State of the Union
Mars and Luna
Mars and Luna
Traditions and Culture of Mars & Luna
Lunar Tradition, being heavily influenced off of its heavily vetted colonists, are generally speaking Meritocratic. For Lunar Colonists they have little to no care about lineage or relations to someone. The only thing that is deemed to matter to the Lunar people is the ability to achieve their jobs. As a result of this Lunar Colonists are often marked by their Efficiency, Adaptability and Meritocratic nature. However poverty, homelessness, and Laziness is generally frowned upon and is a major stigma within Lunar Society. This has spilled over into Disability where many people view anything that keeps you from contributing in a meaningful way to improving the Colonial life on the planet as a burden to society.
Lunar Colonists though are generally extremely healthy. Universal Healthcare exists on most colonies, and most disabilities are typically treated as rapidly as possible. The average high paying jobs on the planet has led to a remarkably high quality of life. However the constant societal pressure to contribute something meaningful to the colonies has led to high suicide rates across the planet. Many who feel that they have not accomplished much in their life will commit an act called “Venting”. Where a Suicidal Colonist will purposefully walk out an airlock with no EVA protection. While many Colonies have cracked down on this with measures like using Vetted Guards, it is ultimately a major issue that the Colonies deal with. The Number 1 cause of death on many colonies is Suicide followed up by Cancer.
Martian Tradition, being a sister colony of course, is similar to Luna. However with Mars the background of being used for menial labour has led to an Egalitarian Society. Many Martians view issues such as Poverty and Homelessness more favorably and sympathetically. Martians are also marked by their Anti-Authoritarian culture as well, with many Folk songs being about heroes who liberate colonies. Martian Colonists have managed to contribute to the Arts and Culture in ways which rivals that of Luna by wide margins. Martians, in general, are considered to be Industrious, Egalitarian, Collectivist, and Creative.
Mars issues of health are major when in comparison to Luna however. The recent cost cutting measures on the planet have also not done much to remedy this issue. It is not uncommon for a Martian family to be found dead only because overnight the Oxygen to their room was not flowing. Issues such as this have led to a Radicalisation across mars with many Martians favouring Planetism movements by a wide margin. Many view the way how their Arts and Culture are widespread as a way of coping with the colonial issues. A new genre of music dubbed “Martian Folk”. It is a mix between synth mixed music typically not using any physical instruments of any kind and Folk music seen on Earth.
Largest Cities of Mars & Luna
Ares is an interesting place.
While a city like it would be of only a middling amount of repute on earth, only as populous as a place like Nashville after the Final World War, on a place like Mars, primarily filled with small mining settlements, it is a sprawling metropolis where the heart of Mars seems to flow.
Of course, it's not a perfect city. Mars was never particularly... clean place. Drugs seem to flow through the streets as often as mineral shipments out of the colonies, and it seems like this distant speck of a settlement has become a hive of not only trade and influence but of crime, drugs, and other such unpleasant things.
But can the Martians be blamed for such things? So many flew onto the planet hopeful for a new beginning and moved into eternal familial inherited debts, working in the mines for their colonial benefactors with little ever flowing back.
Anyone who has studied the lifestyles or simply been to Ares will tell you about the melancholy visible in the streets, the sad turned down faces of the majority of Martians. While the Space Corps will tell you these are thriving settlements full of happy people, the precise opposite is true. If you’ve ever spent time with a martian even in passing conversation, it becomes clear how little they are cared for, they are not considered people but more assets for the usage of these corporations and governments.
As for the government itself, the majority of people find themselves ignored and unrepresented, which usually is a result of the city’s foundation. Rather than an elected City Council or Mayor, the Mayor is usually selected from a hotbed of candidates by the chief Corporation running the city, usually with the top candidates engaging in what is colloquially known as a ‘Brown-Nosing Competition’ or a ‘Brown Nose Election’. This has usually either resulted in a complete alienation from politics or a radicalization towards groups like the Martian Planetism Party. Largely the apolitical part of the population seems to be mostly concerned with ‘scraping by’, regarding previous attempts at unionization and social movements (which have been known to have been broken up by corporate paramilitaries) as failed experiments and largely trying to figure out a way to best live in the society they have found themselves in.
Of course, when discussing places like Ares it is hard to not also discuss it as a rising hotbed for Martian Planetism. Already organizations like the Martian Planetism Party are gaining more and more influence over the years it has existed. Almost reminiscent of previous organizations like the Scottish National Party, the party itself seems to counterbalance the largely corporate establishment with a largely collectivist and left-leaning rhetoric. While the organization has changed locations numerous times throughout the history of Mars,, it appears the party is still going strong.
To contrast greatly with the cities on Mars, the City of Franklin could legitimately be considered a sprawling metropolis by earth standards, rivalling pre-Nuclear war Chicago and Los Angeles. This can be largely attributed to a few factors, such as it’s much closer proximity to Earth allowing for travel within a matter of days rather than several months and it’s primary drive being by national entities rather than private investment. This has allowed the flow of resources and luxuries for a fairly productive colony to work well for both the Lunar Colonists and the Space League’s constituent nations.
Because of this, while Mars’ Planetism Party is largely considered an almost paramilitary organization (and by some, a terrorist organization even though by all accounts it has never engaged in any acts of terror), the Lunar Planetism Party is much more restrained. Largely consisting of intellectuals and other such experts who have primarily come to populate cities like Franklin, they seem to espouse a much more Technocratic set of ideals, while also proposing continued relations with the Space League as mutual trade partners rather than Colonies and Overlords.
In addition, due to the significantly easier travel times between Earth and Luna than Earth and Mars, the city of Franklin seems to cater to tourism as well, with rail lines directly to areas of historical importance as tourist sites. Armstrong’s first steps are preserved behind several inches of glass, however they will certainly allow you to look in and buy replicas from the nearby Gift Shop. However, while the circular railway across the city may take you towards the center inner districts and outer districts, rarely do these places highlight the slums or other less well off places. Franklin as a city has largely automated it’s mining operations, and many who used to live in Franklin to do this menial labor have been unable to transfer into the largely technical job-space that has evolved on Luna. This blemish, rather than being dealt with with social reform, is usually just ignored and the Tourists are redirected to the grand architecture of the City-Spire.
With such wide-spread investment to a colony, it is natural to wonder what the constituent nations of the Space League get out of a settlement like this: The simple answer is Helium-3. Helium-3 itself is an isotope that releases a large amount of energy without causing the surrounding materials to become radioactive. This fuel source is the primary industry of Franklin, with this material being exported in large amounts.
Politics & Government of Mars & Luna
Lunar Colonies are all typically classified by a general Technocratic Rule. This Stretches back to the initial Colonization of the planet. Luna, when compared to Mars, was Heavily vetted and only allowed a select few Colonists to Settle on the Planet. This and coupled with the more dangerous setup on Luna when compared to their Martian sister Colony led to this turn of events. On Lunar many citizens typically don't care too much for Democracy or Democratic rule and would much rather prefer a skilled professional to rule on their behalf.
The City of Franklin is usually held up as a typical example of Lunar Rule. Franklin has an Executive Board, where the Chairman of the Board leads the Board as a First among equals. Typically the Chairman will break disputes between members of the board but in the case of extreme emergencies the Chairman will act in the best interests and enact total control to get things back under control. While on Earth these Dictatorship measures would be seen as Tyrannical to many, on Luna these measures are heavily relied upon. During an Emergency that requires urgent responses Lunar Government officials will organize all resources to ensure the survival of the colony.
On Luna, although they support Planetism Movements across the planet, they heavily frown upon any violent movements. The Planetism movement on Luna largely involves Strikes, Peaceful Protests, and even petitions. Any Militant action is heavily repressed. This is due to its close proximity to Earth as any Violent or Armed rebellion could be easily squashed by a quick reaction force sent from Earth within the week.
Mars is a different tale when compared to its sister Colony. Due to the vast number of Corporate sponsorships to colonize the planet most colonial ventures are typically corporate backed. While this was tolerated for a time as the Colonial Ventures into Mars were seen as a major investment, and revenue potential, the discovery of FTL has drastically changed things. The Nations of Earth have largely lost interest in trying to colonize a barren world when a dozen or more Lush worlds are within reach. The Colonial Charters as a result have panicked and have been taking more and more extreme measures to squeeze out profit from the colony. It is likely that the minute Mars becomes unprofitable all funding will be pulled almost immediately.
This has led to Mars going through a couple of Radical Changes within the past twenty years or so. The Biggest one being a Planetary Unification under a Massive Corporate Conglomerate Agreement. The Planet is run by a corporate board of Directors not too dissimilar to an Earth or Space Corps. However their need to squeeze profit out of a waning interest has led to the Board of Directors becoming more and more tight fisted. Their most recent CEO Eduardo Riviera chosen in 2140 was the more controversial of them all to date. Nicknamed “Dune” based on a comment he made when questioned by a journalist about the budgetary proposal he simply responded with: “The Spice Must Flow”. He has massively pushed for higher and higher quotas while making budgetary cuts and cutting corners wherever possible. His investment into Private Police which he calls “Strike Breakers” are more akin to a Military force as they have been known to Violently breakup Planetism Movements.
As for how the political life is for the average Colonial most try to get by, and will generally just work and keep their nose down. However as the measures become more and more Colonials have become more radical, especially after the failed Planetary Sovereignty vote. These movements originally began as workers unionization movements, but have been broadening in scope. There have been store houses of Weapons and munitions seized by Martian Corps. Strike Breakers. This has led many to believe that something big is going to happen in the future.
