ONN: The Martian Wars Have Begun
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Originally Published on June 26th, 2490
Orbital News Network/Grant Jones Reporting
After several days of uncertainty and tensions from both the Martian Native Tribe Clans and Advanced Research and Experimental Systems, earlier today, the first and very public display of violence took place.
It all started with a Declaration launched on June 18th by one Kusanagi Akio representing both the Hidden Demons and the Martian Native Tribe Clans, demanding ARES to leave the planet and declaring independence from New Geneva, this elicited a reaction from ARES and New Geneva on the 19th at a press conference while at the same time attempting to cut off Hades Colony, the presumed home of the Hidden Demons, off the Mars Power Grid, which would have caused tens of thousands of necessary deaths for ARES's cause, however, due a still inexplicable course of events, not only is Hades Colony still operating and the lives within are preserved, but the colony seems to be operating at higher efficiency than before. An early scan shows power spikes registering at the depths of the colony.
A few hours ago, several convoys under the ARES banner were hit simultaneously while en route to supply facilities. ONN has obtained exclusive footage of one of the valiant ARES operatives who lost their life in one of the many simultaneous attacks, please be aware that the following images are graphic in nature, viewer discretion is advised.
| The footage begins showing a few fully geared operatives sitting in front, it's clear they are in low altitude aircraft. There is no sound. After a few seconds an alarm goes off, judging by the lights in the aircraft and all the movement from the operatives. Sudden action sees frantic movement, as one operative isn't properly secured to his seat and his body is seen violently tumbling against the aircraft until it falls on the floor, motionless. A brutal impact is followed by a few seconds in complete darkness. Light is seen as the door to the aircraft is forced open, fully geared and masked assailants are seen opening fire on the inside of the aircraft. The recording operative and a handful of others manage to fire their way out of the shuttle just as an assailant drops an explosive inside. Vibration happens as the operative throws himself on the ground and there are a few frames that manage to capture the explosion of the crashed aircraft with several limbs flying off of it.
The operative takes his rifle in his hands and attempts to circle around with surviving operatives, however, other than the crashed and smoking aircraft, the operative can't see anyone else. Frantically moving from one side and to the other, he suddenly sees a tall fully armored attacked from underneath him, before the operative can react, a swift movement from the attacker's hand causes a strange effect: It was as if the operative was falling, tumbling on the ground, and remaining motionless for a long time. After a moment, it was clear that the operative had been decapitated, and the recording device was on his helmet. A few more seconds of footage is shown, with hundreds of attackers converging nearby and making their way underground, disappearing from sight in a few seconds. Footage ends. |
As we have witnessed on this particular account, it appears the one thing that wasn't taken in consideration was the Natives and their intimate knowledge of the planet, as the images suggest that they are moving through a complex system of tunnels underground, allowing them to move fast, unencumbered, and undetected.
Cassandra Areia, the ARES Ambassador to New Geneva issued a short statement on behalf of ARES.
| “The sheer brutality and violence that the Martian Native Tribe Clans have shown to us has indeed signaled the beginning of what they wanted all along: War.
ARES is officially declaring Martial Law on Hades Colony and nearby territories and colonies, the best course of action this insurrection has is to comply with ARES's directives and orders, otherwise, Operatives are being authorized for usage of brutal force in order to guarantee the compliance of residents. Make no mistake, if War is what you wanted, War is what you'll get. I've also been authorized to inform you that in the next few hours, ARES will proceed to realign its Orbital Security Network to cover different problematic regions on the planet. We did not start this War, but we will finish it.” |
At the same time, Michael Nikolaidis, accompanying Cassandra Areia, issued a statement of his own on behalf of New Geneva.
| “War is never the desire of corporations. It's costly, it's ineffective, and it uses resources that would be otherwise used for more profitable ventures than dealing with a small but very loud sector of the population leading to civil unrest and loss of assets.
New Geneva, always keeping corporate interests at heart, as well as the interests of corporate law-abiding citizens, backs Advanced Research and Experimental Systems on their endeavors, and grants them full privileges to deal with the ongoing insurrection. We've been presented with a full course of action on behalf of ARES and have authorized its operation, its maneuverability, its budget requirements, and we are more than prepared to accept the loss of life that this war will cost the red planet. When it comes to everyone in the Sol System considering following up the example of these insurrectionists, we hope to deliver a message: Don't bother, you'd be fighting a war you lost before you started it.” |
As of this moment, there aren't further updates, but we're informed that no less than twenty convoys on different points of Mars were hit simultaneously and the results were the same: Crashed vehicles both air and terrestrial, no survivors, and no prisoners. At this moment, it is unknown exactly how much equipment did the Martian Native Tribe Clans take, but nothing much was recovered from the hot spots other than the somewhat intact holovid you just saw.
While Cassandra Areia declared that they would be preparing to realign their Orbital Security Network, no such move has been done yet, but for our readers who may be unaware: Mars is one of the most, if not the most secure location on the Sol System, with several layers of orbital security and checkpoints for arrivals and departures, traditionally, this Network Cassandra Areia speaks of would be aimed outwards, meaning, it would be used to repel external attacks or a potential invasion to the red planet. What she suggests, however, is that the powerful Orbital Security Network may be, for the first time since its creation and deployment, be aimed inwards, and ready to be used on the red planet itself if it came to it.
We will provide you with more updates as this story and this situation develops.
What do you think of this ongoing War? Do you think ARES will be able to fully contain what appears to be the largest insurrection ever on the corporate owned red planet? Do you think the Natives have a legitimate opportunity to do the unthinkable and claim independence? Please leave your comment and your opinion on the comment section below.