Introduction
Welcome to Darwin City, the largest and only city on Mars.
Darwin City was founded in 2057 AD and Amelie Monteserrat is widely acknowledged to be its first resident. The Darwin Expedition, launched by Apex Corp, resulted in the eventual terraforming of Mars and the establishment of Darwin City. Currently, in the year 2260 AD, Darwin City boasts a population of close to five million.
In Darwin City, and indeed, elsewhere on Mars, the Apex Corp has a controlling interest in almost all the businesses, and they nearly own all the Councilors. For two centuries, Apex Corp has pretty much had an unchallenged run over Mars. With governments back home on Earth paying lip-service to democracy while enmeshing the corporates with the ruling of the land, it was highly unlikely they were going to be questioned. Of course, it was a free market, and other powerful corporations emerged too, but Apex Corp continues to hold sway at least on Mars. They employ nearly 70% of the population and own controlling interest in several companies.
With two hundred years of branched existence, the human settlers of Mars have evolved into a unique culture. They proudly call themselves Martians and are devoted to the land and its extremes. They are the sons and grandsons and greatgrandsons of the pioneers, and would not have life any other way. But, of course, they are beginning to question some of the methods of the corporation. Not all of them, but enough voices have been raised over the years.
Now, in the most interesting year of 2260 AD, major things are afoot in the city of Darwin. The Europans have declared independence and the same feeling is stirring once again within the hearts of the Martians. The Corporations are beginning to tighten their hold on their business interests, and not always with a velvet glove. The mighty spaceships and spacefighters of the corporations are on the prowl, to ensure that nothing untoward happens to the corporation's investments.
The deadly Martian Intelligence Service is ever watchful in Darwin City, constantly on the look out for rebellion. Their field agents are adept at infiltrating any secret organization, but even they cannot get close to the Martian Liberation Army, an underground organization trying to rally support. The Europans and Lunarians are watching closely, waiting to see how the Corporations are going to fare. And the Independent Traders are, as aware, looking for an opportunity to exploit.
Darwin City
Darwin City is the largest and only city on Mars and was founded in 2056 AD. The city has also been nicknamed "the Red City" and "the city that never sleeps". As per the census of 2255, Darwin City has a population of 2.7 million. For all practical purposes, Darwin City can be considered the capital of the Terra Cimmeria region on Mars and is the center of all Martian activity.
History
The Darwin Expedition was envisioned and funded by Apex Corp under the direction of its visionary CEO, Eric Svenson. What started as a feasibility study on Martian landscape for remote mining turned into a terraforming expedition with some revolutionary developments in the field of botany and geology. By 2052 AD, a large low lying plateau on Mars, called the Terra Cimmeria, was terraformed with groundwater and a sustainable atmosphere running on ten cyclo-generators. On 22 December, 2056, a team of settlers, led by Captain Amelie Monteserrat, established the first human settlement on Mars. By 2060 AD, the settlement held 50,000 people and had taken on the name of Darwin City.
The following timeline will attempt to capture the history of Darwin City along with the events of the Solar System.
2032 - Nanodium is discovered. It is a rare mineral whose yield ratio stuns the world and solves the energy crisis.
2042 - Apex Corp is founded after the merger of the world's top two corporations. It immediately flexes its muscle in enforcing policy decisions.
2047 - Apex Corp engineers the Central Asian debt crisis that plunges the region into war. United States intervenes. The Third World War begins.
2050 - US Senate ratifies the Corporate America act giving the corporations frightening powers within the legislation.
2051 - Advances in technology provide viable space transport. The first spaceship is developed.
2051 - The Third World War ends with Apex Corp installing puppet governments in half of the world. United States and its allies become unwitting stakeholders in Apex Corp's future. The era of Corpo-cracy begins.
2052 - The Darwin Expedition is flagged off.
2056 - Amelie Monteserrat establishes Darwin City
2097 - Six new settlements are established near the mountain ranges to the west of Darwin City. These greatly augment Apex Corp's mining output
2112 - Darwin City's population reaches 100,000 with more settlers pouring in from Earth. The Darwin City Council is formed.
2115 - The Lunar settlement is established after discovery of vast deposits of nanodium in Moon's frozen seas
2117 - The Lunar Energy Inc is formed as a consortium of corporations to rival the domination of Apex Corp
2120 - The first prototype of the spacefighter is unveiled by engineers of Delta Systems. Apex Corp places an order for an entire fleet.
2127 - The Interplanetary Court of Justice is established
2130 - Apex Corp files a lawsuit against the Lunar Energy Inc over space piracy. The case is dismissed in the court.
2131 - Hostilities erupt briefly between the two big corporations. The spacefighters are first seen in action.
2132 - The Universal Company Law is passed by the Interplanetary Court, ending the military dispute between the two corporations. Free Market is reinforced.
2143 - Paul Wintner, a highschool dropout and a maverick engineer for Apex Corp quits and starts his new venture, Triton Technologies.
2145 - Triton Technologies unveils the first OptiCom, an optical computer powered by a logic based on ternary number system. The OptiCom overtakes the traditional computing systems with its enormous processing power and artificial intelligence. Triton Technologies is valued at $ 300 billion.
2150 - Europa is terraformed and Triton Technologies enter into a trade agreement with Apex Corp. The city of Galle is founded on Europa.
2169 - The hyperdrive propulsion system is developed by Delta Systems. The birth of the Solar Age.
2170 - A group, calling itself the Martian Liberation Army, bombs the Apex Corp's headquarters in Darwin City. The massive explosion completely destroys the building.
2171 - The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS) is formed. A brutal era of vetting happens in Darwin City.
2180 - A well-orchestrated plan by MIS ends with the capture/death of the entire high command of the Martian Liberation Army.
2181 - A massive earthquake rips through Darwin City. About 10000 martians are killed along with extensive property damage. The relief work carried out by Apex Corp is lauded everywhere for its quickness and efficiency.
2199 - A huge spaceport is constructed in Darwin City, touted as the largest construction anywhere on the solar system. The spaceport can service 20 gargantuan transport ships at the same time. It quickly attracts more visitors and settlers to Darwin City.
2202 - The new headquarters of Apex Corp is built. It is the tallest building in Darwin City.
2210 - The city of Galle on Europa declares itself independent of the Universal Company Law. Triton Technologies files a legal injunction, blocking recognition of the self-proclaimed free city of Galle.
2211 - Spacefighters belonging to Triton Technologies commence a blockade of Galle. All trade to and from Galle ceases, pushing the region to starvation.
2215 - The Interplanetary Court upholds Triton's claim to Galle, resulting in massive demonstrations and rioting.
2216 - The Independent Mars Party is formed to legally fight for self-governance in Darwin City. It quickly gains massive support and plays a healthy opposition role in the Council.
2220 - Triton agrees to legal recognition of the Free City of Galle in return for extensive trade rights within Europa. The Amelie Monteserrat Museum is built to commemorate the hundredth birth anniversary of Darwin City's first resident.
2233 - Darwin City grows to house 2 million inhabitants.
Geography, Climate and Cityscape of Darwin City
Darwin City is located in the Terra Cimmeria region in the south-eastern hemisphere of Mars. The site was chosen for its proximity to the iron and coal rich mountains and also for its relative protection from the sweeping winds of Mars. Early astronomical observations of Terra Cimmeria showed evidences of water canals. These turned out to be natural canals that once carried water across Mars. The terraformers of the Darwin Expedition found it easier to use these canals to fix groundwater in the region.
The martian atmosphere is rather harsh with temperature searing up and down like an apocalyptic thermometer. After the installation of ten cyclo-generators, the air around Terra Cimmeria was purified and nitrogen and oxygen levels fixed. Many plants were allowed to colonize the region, but only the acacia and cactii have managed to do so. There are over sixty different species of cactii and five species of acacia that grow in the Terra Cimmeria region. The most dominating species is clearly the acacia cimmeria, a stunted tree with bright purple leaves. Owing to this, the Terra Cimmeria region is often referred to as the Purple Valley. The air over Darwin City is dry and it can get very cold during the nights. It is a predominantly desert climate. Artificial rainfall is often carried out by the Council in accordance with the ongoing terraforming of Mars.
The overall architecture on Mars is simplistic, tending to rely on strength rather than appearance. Buildings are usually blocky structures with rounded corners. Darwin City has a good network of three levels of roads. There is the elaborate underground network of tunnels. Then there are two levels of roads above the ground. All vehicles run on nanodium, making them smoother, cleaner and more powerful. There aren't that many vehicles, however, as citizens are encouraged (very strongly) to take the mass transit system. Two levels of maglev rails are in operation in the city.
Darwin City Spaceport
The pride of Darwin City! This interplanetary spaceport was built to commemorate the new century and is the largest anywhere in the solar system. Towering over the outskirts of Darwin City, it provides docking facility for over 20 big transport ships. The Darwin Space Traffic Controlling system is the most advanced, relying on ternary computing to handle the amount of data. The Spaceport has over a thousand decontamination chambers to handle the staggering influx of tourists, settlers, traders and other travelers. The Spaceport also offers excellent dining and shopping experience, with hundreds of pubs, restaurants, stores and cafes. The spaceport of Darwin City is a regular meeting point for merchants and traders from across the Solar System. Many trade deals are conceived here and trade rumors shared.
Apex Tower
The Apex Tower was built on the foundations of the earlier headquarters of the Apex Corp which was bombed by terrorists. It is the tallest building in Darwin City and houses the various wings of the Apex Corp's Mars division.
Cimmeria Heights
This is the swankiest address in Darwin City. All the high and mighty of Darwin City, including the CEOs of all the regional corporations live here. Here are the elite golf clubs and gentlemen's clubs. Here the power brokers of the City Hall dine with the executives from the corporations. The night clubs and discotheques in Cimmeria Heights are the most happening spots anywhere in the Solar System.
Black market
In downtown Darwin City exists a thriving black market where anything from the latest nanoPad to the hottest VR device can be bought at a slightly lower price and without the hassle of paperwork. Here, the Independent Traders rub shoulders with corporate dealers. Even the corporations get a cut out of the business, and it is a good way to check another's progress. The dirty hovels conceal within them keys to some truly fabulous treasures. A few illegal bionic surgeons also operate out of the Black market.
The Strip
Named after the legendary Strip in Las Vegas, the Strip is the common man's answer to the expensive delights of Cimmeria Heights. This is where you will find the cheapers pubs where regular men and women of Darwin City unwind. A few casinos operate on the Strip, but nothing like the big casinos in the Heights.
The Big Three
In general speech, the phrase Big Three refers to the three mega corporations of the Solar System: Apex Corp, Lunar Energy Inc and Triton Technologies. There are other megacorporations, but these are clearly ahead of the rest in terms of investments, market value and stock price. They are also the only companies to hold controlling interests in governments on Earth and in other settlements.
Apex Corp
The Apex Corp was formed in 2042 after the consolidation of the two biggest corporations in America at that time. The Apex Corp controlled numerous mining interests and, with the discovery of nanodium, beginning to invest heavily in terraforming. To precipitate a global crisis, they engineered the financial crash of the Central Asian markets. The debt crisis resulted in the major conflict known as the Third World War the outcome of which was the birth of corpocracy. Apex Corp then rewrote several legislations, enabling corporations to have a more active part in the government. With the founding of Darwin City, Apex Corp had truly projected itself as the new superpower. The current CEO of Apex Corp (Solar) is Edward Oppenheimer. Apex Corp currently holds controlling interest in Darwin City.
Lunar Energy Inc
In 2117, several splinter corporations pooled their resources together in the most audacious gamble of all time - to look for nanodium on moon. The expedition paid off like no one could imagine, and the Lunar Energy Inc was formed. With the massive deposits of nanodium sitting under the lunar seas, they instantly emerged as the second biggest megacorporation. The Lunar settlement continues to be just a mining outpost and has not been allowed to grow larger into a city. Owing to astronomical positioning, the Lunar settlement enjoys a lot of revenue from ships passing from Earth to the other planets.
Triton Technologies
In 2143, a young and aspiring engineer working for Apex Corp struck upon a brilliant idea that did not find any resonance within the corporation. Disgruntled, he quit his job and started a company. That man was Paul Wintner, and that company was Triton Technologies. The rest, as they say, is a legend. Within two years, the revolutionary idea of a ternary computer swept the world like a storm. The astounding advantages of the technology left the world of computing and entertainment changed forever. With rising fortunes, Paul looked farther, and invested heavily in the terraforming of Europa. He had wanted to build a settlement to rival Darwin City, and in his haste, he made his only mistake of his life. He transported huge number of convicts from Earth to populate his settlement. While Triton Technologies grew from strength to strength, its failure to hold on to its controlling position in Europa is still a sore point in the company's history. Triton, however, enjoys exclusive trade rights to the nanodium mining of the Free City of Galle.
Other corporations of note are:
Delta Systems: They are the largest manufacturers of weapon systems, spacefighters and transport ships. They have a presence in every settlement.
Tanuka Motors: Largest manufacturers of cars and bikes.
Solaris Entertainment Network: The Solaris is the largest provider of entertainment and control a multiple of TV channel networks in almost all the settlements.
The Universal Company Law
In order to understand the nature of corpocracy, one must understand the gist of the Universal Company Law. Using the pretext of space piracy (which is now alleged to have been engineered by top executives of Apex Corp and Lunar Energy Inc), the Universal Company Law was pushed and ratified by the Interplanetary Court of Justice. The following are the key points of the Law
Companies can own controlling interests in the governing councils of settlements. This enables them to steer policy decisions easily and have their representatives in the councils.
The Law increases the regulations on citizens to borrow loans from the bank to start their own businesses.
The Law authorizes companies to protect their investments with military presence.
In the Free City of Galle on Europa, the Universal Company Law is not observed. Companies cannot have controlling interest in the council of Galle. They can, however, start businesses there. The Independent Traders of Galle travel everywhere in the Solar System, setting up businesses and investing in small-scale businesses. Though the Independent Traders are not stopped by the corporations, they are often harassed and thus, the Independent Traders often rub shoulders with pirates and black marketeers to help them protect their investments.
The Martian Liberation Army
This underground group was formed in 2165 by a group of soldiers who had served under the Apex Corporation. They were men who felt that the corporation's control on policies and the future of people must end. They recruited secretly among the populace and conducted several attacks on the Apex Corp. These attacks culminated in the bombing of the Apex Corp headquarters in August, 2170. After the complete elimination of the MLA top command by the Martian Intelligence Service, the group has gone completely dormant with a few splinter cells trying minor cyber attacks on Apex Corp.
The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS)
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Apex Corp, the corporations pushed the City Council to ratify the formation of a new Intelligence network. The result was the MIS. The MIS has three main divisions: Local Intelligence, Industrial Espionage and Cyber Crimes. The head of the MIS is an appointee of the council. The MIS has many expert field agents at their disposal and they also have the most advanced telecommunication and espionage technology. During the decade following the August Bombing, the MIS specialized in infiltration and execution. The MIS has an office at an undisclosed location in Darwin City.
Media
The Mars News Network (MNN) is the largest television network in Darwin City and is owned by Apex Corp. The Darwin City Network (DCN) is run and operated by the City Council and is very neutral in its reporting.
Technology
Ternary computers, OptiComs, are widely used by Martians. These computers are large motion-sensitive monitors with a very high picture resolution and powered by nanodium cells. The nanoPad is another tablet-like device that is in vogue. There is hardly any difference between the phones and OptiComs these days, except for the size.
Cars are powered by nanodium and have become more powerful. Most of the regular cars are manufactured by Tanuka Motors and are equipped with exceptional AI. Very rarely does a Martian manually drive his/her car.
Interplanetary travel is done with the help of the hyperdrive propulsion system. Typically, passengers are flown from spaceports to huge carriers floating in outer space above the planets with the help of many transport ships. Once loaded, the carriers will engage into hyperdrive and make the journey to the destination planet and begin orbiting the planet. Transport ships will then once again carry the passengers from the carriers to the spaceports on the land. Private transport ships are smaller but are capable of interplanetary travel. A typical journey from Earth to Mars, for instance, would entail a short hop from one of the Earth's spaceports to Moon's through transport ships. From there, a large carrier would take you to Martian orbit in typically two to five days depending on Mars's location in its orbit.
Darwin City was founded in 2057 AD and Amelie Monteserrat is widely acknowledged to be its first resident. The Darwin Expedition, launched by Apex Corp, resulted in the eventual terraforming of Mars and the establishment of Darwin City. Currently, in the year 2260 AD, Darwin City boasts a population of close to five million.
In Darwin City, and indeed, elsewhere on Mars, the Apex Corp has a controlling interest in almost all the businesses, and they nearly own all the Councilors. For two centuries, Apex Corp has pretty much had an unchallenged run over Mars. With governments back home on Earth paying lip-service to democracy while enmeshing the corporates with the ruling of the land, it was highly unlikely they were going to be questioned. Of course, it was a free market, and other powerful corporations emerged too, but Apex Corp continues to hold sway at least on Mars. They employ nearly 70% of the population and own controlling interest in several companies.
With two hundred years of branched existence, the human settlers of Mars have evolved into a unique culture. They proudly call themselves Martians and are devoted to the land and its extremes. They are the sons and grandsons and greatgrandsons of the pioneers, and would not have life any other way. But, of course, they are beginning to question some of the methods of the corporation. Not all of them, but enough voices have been raised over the years.
Now, in the most interesting year of 2260 AD, major things are afoot in the city of Darwin. The Europans have declared independence and the same feeling is stirring once again within the hearts of the Martians. The Corporations are beginning to tighten their hold on their business interests, and not always with a velvet glove. The mighty spaceships and spacefighters of the corporations are on the prowl, to ensure that nothing untoward happens to the corporation's investments.
The deadly Martian Intelligence Service is ever watchful in Darwin City, constantly on the look out for rebellion. Their field agents are adept at infiltrating any secret organization, but even they cannot get close to the Martian Liberation Army, an underground organization trying to rally support. The Europans and Lunarians are watching closely, waiting to see how the Corporations are going to fare. And the Independent Traders are, as aware, looking for an opportunity to exploit.
Darwin City
Darwin City is the largest and only city on Mars and was founded in 2056 AD. The city has also been nicknamed "the Red City" and "the city that never sleeps". As per the census of 2255, Darwin City has a population of 2.7 million. For all practical purposes, Darwin City can be considered the capital of the Terra Cimmeria region on Mars and is the center of all Martian activity.
History
The Darwin Expedition was envisioned and funded by Apex Corp under the direction of its visionary CEO, Eric Svenson. What started as a feasibility study on Martian landscape for remote mining turned into a terraforming expedition with some revolutionary developments in the field of botany and geology. By 2052 AD, a large low lying plateau on Mars, called the Terra Cimmeria, was terraformed with groundwater and a sustainable atmosphere running on ten cyclo-generators. On 22 December, 2056, a team of settlers, led by Captain Amelie Monteserrat, established the first human settlement on Mars. By 2060 AD, the settlement held 50,000 people and had taken on the name of Darwin City.
The following timeline will attempt to capture the history of Darwin City along with the events of the Solar System.
2032 - Nanodium is discovered. It is a rare mineral whose yield ratio stuns the world and solves the energy crisis.
2042 - Apex Corp is founded after the merger of the world's top two corporations. It immediately flexes its muscle in enforcing policy decisions.
2047 - Apex Corp engineers the Central Asian debt crisis that plunges the region into war. United States intervenes. The Third World War begins.
2050 - US Senate ratifies the Corporate America act giving the corporations frightening powers within the legislation.
2051 - Advances in technology provide viable space transport. The first spaceship is developed.
2051 - The Third World War ends with Apex Corp installing puppet governments in half of the world. United States and its allies become unwitting stakeholders in Apex Corp's future. The era of Corpo-cracy begins.
2052 - The Darwin Expedition is flagged off.
2056 - Amelie Monteserrat establishes Darwin City
2097 - Six new settlements are established near the mountain ranges to the west of Darwin City. These greatly augment Apex Corp's mining output
2112 - Darwin City's population reaches 100,000 with more settlers pouring in from Earth. The Darwin City Council is formed.
2115 - The Lunar settlement is established after discovery of vast deposits of nanodium in Moon's frozen seas
2117 - The Lunar Energy Inc is formed as a consortium of corporations to rival the domination of Apex Corp
2120 - The first prototype of the spacefighter is unveiled by engineers of Delta Systems. Apex Corp places an order for an entire fleet.
2127 - The Interplanetary Court of Justice is established
2130 - Apex Corp files a lawsuit against the Lunar Energy Inc over space piracy. The case is dismissed in the court.
2131 - Hostilities erupt briefly between the two big corporations. The spacefighters are first seen in action.
2132 - The Universal Company Law is passed by the Interplanetary Court, ending the military dispute between the two corporations. Free Market is reinforced.
2143 - Paul Wintner, a highschool dropout and a maverick engineer for Apex Corp quits and starts his new venture, Triton Technologies.
2145 - Triton Technologies unveils the first OptiCom, an optical computer powered by a logic based on ternary number system. The OptiCom overtakes the traditional computing systems with its enormous processing power and artificial intelligence. Triton Technologies is valued at $ 300 billion.
2150 - Europa is terraformed and Triton Technologies enter into a trade agreement with Apex Corp. The city of Galle is founded on Europa.
2169 - The hyperdrive propulsion system is developed by Delta Systems. The birth of the Solar Age.
2170 - A group, calling itself the Martian Liberation Army, bombs the Apex Corp's headquarters in Darwin City. The massive explosion completely destroys the building.
2171 - The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS) is formed. A brutal era of vetting happens in Darwin City.
2180 - A well-orchestrated plan by MIS ends with the capture/death of the entire high command of the Martian Liberation Army.
2181 - A massive earthquake rips through Darwin City. About 10000 martians are killed along with extensive property damage. The relief work carried out by Apex Corp is lauded everywhere for its quickness and efficiency.
2199 - A huge spaceport is constructed in Darwin City, touted as the largest construction anywhere on the solar system. The spaceport can service 20 gargantuan transport ships at the same time. It quickly attracts more visitors and settlers to Darwin City.
2202 - The new headquarters of Apex Corp is built. It is the tallest building in Darwin City.
2210 - The city of Galle on Europa declares itself independent of the Universal Company Law. Triton Technologies files a legal injunction, blocking recognition of the self-proclaimed free city of Galle.
2211 - Spacefighters belonging to Triton Technologies commence a blockade of Galle. All trade to and from Galle ceases, pushing the region to starvation.
2215 - The Interplanetary Court upholds Triton's claim to Galle, resulting in massive demonstrations and rioting.
2216 - The Independent Mars Party is formed to legally fight for self-governance in Darwin City. It quickly gains massive support and plays a healthy opposition role in the Council.
2220 - Triton agrees to legal recognition of the Free City of Galle in return for extensive trade rights within Europa. The Amelie Monteserrat Museum is built to commemorate the hundredth birth anniversary of Darwin City's first resident.
2233 - Darwin City grows to house 2 million inhabitants.
Geography, Climate and Cityscape of Darwin City
Darwin City is located in the Terra Cimmeria region in the south-eastern hemisphere of Mars. The site was chosen for its proximity to the iron and coal rich mountains and also for its relative protection from the sweeping winds of Mars. Early astronomical observations of Terra Cimmeria showed evidences of water canals. These turned out to be natural canals that once carried water across Mars. The terraformers of the Darwin Expedition found it easier to use these canals to fix groundwater in the region.
The martian atmosphere is rather harsh with temperature searing up and down like an apocalyptic thermometer. After the installation of ten cyclo-generators, the air around Terra Cimmeria was purified and nitrogen and oxygen levels fixed. Many plants were allowed to colonize the region, but only the acacia and cactii have managed to do so. There are over sixty different species of cactii and five species of acacia that grow in the Terra Cimmeria region. The most dominating species is clearly the acacia cimmeria, a stunted tree with bright purple leaves. Owing to this, the Terra Cimmeria region is often referred to as the Purple Valley. The air over Darwin City is dry and it can get very cold during the nights. It is a predominantly desert climate. Artificial rainfall is often carried out by the Council in accordance with the ongoing terraforming of Mars.
The overall architecture on Mars is simplistic, tending to rely on strength rather than appearance. Buildings are usually blocky structures with rounded corners. Darwin City has a good network of three levels of roads. There is the elaborate underground network of tunnels. Then there are two levels of roads above the ground. All vehicles run on nanodium, making them smoother, cleaner and more powerful. There aren't that many vehicles, however, as citizens are encouraged (very strongly) to take the mass transit system. Two levels of maglev rails are in operation in the city.
Darwin City Spaceport
The pride of Darwin City! This interplanetary spaceport was built to commemorate the new century and is the largest anywhere in the solar system. Towering over the outskirts of Darwin City, it provides docking facility for over 20 big transport ships. The Darwin Space Traffic Controlling system is the most advanced, relying on ternary computing to handle the amount of data. The Spaceport has over a thousand decontamination chambers to handle the staggering influx of tourists, settlers, traders and other travelers. The Spaceport also offers excellent dining and shopping experience, with hundreds of pubs, restaurants, stores and cafes. The spaceport of Darwin City is a regular meeting point for merchants and traders from across the Solar System. Many trade deals are conceived here and trade rumors shared.
Apex Tower
The Apex Tower was built on the foundations of the earlier headquarters of the Apex Corp which was bombed by terrorists. It is the tallest building in Darwin City and houses the various wings of the Apex Corp's Mars division.
Cimmeria Heights
This is the swankiest address in Darwin City. All the high and mighty of Darwin City, including the CEOs of all the regional corporations live here. Here are the elite golf clubs and gentlemen's clubs. Here the power brokers of the City Hall dine with the executives from the corporations. The night clubs and discotheques in Cimmeria Heights are the most happening spots anywhere in the Solar System.
Black market
In downtown Darwin City exists a thriving black market where anything from the latest nanoPad to the hottest VR device can be bought at a slightly lower price and without the hassle of paperwork. Here, the Independent Traders rub shoulders with corporate dealers. Even the corporations get a cut out of the business, and it is a good way to check another's progress. The dirty hovels conceal within them keys to some truly fabulous treasures. A few illegal bionic surgeons also operate out of the Black market.
The Strip
Named after the legendary Strip in Las Vegas, the Strip is the common man's answer to the expensive delights of Cimmeria Heights. This is where you will find the cheapers pubs where regular men and women of Darwin City unwind. A few casinos operate on the Strip, but nothing like the big casinos in the Heights.
The Big Three
In general speech, the phrase Big Three refers to the three mega corporations of the Solar System: Apex Corp, Lunar Energy Inc and Triton Technologies. There are other megacorporations, but these are clearly ahead of the rest in terms of investments, market value and stock price. They are also the only companies to hold controlling interests in governments on Earth and in other settlements.
Apex Corp
The Apex Corp was formed in 2042 after the consolidation of the two biggest corporations in America at that time. The Apex Corp controlled numerous mining interests and, with the discovery of nanodium, beginning to invest heavily in terraforming. To precipitate a global crisis, they engineered the financial crash of the Central Asian markets. The debt crisis resulted in the major conflict known as the Third World War the outcome of which was the birth of corpocracy. Apex Corp then rewrote several legislations, enabling corporations to have a more active part in the government. With the founding of Darwin City, Apex Corp had truly projected itself as the new superpower. The current CEO of Apex Corp (Solar) is Edward Oppenheimer. Apex Corp currently holds controlling interest in Darwin City.
Lunar Energy Inc
In 2117, several splinter corporations pooled their resources together in the most audacious gamble of all time - to look for nanodium on moon. The expedition paid off like no one could imagine, and the Lunar Energy Inc was formed. With the massive deposits of nanodium sitting under the lunar seas, they instantly emerged as the second biggest megacorporation. The Lunar settlement continues to be just a mining outpost and has not been allowed to grow larger into a city. Owing to astronomical positioning, the Lunar settlement enjoys a lot of revenue from ships passing from Earth to the other planets.
Triton Technologies
In 2143, a young and aspiring engineer working for Apex Corp struck upon a brilliant idea that did not find any resonance within the corporation. Disgruntled, he quit his job and started a company. That man was Paul Wintner, and that company was Triton Technologies. The rest, as they say, is a legend. Within two years, the revolutionary idea of a ternary computer swept the world like a storm. The astounding advantages of the technology left the world of computing and entertainment changed forever. With rising fortunes, Paul looked farther, and invested heavily in the terraforming of Europa. He had wanted to build a settlement to rival Darwin City, and in his haste, he made his only mistake of his life. He transported huge number of convicts from Earth to populate his settlement. While Triton Technologies grew from strength to strength, its failure to hold on to its controlling position in Europa is still a sore point in the company's history. Triton, however, enjoys exclusive trade rights to the nanodium mining of the Free City of Galle.
Other corporations of note are:
Delta Systems: They are the largest manufacturers of weapon systems, spacefighters and transport ships. They have a presence in every settlement.
Tanuka Motors: Largest manufacturers of cars and bikes.
Solaris Entertainment Network: The Solaris is the largest provider of entertainment and control a multiple of TV channel networks in almost all the settlements.
The Universal Company Law
In order to understand the nature of corpocracy, one must understand the gist of the Universal Company Law. Using the pretext of space piracy (which is now alleged to have been engineered by top executives of Apex Corp and Lunar Energy Inc), the Universal Company Law was pushed and ratified by the Interplanetary Court of Justice. The following are the key points of the Law
Companies can own controlling interests in the governing councils of settlements. This enables them to steer policy decisions easily and have their representatives in the councils.
The Law increases the regulations on citizens to borrow loans from the bank to start their own businesses.
The Law authorizes companies to protect their investments with military presence.
In the Free City of Galle on Europa, the Universal Company Law is not observed. Companies cannot have controlling interest in the council of Galle. They can, however, start businesses there. The Independent Traders of Galle travel everywhere in the Solar System, setting up businesses and investing in small-scale businesses. Though the Independent Traders are not stopped by the corporations, they are often harassed and thus, the Independent Traders often rub shoulders with pirates and black marketeers to help them protect their investments.
The Martian Liberation Army
This underground group was formed in 2165 by a group of soldiers who had served under the Apex Corporation. They were men who felt that the corporation's control on policies and the future of people must end. They recruited secretly among the populace and conducted several attacks on the Apex Corp. These attacks culminated in the bombing of the Apex Corp headquarters in August, 2170. After the complete elimination of the MLA top command by the Martian Intelligence Service, the group has gone completely dormant with a few splinter cells trying minor cyber attacks on Apex Corp.
The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS)
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Apex Corp, the corporations pushed the City Council to ratify the formation of a new Intelligence network. The result was the MIS. The MIS has three main divisions: Local Intelligence, Industrial Espionage and Cyber Crimes. The head of the MIS is an appointee of the council. The MIS has many expert field agents at their disposal and they also have the most advanced telecommunication and espionage technology. During the decade following the August Bombing, the MIS specialized in infiltration and execution. The MIS has an office at an undisclosed location in Darwin City.
Media
The Mars News Network (MNN) is the largest television network in Darwin City and is owned by Apex Corp. The Darwin City Network (DCN) is run and operated by the City Council and is very neutral in its reporting.
Technology
Ternary computers, OptiComs, are widely used by Martians. These computers are large motion-sensitive monitors with a very high picture resolution and powered by nanodium cells. The nanoPad is another tablet-like device that is in vogue. There is hardly any difference between the phones and OptiComs these days, except for the size.
Cars are powered by nanodium and have become more powerful. Most of the regular cars are manufactured by Tanuka Motors and are equipped with exceptional AI. Very rarely does a Martian manually drive his/her car.
Interplanetary travel is done with the help of the hyperdrive propulsion system. Typically, passengers are flown from spaceports to huge carriers floating in outer space above the planets with the help of many transport ships. Once loaded, the carriers will engage into hyperdrive and make the journey to the destination planet and begin orbiting the planet. Transport ships will then once again carry the passengers from the carriers to the spaceports on the land. Private transport ships are smaller but are capable of interplanetary travel. A typical journey from Earth to Mars, for instance, would entail a short hop from one of the Earth's spaceports to Moon's through transport ships. From there, a large carrier would take you to Martian orbit in typically two to five days depending on Mars's location in its orbit.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
There are no arcs in this roleplay.
View All » Create New » Quests
There are no quests in this roleplay.
Add Group » View All » 0 Factions to align with
Here's the current leaderboard.
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Game Master Controls
Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts from any location, allowing you to easily capture sub-plots which might be spread out across multiple locations.
Add Quest » Quests
You can create Quests with various rewards, encouraging your players to engage with specific plot lines.
Add Setting » 1 Settings for your players to play in
Settings are the backdrop for the characters in your universe, giving meaning and context to their existence. By creating a number of well-written locations, you can organize your universe into areas and regions.
Navigation
While not required, locations can be organized onto a map. More information soon!
Add Group » 0 Factions to align with
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Collectibles
By creating Collectibles, you can reward your players with unique items that accentuate their character sheets.
Once an Item has been created, it can be spawned in the IC using /spawn Item Name (case-sensitive, as usual) — this can be followed with /take Item Name to retrieve the item into the current character's inventory.
Mobs
Give your Universe life by adding a Mob, which are auto-replenishing NPCs your players can interact with. Useful for some quick hack-and-slash fun!
Mobs can be automated spawns, like rats and bats, or full-on NPCs complete with conversation menus. Use them to enhance your player experience!
Current Mobs
No mobs have been created yet.
Spawns
Locations where Mobs and Items might appear.
Events
You can schedule events for your players to create notifications and schedule times for everyone to plan around.
The Forge
Use your INK to craft new artifacts in The Solar Wars. Once created, Items cannot be changed, but they can be bought and sold in the marketplace.
Notable Items
No items have been created yet!
The Market
Buy, sell, and even craft your own items in this universe.
Market DataMarket conditions are Quick Buy (Items Most Recently Listed for Sale) |
Open Stores
View All » Add Character » 1 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Karl Weston
CEO, Apex Corp (Mars Operations)
Trending
Karl Weston
CEO, Apex Corp (Mars Operations)
Most Followed
Karl Weston
CEO, Apex Corp (Mars Operations)
View All » Places
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » The Solar Wars: Out of Character
Discussions
-
- Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
The Solar Wars
by Vasishta on Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:17 pm
- 5 Replies
- 1071 Views
- Last post by Vasishta
on Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:52 pm
-
The Solar Wars
Most recent OOC posts in The Solar Wars
Re: [OOC] The Solar Wars
Well, this has certainly caught my interests. I'll be making a character up here shortly.
Re: [OOC] The Solar Wars
Oh wow this a very nice roleplay, I will most certainly sign up and create a character :)
Re: [OOC] The Solar Wars
Character sheet
Please stick to the below format in your character application. Your character will have to be in Darwin City. Not necessary that he/she must be a citizen, however. But Darwin City is currently the only location for this roleplay. Remember to be creative and keep it real.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Physical description:
Short history:
Character defects (or) weaknesses (or) imperfections: This field is extremely important.
Character skills: Don't try to be a master of all trades. No one is.
Life's ambition (or) direction (or) aspiration (or) motive:
Current occupation:
Character's possessions: This includes any house the character might own or a business.
Please note that there are no aliens yet, in this roleplay. And do not invent new technologies that is not in line with what is already present in the world. If you are going to invent a new product (such as a nano gun or something like that), I want a believable description of what it can do and (preferably) how. I can also help you create weapons based on existing technology. Also, do not invent new megacorporations.
Read and internalize the world. There are a million options to what you can be. An enterprising journalist? A cunning executive? An opportunistic trader? An adept field agent? Don't fall into the same ol trap of barmaid and renegade soldier and stuff like that.
Please stick to the below format in your character application. Your character will have to be in Darwin City. Not necessary that he/she must be a citizen, however. But Darwin City is currently the only location for this roleplay. Remember to be creative and keep it real.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Physical description:
Short history:
Character defects (or) weaknesses (or) imperfections: This field is extremely important.
Character skills: Don't try to be a master of all trades. No one is.
Life's ambition (or) direction (or) aspiration (or) motive:
Current occupation:
Character's possessions: This includes any house the character might own or a business.
Please note that there are no aliens yet, in this roleplay. And do not invent new technologies that is not in line with what is already present in the world. If you are going to invent a new product (such as a nano gun or something like that), I want a believable description of what it can do and (preferably) how. I can also help you create weapons based on existing technology. Also, do not invent new megacorporations.
Read and internalize the world. There are a million options to what you can be. An enterprising journalist? A cunning executive? An opportunistic trader? An adept field agent? Don't fall into the same ol trap of barmaid and renegade soldier and stuff like that.
[OOC] The Solar Wars
The Solar Wars
Darwin City
Darwin City is the largest and only city on Mars and was founded in 2056 AD. The city has also been nicknamed "the Red City" and "the city that never sleeps". As per the census of 2255, Darwin City has a population of 2.7 million. For all practical purposes, Darwin City can be considered the capital of the Terra Cimmeria region on Mars and is the center of all Martian activity.
History
The Darwin Expedition was envisioned and funded by Apex Corp under the direction of its visionary CEO, Eric Svenson. What started as a feasibility study on Martian landscape for remote mining turned into a terraforming expedition with some revolutionary developments in the field of botany and geology. By 2052 AD, a large low lying plateau on Mars, called the Terra Cimmeria, was terraformed with groundwater and a sustainable atmosphere running on ten cyclo-generators. On 22 December, 2056, a team of settlers, led by Captain Amelie Monteserrat, established the first human settlement on Mars. By 2060 AD, the settlement held 50,000 people and had taken on the name of Darwin City.
The following timeline will attempt to capture the history of Darwin City along with the events of the Solar System.
2032 - Nanodium is discovered. It is a rare mineral whose yield ratio stuns the world and solves the energy crisis.
2042 - Apex Corp is founded after the merger of the world's top two corporations. It immediately flexes its muscle in enforcing policy decisions.
2047 - Apex Corp engineers the Central Asian debt crisis that plunges the region into war. United States intervenes. The Third World War begins.
2050 - US Senate ratifies the Corporate America act giving the corporations frightening powers within the legislation.
2051 - Advances in technology provide viable space transport. The first spaceship is developed.
2051 - The Third World War ends with Apex Corp installing puppet governments in half of the world. United States and its allies become unwitting stakeholders in Apex Corp's future. The era of Corpo-cracy begins.
2052 - The Darwin Expedition is flagged off.
2056 - Amelie Monteserrat establishes Darwin City
2097 - Six new settlements are established near the mountain ranges to the west of Darwin City. These greatly augment Apex Corp's mining output
2112 - Darwin City's population reaches 100,000 with more settlers pouring in from Earth. The Darwin City Council is formed.
2115 - The Lunar settlement is established after discovery of vast deposits of nanodium in Moon's frozen seas
2117 - The Lunar Energy Inc is formed as a consortium of corporations to rival the domination of Apex Corp
2120 - The first prototype of the spacefighter is unveiled by engineers of Delta Systems. Apex Corp places an order for an entire fleet.
2127 - The Interplanetary Court of Justice is established
2130 - Apex Corp files a lawsuit against the Lunar Energy Inc over space piracy. The case is dismissed in the court.
2131 - Hostilities erupt briefly between the two big corporations. The spacefighters are first seen in action.
2132 - The Universal Company Law is passed by the Interplanetary Court, ending the military dispute between the two corporations. Free Market is reinforced.
2143 - Paul Wintner, a highschool dropout and a maverick engineer for Apex Corp quits and starts his new venture, Triton Technologies.
2145 - Triton Technologies unveils the first OptiCom, an optical computer powered by a logic based on ternary number system. The OptiCom overtakes the traditional computing systems with its enormous processing power and artificial intelligence. Triton Technologies is valued at $ 300 billion.
2150 - Europa is terraformed and Triton Technologies enter into a trade agreement with Apex Corp. The city of Galle is founded on Europa.
2169 - The hyperdrive propulsion system is developed by Delta Systems. The birth of the Solar Age.
2170 - A group, calling itself the Martian Liberation Army, bombs the Apex Corp's headquarters in Darwin City. The massive explosion completely destroys the building.
2171 - The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS) is formed. A brutal era of vetting happens in Darwin City.
2180 - A well-orchestrated plan by MIS ends with the capture/death of the entire high command of the Martian Liberation Army.
2181 - A massive earthquake rips through Darwin City. About 10000 martians are killed along with extensive property damage. The relief work carried out by Apex Corp is lauded everywhere for its quickness and efficiency.
2199 - A huge spaceport is constructed in Darwin City, touted as the largest construction anywhere on the solar system. The spaceport can service 20 gargantuan transport ships at the same time. It quickly attracts more visitors and settlers to Darwin City.
2202 - The new headquarters of Apex Corp is built. It is the tallest building in Darwin City.
2210 - The city of Galle on Europa declares itself independent of the Universal Company Law. Triton Technologies files a legal injunction, blocking recognition of the self-proclaimed free city of Galle.
2211 - Spacefighters belonging to Triton Technologies commence a blockade of Galle. All trade to and from Galle ceases, pushing the region to starvation.
2215 - The Interplanetary Court upholds Triton's claim to Galle, resulting in massive demonstrations and rioting.
2216 - The Independent Mars Party is formed to legally fight for self-governance in Darwin City. It quickly gains massive support and plays a healthy opposition role in the Council.
2220 - Triton agrees to legal recognition of the Free City of Galle in return for extensive trade rights within Europa. The Amelie Monteserrat Museum is built to commemorate the hundredth birth anniversary of Darwin City's first resident.
2233 - Darwin City grows to house 2 million inhabitants.
Geography, Climate and Cityscape of Darwin City
Darwin City is located in the Terra Cimmeria region in the south-eastern hemisphere of Mars. The site was chosen for its proximity to the iron and coal rich mountains and also for its relative protection from the sweeping winds of Mars. Early astronomical observations of Terra Cimmeria showed evidences of water canals. These turned out to be natural canals that once carried water across Mars. The terraformers of the Darwin Expedition found it easier to use these canals to fix groundwater in the region.
The martian atmosphere is rather harsh with temperature searing up and down like a apocalyptic thermometer. After the installation of ten cyclo-generators, the air around Terra Cimmeria was purified and nitrogen and oxygen levels fixed. Many plants were allowed to colonize the region, but only the acacia and cactii have managed to do so. There are over sixty different species of cactii and five species of acacia that grow in the Terra Cimmeria region. The most dominating species is clearly the acacia cimmeria, a stunted tree with bright purple leaves. Owing to this, the Terra Cimmeria region is often referred to as the Purple Valley. The air over Darwin City is dry and it can get very cold during the nights. It is a predominantly desert climate. Artificial rainfall is often carried out by the Council in accordance with the ongoing terraforming of Mars.
The overall architecture on Mars is simplistic, tending to rely on strength rather than appearance. Buildings are usually blocky structures with rounded corners. Darwin City has a good network of three levels of roads. There is the elaborate underground network of tunnels. Then there are two levels of roads above the ground. All vehicles run on nanodium, making them smoother, cleaner and more powerful. There aren't that many vehicles, however, as citizens are encouraged (very strongly) to take the mass transit system. Two levels of maglev rails are in operation in the city.
Darwin City Spaceport
The pride of Darwin City! This interplanetary spaceport was built to commemorate the new century and is the largest anywhere in the solar system. Towering over the outskirts of Darwin City, it provides docking facility for over 20 big transport ships. The Darwin Space Traffic Controlling system is the most advanced, relying on ternary computing to handle the amount of data. The Spaceport has over a thousand decontamination chambers to handle the staggering influx of tourists, settlers, traders and other travelers. The Spaceport also offers excellent dining and shopping experience, with hundreds of pubs, restaurants, stores and cafes. The spaceport of Darwin City is a regular meeting point for merchants and traders from across the Solar System. Many trade deals are conceived here and trade rumors shared.
Apex Tower
The Apex Tower was built on the foundations of the earlier headquarters of the Apex Corp which was bombed by terrorists. It is the tallest building in Darwin City and houses the various wings of the Apex Corp's Mars division.
Cimmeria Heights
This is the swankiest address in Darwin City. All the high and mighty of Darwin City, including the CEOs of all the regional corporations live here. Here are the elite golf clubs and gentlemen's clubs. Here the power brokers of the City Hall dine with the executives from the corporations. The night clubs and discotheques in Cimmeria Heights are the most happening spots anywhere in the Solar System.
Black market
In downtown Darwin City exists a thriving black market where anything from the latest nanoPad to the hottest VR device can be bought at a slightly lower price and without the hassle of paperwork. Here, the Independent Traders rub shoulders with corporate dealers. Even the corporations get a cut out of the business, and it is a good way to check another's progress. The dirty hovels conceal within them keys to some truly fabulous treasures. A few illegal bionic surgeons also operate out of the Black market.
The Strip
Named after the legendary Strip in Las Vegas, the Strip is the common man's answer to the expensive delights of Cimmeria Heights. This is where you will find the cheapers pubs where regular men and women of Darwin City unwind. A few casinos operate on the Strip, but nothing like the big casinos in the Heights.
The Big Three
In general speech, the phrase Big Three refers to the three mega corporations of the Solar System: Apex Corp, Lunar Energy Inc and Triton Technologies. There are other megacorporations, but these are clearly ahead of the rest in terms of investments, market value and stock price. They are also the only companies to hold controlling interests in governments on Earth and in other settlements.
Apex Corp
The Apex Corp was formed in 2042 after the consolidation of the two biggest corporations in America at that time. The Apex Corp controlled numerous mining interests and, with the discovery of nanodium, beginning to invest heavily in terraforming. To precipitate a global crisis, they engineered the financial crash of the Central Asian markets. The debt crisis resulted in the major conflict known as the Third World War the outcome of which was the birth of corpocracy. Apex Corp then rewrote several legislations, enabling corporations to have a more active part in the government. With the founding of Darwin City, Apex Corp had truly projected itself as the new superpower. The current CEO of Apex Corp (Solar) is Edward Oppenheimer. Apex Corp currently holds controlling interest in Darwin City.
Lunar Energy Inc
In 2117, several splinter corporations pooled their resources together in the most audacious gamble of all time - to look for nanodium on moon. The expedition paid off like no one could imagine, and the Lunar Energy Inc was formed. With the massive deposits of nanodium sitting under the lunar seas, they instantly emerged as the second biggest megacorporation. The Lunar settlement continues to be just a mining outpost and has not been allowed to grow larger into a city. Owing to astronomical positioning, the Lunar settlement enjoys a lot of revenue from ships passing from Earth to the other planets.
Triton Technologies
In 2143, a young and aspiring engineer working for Apex Corp struck upon a brilliant idea that did not find any resonance within the corporation. Disgruntled, he quit his job and started a company. That man was Paul Wintner, and that company was Triton Technologies. The rest, as they say, is a legend. Within two years, the revolutionary idea of a ternary computer swept the world like a storm. The astounding advantages of the technology left the world of computing and entertainment changed forever. With rising fortunes, Paul looked farther, and invested heavily in the terraforming of Europa. He had wanted to build a settlement to rival Darwin City, and in his haste, he made his only mistake of his life. He transported huge number of convicts from Earth to populate his settlement. While Triton Technologies grew from strength to strength, its failure to hold on to its controlling position in Europa is still a sore point in the company's history. Triton, however, enjoys exclusive trade rights to the nanodium mining of the Free City of Galle.
Other corporations of note are:
Delta Systems: They are the largest manufacturers of weapon systems, spacefighters and transport ships. They have a presence in every settlement.
Tanuka Motors: Largest manufacturers of cars and bikes.
Solaris Entertainment Network: The Solaris is the largest provider of entertainment and control a multiple of TV channel networks in almost all the settlements.
The Universal Company Law
In order to understand the nature of corpocracy, one must understand the gist of the Universal Company Law. Using the pretext of space piracy (which is now alleged to have been engineered by top executives of Apex Corp and Lunar Energy Inc), the Universal Company Law was pushed and ratified by the Interplanetary Court of Justice. The following are the key points of the Law
Companies can own controlling interests in the governing councils of settlements. This enables them to steer policy decisions easily and have their representatives in the councils.
The Law increases the regulations on citizens to borrow loans from the bank to start their own businesses.
The Law authorizes companies to protect their investments with military presence.
In the Free City of Galle on Europa, the Universal Company Law is not observed. Companies cannot have controlling interest in the council of Galle. They can, however, start businesses there. The Independent Traders of Galle travel everywhere in the Solar System, setting up businesses and investing in small-scale businesses. Though the Independent Traders are not stopped by the corporations, they are often harassed and thus, the Independent Traders often rub shoulders with pirates and black marketeers to help them protect their investments.
The Martian Liberation Army
This underground group was formed in 2165 by a group of soldiers who had served under the Apex Corporation. They were men who felt that the corporation's control on policies and the future of people must end. They recruited secretly among the populace and conducted several attacks on the Apex Corp. These attacks culminated in the bombing of the Apex Corp headquarters in August, 2170. After the complete elimination of the MLA top command by the Martian Intelligence Service, the group has gone completely dormant with a few splinter cells trying minor cyber attacks on Apex Corp.
The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS)
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Apex Corp, the corporations pushed the City Council to ratify the formation of a new Intelligence network. The result was the MIS. The MIS has three main divisions: Local Intelligence, Industrial Espionage and Cyber Crimes. The head of the MIS is an appointee of the council. The MIS has many expert field agents at their disposal and they also have the most advanced telecommunication and espionage technology. During the decade following the August Bombing, the MIS specialized in infiltration and execution. The MIS has an office at an undisclosed location in Darwin City.
Media
The Mars News Network (MNN) is the largest television network in Darwin City and is owned by Apex Corp. The Darwin City Network (DCN) is run and operated by the City Council and is very neutral in its reporting.
Technology
Ternary computers, OptiComs, are widely used by Martians. These computers are large motion-sensitive monitors with a very high picture resolution and powered by nanodium cells. The nanoPad is another tablet-like device that is in vogue. There is hardly any difference between the phones and OptiComs these days, except for the size.
Cars are powered by nanodium and have become more powerful. Most of the regular cars are manufactured by Tanuka Motors and are equipped with exceptional AI. Very rarely does a Martian manually drive his/her car.
Interplanetary travel is done with the help of the hyperdrive propulsion system. Typically, passengers are flown from spaceports to huge carriers floating in outer space above the planets with the help of many transport ships. Once loaded, the carriers will engage into hyperdrive and make the journey to the destination planet and begin orbiting the planet. Transport ships will then once again carry the passengers from the carriers to the spaceports on the land. Private transport ships are smaller but are capable of interplanetary travel. A typical journey from Earth to Mars, for instance, would entail a short hop from one of the Earth's spaceports to Moon's through transport ships. From there, a large carrier would take you to Martian orbit in typically two to five days depending on Mars's location in its orbit.
Darwin City
Darwin City is the largest and only city on Mars and was founded in 2056 AD. The city has also been nicknamed "the Red City" and "the city that never sleeps". As per the census of 2255, Darwin City has a population of 2.7 million. For all practical purposes, Darwin City can be considered the capital of the Terra Cimmeria region on Mars and is the center of all Martian activity.
History
The Darwin Expedition was envisioned and funded by Apex Corp under the direction of its visionary CEO, Eric Svenson. What started as a feasibility study on Martian landscape for remote mining turned into a terraforming expedition with some revolutionary developments in the field of botany and geology. By 2052 AD, a large low lying plateau on Mars, called the Terra Cimmeria, was terraformed with groundwater and a sustainable atmosphere running on ten cyclo-generators. On 22 December, 2056, a team of settlers, led by Captain Amelie Monteserrat, established the first human settlement on Mars. By 2060 AD, the settlement held 50,000 people and had taken on the name of Darwin City.
The following timeline will attempt to capture the history of Darwin City along with the events of the Solar System.
2032 - Nanodium is discovered. It is a rare mineral whose yield ratio stuns the world and solves the energy crisis.
2042 - Apex Corp is founded after the merger of the world's top two corporations. It immediately flexes its muscle in enforcing policy decisions.
2047 - Apex Corp engineers the Central Asian debt crisis that plunges the region into war. United States intervenes. The Third World War begins.
2050 - US Senate ratifies the Corporate America act giving the corporations frightening powers within the legislation.
2051 - Advances in technology provide viable space transport. The first spaceship is developed.
2051 - The Third World War ends with Apex Corp installing puppet governments in half of the world. United States and its allies become unwitting stakeholders in Apex Corp's future. The era of Corpo-cracy begins.
2052 - The Darwin Expedition is flagged off.
2056 - Amelie Monteserrat establishes Darwin City
2097 - Six new settlements are established near the mountain ranges to the west of Darwin City. These greatly augment Apex Corp's mining output
2112 - Darwin City's population reaches 100,000 with more settlers pouring in from Earth. The Darwin City Council is formed.
2115 - The Lunar settlement is established after discovery of vast deposits of nanodium in Moon's frozen seas
2117 - The Lunar Energy Inc is formed as a consortium of corporations to rival the domination of Apex Corp
2120 - The first prototype of the spacefighter is unveiled by engineers of Delta Systems. Apex Corp places an order for an entire fleet.
2127 - The Interplanetary Court of Justice is established
2130 - Apex Corp files a lawsuit against the Lunar Energy Inc over space piracy. The case is dismissed in the court.
2131 - Hostilities erupt briefly between the two big corporations. The spacefighters are first seen in action.
2132 - The Universal Company Law is passed by the Interplanetary Court, ending the military dispute between the two corporations. Free Market is reinforced.
2143 - Paul Wintner, a highschool dropout and a maverick engineer for Apex Corp quits and starts his new venture, Triton Technologies.
2145 - Triton Technologies unveils the first OptiCom, an optical computer powered by a logic based on ternary number system. The OptiCom overtakes the traditional computing systems with its enormous processing power and artificial intelligence. Triton Technologies is valued at $ 300 billion.
2150 - Europa is terraformed and Triton Technologies enter into a trade agreement with Apex Corp. The city of Galle is founded on Europa.
2169 - The hyperdrive propulsion system is developed by Delta Systems. The birth of the Solar Age.
2170 - A group, calling itself the Martian Liberation Army, bombs the Apex Corp's headquarters in Darwin City. The massive explosion completely destroys the building.
2171 - The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS) is formed. A brutal era of vetting happens in Darwin City.
2180 - A well-orchestrated plan by MIS ends with the capture/death of the entire high command of the Martian Liberation Army.
2181 - A massive earthquake rips through Darwin City. About 10000 martians are killed along with extensive property damage. The relief work carried out by Apex Corp is lauded everywhere for its quickness and efficiency.
2199 - A huge spaceport is constructed in Darwin City, touted as the largest construction anywhere on the solar system. The spaceport can service 20 gargantuan transport ships at the same time. It quickly attracts more visitors and settlers to Darwin City.
2202 - The new headquarters of Apex Corp is built. It is the tallest building in Darwin City.
2210 - The city of Galle on Europa declares itself independent of the Universal Company Law. Triton Technologies files a legal injunction, blocking recognition of the self-proclaimed free city of Galle.
2211 - Spacefighters belonging to Triton Technologies commence a blockade of Galle. All trade to and from Galle ceases, pushing the region to starvation.
2215 - The Interplanetary Court upholds Triton's claim to Galle, resulting in massive demonstrations and rioting.
2216 - The Independent Mars Party is formed to legally fight for self-governance in Darwin City. It quickly gains massive support and plays a healthy opposition role in the Council.
2220 - Triton agrees to legal recognition of the Free City of Galle in return for extensive trade rights within Europa. The Amelie Monteserrat Museum is built to commemorate the hundredth birth anniversary of Darwin City's first resident.
2233 - Darwin City grows to house 2 million inhabitants.
Geography, Climate and Cityscape of Darwin City
Darwin City is located in the Terra Cimmeria region in the south-eastern hemisphere of Mars. The site was chosen for its proximity to the iron and coal rich mountains and also for its relative protection from the sweeping winds of Mars. Early astronomical observations of Terra Cimmeria showed evidences of water canals. These turned out to be natural canals that once carried water across Mars. The terraformers of the Darwin Expedition found it easier to use these canals to fix groundwater in the region.
The martian atmosphere is rather harsh with temperature searing up and down like a apocalyptic thermometer. After the installation of ten cyclo-generators, the air around Terra Cimmeria was purified and nitrogen and oxygen levels fixed. Many plants were allowed to colonize the region, but only the acacia and cactii have managed to do so. There are over sixty different species of cactii and five species of acacia that grow in the Terra Cimmeria region. The most dominating species is clearly the acacia cimmeria, a stunted tree with bright purple leaves. Owing to this, the Terra Cimmeria region is often referred to as the Purple Valley. The air over Darwin City is dry and it can get very cold during the nights. It is a predominantly desert climate. Artificial rainfall is often carried out by the Council in accordance with the ongoing terraforming of Mars.
The overall architecture on Mars is simplistic, tending to rely on strength rather than appearance. Buildings are usually blocky structures with rounded corners. Darwin City has a good network of three levels of roads. There is the elaborate underground network of tunnels. Then there are two levels of roads above the ground. All vehicles run on nanodium, making them smoother, cleaner and more powerful. There aren't that many vehicles, however, as citizens are encouraged (very strongly) to take the mass transit system. Two levels of maglev rails are in operation in the city.
Darwin City Spaceport
The pride of Darwin City! This interplanetary spaceport was built to commemorate the new century and is the largest anywhere in the solar system. Towering over the outskirts of Darwin City, it provides docking facility for over 20 big transport ships. The Darwin Space Traffic Controlling system is the most advanced, relying on ternary computing to handle the amount of data. The Spaceport has over a thousand decontamination chambers to handle the staggering influx of tourists, settlers, traders and other travelers. The Spaceport also offers excellent dining and shopping experience, with hundreds of pubs, restaurants, stores and cafes. The spaceport of Darwin City is a regular meeting point for merchants and traders from across the Solar System. Many trade deals are conceived here and trade rumors shared.
Apex Tower
The Apex Tower was built on the foundations of the earlier headquarters of the Apex Corp which was bombed by terrorists. It is the tallest building in Darwin City and houses the various wings of the Apex Corp's Mars division.
Cimmeria Heights
This is the swankiest address in Darwin City. All the high and mighty of Darwin City, including the CEOs of all the regional corporations live here. Here are the elite golf clubs and gentlemen's clubs. Here the power brokers of the City Hall dine with the executives from the corporations. The night clubs and discotheques in Cimmeria Heights are the most happening spots anywhere in the Solar System.
Black market
In downtown Darwin City exists a thriving black market where anything from the latest nanoPad to the hottest VR device can be bought at a slightly lower price and without the hassle of paperwork. Here, the Independent Traders rub shoulders with corporate dealers. Even the corporations get a cut out of the business, and it is a good way to check another's progress. The dirty hovels conceal within them keys to some truly fabulous treasures. A few illegal bionic surgeons also operate out of the Black market.
The Strip
Named after the legendary Strip in Las Vegas, the Strip is the common man's answer to the expensive delights of Cimmeria Heights. This is where you will find the cheapers pubs where regular men and women of Darwin City unwind. A few casinos operate on the Strip, but nothing like the big casinos in the Heights.
The Big Three
In general speech, the phrase Big Three refers to the three mega corporations of the Solar System: Apex Corp, Lunar Energy Inc and Triton Technologies. There are other megacorporations, but these are clearly ahead of the rest in terms of investments, market value and stock price. They are also the only companies to hold controlling interests in governments on Earth and in other settlements.
Apex Corp
The Apex Corp was formed in 2042 after the consolidation of the two biggest corporations in America at that time. The Apex Corp controlled numerous mining interests and, with the discovery of nanodium, beginning to invest heavily in terraforming. To precipitate a global crisis, they engineered the financial crash of the Central Asian markets. The debt crisis resulted in the major conflict known as the Third World War the outcome of which was the birth of corpocracy. Apex Corp then rewrote several legislations, enabling corporations to have a more active part in the government. With the founding of Darwin City, Apex Corp had truly projected itself as the new superpower. The current CEO of Apex Corp (Solar) is Edward Oppenheimer. Apex Corp currently holds controlling interest in Darwin City.
Lunar Energy Inc
In 2117, several splinter corporations pooled their resources together in the most audacious gamble of all time - to look for nanodium on moon. The expedition paid off like no one could imagine, and the Lunar Energy Inc was formed. With the massive deposits of nanodium sitting under the lunar seas, they instantly emerged as the second biggest megacorporation. The Lunar settlement continues to be just a mining outpost and has not been allowed to grow larger into a city. Owing to astronomical positioning, the Lunar settlement enjoys a lot of revenue from ships passing from Earth to the other planets.
Triton Technologies
In 2143, a young and aspiring engineer working for Apex Corp struck upon a brilliant idea that did not find any resonance within the corporation. Disgruntled, he quit his job and started a company. That man was Paul Wintner, and that company was Triton Technologies. The rest, as they say, is a legend. Within two years, the revolutionary idea of a ternary computer swept the world like a storm. The astounding advantages of the technology left the world of computing and entertainment changed forever. With rising fortunes, Paul looked farther, and invested heavily in the terraforming of Europa. He had wanted to build a settlement to rival Darwin City, and in his haste, he made his only mistake of his life. He transported huge number of convicts from Earth to populate his settlement. While Triton Technologies grew from strength to strength, its failure to hold on to its controlling position in Europa is still a sore point in the company's history. Triton, however, enjoys exclusive trade rights to the nanodium mining of the Free City of Galle.
Other corporations of note are:
Delta Systems: They are the largest manufacturers of weapon systems, spacefighters and transport ships. They have a presence in every settlement.
Tanuka Motors: Largest manufacturers of cars and bikes.
Solaris Entertainment Network: The Solaris is the largest provider of entertainment and control a multiple of TV channel networks in almost all the settlements.
The Universal Company Law
In order to understand the nature of corpocracy, one must understand the gist of the Universal Company Law. Using the pretext of space piracy (which is now alleged to have been engineered by top executives of Apex Corp and Lunar Energy Inc), the Universal Company Law was pushed and ratified by the Interplanetary Court of Justice. The following are the key points of the Law
Companies can own controlling interests in the governing councils of settlements. This enables them to steer policy decisions easily and have their representatives in the councils.
The Law increases the regulations on citizens to borrow loans from the bank to start their own businesses.
The Law authorizes companies to protect their investments with military presence.
In the Free City of Galle on Europa, the Universal Company Law is not observed. Companies cannot have controlling interest in the council of Galle. They can, however, start businesses there. The Independent Traders of Galle travel everywhere in the Solar System, setting up businesses and investing in small-scale businesses. Though the Independent Traders are not stopped by the corporations, they are often harassed and thus, the Independent Traders often rub shoulders with pirates and black marketeers to help them protect their investments.
The Martian Liberation Army
This underground group was formed in 2165 by a group of soldiers who had served under the Apex Corporation. They were men who felt that the corporation's control on policies and the future of people must end. They recruited secretly among the populace and conducted several attacks on the Apex Corp. These attacks culminated in the bombing of the Apex Corp headquarters in August, 2170. After the complete elimination of the MLA top command by the Martian Intelligence Service, the group has gone completely dormant with a few splinter cells trying minor cyber attacks on Apex Corp.
The Martian Intelligence Service (MIS)
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Apex Corp, the corporations pushed the City Council to ratify the formation of a new Intelligence network. The result was the MIS. The MIS has three main divisions: Local Intelligence, Industrial Espionage and Cyber Crimes. The head of the MIS is an appointee of the council. The MIS has many expert field agents at their disposal and they also have the most advanced telecommunication and espionage technology. During the decade following the August Bombing, the MIS specialized in infiltration and execution. The MIS has an office at an undisclosed location in Darwin City.
Media
The Mars News Network (MNN) is the largest television network in Darwin City and is owned by Apex Corp. The Darwin City Network (DCN) is run and operated by the City Council and is very neutral in its reporting.
Technology
Ternary computers, OptiComs, are widely used by Martians. These computers are large motion-sensitive monitors with a very high picture resolution and powered by nanodium cells. The nanoPad is another tablet-like device that is in vogue. There is hardly any difference between the phones and OptiComs these days, except for the size.
Cars are powered by nanodium and have become more powerful. Most of the regular cars are manufactured by Tanuka Motors and are equipped with exceptional AI. Very rarely does a Martian manually drive his/her car.
Interplanetary travel is done with the help of the hyperdrive propulsion system. Typically, passengers are flown from spaceports to huge carriers floating in outer space above the planets with the help of many transport ships. Once loaded, the carriers will engage into hyperdrive and make the journey to the destination planet and begin orbiting the planet. Transport ships will then once again carry the passengers from the carriers to the spaceports on the land. Private transport ships are smaller but are capable of interplanetary travel. A typical journey from Earth to Mars, for instance, would entail a short hop from one of the Earth's spaceports to Moon's through transport ships. From there, a large carrier would take you to Martian orbit in typically two to five days depending on Mars's location in its orbit.