Transhuman Space Classic: In The Well

147 Pages·2003·41.13 MB·English

by  Jonathan Woodward

TM
By Jonathan Woodward
Cover by Christopher Shy
Illustrated by Jesse DeGraff, Torstein Nordstrand,
Christopher Shy, and Wiley Wiggins
Edited by Andrew Hackard
GURPS System Design n Steve Jackson
Managing Editor n Andrew Hackard
GURPS Line Editor n Sean Punch
Transhuman Space Line Editor n David Pulver
Project Adminstrator n Monique Chapman
Art Direction n Philip Reed and Mia Sherman
Production Artists n Philip Reed, Kellar Hall,
and Justin De Witt
Print Buyer n Monica Stephens
Errata Coordinator n Andy Vetromile
Sales Manager n Ross Jepson
Lead Playtester:Kenneth Peters
Playtesters:James “Pip” Barrett, John Freiler, Anthony Jackson,
Hunter Johnson, MALloyd, Erik Manders, Phil Masters,
Robert P. Stefko, Constantine Thomas, Bolie Williams IV.
Thanks also go to all the other participants in the Pyramidplaytest.
Author’s Dedication: To Herbert N. Woodward
Thanks to Tracy Gangwer, Russel Brown, Mike Kaplan, Alok Mehta, Bruce Morton, Mark Waltz, and, as ever, David Pulver.
Permission is granted to photocopy the Mars Encumbrance Chart on p. 33 and the blank System Object Record on p.139 for personal use.
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GURPS,Warehouse 23, and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Transhuman Space,Pyramid,
In The Well,and the names of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license. Transhuman Space:In The Wellis copyright ©2003 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated.
All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
ISBN 1-55634-482-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mars Garrison, 67th Space
Infantry Division . . . . . . . . . . .43
Martian People’s Armed Police .43
AFractured Colony . . . . . . . . . . .43
AMERICA/MARS ................44
INTRODUCTION ...............4 THEELEVATOR .................27 Governor Myrna Burton . . . . . . .44
Deimos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Bureau of Martian Affairs . . . . . .45
ABOUTTRANSHUMANSPACE ........5 Cutting the Cables . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Space Intelligence Agency . . . . .45
About GURPS ................5
All the Way Down . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Other Space Forces at Mars . . . .45
1.THEHISTORYOFMARS ......6 PHOBOS .......................28 United States Aerospace
Port Phobos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Force 91st Space Wing . . . . . .45
2001-2024: ROBOTEXPLORERS .....7 MARSORBIT ...................28 The U.S. Army on Mars . . . . . . .46
Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
High Arcadia Adventure The (Wet) Navy on Mars . . . . . .46
2024-2026: FLAGANDFOOTSTEPS ...8 Theme Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 The Millionaires of Mars . . . . . .47
In the Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Orbital Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 JAPANONMARS ................47
2026-2039: RESEARCHANDDEBATE..9 Orbital Strike Platforms . . . . . . .29 THEEUROPEANUNIONONMARS ...47
Terraforming, Pro and Con . . . . . .9
LANDUSEAND Duel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
The Conspiracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
COMMONCOURTESY ........30 SAUDIARABIAONMARS..........48
The Green Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
CLOCKSANDCALENDARS .........30 PERUONMARS .................48
The Preservationist Side . . . . . . .10
Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 THETSAONMARS..............49
2039-2040: THEPLAGUE .........11 In a Martian Minute . . . . . . . . . .31 THEREVISEDOUTERSPACETREATY
2040-2056: TRANSFORMATION .....11 ANDMARS ................49
Ecoclysms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 3.THEMARTIANENVIRONMENT .32
Professor Margarita Rio . . . . . . .49
Anniversary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
GRAVITY ......................33 The International Mars Treaty . .50
2056-2087: GROWTH ............13 Encumbrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 CORPORATIONS .................50
The Flooding of Marineris . . . . .13
Encumbrance Chart . . . . . . . . . .33 Society Control Ratings . . . . . . . .50
Native Life? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Dexterity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 The Martian Economy . . . . . . . . .50
2087-2099: ASOVEREIGNWORLD? .15 ATMOSPHERE ...................34 The Triangle Trade . . . . . . . . . . .51
NewMyths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
CO2Poisoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Xiao Chu Corporation . . . . . . . . .51
2. AREOGRAPHY ............16 Atmospheric Contents – Naming Things . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
ATerraformer’s Guide . . . . . .34 Triplanetary Lines . . . . . . . . . . . .52
THARSIS.......................17 The Ares Plague . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Mars Development Corporation .52
Olympus Mons . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Nonbiological Techniques . . . . . .35 Terraforming Taxes . . . . . . . . . . .52
Areography in a Nutshell . . . . . .17
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Deimos Dog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
North vs. South . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Altitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Colonial Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . .53
MARSPLANETARYMAP...........18 WEATHER .....................36 MarsWeb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Underground,Domed,Open . . . .20
Dust Storms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 System Technologies AG . . . . . .54
The Tharsis Volcanoes . . . . . . . .21
Precipitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 The Seihin Corporation . . . . . . . .54
THEMARINERISSEA .............22 OTHERDETAILS.................36 Tenzan Heavy Industries . . . . . . .54
Noctis Labyrinthus . . . . . . . . . . .22
Sand, Dust, and Fines . . . . . . . . .36 Other Corporations . . . . . . . . . . .54
Haiyuan City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Aquifer Bursts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 OTHERORGANIZATIONS...........55
MAP:MARINERISSEAREGION .....22 Landslides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Free Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Other Chinese Habitats . . . . . . . .23
Mudslumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Frank Roth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Lake Candor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Sinkholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 The Martian Triads . . . . . . . . . . .56
Lake Eos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Bodies of Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Burroughs Museum of
Other American Habitats . . . . . .24
What IsThis Stuff? . . . . . . . . . . .37 Martian History . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Robinson City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Radiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 The Journal of Areoscience . . . . .58
Xanthe Terra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Farhaulers’Guild . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Syrtis Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 4. ORGANIZATIONS ...........38
Chet Magill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
THENORTHANDSOUTHSEAS ......25 POPULATION....................39 Truckers’Guild . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
The Borealis Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
RUSTCHINA ...................39 Greens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
TheEquatorial Railway .......25
Chief Administrator RELIGIONS .....................59
The Hellas Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Lanqing Wang . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Viking Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Colonial Directive . . . . . . . .40 Ancestor Worship . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Argyre Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Art of Guanxi . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Other Religions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
ELYSIUMPLANITIA ..............26 PLAN-SF Deep Space Fleet . . . .41 One-Person Religions . . . . . . . . .60
THEPOLES ....................26 Wen-Xuan Liang, Biotech on Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Other Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The First Man on Mars . . . . .42
CULTURALMOVEMENTS ..........60 Aerospace Pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 PERFORMANCEANDENVIRONMENT .107
Martian Memes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Off-Road Speed of
Martial Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Areologist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Ground Vehicles . . . . . . . . . .107
Martian Minimalism . . . . . . . . . .61 Areomancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Stall Speed of Air Vehicles . . . .107
Master Xiao-Yue Zhang . . . . . . . .61 Freedom Fighter . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Table:Vehicular Weapons . . . . .108
Confucianism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Miner, Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Lifting Gases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Miner, Mercury . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Other Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
5. MERCURY ..............62
“Of Independent Means” . . . . . .81
10. BESTIARY .............110
HISTORY ......................63 Martian Preservationist . . . . . . . .81
GEOGRAPHY ...................63 Recurver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 PETS ........................111
Clocks and Calendars . . . . . . . . .63 Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Smartcat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Snowballs in Hell? . . . . . . . . . . .63 Terraformer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Guardian Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
ENVIRONMENT ..................64 Tourist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Mars Hawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Triad Enforcer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Dracofly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Burning Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Triad Professional . . . . . . . . . . . .83 LIVESTOCK....................113
Radiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Truckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Pharm Cow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Other Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Xieh (“Mercenary”) . . . . . . . . . .84 Genemod Goat . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
ORGANIZATIONSAND TRANSHUMANCHARACTERS .......84 WILDANIMALS ................114
INSTALLATIONS .............65 Being Transhuman on Mars . . . .84 Mini Bears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Military Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Martian Triad-Produced Sand Wolf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
INDUSTRIES ....................66 Bioroids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Ice Weasel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Being a Bioroid on Mars . . . . . . .87 Tika Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Antimatter Production . . . . . . . . .66 ADVANTAGES,DISADVANTAGES, 11. CAMPAIGNS ...........116
Solar Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 ANDSKILLS ...............89
Antimatter Factories . . . . . . . . . .67 Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 CAMPAIGNFRAMEWORKS ........117
Martial Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 Miners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
6. VENUS .................68
NAMES .......................93 Aerospace Forces . . . . . . . . . . .117
HISTORY ......................68 Intelligence Ops . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
GEOGRAPHY ...................69 9.TECHNOLOGY .............94 Keeping the Peace . . . . . . . . . . .117
Clocks and Calendars . . . . . . . . .69 PERSONALGEAR ................95 Mercenaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Terraforming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Mercury Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 The Idle Rich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
ENVIRONMENT ..................69 Venus Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Free Mars! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Rock-Climbing Gear . . . . . . . . . .95 Scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 SOFTWARE .....................96 Tourists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 TheLonelySystem Diplomats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Preservationists? . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Guide to Mars.............96 Exploring the Wilderness . . . . .119
Other Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Soil Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Players as PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
NATIONALPRESENCES ............72 Rock Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 SECRETS .....................119
RESEARCHSTATIONAPHRODITE ....72 BIOMODS ......................97 Peru on Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
OTHERINSTALLATIONS ...........73 Zero-Point Features . . . . . . . . . . .99 The Natives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
CYBERSHELLTOURISM ...........73 VEHICLES .....................99 The Mr. Qian Conspiracy . . . . .120
Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Gabriel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
7. INNERSYSTEMASTEROIDS VEHICLES,LAND ...............100 ADVENTURE&CAMPAIGNSEEDS ..122
ANDHABITATS ...........74 Explorer’s Trike . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 CROSSOVERS ..................123
INNERSYSTEMASTEROIDS ........75 Light Martian Rover . . . . . . . . .101
MILITARYBASES ................75 Heavy Martian Rover . . . . . . . .101 APPENDIX:WHEELEDVEHICLE
Goibniu Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Cargo Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MODULARDESIGNSYSTEM .124
Dala Kadavara Station . . . . . . . .76 Mobile Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
HABITATS......................76 Monorail Train . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 GLOSSARY ...............137
Saint Lwanga Monastery . . . . . .76 VEHICLES,AIR.................105
Station 0.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Ballistic Ramjet . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............138
MISCELLANEOUS ................77 Hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Church of Sol Station . . . . . . . . .77 VEHICLES,SPACE...............106 SYSTEMOBJECTRECORDS .....139
Gang Lung-Class SCV . . . . . . .106
8. CHARACTERS .............78 Zhengyang-Class AKV . . . . . . .107 INDEX ..................143
CHARACTERTYPES ..............79 VEHICULARWEAPONS ...........107
“I’m cycling the door. There,it’s open. It’s a beautiful rock, dense and seared. One is covered in choking clouds.
day – the sky is a marvelous burnt pink. I’m stepping onto One is a cold, dry desert.
the ‘porch’ now. Everything looks in order. I’m turning Transhuman Space: In The Well covers the inner
around to check the lander – yes,it looks fine. solar system, excluding Earth and Luna. This is the part of
“I’m stepping offthe porchnow . . .” the System where travel times are short and solar energy is
CRUNCH. abundant. Nations, corporations, and individuals thrive
“My,that was loud! Oh . . . that wasn’t what I planned here, trading, digging, discovering, and fighting.
on saying. Ha! I suppose it works: ‘One loud step for The main focus is on Mars, the most heavily populat-
mankind.’Ha! ed planet besides Earth itself. Mars is dominated by the
“As a representative of my family,the People’s Repub- Chinese, who were the first to land, and the first to colo-
lic of China,and the United Nations,Iclaim this planet for nize in force. Second place is held – barely – by the Unit-
humanity.Mayweall worktogether for peace and under- ed States, who lost the Mars race thanks to computer error,
standing on Mars.” and never fully recovered. A hundred other nations and
organizations have footholds on the Red Planet, and it’s
The inner solar system. Four planets huddle around considered by many to be the most exciting place in the
the Sun. Each is radically different from the others. One System.
is humanity’s home, rich in life. One is an airless
Venus and Mercury are also discussed
here. Both are lightly populated, but more
A GURPS
explorers and opportunists arrive every day. BOUT
Mercury is rich in metal and energy, and is
Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of
home to heavy industry at the cutting edge.
the GURPS system. Our address is SJ Games, Box
Venus is good for nothing but hiding and
18957, Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self-
research – but that’s changing, as solar shades
addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) any time you
move into orbit and terraforming begins.
write us! Resources include:
Finally, a thousand asteroids and habitats cir-
Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/pyramid/). Our
cle the sun inside the orbit of Mars.
online magazine includes new GURPS rules and
In addition to being a gazetteer of the
articles. It also covers Dungeons and Dragons,Trav-
inner solar system, In The Well includes a
eller,World of Darkness,Call of Cthulhu,and many
dozen new racial packages for transhumans,
more top games – and other Steve Jackson Games
hardware from rock pitons to armored per-
releases like In Nomine, Illuminati, Car Wars,
sonnel carriers to cargo zeppelins, strange
Toon, Ogre Miniatures, and more. Pyramid sub-
gengineered beasts, and adventure seeds. This
scribers also have access to playtest files online!
is the heart of the solar system. Enjoy.
New supplements and adventures. GURPS
continues to grow, and we’ll be happy to let you
A A
BOUT THE UTHOR
know what’s new. For a current catalog, send us a
legal-sized or 9”· 12” SASE – please use two
Jonathan Woodward is a part-time free-
stamps! – or just visit www.warehouse23.com.
lance writer, and full-time computer profes-
Errata.Everyone makes mistakes, including
sional. He is the author of GURPS Ogreand
us – but we do our best to fix our errors. Up-to-
co-author of several books for White Wolf
date errata sheets for all GURPS releases,
Publishing’s Trinity science-fiction roleplay-
including this book, are available on our website
ing game. In addition to roleplaying, he is a
–see below.
ruthless comic-book annotator and noted
Gamer input.We value your comments, for
Legophile. He is not currently a transhuman,
new products as well as updated printings of
butplans are afoot. He lives in Massachusetts.
existing titles!
Internet.Visit us on the World Wide Web at
A
BOUT www.sjgames.com for errata, updates, Q&A,
and much more. GURPS has its own Usenet
T group, too: rec.games.frp.gurps.
RANSHUMAN
GURPSnet.This e-mail list hosts much of the
online discussion of GURPS.To join, e-mail major-
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PACE [email protected] with “subscribe GURPSnet-L” in
the body, or point your web browser to
gurpsnet.sjgames.com.
The Transhuman Space series presents The Transhuman Space:In The Wellweb page
a unique hard-science and high-biotech is www.sjgames.com/transhuman/inthewell/.
universe to roleplay in. Set in the solar system
Page References
in the year 2100, it is a setting rich in adven-
ture, mystery, and the exploration of the Rules and statistics in this book are specifically
possibilities of existence. The core book is for the GURPS Basic Set, Third Edition.Any page
Transhuman Space,written by the line’scre- reference that begins with a B refers to the GURPS
ator,David Pulver. It presents an overview of Basic Set–e.g., p. B102 means p. 102 of the GURPS
the solar system of 2100. Transhuman Basic Set, Third Edition. Page references beginning
Space: In The Well is the sixth book in the with BIO indicate GURPS Bio-Tech, those begin-
series. Steve Jackson Games is committed to ning with CI indicate GURPS Compendium I, those
extensive support of the Transhuman Space beginning with S refer to GURPS Space,Third Edition,
setting; future titles will detail the Deep those beginning with TS refer to Transhuman Space,and
Beyond outside Mars orbit, the varied those beginning with VXi refer to GURPS Vehicles
societies of the homeworld itself, and much Expansion 1. The abbreviation for this book is ITW. For a
more. full list of abbreviations, see p. CI181 or the updated web list:
www.sjgames.com/gurps/abbrevs.html.
“It’s never going to happen.” ing Mars needs to be started now,or we’ll have too much
“You arenot sureof that. The debates continue. Per- invested in the ‘minimal impact’ model we’re currently
haps not this year,perhaps not next. But it will happen.” stuck with. And I don’t just mean financially. Politicians
“We need it now! Humanity needs the escape valve, hate to change their mind; every one who backs the preser-
another world to goto. We’ve got our eggs in one basket; vationist side is effectively lost to us forever.”
it’sonlyamatter of time beforesome madman releases a “So howdo weget them over to our side? We’ve been
neo-plague and kills Earth off.” trying to convince the eggheads for months, but they’re
“Humanity is already scattered throughout near- hung up on the areological record and stuff.”
Earth space.Theywould goon.” “Why convince them? Terraforming is easy. Mars
“Living in a tin can? With a dead planet outside the wants to live again; a few bacteria,a few CFCs,and she’ll
window? They’d go mad. And quickly. We need another be tropical before you know it.”
world,aliving world.” “Do it withoutpermission?”
“You know I’ve never agreed with that argument. I “Sure,why not?”
still think you two are missing the point. Terraform-
It quickly became clear the date would not be
2001-2024:
met. In 2013, telescopes discovered a terrestrial planet
orbiting 61 Virginis. Spectroscopes indicated oxygen and
R E water vapor in its atmosphere – strong evidence for macro-
OBOT XPLORERS scopic plants and animals. The possibility of microscopic
fossils on Mars began to seem anticlimactic as well as
unlikely, and political support for the manned Mars mis-
As the 21st century dawned, it was clear humans
sion slumped. The 2018 date was pushed to 2020, then qui-
would be on Mars before too many more decades passed.
etly moved to an unspecified date in the mid-2020s. In
The United States, the European Union, and China all had
2015 the Europeans withdrew from the Horus Project,
various manned missions on the drawing boards. They
claiming that it was far too expensive and overly complex,
ranged from trillion-dollar campaigns incorporating
but also citing the United States’lack of enthusiasm. In
moonbases, orbital construction yards, and massive hun-
need of a partner (both for financial and public-relations
dred-person “space arks” all the way down to simple,
reasons), the Americans approached Russia. Seizing the
cheap four-person missions.
opportunity for a moment in the spotlight, the Russians
The initial steps were made by robots. The first
provided their heavy-booster expertise and skilled techni-
probes to arrive at Mars in the 21st century were Ameri-
cians and scientists.
can, including both orbiters and landers. The surface was
mapped down to one-yard
resolution. The landers dis-
covered enormous beds of
permafrost under the sur- From across the gulf of space, intellects vast
face, and even frozen lakes
under the sands of the and cool and unsympathetic regarded the
northern plains. Areology
rovers discovered veins of unspoiled Mars with envious eyes, and
nitrates, uranium, and gold.
Mars began to look more slowly and surely drew their plans against it.
and more like a prize worth
the effort. – Negative Growth graffiti
America’s manned
Mars mission had problems
from its initial conception.
The fastest ways to get to
Mars involved existing equipment and technology – and
In 2014, China sent its first Mars probe, Zhenchayuan
thus were very unpopular with the aerospace industri-
(“scout”). With typical secrecy, the launch was not
al complex, which saw Mars as an excuse for massive
announced until the week before, and the exact payload of
spending on new technologies and new equipment.
the probe was never revealed to the rest of the world. It
Years of debate passed before a compromise plan was
included an orbital component and a trio of rovers. It
finalized in 2010. Typically,it had all the weaknesses
arrived at Mars the following year, and the first rover was
of its sources and few of the strengths. Nevertheless,
sent down to a spot halfway between Pavonis Mons and
according to the best NASA analysts, it would put
Hebes Chasma. Between the rover on the ground, and
Americans on Mars before anyone else possibly
the cameras in orbit, the Chinese found a site rich in
could.
water and other necessities of life at about 0°north,
Then the Europeans put in their two cents. The
95°west. The second rover was sent down, and the
European Space Agency (ESA) could not economi-
two robots began (in a small way) to prepare for
cally sustain its own Mars project, so it offered to
future robots and, someday, people. They leveled
assist with the American mission, so long as Europe
landing pads and placed guidance beacons. They
had representation on the crew.The U.S. President of
did thorough surveys of the area, and some rudi-
the time, Henry Vaskers, was weak in foreign relations. He
mentary mining, though more complex prepara-
saw this as an excellent opportunity to score points for the
tions would have to wait for more complex visitors.
next election, and welcomed the Europeans with open
Simultaneously,the third rover was dispatched to
arms. Athird of the compromise plan was scrapped, and
Phobos. It landed at 0°north, 240°west, the spot on Pho-
the European contribution (largely consisting of orbital
bos that always faces Mars. (As with Luna, the Martian
infrastructure) was shoehorned in. The ungainly undertak-
moons are tidally locked.) Like its siblings, it scouted out
ing was called the Horus Project, and a launch date of 2018
agood landing site and prepped it for the future.
was set.
D
ISASTER project leaders set a final launch date for 2024, and
moved forward strongly to meet it. China did not alter
“I don’t think people can understand the despair. We’d
its plans in the slightest. The United States and Europe
struggled and schemed to get accepted for the mission. We’d
saw the “first person on Mars” issue as one of national
trained 20 hours a day. We’d traveled for months. We’d com-
prestige. The Chinese were far more pragmatic. Being
promised so much for the dream.
first on Mars would be nice, but the purpose of the
“Then, one computer bug, and we’re stuck. Not just
Yongyuan Project was not glory, but control of Mars and
‘within sight’of our destination; it damn well filled half the
its resources.
sky. You could reach out and touch it. Before the accident,we
all spent hours staring out the windows at it,looking at the 2024-2026:
features we’d memorized over the years, astonished and
delighted that they were real. Look,Marineris! Look,Hellas!
They’re real! We’re going to go there! F F
LAG AND OOTSTEPS
“After the accident, nobody looked out the windows. It
was too much to bear. There were a half-dozen unsuccessful
suicide attempts. One of the crew was stopped as she was
The Horus 1was launched in late 2024. It carried a
about to step out the airlock. She was wearing her suit, but
crew of 40, half American, half Russian. Of the crew, 20
she was going to get down to the surface one way or anoth-
were strictly backup, and would not be going down to
er. If it had to be as ash,so be it.”
the surface unless something catastrophic happened to
–Stefina Ivanova,Horus 1 Revealed
the first 20. The Horus was of largely American con-
struction, and included two ungainly manned landing
craft and a flotilla of automated landers. Its journey to
With Zhenchayuan a complete success, China sent
Mars was uneventful, and it arrived in 2025. The members
more robots. Not all worked perfectly, but each was rela-
of the prime crew boarded their lander, and undocked from
tively expendable and built on the work of its predeces-
the main spacecraft. Then, their control software hiccuped.
sors. This long-term endeavor was called the Yongyuan
The backup computer noticed the hiccup, and attempted to
Project (“eternity”). By the middle of the 2020s, China’s
return to a default “safe” condition – docked with the
robot bases on Mars and Phobos were mining water, man-
Horus.Unfortunately, the default landing bay had not been
ufacturing fuel, and building domes.
set properly for this lander, and the autopilot tried to dock
What little progress was being made on the Horus Pro-
in the bay already occupied by the other lander. Both lan-
ject also involved robots. Throughout the late 2010s and
ders were crippled, and three members of the prime crew
early 2020s, the United States – and other nations and cor-
were killed in the crash. The American-Russian mission
porations – dropped thousands of robots on Mars, ranging
had no way down to the surface. Aquick review of their
from truck-sized rovers to mechanical insects. Many of
consumables revealed disturbing truths. The mission plan
them, like the Chinese robots, were scouting and base-
counted on half the team being down on the surface, grow-
building devices. Some, however, were created specifically
ing food in Martian dirt and extracting oxygen from Mar-
for tourism. Though speed-of-light limitations made two-
tian air. With 37 people stuck
way teletourism difficult,
in the Horus, supplies
the lure of being able to
would run out much
look through a robot’s
faster. The first option
eyes as it explored caves
was to wait for a rescue
and craters unseen by
and resupply mission –
humans proved irre-
which would almost cer-
sistible to many. These
tainly be Chinese. The
tour-bots slowly rebuilt
second option was to head
support for manned
back to Earth immediate-
interplanetary travel, and
ly, on a minimum-time
brought money into the
orbit, which would
Horus Project’s budget.
require dumping all extra-
By 2020, tele-
neous equipment. Within
tourism and the possibil-
aweek, the Horuswas on
ity that the first human
its way back, and tons of
on Mars might not be
surveying and colonizing
American had restored
equipment were left in
public support for
Mars orbit.
Horus. In 2021,