User:BaconShelf/Mars

Mars!

Early exploration and settlement

 * Early probes throughout the 90s/00s
 * First human on Mars in 2029
 * Initial pioneer group on the planet, there for a few weeks before returning to Earth
 * Sporadic pioneer groups of less than 20 people sporadically go to the red planet over the 30s/40s, gathering data and whatnot

Martian Gold Rush

 * In 2055, Earther billionaire announces discovery of a native Martian microorganism
 * Spurs on a massive rush of industry and interest in Mars, with trillions spend on building necessary space infrastructure. Small dig sites and stations are built on and around the planet to find more life (these are temporary stations with no permanent intention of habitation - think oil rigs)
 * In 2070 the Martian life form is proven without doubt to be a form of genetically engineered Earth life, a scam by the billionaire to kick up interest in his space industries for mad cash
 * The previous 15 years of "gold rush" style claimants of the planet have seen a myriad of settlements pop up across the planet with little in the way of interest or organisation
 * Small nonviolent clashes over land rights on the planet become an issue
 * Following the announcement of no Martian life, Martian interests see a massive fall in investment and worries arise about future development of the planet
 * Second American Civil War possibly results in a large nuclear scare? Many of the rich and powerful buy the now-cheap space infrastructure to invest in offworld "apocalypse bunkers"
 * By the late 2070s, things have recovered enough that a large effort is made to start an officially permanent presence on Mars.
 * This period is officially ended with the founding of the first official colony site on May 1, 2080.

Rogue bacteria and Martian national identity

 * Previous-mentioned microorganisms begin to coat Mars' surface (contribute to low-level terraforming?), screwing over all chance for proper study
 * Corporate exploitation
 * Ice asteroid drop
 * Intra-colony conflicts
 * Martian "Reds"
 * Formation of the Koslovics ideology through to the interplanetary wars