Confederation of Mars

The first system settled by Terrans, Mars was an international effort to colonize a planet. Eventually Mars peacefully proclaimed independence from Earth following an agreement of IPEC (International Planetary Expansion Coalition). Mars is now a fully developed planet, with a huge population and excellent economy. The Martian Confederation has numerous, self-governing colonies and is easily a stellarpower in its own right. The Martian Confederation is a member of Covenant Earth, even though it is not considered a Terran power, due to having strong cultural, economic and political ties to Earth.

History

When the International Planetary Expansion Coalition was formed, its underlying goal was the international colonization of Mars by 2030. A manned flight had been extremely successful in 2015, with three astronauts from the United States walking on the Red Planet for three days. Decades of preparation and immense funding, along with the heavy privatization of space flight, laid the groundwork for the first permanent settlement of another planet by humans.

Finally, a large ship launched with an international crew of ten from the International Lunar Facility. The first colony on Mars was established, Unity, and man had taken his first baby steps into the stars. For many months, Unity expanded as more and more scientists and astronauts joined the contingent present on Mars. IPEC undertook the massive role of terraforming Mars. A major breakthrough occurred with the creation of the algae termed greenweave. Greenweave could flourish on Mars, quickly covering a massive portion of the planet and providing a breathable atmosphere. The ice caps were melted, giving Mars oceans and rivers, and special planets were engineered using major breakthroughs in genetic engineering.

Suddenly, living on Martian soil was a hot new trend. Private space companies started to offer affordable “space living” packages and the rich, bored and disgruntled flocked to Mars. It was a chance on for an adventure, to be apart of the future. Heavy ad campaigns drew more to planet as the Martian ecosystem began to slowly develop. As Mars began to mold itself in the image of Earth, other initial colonies landed on Venus, Ceres and Ganyamede.

The problem of sovereignty arose on Mars quickly following its population boom. With over two hundred thousand colonists, a governmental model was needed. Martian colonists clamored for their own form of government, that Mars be international territory. Finally, IPEC came to the agreement that Mars would be granted full sovereignty and independence. The foundation of the Martian Confederation was laid.

Contact with the Prime Collective was made shortly thereafter and everything changed. With the new flow of technology, the great “Idea Revolution” propelled mankind into unthinkable heights in mere decades. Population exploded with the advents of technology like jumpgates, ansibles and the Uninet. Suddenly, Mars was hammered with colonists and had reached the ability to dispatch its own ships with its thriving economy. Massive breakthroughs in robotics and genetics were achieved every day from Mars. The Martian economy skyrocketed.

By 2123, Mars sported numerous cities and a population numbering a little over three billion. Several colony ships were dispatched to a few star systems as the jumpgate network spread. Corporations flourish on Mars as it soon became the technology capital of the human species. By now, Mars had developed a fully independent culture and identity from Earth. The newly created Confederation of Mars dispatched colonists who held on to the idea of being humans from Mars, not Earth, and created worlds in Mars image. The nickname “The Little Brother” was born as Mars spread amongst the stars.

Martian technology helped it spread quickly. Mars possessed advance terraforming formulas it developed based on Prime data, such information was a closely guarded Martian secret. It only took a few decades for a bio-compatible planet to become hospitable. Martian colonists flourished at creating eco-systems out of hostile planets. Mars colonies did very well and sent back the wealth they produced.

Economy

Currently, Mars is the leader in genetic and cloning research. They are at the forefront in the fields of robotics and nanotechnology, Martian corporations having large slices of the computer markets. Internal cybernetics and wetware are very popular on Mars. Robots are very common on Mars and its colonies, performing most of the manual labor. Automated factories crank out products, shipped via automated freighters to other worlds.

Most of Martian society has developed a massive reliance on machines. Labor-oriented jobs have all but disappeared, all handled by automated machines. Life on Mars and the Martian colonies is one technology-assisted easy living. The economy relies on powerful technological innovation and advanced genetics products. As most employment is in such fields like advanced science, genetics and robotics, Martian society has become highly stratified. Upper-classes enjoy privileged lifestyles supported by a vast area of machines while pursuing academic careers.

Without large low-level jobs open to lower-classes, a problem has arisen with unemployment in the Confederation of Mars. While the lower-classes are actually a minority, due to the powerful economy and general Martian culture, gangs and street life has emerged in smaller settlements on more remote Martian colonies. A small, but vocal, movement has formed in the Confederation demanding more low-income jobs. Most Martians, however, simply ignore these problems.

Mars is heavily developed and sculpted into a true paradise. Big cities dot the land, with rolling green hills, massive oceans and blue skies all features of the new Mars. Large Martian Parks preserve what Mars once was, these are popular tourist attractions. Riding in large-wheel vehicles in the Martian dunes is a very popular pastime. Mars is surrounded by numerous space stations; most of these are research in nature. Two big orbital colonies, each holding a half a million souls, also orbit Mars. Clean, automated factories churn out tons of exclusive Martian products that are shipped off to Terran corporations and the Martian colonies.

Most colonies sport Martian architecture, food and clothing styles. MarsXpress offers flights to every Martian colony on a rotating time pattern to supply the latest gadget to all planets. Most Martian planets in the Outer Sphere and even the Frontier have much faster rates of terraforming then other standard Terran planets. With such quickly developing planets and a massive economy, the Confederation is a massive player in the future of humanity.

Culture

The culture of Mars is one of educated learning, a constant path to seek enlightenment on improving mind, body and environment through the use of science. Martians make liberal use of a gene-writing process, called v-writing, and cloning to ensure a quality of life is present. The Martian worlds are controlled by extensive biological designed entities and by use of top-secret nanocolonies that scour the planets.

A practice in the Martian worlds is that of rejuvenation, usually only afforded by the wealthy. This practice counters the aging technique and can revive the human body to mid-twenties physical levels. Every thirty years or so a Martian can enter the rejuvenating vat and emerge a week later fully restored and refreshed. Clones are kept, with the ability to implant memories, as an insurance policy. Other clones may be grown as doubles, children or as “family members.” Clones have basic rights in Martian laws, but not to the full extent that Martians do. Clones can also be used as body parts, kept in suspend mental states and harvested for organ replacement.

These practices ensure Martians live very long lives. The wealthy that practice rejuvenation, usually called “re-lifers”, tend to avoid danger or new Martian colonies. Most re-lifers prefer to live on Mars, living an easier life full of exploration of the sciences and technology. More adventurous Martians, those who cannot afford re-lifeing or simply who enjoy space travel, will move to the newer worlds of Mars. Thus the further one gets away from Mars, the younger and lower income the population becomes.

Martians often view their life as superior to Earth-based societies. The advanced, comfortable lifestyle of Mars is deemed as the evolution of human culture, moving past Earth to form a new “cradle of human life”. Earthlings tend to view Martians as snobby elitists who have turned their back on their humanity. However, Martian-Terran relations are good and extensive cultural and economical exchange occurs. Terran corporations have many holdings in Mars. Many Terrans, however, are just slightly wary of the Martian thinking about humanity.

Martians tend to constantly seek ways to advance humanity to a new form. Almost all Martians believe in some form of transhumanism, the ultimate goal of Martian culture. Immortality is craved by all Martians and some claim that Mars, with its re-lifer culture, is very close to obtaining true immortality. Martians believe that with proper bio- and nano-technology, true transhumanism can be achieved.

Martians place heavy emphasis on education and the expanding of the mind. Martian children are sent to strict and advanced private schools; the wealthiest are sent to boarding schools on Mars. At an early age, a Martian child’s v-written mind is exploring extremely advanced concepts. Abstract learning is encouraged and it is not uncommon to find a class devoted solely on finding bizarre connections between multiple paintings or tracing patterns found in the sand. Children are expected to perform well and memorize a large sampling of scientific processes.

Martian universities are some of the best in the galaxy and produce a number of brilliant theoreticians every year. The Martian science community contains some of the finest human minds, a fact that every Martian is proud of. Martian culture is heavily entwined with science and technology. Even the Martian ‘poor’, still wealthier then most of the galactic underclass, are familiar with and own advanced pieces of technology. Martians are brilliant with technical devices. Martians who migrate to outside civilizations usually find work as noderunners, technicians or robotics engineers.

Abstract art and decorations are very popular in Martian culture, with thought-provoking pieces littering the ultra-modern Martian homes. Martian art differs widely from most human art and is spread throughout the Martian worlds. Martians are extremely proud of their heritage and boast any form of artifact or item created on Mars that is found in their home.

Martian culture is centered on techno-organic designs, flowing styles that look extremely modern combined with glowing, pulsing colors. Luminous furniture and objects are popular, as are skin grafts. Sleek and glowing tend to be the call of Martian designs. An atmosphere of who can get the better toys is very prevalent in the Martian worlds, with Martians boasting of some new technical product that was released a few days ago. Martians are very gadget-oriented, attempting to make life simpler and more efficient.

Martians are also extremely fond of the Hive; Martian nodes are some of the best constructed nodes in the entire network. Every Martian colony contains an ansible; no sane Martian would go live somewhere without Uninet and Hive connection. Martian colonists will often wander replicas of primitive Mars in the Hive, reliving historical documentaries and exploring the barren planet. All Martians have implanted datajacks for the hive and most have special software included in their pearls for noderunning.

A growing movement in Martian culture is that of the rave. Becoming part of the expanding street life that is sweeping the Martian underclass, the raves combine the electronic, trance-like Martian music with advanced Martian cybernetics. Martian youths attend such large cyber-raves and become violent. Rave gangs are starting to appear in distant Martian planets as Martian youth rebel against the strict educational parameters in their lives. Such problems have shocked the ancient generations of Martians and currently Martian scientists are looking into extensive v-writing in the next generation to prevent such problems.

This growing cyber-rave culture is noted by cultural scientists as a defining movement that could radically undermine Martian culture. While a very small majority, the violent “techno-ghetto” life is spreading as Martian influence spreads on more distant worlds. Because Mars only settles planets after extensive work, preventing homesteading on territorial planets outside of their direct control like most other Terran governments, the Confederation hasn’t dealt with any large-scale divergent movements or shunning of Confederation control. The cyber-rave youth movement could rapidly affect the Martian transhumanism belief. The Confederation, controlled by re-lifers, may see a government shift as cyber-ravers turn into a potential voting block.

Politics

Politics in the Confederation of Mars is rather simple. A government on Mars operates loose jurisdiction over the Martian colonies and maintains the extensive Martian Armed Forces (mostly featuring clones and robots). The government on Mars is made up of the House of the Elect, the House of Delegates and the Governor-General. The House of the Elect is directly elected by all Martians and each Martian colony sends three Delegates to the House of Delegates. The Governor-General is elected every ten years and has usually gone extensive v-writing to ensure a competent leader.

The Martian government is heavily decentralized; being a confederacy the Martian colonies retain most of their independence. The Martian colonies have governments that handle almost all of their own affairs. Most colonies have a parliamentary system established and basic court systems. Strong cultural and economical factors tie the colonies to Mars. Almost all Martians are fiercely loyal to their homeworld.