<div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/TuTxxEb.jpg?1)</div><br/>Mars. That once-barren crimson orb that is now humanity’s new home after the Fall. That yellow-blue glow characteristic to its planetary sunrise (https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/2430/sunrise-on-mars-viking-2/) rose like clockwork, and any lifelong Barsoomian could mark the onset of its literal half-day duration to the second even if they were underground or under an AR-altered skyline. A maglev rail line ran through a small terraforming habitat, its interconnected domes housing the few signs of Old Earth greenery for hundreds of kilometers. The regional atmosphere was now passably breathable to transhumans with specialized lungs, although most laborers outside walked or wheeled about in artificial bodies unhindered by the travails of organic life.<br/><br/>Six hours ago a pair of Martian Rangers received a distress call regarding habitat sabotage. Even though the synthmorph workers do not require food or shelter, their livelihoods and ability to recharge are tied to the local infrastructure. This, combined with the inability of outside help to quickly arrive and make repairs, makes vandalism and property destruction a much more serious crime in the Martian outback than it would be in larger population centers.<br/><br/>Jeanette’s Personal Area Network silently transmitted the data across her field of vision in Martian Creole.<em>Welcome to Habitat Oceanus, 2 PM Elysium Time Zone. Weather: 13 degrees Celsius with mild chance of dust storms.</em><br/><br/>More traditional languages were a feature of recent infugees and a few ethnic enclaves in the cities; Creole was the tongue of the outback and those who traveled its empty paths.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/dXklvPs.jpg?1)</div><br/>Camila Peña put the breaks on the Mars buggy she and her partner Jeanette shared as the habitat came into close view. “Either we’re at Oceanus, or it’s another day down the maglev. And I’d rather not drive about in the dark so close to the TQZ’s edge, so we’ll stop here for an hour in case we’re wrong.”<br/><br/>If any of the synthetic workers noticed their presence, they gave no indication as they continued maintaining the machinery vital to their habitat. A protruding cone-shaped pipe expelled a sludge-like substance as one of the clanking masses interfaced with a holographic screen floating over the device.<br/><br/>Camila had her assault rifle slung securely over her back, the spring in her step propelling her ahead of Jeanette. She headed with purpose to the nearest building. Its windowless cubic shape and proximity to the maglev line marked it as a supply station in line with Martian terraforming regulations. At this point a synth noisily stumbled over to the two women.<br/><br/>“There’s two of you?” the synth asked in a static, emotionally-neutral tone. “So is it...an exhuman?”<br/><br/>“Don’t know yet,” Camila said, “but we like to be prepared and we’re both in the area. Care to tell us what’s going on?”<br/><br/>It was a bit of a half-truth. The Rangers were stretched thin, and normally patrolled alone, but it was customary for new recruits to ride along with an established officer to get the ropes.<br/>