Ad Astra - The Alagore War

AA V0 Prolog, Chapter 2

1/23/2069 (military calendar)

Fort Alpha, Space Force Base, Noctis Valles (Alpha Base)

Noctis Labyrinthus Region, Phoenicis Lacus, Mars

*****

The dreams of multiple generations stretching back to the founding civilizations finally became a reality. From the first flyby of Mariner 4 to the first robotic landing of Viking 1, all those accomplishments have led to this moment: humanity has finally reached Mars.

Throughout history, the Red World has gone by many names. The first was Nergal by the first civilization of Mankind, the Sumerians. While the Sumerians were the first, being a mighty warrior people of their time, they were not the last to name the planet after a god of war. The Romans, the most efficient war machine ever to walk the ancient world, gave this world its modern name.

Staring out at the reddish wasteland, Captain Taylor Miles of the United States Space Force stood on the observation level of Alpha Base. Every time he stood on this level, he found it strange how the most warlike civilizations, separated by thousands of years and thousands of miles, always reached the same conclusion. Now that Mankind had reached this world, he struggled to connect it to the myth. For a warrior world, it felt... quiet and peaceful.

From this vantage point, Miles had the perfect view of the city. From this view, he could see the many modules that housed residential communities, research centers, space agencies, and the colony's commercial side. One can see the extensive hydroponics facilities to the left, and to the right of the town center are the water and ore refineries that sustain this place. But most of all, what he enjoyed staring at the most was the launch pads on the other side of the colony.

During Taylor Miles's free time, which the captain had much of while being posted at such a remote post, he would come up and stare at the city, watching the rockets take off and land. He sometimes wondered if this was like the old colony towns that once settled North America. While many in the online media call this place the next Jamestown, he sometimes wondered if it could end up like Roanoke.

The colony-town below was a decent size for being around for over a decade. Officially named Alpha Base by the US Space Department, the common name used by people and the media is Noctis Valles City, used by those who live here and on Earth. The name was a hybrid between the region where the city was built and the most extensive canyon within the solar system, Valles Marineris.

To do this, the United States adopted a policy like that of the US Antarctic Program, in which McMurdo Station served as the main base of operations, with dozens of other outposts scattered around it. While it was an American colony, other nations have utilized it for their needs and as a staging ground to search for locations for their outposts.

But this did not mean they were alone....

Hearing the NASA Traffic Controller over the colony live stream state that the next launch was in its final preparation, Miles looked up at the three screens above the large window. The number read T-3:44, indicating the countdown.

"Captain, Traffic Control reports that Starship 1226 systems are all clear," Hata said over the intercom from Operations.

"Thank you, Hata," Miles said. "Another good day to fly."

Miles watched as a small dust cloud emerged from the engine blast and consumed the area around the launchpad as the starship lifted itself into the sky. Living in a world with less atmosphere and less gravity allowed what should be small dust clouds to snowball and spread over a large area. Blast shields surrounded the city to protect it from dust clouds; however, gaps always opened and briefly covered the city.