From Science Monthly (May 20th)

THE REALITY OF A HABITABLE MARS

Everyone is looking to the Red Planet for a peek at what post-invasion technology could do for us. In the last two weeks since the Independent Hosts made themselves known to the world at their brief but dramatic address to the UN, all telescopes have been pointed at our planetary neighbor.

Within our solar system, Mars has always been the next most habitable planet. While it has, until recently, lacked oxygen and a breathable atmosphere, it showed far more potential than any other celestial body for exploration and possible colonization. The presence of the Independent Hosts has proved that now with post-invasion tech at our disposal, not only colonization but a complete atmospheric overhaul is possible.

“It’s an incredibly exciting possibility,” said Dr. Harold O’Mally at NASA. “We’ve already got some basic framework up on the moon from the former Lunar Base Prime, but now seeing what’s happening on Mars, we could just terraform the moon as a whole. We could make the whole system habitable to some degree or another in a decade or two, tops.”

Olympus Mons has shown dramatic agricultural and urban development over the last two weeks, with roughly 30% of the giant volcano fully developed, and a total of 60% of it showing some level of cultivation. The whole of Earth’s monitoring equipment had been focused on the alien invasion and not Mars, so there’s no clear indicator when the construction of New Olympus began, but many at NASA estimate at least a month’s worth of time and as long as three.

“Of course, it’s all due to the roughly 80-100 hosts working together and pooling their resources and talents,” Dr. O’Mally continued. “However with a similar number of hosts on Earth, in addition to all of our other resources, I’m confident we could show similar development on the moon in less than half that time.”

When asked if Earth’s hosts have shown any initiative or inclination to proceed with any sort of lunar development, O’Mally was non-committal.

“Earth’s hosts are beholden to the various governments. Now that the alien threat is gone, there’s not as much impetus for action to be done quickly. I’m sure most governments realize that an expansion of habitable land the size of the moon would be a huge benefit to our planet and the problem of overpopulation, among others, but whether or not they’ll act on it remains to be seen.”

From Al-Jazeera (Translated from Arabic)(May 22nd)

MARTIAN HOSTS DECLARE THEMSELVES A PLANETARY POWER, ESTABLISH NO-ENTRY ZONE

In a digital message sent to several of Earth’s governments, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and over two dozen others, the host known as Corva announced that Mars was officially its own government, henceforth known as the Assembly of Mars, or AoM.

“The members of the Assembly, the architects of New Olympus, all free and independent hosts who have come here seeking safety from alien attack and exploitation by Earth governments, hereby surrender all previous rights, responsibilities, and titles they held or were beholden to by any and all Earth powers,” Corva said in her message, which was also submitted to multiple members of the world press.

“The Assembly of Mars is also declaring its planetary borders to be no less than 100 million miles in every direction from any point along Mars’ orbit. This is for the saftey of our people as we work to create a stable atmosphere and infrastructure, and we ask that you honor our wishes. Once we have more firmly established a foothold on our new home planet, we will be open and eager to negotiating terms of trade and diplomacy with Earth. Until such a time as we decide, Mars will remain entirely autonomous.

“And finally: while the no-entry zone applies to Earth governments, it does not apply to any host wishing to join us. Any host who is currently serving any government power has an open invitation to join the Assembly of Mars, and bring their family and close friends with them. If you need assistance in getting to Mars, simply buy one of the many long-range transmitters from your RAC store and you may contact us.

“We realize some may take offense at this, but that is the old way. The Assembly looks to the future.”

From Le Monde (Translated from French) (May 24th)

UNIDENTIFIED SPACESHIP SEEN ORBITING MOON

An unidentified space-faring vessel was seen circling the lunar surface several times. The ship’s size was substantial, given that it was visible with the naked eye, but only just. Several hi-res photographs and video were taken of the ship, and revealed it to be of an angular construction, and made of some silvery reflective material and inlaid with green, glowing lines. It matches some of the design seen on the host known only as Vaastukaar, one of only five identified members of the Assembly of Mars.

The vessel was seen to be staying near the ruins of Lunar Base Prime, which is currently still being cleaned by servitor droids.

“I obviously cannot speak for the rest of the world, nor the UN, or even everyone within my own country,” President Bisset said roughly one hour after the ship had sped away into space, “but if this was a ship from the newly formed Assembly, it would seem rather hypocritical of them at best: to demand privacy while invading our own? To state we may not come near while stomping up to our doorstep? No.

“Obviously we must all adjust to the dramatically shifting norms of these turbulent times. Perhaps that means we have new neighbors who wish to go their own way. That could prove to be beneficial. Already the initiative shown by the Assembly has proved that expansion is possible, that we do not need to be shackled to the Earth, and that the stars await. We can thank them for their drive, and their courage.

“But one thing that must not change is mutual respect. It will not do to have a door that does not swing both ways. If they want to take, they must also give. If they want nothing to do with Earth, then there is no reason for them to come so close. Let them stay on Mars, or let us be friends who welcome each other.”

President Bisset’s words were echoed by many, including President Hanover of the United States and Prime Minister Stark of the UK. Secretary General of the UN Al-Balawai also endorsed a mutually beneficial arrangement between Earth and the Assembly, and urged patience and understanding from all involved.

“I do not blame the Assembly for wanting a fresh start and a better future that they control themselves,” Renn said at the late-night press briefing. “Most people want the same. However, the future does not belong to any one group, even one so powerful as hosts. I’m hopeful we can speak with Corva and the rest of the Assembly and unite, this time out of hope for prosperity rather than fear of annihilation.”

From the public chatlogs of World of Fantastical Magic, an MMORPG (May 25th)

Bear Arms: lvl50 Druid LFT

Claw-n-Order: When are they gonna raise the level cap? Roadmap said they’d bump it to 75 a month ago.

Dairy Fairy: Did you forget about the alien invasion? A lot of places suspended production or closed up shop entirely. You were lucky the servers didn’t go down.

Claw-n-Order: Well the roadmap said 75 should’ve been up a month ago.

Arbiter Dane: bUt THe roAdMAp SaId

Claw-n-Order: Fuck you dude

Arbiter Dane dances at Claw-n-Order

Sir Laurence001: Honestly it’s shaping up like things might just shut down again. The economy had a big spike post-invasion but now that these new hosts have showed up and said we can’t go near Mars while they just roll up to the moon…it’s looking bad.

Dairy Fairy: Bad how?

Sir Laurence001: Bad like recession bad. Nobody wants to go to work if super-powered Martians might roll up with a death laser or some of the hosts here start bailing ship and then more aliens show up and we’re left defenseless.

Bear Arms: Earth hosts wouldn’t do that. They saved us. They saved everybody. Warden and Renn and a bunch of others almost died. Longsight, Cooper, and others did die.

Claw-n-Order: They did it for themselves. I heard there wouldn’t have been aliens at all if it weren’t for them.

Sir Laurence001: That was debunked a while ago. The aliens were inside the solar system prior to the hosts getting the menus. We’d have just been turbo-screwed if they hadn’t been here.

Dairy Fairy: Okay but now they’re here and there’s more on Mars and it sounds like they want to fight? Can’t they just duke it out on Mars?

Claw-n-Order: lol you must be in grade school

Arbiter Dane: YOu mUsT BE iN gRAde ScHoOl

Claw-n-Oder: I swear to god Dane

Arbiter Dane taunts Claw-n-Order

Bear Arms: I think it’s more a problem with big governments like the States, China, Russia, and the EU not liking some other power so nearby that can just ignore them. Even when the aliens showed up they still had some power, even if it was just in organization and management with the hosts doing the real heavy lifting.

Sir Laurence001: I think Mars is gonna start some shit. What was up with them flying over the moon last night?

Dairy Fairy: Maybe spying?

Claw-n-Order: lol that’s pretty stupid to think. Why would they spy in a huge spaceship you can see from the ground?

Dairy Fairy: What’s your problem?

Sir Laurence001: Yeah man, you don’t need to be rude.

Bear Arms: Seriously.

Claw-n-Order: you guys don’t get it and I don’t have time to explain it to you

Arbiter Dane: yOu doN’t GEt iT

Dairy Fairy: lmao

Sir Laurence001: You’re okay, Dane

Bear Arms: lol

Claw-n-Order has left the zone