From: Universe Today Special Report

To: undisclosed-recipients: ;

Subject: Special Report: Rioting on Mars; Earth Responds

Date: 23 Sep 2421 20:07:18 +0000

Date-Local: 23 Sep 2421 20:07:18 +0000

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8"

MARS, September 23 (Ongoing) - Over the last several hours, after a

breakdown in talks aimed at ending the now over four-month-old

general miners' strike, rioting has broken out in several locations

including the Martian Trust administration offices at Endeavour

Crater. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Earth Navy cruisers in

orbit have responded by landing marine assault shuttles, with

rioters said to be actively fighting military forces and casualties

estimated in the hundreds.

A large protest at Martian Trust headquarters, planned for today by

Red Rock and several smaller mining guilds to place additional

pressure for concessions on the Trust, was underway at the time the

fighting broke out. Though it is uncertain exactly what sparked the

fighting, Mars Newsnet has reported that the Trust's security

personnel began firing into the crowd of protesters. One eyewitness

claims that this attack took place in response to several

protesters preparing to throw firebombs at the Trust's headquarters

building, which is now reported to be aflame.

Other riots appear to have begun in response to the outbreak of

violence at Endeavour Crater. Fighting has been reported between

Mars Trust personnel and striking miners at several mine sites in

Hellas Planitia and Argyre Planitia, with targeted bombing attacks

reported against at least two of the rare earths extraction sites

at Tharsis Montes. The latter has been a particular point of

contention between miners and the Martian Trust, with Trust

spokespersons repeatedly dismissing Red Cross and Planet Society

reports of dangerously high levels of heavy metal contamination in

family living quarters at these sites.

Governor Reinhard Ritter, reached by radio at a secure location,

had the following comment: "On behalf of the Martian Trust, and of

myself, I regret that the intransigence of the mining guilds has

caused such a terrible loss of life, with more deaths certainly to

come. Had they been willing to come to the negotiating table in

good faith at any time in the past eighteen weeks, all of this

could have been avoided. But events have now taken on a momentum of

their own, beyond the reach of peaceful resolution."

Representatives of the Red Rock Guild, generally considered to

represent the striking guilds as a whole, could not be reached for

comment by press time. A Universe Today ship in Martian orbit

reported what appeared to be an impact or explosion followed by

venting of atmosphere from Ada Dome, where Red Rock Guild has its

headquarters. Although Mars Newsnet has been unable to confirm

claims of Earth Navy forces engaging in orbital bombardment of

civilian targets on Mars, the Ada Dome incident is one of several

apparent impact events at locations of mining guild headquarters or

other potential strongholds for striking miners.

Just before press time, Universe Today observed four of what

appeared to be Earth Navy landing craft approaching Victoria

Crater, where Mars Newsnet has its headquarters. Shortly after,

Mars Newsnet abruptly ceased to transmit. Three minutes later, the

following joint statement was received by radio from Earthgov and

Martian Trust representatives at the Trust's headquarters in

Chicago:

"We of Earth's Extraplanetary Affairs Office join with our

colleagues in the Martian Trust to deplore, in the strongest

possible terms, the criminal violence now taking place on

Mars. Despite all efforts in recent months to improve working

conditions for our resource extraction personnel, it has become

clear today that the ingratitude of Earth's client workers and the

Trust's protectees knows no reasonable limit.

"We value our clients and protectees, and wish to see no harm come

to any of them. However, in the face of such widespread and

unwarranted violence against Earth and Mars Trust personnel and

property, we cannot stand idle.

"We hereby warn the rioters and those who actively or passively

support them: Cease your criminal violence at once, lay down arms,

and surrender your persons and positions to the Earth forces now

present to ensure your protection. If you do so, you will not be

harmed.

"However, if you remain defiant in the face of such an opportunity

for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, be aware that our

commanders on the scene have been authorized to use any and all

necessary measures to ensure your cooperation.

"We of Earth's government and the Martian Trust wish no harm upon

anyone on Mars, miners and administration personnel alike. But do

not mistake our good nature for weakness. We will not tolerate any

further violence or sabotage by Martian miners, and we beseech you

to lay down your arms while the opportunity exists. You have one

hour from the time of this message's transmission to do so. After

that time, we will not answer for the consequences to your persons,

combatant or otherwise."

At press time, Earth's ultimatum had just over thirty minutes left

to run, discounting the approximately fourteen-minute transmission

time from Earth. No response was forthcoming from Red Rock Guild or

any other spokespersons for the miners' guilds, and no ebb in the

fighting was reported or could be observed.

Universe Today will provide further bulletins as these developing

events warrant.