouting and development both on Mars and the Belt," Llewellyn said.
Exploration ships, in particular, are prone to damage with some total hull - and crew - losses, Llewellyn noted.
The insurance scheme, formally a protection and indemnity club, is expected to add momentum to private sector exploration and development which is seeing heightened interest, LLewellyn said.
So far, there have been few private explorers, among them Attracta and Electra O'Ceileachair, who have remodeled and refurbished older space craft bought at auction.
Their renamed Boudicca and Bansí (Banshee) have conducted research missions on behalf of the MarsDevCo and more recently on their own behalf as they seek to claim mineral and other rights in the Belt, and even establish independent settlements. The O'Ceileachairs are among the early investors in the insurance club, along with other Mars-based entrepreneurs, including Llewellyn.
“Private explorers have been put at a disadvantage because of the potential damage to the craft, not to mention the always present danger of total loss," Llewellyn said. "We aim to establish a mutual insurance scheme to bolster exploration and development."
City trial set on tractor theft charges
URBS VALLIS, June 38 - The trial of a City resident accused of stealing and attempting to sell a supply tractor has been set to begin Monday in Superior Court.
Yves Cerberon, an environmental staff worker in the second annos of his City contract, was arrested by Noctis Labyrinthia authorities June 5 after a tip by a Noctis tractor repair and rescue service.
Cerberon had been rescued by a supply train about about 100km south of Ares Port after the tractor became stuck in difficult terrain and sustained significant damage.
Authorities allege that Cerberon attempted to sell the damaged tractor to the Noctis repair service, which notified Noctis authorities, who returned both Cerberon and the tractor to Ares Port
Cerberon intends to plead not guilty to the tractor theft, his city-appointed attorney said, but will admit to breach of contract halfway through his 3-annos (5.5-year) term.
Potential penalties for the theft charges range up to a supervised 5-annos (9-year) contract extension. The City Labor Council last week mandated a half-annos extension in an unrelated breach-of-contract case
Feeling cramped? Go North
URBS VALLIS , June 36- City residents seeking a bit more personal space, might want to move out from Center Urbs to newly finished units in the delayed third tube section, whose interior is still being completed.
The North End section, with a capacity of 16,000 residents, is home to about 11,000 to date. The upper terraces, which have seen a series of delays, are currently about six months behind schedule.
The new North End habitats opening in August will offer 60 cubic meters for singles, 100 for doubles, and 150 and up for families, depending on size.
Greenies will like the higher ceilings. Single Earth arrivals can still expect to get cozy in the cubbies in the first section.
- Susmita O'Reilly
Contract Chaos - The Fine Print
URBS VALLIS, June 36 - The City Labor Council denied a request for contract termination by an environmental engineer, who arrived 2 annos (3.6 years) ago.
Beccan Stuart sought an immediate end to his 3-annos contract n the basis that he had been assigned duties more of a custodial nature than environmental engineering.
Stuart, who said he holds degrees in air, water and soil purification and remediation, argued that he had been assigned to what he called housekeeping chores.
“I didn’t come all the way from earth to clean floors,” Stuart said. “I was expecting to develop new and better environmental systems.”
The council turned down the request, citing the “and other duties” clause that is standard in all transportation and labor contracts.
- Mirihi Merced
Arrivals
BANSÍ IN BOUND - The race is on. Private scout-class explorer Bansí (Banshee), captained by Candor Chasma-born Electra O’Ceileachair, is expected to arrive back in early July after a 2-annos trek through the asteroid belt in conjunction with her sister Attracta’s scout ship Boudicca.
Electra O’Ceileachair radios that she will beat her sister back to Mars, adding, “To be absolutely clear, I’m the raven-haired O’Ceileachair. Let’s keep it straight.”
Calendar
Space, the next frontier for City living
The City Council will consider a proposal at its meeting Thursday to extend the Tithonium Chasma Habitational Tube by a fourth 1.6 km section. The extension would bring the Tube, called the “Tin Can” by WestHill residents, to 6.4 km and provide enough space for as many as 16,000 residents.
Let’s call it what everyone calls it
The City Council will discuss a name change from Urbs Vallis to Tithonia at its regular Thursday meeting on June 49. For residents, it’s either that or “the City.” Still, City residents might prefer a chance to vote on it in the November election.
Books our parents brought from home
The Tithonia Museum is hosting an exhibition of some of the many hundreds of paper books that immigrants to Mars brought on their 500 million km journey to their new home.
While you can't borrow them, the museum will let you spend a few minutes reading some of the sturdier volumes as you gaze across the valley. From June 38 through end-July. WestHill Terrace 12
Bluebells!
Indulge your eyes at the Tithonia Gardens, which is showing off a stunning display of tulips of all colors, as well as drifts of irises and daffodils. Wander among the bluebells amid the cherry and apple trees. Through early July. Habtube 2, Terrace 4
Ballet Tithonia. Selections from “Giselle,” “Romeo and Juliet.” Stage 1. Hab 1. June 36-38
“Cratered,” Love, loss and redemption. A weeper threedee. Stage 3. Hab 1. Terrace 8 June 41-47, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00
City Social. Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Every Friday 17:00
Ius Stomp. Rayguns kick it up at the Ius Forum. “Vampire Lake,” “Winter is Calling” and “Shout Out Girl.” Saturday 20:00
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
The Chaos Courier helps you over the rough spots.
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BALLROOM DANCING Let's Rumba! URBS 269 49144
MARTIAL ARTS. Conditioning and confidence. Weighted and natural. GERYON 278 71435
YOGA. Get the kinks out. IUS 278-43256
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The header and footer 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