107 lines
5.4 KiB
Plaintext
107 lines
5.4 KiB
Plaintext
From: Universe Today Special Report <specialreport@universe.today>
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To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
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Subject: Special Report: Rioting on Mars; Earth Responds
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Date: 23 Sep 2421 20:07:18 +0000
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Date-Local: 23 Sep 2421 20:07:18 +0000
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8"
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MARS, September 23 (Ongoing) - Over the last several hours, after a
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breakdown in talks aimed at ending the now over four-month-old
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general miners' strike, rioting has broken out in several locations
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including the Martian Trust administration offices at Endeavour
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Crater. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Earth Navy cruisers in
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orbit have responded by landing marine assault shuttles, with
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rioters said to be actively fighting military forces and casualties
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estimated in the hundreds.
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A large protest at Martian Trust headquarters, planned for today by
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Red Rock and several smaller mining guilds to place additional
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pressure for concessions on the Trust, was underway at the time the
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fighting broke out. Though it is uncertain exactly what sparked the
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fighting, Mars Newsnet has reported that the Trust's security
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personnel began firing into the crowd of protesters. One eyewitness
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claims that this attack took place in response to several
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protesters preparing to throw firebombs at the Trust's headquarters
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building, which is now reported to be aflame.
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Other riots appear to have begun in response to the outbreak of
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violence at Endeavour Crater. Fighting has been reported between
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Mars Trust personnel and striking miners at several mine sites in
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Hellas Planitia and Argyre Planitia, with targeted bombing attacks
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reported against at least two of the rare earths extraction sites
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at Tharsis Montes. The latter has been a particular point of
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contention between miners and the Martian Trust, with Trust
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spokespersons repeatedly dismissing Red Cross and Planet Society
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reports of dangerously high levels of heavy metal contamination in
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family living quarters at these sites.
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Governor Reinhard Ritter, reached by radio at a secure location,
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had the following comment: "On behalf of the Martian Trust, and of
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myself, I regret that the intransigence of the mining guilds has
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caused such a terrible loss of life, with more deaths certainly to
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come. Had they been willing to come to the negotiating table in
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good faith at any time in the past eighteen weeks, all of this
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could have been avoided. But events have now taken on a momentum of
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their own, beyond the reach of peaceful resolution."
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Representatives of the Red Rock Guild, generally considered to
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represent the striking guilds as a whole, could not be reached for
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comment by press time. A Universe Today ship in Martian orbit
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reported what appeared to be an impact or explosion followed by
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venting of atmosphere from Ada Dome, where Red Rock Guild has its
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headquarters. Although Mars Newsnet has been unable to confirm
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claims of Earth Navy forces engaging in orbital bombardment of
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civilian targets on Mars, the Ada Dome incident is one of several
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apparent impact events at locations of mining guild headquarters or
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other potential strongholds for striking miners.
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Just before press time, Universe Today observed four of what
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appeared to be Earth Navy landing craft approaching Victoria
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Crater, where Mars Newsnet has its headquarters. Shortly after,
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Mars Newsnet abruptly ceased to transmit. Three minutes later, the
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following joint statement was received by radio from Earthgov and
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Martian Trust representatives at the Trust's headquarters in
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Chicago:
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"We of Earth's Extraplanetary Affairs Office join with our
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colleagues in the Martian Trust to deplore, in the strongest
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possible terms, the criminal violence now taking place on
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Mars. Despite all efforts in recent months to improve working
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conditions for our resource extraction personnel, it has become
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clear today that the ingratitude of Earth's client workers and the
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Trust's protectees knows no reasonable limit.
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"We value our clients and protectees, and wish to see no harm come
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to any of them. However, in the face of such widespread and
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unwarranted violence against Earth and Mars Trust personnel and
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property, we cannot stand idle.
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"We hereby warn the rioters and those who actively or passively
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support them: Cease your criminal violence at once, lay down arms,
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and surrender your persons and positions to the Earth forces now
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present to ensure your protection. If you do so, you will not be
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harmed.
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"However, if you remain defiant in the face of such an opportunity
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for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, be aware that our
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commanders on the scene have been authorized to use any and all
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necessary measures to ensure your cooperation.
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"We of Earth's government and the Martian Trust wish no harm upon
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anyone on Mars, miners and administration personnel alike. But do
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not mistake our good nature for weakness. We will not tolerate any
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further violence or sabotage by Martian miners, and we beseech you
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to lay down your arms while the opportunity exists. You have one
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hour from the time of this message's transmission to do so. After
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that time, we will not answer for the consequences to your persons,
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combatant or otherwise."
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At press time, Earth's ultimatum had just over thirty minutes left
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to run, discounting the approximately fourteen-minute transmission
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time from Earth. No response was forthcoming from Red Rock Guild or
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any other spokespersons for the miners' guilds, and no ebb in the
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fighting was reported or could be observed.
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Universe Today will provide further bulletins as these developing
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events warrant.
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