Mars 101 is a wrap
But it’s the start of the Martian Martian century
TITHONIA (URBS VALLIS), Dec. 49 - Mars became more Martian in our planet’s latest trip around the sun
This is the annos (Martian year) that the planet’s population tilted slightly in favor of native Martians over those who chose to leave Earth and brave the months-long space journey to build a new civilization on a dangerous planet.
In addition, support grew among both Martian and Earth-born residents for increased local control over the future of their new home planet amid opposition from Mars DevCo.
The corporation built the Mars orbital facilities and Mars’ largest city, Tithonia, and still controls all surface-to-orbit travel and manages the supply fleets to and from Earth.
Mars DevCo, however, has seen some significant setbacks in space travel over the last six months, including the engine explosions that crippled one of the Earth fleet spaceliners as it neared Mars in November.
On the ground, the fastest growth in the Valles Mariners is taking place in largely self-supporting settlements outside the corporation’s direct oversight.
Ius and Coprates have launched ambitious development plans, and the Tithonia Council came out in favor of local control of City development after the November election.
“For decades, the people of Mars have remained dependent on the DevCo lifeline from Earth,” Ius Chasma Councillor Brynn Gibby told the Chaos Courier.
“But that has become less so over the last 10 annos (19 years) as former outposts such as Ius and Geryon Montes have become self-supporting settlements, making most of what they need and trading with other Valley cities for the rest,” Gibby said.
While the Ares Port industrial facilities near Tithonia and the Mars orbital factories remain crucial sources of equipment, machinery and processors, Candor Chasma has a growing industrial base, fueled by the development there of compact fusion plants.
“We’re a society founded by entrepreneurs and innovators who continue to develop the new technologies needed to make our new home habitable,” Gibby said.
Martian population grows rapidly.
About midway through Mars year (annos) 101, the number of Mars-born residents edged past those who came from Earth for the first time.
“We’ll end 101 with just over a thousand more Martians than Earth-born,” Census Mars Chief Willow Demeter told the Mars Chaos Courier on Friday. “We won’t have the exact numbers for a week, but it’s about 62,250 Martians to 61,250 Earth-born.”
At the end of annos 100, the Earth-born still had a 1,500 person-edge over the Martians.
“The gap is only going to widen over 102 as the next Earth supply fleet isn’t due until early January 103,” Demeter said. “So we’ll have about 6,000 more Martians.”
The growing Martian population is partially due to the higher birth rate in Valles Marineris settlements outside the City (Tithonia), the planet’s biggest City, and with the largest proportion of Earth-born, Demeter said.
“Not that Earth arrivals are wasting time, but we’re seeing larger families outside the City, and that adds up over time,” Demeter said.
Mars also skews young, with more than 37,000 Martians 10 annos (19 years old) or younger at the end of 101, about 30 percent of the total population, and about two-thirds of those were less than 5 annos (9.4 years) for a total of 18 percent of the population.
Most young Martians work apprenticeships in tandem with their studies form ages 8 through 10 annos (15-19 years), meaning about a quarter of residents 10 or younger are learning the complex skills they’ll need as full adults.
“To survive and thrive, we need a very highly skilled workforce and we have made this an integral part of education since we first began educating young Martians,” Tithonia Council President Claude Paddingbury said.
While Tithonia remains by far Mars’ biggest city, with 61,000 residents, the rest of the Valley now accounts for more people with 69,000 residents as well as a greater proportion of Martians.
“Tithonia’s more than twice as big as Ius, so it’s going to remain the largest city on Mars for some time,” Tithonia Councillor Luca Matteo said.
Martian settlements demand local control
That population shift was reflected over the last annos by the growing clash over development between the previous City Council, along with Mars DevCo, and the newer, smaller settlements.
That reached a flash point mid-annos when the City Council called for a halt to development in the other chasmata after the Ius Council approved a major expansion project for Geryon Montes and a new settlement was discovered in the Shalbatana Vallis.
That demand for City control over development was roundly rejected by the local councils from Noctis Labyrinthus to Coprates and Candor, and even Orson Welles, in the annual November council elections.
For their part, City voters chose councillors who favor local control.
“We recognize and applaud the crucial role that DevCo has taken in fostering the settlement of a new planet, and that’s been an amazing success, which is why I’m here today with my family on the surface of Mars,” Melas Councillor Bryce Margate said. “At the same time, we have built growing cities across the Valles Marineris through local initiative and innovation and we’re ready to step out on our own a bit.”
Among developments over the past year, Tithonia (Urbs Vallis) began the construction of the fourth section of the Habitational Tube, which will bring its total capacity to 64,000 in the 6.4 km cylindrical habit that runs across the valley floor at the western end of Tithonia Chasma.
The HabTube now has 46,000 residents, including the 2,000 that arrived with the November Earth fleet, while the WestHill Terrace houses about 15,000.
In the face of opposition from DevCo and the previous Tithonia Council, Ius Chasma started an ambitious development in Geryon Montes which will provide living space for up to 10,000 more people in addition to the 11,500 already living there.
Coprates has launched a long term project to build a ‘ring city’ around the perimeter of its home crater, with the first 4 km of the eventual 78 km city expected to be completed by the end of January. The overall scheme includes so-called villages spaced at roughly 2 km intervals along the rim.
The development that sparked the most opposition was only discovered by accident when a Survey Mars crew trapped in a Shalbatana Vallis cavern found that legendary Mars builder Jeremiah Volcan, who played a pivotal role in planning the WestHill Terrace in Tithonia, was building a ‘vertical city’ in a 900m deep pit crater.
“Mars isn’t made for one-size fits all habitations,” Volcan wrote. “The habitations should work with the land and not against it.”
Some rough spots for DevCo
While DevCo once again brought in an Earth supply fleet, the annos also saw some stumbles by the corporation, which has recently been reflected in sharp declines in its stocks and bonds on the Luna Exchange.
Those setbacks included the total engine failure aboard the fast packet Caraval on its July approach to Mars on return from Earth orbitals with high value processors and a dozen passengrs.
The Caraval was rescued by the scout ships Boudicca and Beansí (Banshee) on their return from a two-annos survey of the asteroid belt.
In November, the starliner Wandering Star was evacuated after a series of engine explosions, sourced to faulty fuel feeds, disabled the ship, which was part of the Earth fleet, and one of the 10 passenger liners in the fleet.
In addition, one of the four self-deploying orbital factories that arrived with the Earth fleet, became jammed when it attempted to deploy in orbit.
Mars DevCo Planetary Manager Elric Balvicar called the November supply train, an overall success.
“It’s a long dangerous journey and everyone made it here safely in a fleet of 25 ships traveling nearly a half billion kilometers,” Balvicar said, but declined to comment on speculation that the orbital industry and exploration company will announce a restructuring. “I’m focused on Mars and its orbitals.”
The setbacks come amid a shift in corporate culture to emphasize near-term financial results over long-term projects, such as the settlement of Mars.
“They’ve drifted quite a bit,” wrote Luna-based space industry analyst Camilla Fortuna. “DevCo needs a course correction right now, before they need a rescue.”
Mars most exclusive club
No Sol Zero until next annos
TITHONIA, Dec. 50 - The Sol Zero society is Mars most exclusive club.
Less than one in a thousand Martians become members, and only one credential matters.
You have to be born on the extra sol known as Sol Zero to get in, and there’s only three of those every five annos.
Only 54 Martians have been born on the Sol Zero intercalary days that fall between last day of December and the first of January, and which are celebrated as an unofficial holiday..
No new members will arrive this annos when the calendar moves straight from December 55 to January One.
It’s a quirk in the Mars calendar.
The Martian year, or annos, has 668.6 days and to even it out, three intercalary days are added to the calendar every five years, with Sol Zeros added to the new annos at the end of the second, fourth and fifth annos.
That zero-one-zero-one-one pattern starts on the first and sixth year of each decade, putting the Martian calendar back into sync with the sun. Additional adjustments are just made on the clocks, and if the New Annos party was good, you’ll just sleep through that any way.
Another quirk is that Tithonia became the first permanent settlement in ’55 on what today we’d call Sol Zero.
The oldest Sol Zero baby, WestHill resident Ana Lorica will celebrate her 30th Martian birthday (56 years) on January One, and her 19th Sol Zero at the end of ’102.
Seven new members were added at the end of 99 and also at the end 100. Twenty-five Sol Zeros live in the City, and 29 in other settlements.
“There’s not a lot of us, and it was 12 annos (22 years) before there were 10 of us, but we’re picking up the pace a bit,” says Lorica, an agricultural specialist who has spent most of her life so far developing food plants for the Martian settlements. “I’ve been putting food on the table for a long time.”
Lorica was born 8 annos (15 years) after the first group of Martian babies, who were born in ’64, who will be turning 38 (71 years) next annos and who have their own club, the Sixty-Fours.
That now includes 81 of an original 86, with five losing their lives in various scientific and exploration accidents.
“Our parents held off a bit, waiting until there were some real buildings and real medical facilities. Then they got to work,” says Alfa Eridu, recognized as the first of the Martians, who now has 5 children and 16 grandchildren, and, “Is waiting for the great grandchildren.”
Eridu says he did a bit of everything growing up at a time when only a few thousand people lived on the planet.
“I started as a farmer, became a rover driver and explorer, and then settled down in WestHill after that was built,’ Eridu says. “It was really a frontier life, and I’m amazed so many of us made it this far.”
Mars gets ready to celebrate the new annos
It's party time from Noctis to Orson Welles
TITHONIA, Dec. 49 - It’s time to freshen up the party clothes, or pull out your finest jump suit.
Settlements from one end of the Great Valley to the other are all getting ready to celebrate the start of the new annos with music, dancing and feasting.
“All of the City canteens are going to be offering special menus, and we’re trying to encourage a variety of different cuisines,” says City Catering Chef Lucas Creon. “The menus should be up by Tuesday, so residents can check their local canteens—or any one really—to see what they might like to have for their New Annos meals.”
Creon reminds new City residents, that they’re welcome to eat any meal at any canteen, but that they might want to reserve a place at canteens near the entertainment areas such as City Stages.
Among the celebrations, will be music from City Strings, including “Ode to Joy” and selections from the “New World” Symphony. Opera Tithonia will offer a variety of favorites, including selections from “Carmen,” which was a big hit with audiences earlier this annos.
And if any needs a reminder, City Speakeasy in Hab 3 reopens Tuesday, but the big celebration is set for New Annos Eve on Thursday, without the alcohol.
The Speakeasy will offer music inside, but several groups will be taking turns on the terrace outside by the Bamboo Grove.
Ares Port will host a celebration at the Industrial Terminal between the City and Ares Port and also in the main shuttle terminal.
The Noctis Grange Hall will offer music and dining, but it’s worth notifying management that you plan to attend, so they can make an accurate count.
In Ius Chasma, festivities will include music and dancing at the Geryon Agora and at the Ius Forum lower down the mountain.
In Melas, the Bottom of the Sea Cantina will host a pirate-themed party, but residents should also check out the music and food at the Aquarium Dome.
Coprates plans to celebrate in the Chandrasekar Dome, with a Raas / Garba dance competition Thursday and Friday afternoons. If you like musicals, you'll love these live performances.
Candor will host music, dance and party food on the first level residential terrace at the foot of the mountain.
If you’re in Orson Welles, the new shuttle port is the place to be.
And if you’re in orbit, the Mars Carousel will host a celebration in the Arrivals Hall, which offers a great video view of the Valles Marineris.
Most of all, remember the happy moments from the last annos and look forward to making more happy memories in 102.
Calendar
Join the Cubby party
City Residence will host a New Annos party outside the Cubbies, or contract worker dormitories Thursday, Dec. 55, featuring the very danceable music of the Rhumba Cats. The party starts on the Cubby Terrace at 17:00 Thursday and 16:00 Friday. All resident are welcome.
City Strings New Annos Concert
Ensemble performs selections from Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Mozart's "Night Music" and some surprises as well. Refreshments. Mariners Hall. WestHill Terrace 4. Thursday-Friday-Sunday 13:00, 16:00
“Rhumba Room”
Fun song and dance review threedee. Goofy, guilty pleasure with great dancing Stage 3 Hab 1 Terrace 8 Dec. 54-55. 16:00 18:00, 20:00, 22:00
“Crater Creature”
“Crater Creature” A creepy, campy creature thriller threedee. Hab. 1 Terrace 8. Stage 3. Jan. 1-6, 14:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00,
Samba Marte Dancing and Music.
Hab3 Terrace 2 by the bamboo grove. Thursday 19:00. Friday Family dance 14:00. The kids can play percussion.
City Social
Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Acoustic music by acoustic duo Harris and Fitz. Start here and head to the Cubby party. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Friday 17:00
Mick MacLuna
Silly comedy from the far side of the moon. Industrial Tube Terminal. Thursday 16:00
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! Geryon Agora . Thursday 19:00
Winter is Calling
Rayguns electric pop trio. Ius Forum Terrace. Thursday 21:00
Coffee Concert
Wake up to some fresh coffee and pastries with soothing acoustic music at the Geryon Agora on the terrace outside the Cafe du Mont. Friday from 11:00
Raas Garba
Four troupes dances their shoes off. Coprates Chandrasekar Dome. Thursday, Friday 14:00
Ahoy Melas Maties
Bottom of the Sea Cantina hosts a pirate-themed party. Thursday 21:00
Melas Celebration
Aquarium Dome Music and dancing. 16:00 Thursday and Friday
Orson Welles Shuttle Port
New Annos Celebration starts at 18:00
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
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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