History
Sometime early in the 21st century an unmanned space exploration probe called Phobos 1 was sent to one of the Martian moons, its mission was to land, take samples from beneath the moons surface, and then return with these samples to earth.
Among the samples brought back was a small blue crystal which was soon to be the cause of great change back here on earth.
It was found that the Crystal, called Numasol, when processed in the right way, could be used to generate high levels of nuclear energy.
No government could afford to let such an opportunity to tap into what might be a huge source of future power, pass it by.
So an open challenge was set by the Government to any company that could come up with a mining program and the technology needed to implement that program on a hostile planet. This should include the space technology needed to get miners and the crystals back and forth from the planet.
The winning company would get the first contract for mining the Martian moon.
This caused a gold rush style race by many companies and it had the side effect that in a few short years space technology advanced extremely rapidly. Soon many small space stations were set up in orbit around the earth as "off world" launch pads for the proposed mining expeditions. Trips into orbit soon became as common as terrestrial air flights, and not long after this the first off world colonies were set up on huge space stations with built in Eco systems.
But we are getting ahead of the story somewhat.
Metro-Tek
One of the first Corporations to gain an off World Government mining contract was Metro-Tek Industries. This company had very humble beginnings as a developer of street lighting technology but had then branched out into all manner of social tech.
After several extremely successful mining missions, they were given permission set up a large permanent base on earth from which to run the whole all their off world mining organisation.
NOMOS
Note: Nomos is situated on Earth although the specific location is deliberately not named.
A small desert town called Little Rock was chosen to be transformed into this terrestrial base for these operations. Its desert remoteness was seen as an advantage as much of Metrotek’s activities are government funded, highly controversial and extremely secretive.
At some stage in development it was decided to re name the town NOMOS, a name chosen by the 6 year old granddaughter of Metrotek’s CEO.
The company began the transformation by building themselves a huge pyramid type structure as their headquarters in one corner of the town. This building they surrounded with a great concrete wall in an attempt to hold back the ever shifting desert sands.
Next they set about building temporary accommodation for the many miners that were now needed to work the mines.
It was discovered that long uninterrupted periods working on the Martian moon would cause serious mental side effects on the health of the miners. So to lessen these effects, they would work only one month on the moon then take one months rest back on earth. Most miners spent this time in Nomos which was tailored for their needs. So Nomos soon became a kind of huge R and R camp for the mostly young male miners back on earth.
It was decided early on in project not to spread the building of the miner's accommodation out into the desert, but instead to build upon the foundations of the already existing structures of the old town.
Very soon the dark gloomy metal Metro Blocks began to spread upwards and outwards overhanging the streets bellow until they almost touched each other high above.
Increasingly more and more of the Sunlight was shut out until a kind of twilight world of shadows was created down bellow amongst the struts and cables needed to support and feed power to the apartments high above. In the main streets the blinding blinking neon adds never dimmed and many took to wearing sun shades to fend of the dazzle.
But even high up on the rooftops there was very little day light to be found. “Hyper Polutionics” or the HP factor they called it. No one really knew what it was, but there was a disturbing thick green fog that hung over the city blocking out the sun light causing an almost permanent darkness all around.
Off World
Not that there was anyone complaining much down there.
Most of the old residents of the town who once had a voice were long gone, offered one way tickets to the off world colonies, the new mega space stations, like New Eden, that floated like giant ocean liners in orbit around the earth. A new home in the stars, well, that's what the adverts say anyway.
Street life
These old residents have now been replaced by a new breed of city dwellers, those that prey upon the excesses of the well paid miners, who spend most of their time and money while back in the city in the many clubs and bars that now filled the streets of Nomos.
Soon all manner of other waifs and strays appeared in the city, wanderers out of the desert, or rejects from the "better worlds" being set up in space. Somehow all of societies' rejects seem to gravitate naturally to the streets and bars of Nomos.
MetroPol
To combat the inevitable corruption and disorder that followed in the wake of this sudden influx of organized crime and delinquency, MetroTek set up their own private police force the officers of which are called Enforcers. This section of the company was called MetroPol.
To back up the human Enforcers a force of mechanical droids were developed.
These Cop Bots are stationed at sensitive locations in the city where they constantly scan the streets looking for low empathic brain signals in Citizens, which in turn indicate a tendency to commit crime.
Medi-Tek
Metrotek also funded and organized health care in the city through Meditek, the medical branch of the company.
Important Note:
Meditek was recently merged into the public sector and is no longer under Metroteks control.
PsychoTek
To cope with the many mental illnesses that the miners seemed to acquire off world the Company formed Psychotek the mental Health branch of the corperation. It provides mental care at the Bedlam Asylum on the outskirts of the city
Metro-Gen
In the early days of mining the Corporation were also responsible for experimentation into new ways to harness the power of the Numasol crystals. So the Power generation branch of the company was born, Metro-Gen.
It appears that the city still suffers from the fallout from some of the less successful of those early experiments with the crystals. One of the very early tests had caused vast amounts of invisible gas to hang in the atmosphere around the city. This gas was extremely corrosive and explains why the city is now bathed in a coat of rust and metal decay.
However, most of these crystal experiments have stopped now and the Metro-Gen plant is almost deserted, apart from the crystal core which still provides power to the city.
GenoTek
Genetic Engineering
It is reported that MetroTek has of late been concentrating all their energies on Genetics through their Genetic engineering arm called GenoTek
As more and more miners fall ill from various space sicknesses the company have been delving into the possibilities of genetically engineered humans called Replicants that could replace the human workers. It seems that all the old moral arguments against genetics have been waved as the need for more and more Martian crystals becomes necessary to fuel the ever expanding space program.
In fact, it is rumoured that there are already many genetically engineered Replicants working and living among the miners. This is quite possible as there is almost no physical difference between the engineered and the real.
It is also rumoured that experiments were carried out to produce what are referred to officially as pleasure models. These female Replicants were developed as entertainment for the miners in space and back here on earth in the city, and some say that these Sweet Things, as they are known, are at this very time working the streets of the city
Factions
There are now reportedly so many Factions on the streets in Nomos that even the miners have taken to joining them just to keep safe.
The word on the street is that the corporation no longer runs Nomos, the Factions do.
A view definitely not shared by the Enforcers who taken to wearing an un official badge the Iron Fist
To make it clear that they run the streets.
Metropol has itself become little more than an organized gang as it has become more and more isolated from a society that slips deeper and deeper into decay. However they are still the Soldiers of the Corporation and enjoy it full support.
Recent trends and New Eden
Mining production has of late dropped off due to the health hazards involved, and there are less and less miners to be found in Nomos. Recently the New Eden colony opened off world and those who could afford to do so have sold up and re located there, leaving cities such as Nomos in the hands of those who cannot afford the dream ticket and those who like it best when those who care most about the fate of the planet are far away in the stars.
Nomos 2
Take the Road south out of the city and you eventually come to the suburbs.
But this is no suburbia of green fields and neat little communities, just a rocky outcrop that stands between the city and the dead dust bowl of the desert some call the Zone.
Passing through the sand wall on the city limits you cross the Burner Trench. This is where all the City waste and sewage spews out from the big sewage pipes that line the walls. Once fresh water fell into this trench after passing through the cities purification units, but they broke down long ago. Now raw sewage and even worse substances fill the trench and seep into the surrounding land.
Only dead trees and sparse brown grasses cling to life here on dusty rocky soil.
Just across the trench is the old cemetery, most of the graves have disappeared, buried by the sand.
Ahead on the distant higher rocks stand the Villas of those who have made money from the city and still have financial reasons to stay on Earth.
But even these “wealthier” homes are dark and dusty places.
However, the poorer city dwellers still look on with envy at these symbols of seeming success in a hard world.
Close by them is the once much protested Overspill project, a small number of Porta-Homes supposed to alleviate overcrowding in the city.
This was back when the city was full to bursting, before the big migrations off world.
Now the project is home to Travellers and Nomads fresh out of the desert, with no place to stay in the city.
Following the road past the Project it twists and winds its way up a rocky outcrop called Mesa Diablo’s
The Devils Table. A line of smaller rocks make a ridge that runs from ground level to the highest point. It looks like the spine of a buried monster and so is called the devils backbone by the locals.
On the top of these rocks stands the old Bedlam Asylum. It was closed for years, then when the numbers of patients began to build up in the city, they re opened it. It was supposed to be getting a complete refurbishment, but that never seemed to happen. When it stood empty it gained a reputation as a place of ghosts and bad happenings, several suicides were reported there in the old wards. Not so much is heard about it now there are people there again.
Beneath the asylum on the road back into the city stand the Titty Twister Rock club and bar, home to infamous Dark Angels Biker gang.
A little further along over the bridge heading north is the MetroGen Refinery. Still in use but not managed and guarded as it once was.
Mars base: Omokron 5
As Mining on Phobos became less and less productive, the Corporation, through its subsidiary branch MetroGen, decided to try an exploratory expedition to Mars.
And so Omikron 5, the first Martian Mine was established.
After 2 years of intensive drilling deep under the Martian surface only a few traces of Numasol were discovered.
Nowhere near enough evidence to warrant a full scale move of all mining from Phobos to Mars.
So it was decided to abandon mining there until the planet could be explored more thoroughly.
Rather than simply close down the Base at Omikron 5 it was decided to “keep it warm” by converting it into and experimental Martian Colony designated Colony LV729.
The mine itself will later be opened up as a tourist attraction.
On the base living is comfortable, if rather cramped.
The cabins had originally been designed for miners with little thought given to luxuries.
But a New Bar, the “Mars Bar” has been opened and more recently a pool and leisure centre.
Shuttle flights to the Martian Base leave from the MetroGen Refinery.
You are advised that you will need the official MetroGen Miners Helmet and optional space suit if you wish to explore the planet surface outside the base.
There are unsubstantiated reports of mutant activity on the planet surface emanating from the main mine shaft area.
