Rig's Story (A Jupiter's Halo Novella)
Page 9
Notes on the solar system in the year 542MI
The Martian Calendar
The Martian Calendar; created by Marshall Julius Earone, the first Colonist Marshall Governor of Independent Mars, in the Earth year 2140 on the centenary of the colonisation of Mars.
In Martian history this is recorded as year zero of Martian Independence (0MI).
Based on the rotation of Mars the length of a single day is 25 hours. A week is 8 days long and the year consists of 22 months (86 weeks or 688 days). Each new year begins with The Mars Day.
The days of a Martian week
Marsday – named for Mars
Tueday
Windsday – named for the winds of the wastes
Thurosday
Frind
Santday
Suday
Earnday – named for the first Colonist Marshall Governor
The months of a Martian year
Jan (The Mars Day) 31 days
Jup 30 days (renamed for Jupiter’s Halo station in the year 250MI)
Febry 30 days
Mars 32 days (named for the independence of Mars)
Earone 32 days (named for first Colonist Marshall Governor)
App 31 days
Maine 32 days
Yuni 33 days
Yuli 33 days
Aust 30 days
Bisec (The Year’s Turn) 30 days
Zwol 30 days
Ion 31 days (named for Jupiter’s moon Io)
Septi 33 days
Fift 30 days
Callist 30 days (renamed for Jupiter’s moon Callisto in the year 136MI)
Ven 32 days
Novum 30 days
Notum 32 days
Pollo 31 days
Decem 33 days
Deat (The Year’s End) 32 days
Mars
Known as the Garden of the Solar System
First colonised in the Earth year 2040
It served as the temporary seat of human governance between the Earth years 2745 (330MI) to 2809 (364MI)
Mars has its own water, industrial economy and the ability to grow produce within the confines of its city domes. It is almost completely independent from the rest of the solar system.
Mars has a class system that differentiates the surface from the tunnels and is ruled over by the Colonist Marshall Governor, under the aegis of the Ministry of Colonies.
The most notable families in the aristocratic class are:
Earone, Junt, Ratigan, Xhi, Hunst, Simler
Surface City States:
Prometheus – Capital and First city of Mars
Hereidum – Second city pf Mars
Sabaea Domes – Industrial zones and lower wealth inhabitants
The Utopian Isle – Exclusive area for the most wealthy citizens
Daedalia - Abandoned
Townships of the Martian Tunnels:
Old Olympus Town
Olympus Newtown
Tharsis
Ares Villas
Chryse
Henstown
Additional unnamed population centres can be found throughout the connecting tunnels between townships.
The tunnels are extensive, covering an area of seventy-five million square kilometres.
Current estimated population: 450 million above ground, 300 million below ground.
Earth
Earth was the seat of Human governance until the Senate relocated to Mars in the Earth year 2745 (330MI)
Abandoned after The Plague in the Earth year 2749 (332MI)
Plague survivors of Earth were relocated to a closed colony on Jupiter’s moon Callisto.
After the Plague Earth was marked as a restricted area by the Senate. It has been considered uninhabitable by humans for two-hundred Martian years.
Estimated population in 2749 (332MI): 13 billion
Current estimated population: 0
The Deorum
The Deorum rose out of the chaos surrounding The Plague and the subsequent abandoning of Earth. It was originally made up of a conglomeration of the three largest mining corporations.
The Imperial still hold rights over ninety percent of the mining undertaken in the asteroid belt, including all of the mining for water ice.
It is the governing body of Luna; formerly known as Earth’s moon until it was renamed in the Earth year 2760 (338MI)
Adopted the Martian Calendar in the Earth year 2850 (387MI) although many inhabitants still use the Earth calendar
Current estimated population: 2.2 billion
The Asteroid Mines
All mining operations in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter are controlled from the Deorum outpost on Ceres.
Mining operations in the asteroid belt are undertaken to retrieve minerals, metals and ice for water. The contracts for water are the most lucrative and have been monopolised by the Deorum since the abandoning of Earth.
Current estimated population: 1.5 million
The Jovian System
Jupiter’s Halo Station
The Jupiter’s Halo station is a circular space station positioned around the gas giant Jupiter
It is also known as the God’s Belt.
The station now houses the seat of primary governance for the solar system; The Ministry of Colonies.
Construction of the station began in the Earth year 2600 (250MI) and was not completed until the Earth year 2825 (373MI)
It became the primary seat of Human governance in the Earth year 2810 (365MI) despite the completion of its construction still outstanding
It is positioned 1,000 kilometres above the surface of Jupiter
The station is over 445,000 kilometres in length, 1,000 kilometres wide and 3 kilometres deep
The Jupiter’s Halo station is made up of four quadrants.
These are: Amory, Winward, Charlton and Jovian.
Adopted the Martian Calendar in the Earth year 2820 (370MI)
Current estimated population: 16 billion
Jupiter’s moon Ganymede
The surface ocean of Ganymede was considered the primary source of water for the Jupiter’s Halo station and its colony moons.
In the year 2615 (259MI) research teams discovered single cell and simple multi cell organisms around volcanic vents in the sea floor and Ganymede’s oceans became protected under the PSEL (Protection and Study of Emerging Life) initiative.
There is no standing population living on the surface of Ganymede, although it is home to several PSEL research stations, sponsored by the Ministry of Colonies.
Jupiter’s moon Callisto
Colonised in the Earth year 2490 (190MI) as a temporary home and supply station for workers constructing the Jupiter’s Halo station. It later became a closed colony for survivors of the Plague fleeing their planet in the Earth year 2750 (332MI)
Adopted the Martian Calendar in the Earth year 2820 (370MI)
Current estimated population: 800 million
Jupiter’s Moon Europa
Originally colonised in the Earth year 2490 (190MI), as a temporary home and supply station for workers constructing the Jupiter’s Halo station.
It was considered a valuable source of water for the Jupiter’s Halo station until research showed the majority of the liquid surface to be made up of hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid.
Adopted the Martian Calendar in the Earth year 2780 (349MI)
Current estimated population: 3.4 billion
Additional Stations
A further 120 space stations are situated within the boundaries of the Jovian system.
Current estimated population: 650 million
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