Martian Revolution

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The Martian Revolution was a five-year-long conflict on Mars between the United Nations and the Martian guerilla government known as the Ares Freedom Fighters, from 2089-2094. The war was fought in an attempt to gain full and total independence from Earth. The war culminated in a United Nations victory, defeating the AFF after a long war and leading to the UN imposing a puppet government on Martian soil, in the form of the Colonial Administration of Mars.

Timeline

Prelude

2088

• April 2088:
  • Several confidential reports and transmissions were leaked by sources that concerned the UN-elected Colonial Governor Jeanette Chatham, they were regarding pending bills aiming to focus Mars on prioritizing exports to Earth rather than allocating for its own development.
  • The resulting bill, analysts have said, would have resulted in a rapid destabilization of the Martian economy and render it fully dependent on Earth for imports and resources. A line of protests was launched, forcing the UN to launch an investigation into Chatham's activities.
• June 2088:
  • Governor Chatham is acquitted of all charges by the Colonial Legislature and Colonial Administration Assembly, sparking protests.
• September 2088:
  • During a protest against the government in Scofield park, protester open fire on police, non-critically wounding three police officers and two protesters from return fire.
• December 2088:
  • Martian news network AMXV is hacked in a cyberattack. A group advocating for Martian independence calling themselves the "Ares Freedom Fighters" claims responsibility. The network is downed for 2 days and 13 hours, broadcasting propaganda for 8 hours before being taken off-air.
  • The Colonial Administration of Mars (CAM) launches an investigation into the AFF, putting the group on a watchlist.

2089

• January 2089:
  • Government personnel track down and locate the house of an AFF hacker named Jonathan Haemsson, located in Schiaparelli. Police raid the building the next day, but Haemsson brandishes a rifle and opens fire, killing a police officer and wounding two others, before being shot dead by police.
  • The AFF under an anonymous account post videos of the raid, modifying the footage to appear as if Haemsson was unarmed and police shot him without warning. The video goes viral and is widely seen by Martian citizens before being redacted by the government. Public dissent grows.
  • Governor Chatham issues a controversial speech condemning the AFF, much to public disapproval. An AFF-affiliated account publicly criticizes the speech, discussing how Chatham downplays Martian independence itself rather than the AFF.
• February 2089:
  • A weapons-carrying frigate named the Teublone belonging to arms manufacturer Avando Systems goes missing.
  • Increasing amounts of public pressure against Governor Chatham force her to resign. Gubernatorial elections begin.
  • Documents regarding the handling of news redaction and censorship are leaked to the public by an inside agent, sparking more public unrest.
  • Independent polls show record-high levels of public disapproval against the CAM Government. The results are spread by AFF-affiliated organizations.
  • A crackdown on AFF affiliate programs begins, shutting down several organizations in police raids. Remaining AFF cells mask their locations.
• March 2089:
  • Protests erupt in Schiaparelli outside the Governor's Building, which are handled poorly by riot police. Several protestors recall of being beaten and brutalized by police personnel. The Martian Colonial Police Department launches an investigation.
  • Opposition governor candidate Mark Spencer-Kauffman advocates for higher degrees of Martian liberties, as well as the permission to fund its own military. He is privately sponsored by the AFF after his declarations.
  • More documents about government censorship are leaked. CAM investigations locate and arrest thirteen personnel working inside its buildings.
• April 2089:
  • The United Nations General Assembly states their opposition against the AFF and its values. More protests for independence are called.
  • The Peacekeeper Corps deploys 5,500 troops to Mars to act as a National Guard. SDCN Amerigo Vespucci of the Sol Defense Corps is placed on standby at the UNPC military base UNB Curiosity near Rutherford.
• May 2089:
  • The Teublone reappears, shown in a newly-released propaganda video by the AFF's new militia in a call-to-arms. The video is taken down by the government but not before it distributed itself over the network.
  • More than 130 citizens are reported to have disappeared overnight across Mars. News outlets predict they joined the AFF militia.
  • A militiamen belonging to the AFF violently resists arrest in Mariner and is shot by Peacekeepers.
  • Public approval for the AFF grows on Mars as the Peacekeepers deploy 2,000 more troops.

Early War

• June 2089:
  • The AFF formally declares war on the United Nations on 12 June 2089, after seizing several SDC scrapyards and commandeering old ships.
  • The United Nations returns the declaration the very next day.
  • Analysts report more than 35 decommissioned SDC vessels and more than 67 UNPC transport craft are stolen, with propaganda footage showing the ships being renamed and repurposed.
  • Public polls show a majority of Martian citizens in favor of the AFF, cheering for independence.
• July 2089:
  • Spencer-Kauffman is elected Governor of Mars but is rapidly exiled by the CAM for having ties to the AFF. He becomes the AFF's leader and governor-in-exile.
  • AFF troops occupy Bismuth City and Ornament City in the Hellas district, seizing mining operations.
  • The United Nations posts several propaganda campaigns on Earth, garnering support for Earth against the newly-christened Martian Revolution. Economic ties between the CAM and UN are strained.
• August 2089:
  • The AFF's government-in-exile, led by Spencer Kauffman, declares independence, calling itself the Martian Commonwealth. It bases itself in Bismuth City.
  • The United Nations grants emergency military power to the loyalist CAM Government, giving them partial control over UNPC forces.
  • AFF forces silently capture and exile opposition municipal governments of small mining towns across Mars. Commonwealth influence over the planet grows.
  • Two cities in the Tharsis District and one city in the Hellas district join the Commonwealth, seceding from the CAM.

Miner's Campaign

The first major campaign of Mars happens, called the Miner's Campaign due to the AFF's strategic takeover of valued mining towns. More insurgents join the AFF and Commonwealth.

• September 2089:
  • The UNPC stations troops at suspected zones of capture from the AFF, eventually engaging in several militiamen in the Battle of New Canberra in Hellas, the first open battle of the war. The Peacekeepers win.
  • UNPC captures and imprisons more than fourteen AFF fighters, who are interrogated.
  • The AFF launches and distributes even more propaganda to Martian citizens. Media blackouts are suggested by the CAM but are turned down by the United Nations.
  • The Security Council authorises an additional ¤5.6 billion credits for the UNPC, allowing for the training of 1,500 additional troops and the development of greater weapons.
  • The SDC launches the Sol Intelligence Service under the SDC for military intelligence and gathering.
  • Several cities in the Tharsis region, previously neglected by the CAM due to their irrelevance, all secede and join the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth now possesses more than 15 cities.
• October 2089:
  • The SDC's Ares Fleet blockades incoming and outgoing shipments from Commonwealth-allied cities. Embargoes are placed by the UN Government.
  • Smuggling ships attempt to breach the SDC blockade but are captured or shot down by the fleet.
  • Secretary-General Emil Rothenstein of Germany is elected amidst wartime SECGEN elections by the General Assembly.
  • The Commonwealth writes and publishes its own constitution, marking 12 October 2089 as the Commonwealth's Freedom Day.
• November 2089:
  • Peacekeepers place district capitals such as Tharsis City, Schiaparelli City, and Rutherford City under Peacekeeper occupation. Martial law is declared by the CAM.
  • Two commandeered AFF vessels, AFS Canyon Sunset and AFS Red Sand launch into Martian orbit, engaging against the Sol Defense Corps cruiser SDCN Nile and successfully crippling it.