A secret military base on Mars, a protectorate of the United Nations of Earth. It's March 25th, Earth time. A man sits in the control room in front of a massive monitor. He stares lazily at the monitor, occasionally smoothing his long hair.
He thinks to himself as he flips through printed reports. Suddenly, Commander Markov's face appears on the large screen. The man in the room stands up and walks over to the screen.
"Have you received the reports?" Markov asked.
"Yes," the man replied.
"What do you think of them?
" "It's strange that, despite all our efforts, we still haven't managed to raise the average oxygen content." The man threw the papers aside. "None of our scientists even have a clue where the problem is.
" "Everyone on Earth is working on it too. And how is Project Renaissance doing?
" "It's doing well. In a few minutes, the first generation will be entering its final phase, so if you don't mind, I'd like to be there.
" "Very well, General Orlicz. We eagerly await your report."
The screen went blank. The man looked around, and when he noticed there was no one around, he issued a voice command.
"Computer, request a view from camera fifteen, activation code is alpha charlie gamma three five, General Krzysztof Orlicz.
" The monitor displayed a panorama of the red planet. On one side of the screen were red, dead rocks, and on the other, green, genetically modified algae stealing territory from the red desert.
"Why is Mars so... Dead?" he asked in a low voice.
He stared at the image of two clashing powers for a moment.
"Computer, turn off the image."
He tensed his neck muscles and headed for the exit. The doors hummed politely as he passed through. He passed the officers' quarters and reached a small train. He entered the first carriage and inserted his electronic card into the slot.
"Eden." The train began to move, almost inaudible.
He drove for several minutes, passing through tunnels carved in ancient times, even before the "Space Ice" experiment.
Who would have thought that comets could be tamed so quickly, even in the twenty-fourth century? But that was a long time ago. Now it's almost the twenty-eighth century, and we have to think in different terms. Moon bases are no longer fit for purpose. And interstellar travel is still in its infancy. If not for this unfortunate event, one virus, and such damage. I wonder if it will ever happen again?
As he finished his thoughts, the train began to slow down. A gentle beep signaled the disembarkation. A man in a white coat was waiting at the bottom of the stairs to the carriage.
"Hello, Dr. Teng."
"It's a pleasure to meet you again, General Orlicz." "Although on Earth scientists didn't exactly get along with the military, on Mars it was a bit different." The gentlemen shook hands and set off down a long corridor.
"How did the specimens react to the Martian mixture?
" "Good. Our calculations proved correct. The pituitary glands could handle this oxygen content.
" "Excellent, Doctor. And what about the educational program?
" "Well, that's where the unexpected obstacles arose." They entered a room where figures floated in massive glass containers. From the outside, they looked human, but everyone knew these figures had little in common. Genetic engineering had done quite a bit of digging into their bottoms.
A woman with hints of Asian beauty approached them.
"This is Dr. Asuka Hiroshi." He introduced the woman to Dr. Teng.
"Pleased to meet you," the general replied.
"Dr. Hiroshi will explain the problem.
" "Thank you, Dr. Teng. This way, please, General." They approached one of the many monitors. The woman sat down at the keyboard, and a moment later, a DNA chain flickered on the screen. "By introducing a random element in these places, we wanted to introduce significant differences in appearance and minor differences in behavior. Unfortunately, it turned out that this caused changes in the areas responsible for knowledge acquisition. Although elementary knowledge is absorbed automatically, high-level knowledge is not. Please see." A series of graphs appeared on the screen.
"Hmm... So Professor Hernih's theory was correct?" the general asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." The woman turned away from the monitor.
"Thank you," the general said, and continued on with Teng.
"You understand the essence of our problem, General." The doctor smiled.
"I see you've made your point after all.
" "Yes," Teng replied curtly.
"I told you what I thought about a universal society.
" "You know, General, that the ZNZ won't like it.
" "We're on Mars, not Earth. The ZNZ can't do anything to us." The general let the doctor go ahead.
"And the clause on forced aggression?
" "Now? During the fuel crisis?" After passing through the clearing corridor, they entered a vast chamber, sections of which were a reproduction of external conditions. "Even if they reach us, they won't be able to conduct any operations here, and since the catamenial tunnel would be blocked, their invasion would only capture equipment and people. Laws on Mars are somewhat less restrictive than on Earth." Almost all employees on Mars knew this. General Orlicz had an unbridled lust for power. He was limited only by the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere; otherwise, Mars would be a greater power than Earth.
"The release of the anchors will occur in two minutes," the computer announced.
"We're on time, General. We're about to see a miracle."
Chairs were set up in front of the main tank, some already occupied. Teng and the General sat at the very front. When the computer announced the opening of the first gate, some of the people couldn't bear it any longer and rose from their seats. When figures appeared behind the third, and final, glass door, the General was the last to rise. A hissing sound signaled the pressure had equalized. Individuals hesitantly stepped through the open gate.
"Welcome to this world," the General said pathetically. The individuals stopped. "You know who I am, and you know who you are. Today is your birthday. Before we allow you freedom, we need to run a few tests. Don't worry, it will only take a moment." "Individuals." The people stared at him in surprise at first, but a moment later they understood what he was talking about. Obediently, they began to disperse from the individual stations where the personnel were already standing
. The General turned to Teng.
"When you're finished with them and dressed, send them to the office one by one. I'll be waiting in my office."
A few hours later, the general sat in his office. Behind him hung two flags. One was blue and green, the symbol of the ZNZ, and the other was the red flag of a free Mars. Mere possession of one could land you in prison on Earth.
The first to enter was Dr. Teng.
"Hello again, doctor.
" "All tests came back positive. We're ready.
" "Excellent. Please send one of each to me." Before the first Martian entered, he ordered the guards not to let in any humans except Dr. Teng until further notice.
They approached him one by one. He spoke to each of them about the future of Mars, the desire for freedom, and the goal of creating a Martian race. At one point, no one else entered. The general stood up, and as he was about to leave, a woman bumped into him. He managed to back away and catch her as she fell. When she got up, he looked into her eyes. All Martians could be recognized by their eyes; they looked slightly different from those of humans.
"There weren't supposed to be any humans," the general said, somewhat irritated. "But since you're here, tell me what you want." The woman had a somewhat enigmatic expression on her face. The general began to study her. It was the first time he'd seen her, and he couldn't deny that he liked her, very much so.
"I...
" "Go ahead. If you're here, it means you want something," the general insisted firmly, though something about the situation was starting to feel wrong to him.
"The General told me to come here," she said timidly. "Just like all my brothers and sisters." The General thought for a moment. He closed his eyes and concentrated deeply. "Wait here. I'll be back soon." The woman obediently sat down in one of the armchairs. The General ran out of the room. He turned to the guards. "If anyone tries to come in, they'll shoot you on the spot!" he shouted and ran on. He caught up with Teng in the mess hall, standing with a group of Martians. He grabbed him and wordlessly dragged him back to his office.
"What's the matter?" Teng asked as soon as he caught his breath.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!?" he shouted, pointing at the woman's eyes.
Teng stared for a moment and only then noticed.
"What's your number, my child?" he asked the woman.
"Seventy-two." Teng opened the console on the wall and began tapping rapidly.
"I can't believe we missed something like this." Photos loaded onto the screen. "To the Red Desert...
" "What's the matter, Doctor?" the General asked.
"Look." "The same woman was in the photo, but with the eyes of a Martian.
" "What does that mean, Doctor?
" "That's impossible..." Teng sat up, stunned. "Their adaptability wasn't supposed to be that great. We need to examine the rest of the specimens!"
The base was in an uproar. Some were running wildly throughout the complex.
After several days of intense research, Teng, the Alpha, a Martian who had been elected leader by his brothers, and the General himself, stood in the General's office.
"In the face of the new data, I've decided to put the integration plan into action." After a moment, Alpha smiled, and the Doctor's face fell.
"You don't want to release them, General?
" "I can and I want to, Teng. Research shows that they differ from humans only in a few abilities. They deserve freedom.
" "I disagree! We don't know their capabilities. We can't...
" "That decision isn't up to you." The General turned to Alpha. "As of today, I declare Mars a free planet, and all current Martians and those yet to be born free people.
" "That's your mistake, General.
" "History will judge me supreme. Tell me, Alpha, how does it feel to be a free man?
" "Good. Thank you, General."
Thus began a new chapter in the history of Mars.
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