Power fault freezes WestHill farm terrace
Replacing machinery the hard part
TITHONIA (URBS VALLIS), Dec. 27 - A major power fault shut down froze a 25-hectare (62-acre) farm terrace at the base of WestHill here late Wednesday, wiping out the crops inside and causing substantial damage to a bank of compressors, city and agricultural officials said.
None of dozen workers on site were injured in the incident, but they were unable to restore the heat to the terrace before sealing it off completely to limit potential damage to two adjacent farm terraces, Agriculture Mars Chief Iris Notting said Thursday.
The mishap will result in a noticeable, but not crucial, decline in crop production, as the damaged terrace can provide enough food for about 1,250 people, Notting said.
That’s a small portion of the City’s overall farm capacity of 1,275 hectares, with WestHill’s 375 hectares, and the Habitational Tube’s 900 hectares
“It’s pretty much a buffer, a margin of safety, if you like,” Notting said. “We always have a bit of excess production, but that buffer has compressed with the arrival of the Earth fleet.”
Some 2,010 new arrivals took up residence in Tithonia’s HabTube and WestHill sections last month, with most of them now housed in the worker dormitories, or Cubbies, on the level 3 terrace in the first section of the city’s 4.8 km long habitational tube.
Without the damaged WestHill Terrace, the City can provide enough food for 62,500 people, about a thousand over its current population after the the Earth fleet brought 2,010 new residents last month.
The City has copious reserves of grains, frozen fruits and vegetables as well as frozen fish, City Council President Claude Paddingbury said.
“We always overestimate by a wide margin, and we have since soon after we started farming Mars,” Paddingbury said. “We can’t foresee every problem, but there’s plenty of food in reserve.
Each of the City sections is nearly self sufficient in food production, Paddingbury said, adding that most residents have wall gardens inside their habs as well as plots within community gardens.
“You just have to go to the farmers’ market on Saturday,” Paddingbury said.
Lights flashed and it got cold
Because the 2.5 km long terrace is relatively new, most of it is still covered by multilayer sheathing and heat retention fabric, which still requires more environmental support.
The two other farm terraces at the base of WesHill, as well as all of the residential terraces, have been covered in sandglass, which provides some heating as well as better insulation.
“The permanent farms can stay above freezing for at least 24 hours, but not the temporary ones,” Notting said. “It’s minus 70 outside at night.
Farmer Aurora Nabara (Issue 28) was working the terrace with 11 colleagues when the fault announced itself with a loud bang.
“It sound like a giant hammer,” Nabara said. “The lights flashed, and went out before switching to battery, the alarms started screaming and the environmentals just shut down.”
The workers put on their emergency suits and checked in by radio.
“We made sure everyone was accounted for,” Nabara said. “We got in the rovers and got out of the terrrace.”
Once outside, they tried to restart the environmental systems but could not.
“It was clear that there was some serious equipment damage,” Nabara said.
Candor offers spare parts
The terrace can be put back into production as soon as heat is restored, although they’ll have to replace the compressors and the new crops will still need time to grow, Notting said.
“We’ll have thaw it out, then clean it out, salvage what we can of the soil and equipment and start all over again.
The damage to the bank of compressors poses a more complicated problem as there are not enough replacements on hand in the City, Notting said. “We’ll need about ten more.”
The Candor Council should be able to provide the needed equipment as its industrial plant has been building ahead for future expansion in Candor and other chasmata, Candor Councillor Antonia Quick said.
“We have enough on hand to replace them now, though that will delay some orders,” Quick told the Chaos Courier. “Still, the orders are for future expansion, and if the City needs them now, they can have them.”
Quick pointed out that the overland trip from Candor to the City takes about 50 sols as the only route is south through Melas Chasma and then west through Ius Chasma.
“We can have them ready in a couple of days, if they want to send a shuttle,” Quick said.
Candor and other chasmata, including Corprates, Melas and Ius,” have called for the establishment of regular shuttle service across the Valles Marineris to foster trade and travel across the difficult terrain.
Coprates, which has been expanding its farms as part of its long term growth plan, can provide replacement fresh fruits and vegetables for the City, Councillor Perseverance Mendez said
“They’d have to send a shuttle, but we’ll happily donate what we can,” the Councillor Perseverance Mendez said. “We have the best fruit and vegetables in the Valley.”
Empty spaceliners’ next port: Shipbreakers
Some ships to be modified to expands Mars orbital
MARS ORBITAL SHIPYARD, Dec. 26 - Now that the Earth fleet is resting in orbit around Mars and the spaceliners have been emptied of their more than 2,700 passengers and crew, the shipbreakers are getting to work.
“We’re not really tearing them all apart, but doing some very heavy remodeling inside,” says ReLaunch Shipyard Chief Kirk Dellavan as he moves through the empty Sailor’s Star spaceliner, which last month delivered its 250 passengers and 24 crew to the Mars Carousel.
The fleet included 10 spaceliners, nine of which arrived on schedule, and 11 cargo ships as well as four orbital factory units.
“The cargo ships unload slowly over time, but everybody gets off the spaceliners as soon as they can. So we start with them,” says Dellavan, whose ship refitting and breaking group ReLaunch is adjacent to the Mars DevCo yard.
The cargo is moved either to the Carousel or the surface on a specific schedule that was set before the fleet even left Earth about 300 days ago.
Five of the half-kilometer long passenger liners have so far been set aside for the future expansion of the wheel-shaped Mars Carousel, formally the Pontus Caelestis, or Heavenly Bridge, that floats above the Valles Marineris.
One spaceliner, the Wandering Star was damaged by an engine explosion on approach to Mars, and its fate is linked to the salvage claim for the rescuers is negotiated. The fate of the other four has yet to be decided.
The long-term plan for the Mars Carousel calls for the addition of a second wheel to the 25 km circumference station, formally called the Pontus Caelestis or Heavenly Bridge.
The original was put together from the half-kilometer hulls of spaceliners and cargo ships from previous fleets, though some of the other ships have made the round trip several times.
“But it all starts here with these empty ships,” Dellavan says. “It’s a bit odd as just a month ago they were crowded with hundreds of people leaving Earth behind.”
Things left behind
The passengers bring very little personal baggage, but the shipbreakers still find items that were unintentionlly left behind.
“Sometimes we get asked to watch out for something like a personal memento or other items, and some we just find when we’re going through the cabins,” shipyard demolition specialist Solara Archer says. “We do our best to make sure they get back to the people that went through so much trouble to bring them so far.”
Archer held up an old-fashioned paper book, “The Martian Chronicles” by old Earth science fiction author Ray Bradbury.
“Someone brought this all the way from Earth, and either it was a family heirloom or they went to a lot of trouble to get a book printer a Martian century (190 years) ago,” Archer said. “They’ll want it back, and we’ll get it to them.”
More often, passengers leave behind personal tablets or even paper journals and pens.”
“They’re not going to see a paper journal on Mars, so we try hard with those,” Archer says.
The shipbreakers will start with the Sailor’s Star and then move on to the other spaceliners over time, Dellavan says.
“We can reconfigure a lot of the interior space without too much cutting, but there’s some heavy work in getting them ready for the second Carousel,” Dellavan says.
The shipbreakers’ job is to first remove anything that can be useful elsewhere in orbit or on the surface and then to reconfigure the hulls so that they can dock with each other end-to-end at the appropriate angle.
The Carousel expansion would follow the original plan, which is to assemble some hulls paired at either end of the main spoke of the station and then to fill in the rim.
Once that’s accomplished, the second wheel will be set spinning, in a slow, very fraught process to ensure it exactly matches the movement of the first.
“Everything has to go just right on that part,” Dellavan says. ”I’m glad that’s not my job,” Dellavan says.
Damaged spaceliner Wandering Star traded for salvage rights
Spaceliner’s captain’s wish may come true
ARES PORT, Dec. 27 - The crippled spaceliner Wandering Star will be traded to the Mars-based O’Ceileachair (O’Kelleher) Exploration Group to cover the salvage rights for bringing the powerless ship back to Mars and for other considerations. Mars DevCo announced Thursday.
The powerless half-kilometer hull of the passenger line was ferried back to Mars by the by the explorer scout Boudicca following engine explosions in early November that forced the evacuation of its 250 passengers and 12 of its crew.
The Boudicca, captained by Attracta O’Ceileachair,, brought the Wandering Star back to Mars nearly five weeks after the Earth fleet arrived on Nov. 30.
The ship will be used to advance the ]group’s plan to accelerate exploration and development of the asteroid belt, O’Ceileachair said.
“We’ve got the same idea as Hervé (Wandering Star Capt. Hervé Xenokostas),” O’Ceilachair said. “We want to stage a rendezvous and supply station halfway to the belt, and long term add some cargo facilities.”
Such a station would facilitate two-way trade between Mars and developing mining outposts, settlements and industry in the belt, O’Ceileachair said.
Xenokostas told the Chaos Courier earlier this month that he was interested in helping to set up a staging station using the Wandering Star and other empty hulls to provide food, water and other resources for ships traveling to and from the belt.
The return of the Wandering Star echoed the rescue of the stricken fast packet Caraval which flew by Mars in July after its engines failed before it could make the adjustments needed to enter orbit.
The scout Beansí (Banshee), captained by Electra O’Ceileachair, brought the Caraval back to Mars in early August, two weeks after its schedule arrival and later acquired the ship in part for salvage rights.
The Wandering Star deal also marks the third acquisition by the O’Ceilachair sisters since they returned in June from a 2 annos (3.8 year) survey of the asteroid belt.
In October, their exploration group purchased three of the Class IV orbital shuttles that have been replaced by the larger Class V shuttles. At the same time, the group also secured rights to operate a private ship repair and refurbishing service adjacent to the existing Mars DevCo shipyard.
That would represent the second such private service in addition to the ReLaunch ship refitting and breaking operation located at the other side of the shipyard
The O’Ceileachair group also purchased four unused half-kilometer space liner sections sitting in storage, two of which are being refurbished for use in their shipyard, and two others that they are reserving for a demonstration development projects for the Belt.
Party in the Cubbies doesn’t lack for enthusiasm
Some new residents get a time out
TIHONIA, Dec. 29 - Some of them had a lot of fun, and some of them will have some extra time to think about how much fun they had if they can remember it.
An impromptu “homecoming to Mars” party in the Cubbies, or contract worker dormitories in HabTube 1, got a little overenthusiastic late Friday and well into early Saturday morning,
“We get it that everyone had a long journey here and they need to unwind, but other people still had to go to work on Saturday morning,” City Safety Inspector Irwin Mather said.
The party started in one Cubby cabin and spread across the terrace in front to a few others, and then gathered a bit more energy, Mather said.
“There was a lot of music, some of it competing, a lot of dancing, which is good, and a bit too much alcohol, which is bad,” Mather said.
Alcohol is officially prohibited in the City, though that does not stop residents with the appropriate background from making their own and sharing it.
Besides dancing and music, some disagreements got overly heated, though no one was seriously injured.
Still, 14 new contract workers will face the choice of 10 sols of City Safety duty or a Labor Commission hearing, which would go on their permanent record, Mather said.
“They can spend some time helping to keep their new City clean and safe, or they can take what the Labor Commission dishes out,” Mather said. “Really, it boils down to being more respectful of your neighbors. It’s not just Cubby etiquette. It’s City etiquette.”
City Councillor Luca Matteo said the Council expects to move ahead quickly to reopen a clandestine nightclub in the third HabTube section closed down by City Safety in September.
The club had proven very popular among residents from all City sections who are still meeting there for impromptu music and dance.
“This time, we’d do it under City guidance with City regulations and test the drinks they’re serving,” Matteo said. “We want people to enjoy themselves, not get sick.”
Calendar
City Guides Arrivals Week 4 recap
Meeting for City Guide volunteers helping the new arrivals. Week 4 debrief and planning for Arrivals Week 5. You can still volunteer. Refreshments. Monday Hab 1 Terrace 8 outside Council Hall. 19:00
The Opera Tithonia.
Selections from the Strauss opera Der Fledermaus. Stage 1 on Terrace 2 (HabTube 1). Saturday-Sunday noon
City Strings "Coming Home Concert"
Ensemble performs selections from Dvorak's "New World Symphony." " Refreshments. Mariners Hall. WestHill Terrace 4. Friday-Sunday 16:00
“Crater Crawler”
“Crater Crawler” scifi creature thriller threedee. You may jump out of your seat a time or two Hab. 1 Terrace 8. Stage 3. Dec. 34-40, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00
Samba Marte Dancing and Music.
Hab3 Terrace 2 by the bamboo grove. Friday-Saturday 19:00. Sunday Family dance 14:00
Rhumba Cats and City Samba.
Team up for MarsSamba and dancing. All acoustic. Hab 1 Terrace 4 outside the Canteen C. Refreshments. Just one flight up from the Cubbies. Saturday-Sunday 15:00
City Social
Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Acoustic music by Harris and Fitz. Harris and Fitz acoustic duo. Learn where single socks end up. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Friday 17:00
Las Panteras de Marte
Singer Monique Solis, guitarist Hernando Senatobia and accordionist Ignacio Beck, play Mars-style Norteño music. You’ll dance. You'll love it! Ius Forum. Saturday 19:00
Marsball
Kind of like basketball, with really high baskets. Rules and regulations are evolving. They'll take it easy if you're just finding your feet. Hab 3 Terrace 1 Gymnasium area Saturday 08:00
Volleyball
Get ready to jump without worrying about the ceiling. Learn to play volleyball at the new Hab3 beach. Saturday, Sunday sessions 08:00, 10:00, 12:00. North Beach Hab3 Terrace 1
Lawn bowling
Learn how to play the lawn bowling game of bocce (bot-chee). WestHill Terrace 2 by the terrace edge. 10 am. Message City Parks for information.
City farmers' market
Going green with veggie envy? Get to the City farmer's market. Stalls available by appointment. Industrial Tube Terminal. Saturday 0900-1500
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
Classified Ads
SHIP REFITTING, BREAKING All craft, parts and refurb. PONTUS 100 751
DUST MAGNET. Won’t let the dust get past the airlock. CANDOR 286 87919
FURNITURE Printer Stock. And cushions for a comfy seat IUS 278 58897
WALL PRINTERS All shapes and contours. MELAS 285 45672
SURFSUIT Refurbishing. Fabric and boot repair, seal replacement, visor refurbishing, comms upgrades. COPRATES 297-14210
CARGO HANDLERS. Space experience required. Contract exemptions considered. PONTUS 100 419
ROCKET SCIENTIST. Engine upgrade project, Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 637
SHUTTLE MECHANICS. Experienced preferred, but we’ll train you if you have the skills. Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 635
CONSTRUCTION All specialties. Some outside. Ex-contract only. GERYON 278 68034
DRILLING specialists, supervisors and crew. Ex-contract only MELAS 285 13941
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 Machine repair 8 annos (14 years) and up. NOCTIS 260 21188
APPRENTICES Hydroponics. 8 annos and up. URBS 269 44085
APPRENTICES Environmental systems. MELAS 285 74223
SPACE CAMP. Get ready for orbital work. All ages. ARES PORT 268 00910
BALLET Poise, strength, balance, beauty. Très grands jetés URBS 269 62577
RAAS / GARBA Dance performers for existing troupe. COPRATES 295 45788
CRICKET Mars style. Two teams. Unfamiliar? They’ll explain it. COPRATES 295 21508
MARTIAL ARTS. Conditioning and confidence. Weighted and natural. GERYON 278 71435
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
The Chaos Courier gets you over the rough spots
Future News from Small Town Mars
Copyright © 2025, M. Fitzpatrick, all rights reserved
Photomosaic: Viking Orbiter: NASA/JPL-Caltech