[Cue voice-over] "Tonight! Exclusive to Network 69 News! The Ancient Secrets of Mars!!!"

[Cue theme music and title graphics]

[Cue Anchor...Zoom in] "Good evening, I’m Brent Tanner. Tonight we bring you exclusive footage from the Ares II Mars Probe, footage the Jade Dragon Collective tried to suppress with extreme prejudice." Brent turns a sombre face to the camera. "Three Network 69 reporters, including ace investigator Jerri Kane, lost their lives in bringing you this story."

[Insert grief stricken pause.]

[Cue footage] Rolling red landscape; a plain, a couple of hills, a canyon. Brent’s voice-over cuts in. "In June of 2019, Jade Dragon launched the Ares II Mars Probe Mission. These pictures, and others like them, were released to the press along with the announcement that Jade Dragon was to launch Ares III in May 2022, to begin mining operations. What they didn’t show, however, was this Earth shattering secret uncovered by the bravery and integrity of investigative reporters the like of Jerri Kane." View switches to a long, wide tunnel which opens up into a cave. "The remains of what, despite it’s obviously alien architecture, is a City!"

{Excerpts from the Martian Republic Education Foundation’s official text "Big Red Rock: A History of Martian Colonization"}

Despite international censure, the declaration of Mars as a United Nations protectorate, and condemnation by the Pope, three vessels were launched on the 28th of January 2023. Jade Dragon’s mission was delayed by seven months after a ‘request’ from the boards of Matsushiro Gentech and EuroSpace (formerly the European Space Agency); combined, Matsushiro and EuroSpace proposed, the three could resist the government’s and corporate bodies of Earth; divided the other two would make sure Jade Dragon’s ship never left orbit.

Arriving in May, each corporation set up bases in preparation for the xenoarchealogical operations they would shortly begin. Somehow the scientific parties of all three missions secretly opened communications between themselves, and came to the conclusion that their corporate overlords couldn’t be trusted with anything that might be found. Dr. Janice Raney convinced James Morgan, commander of the EuroSpace mercenary contingent, that the scientists and technicians were right. In a series of lightning raids Morgan destroyed Ares III and the Matsushiro vessel Yamoto, and seized ES-010 and christened her Grey Lady, the first ship of what would one day become the navy of the Martian Republic.

Outlander shuddered as she came around to pursue the alien vessel, atmosphere and bodies leaking from her once sleek hull.

"...Message torpedo away and on course..."

"...Reports fighters docked and secure..."

"...Hostile is holding present course..."

"...EM-signature indicates power-plant fluctuations..."

"...Shields back on line..."

The organized chaos of the bridge washed over Captain David Hewson, caught up in

regrets and thoughts of revenge and death. Nothing could be done for the dead and crippled ships the alien had left in it’s wake, or the dead of his own crew. Nothing could be done to stop the alien from reaching the Jump Point, or to turn Outlander from the chase. So wrapped up in these thoughts he was, until a Comm-Tech woke him from his reverie.

"...Sir? Message from l’Inflexible’s captain. She wants to talk to you."

Hewson held up a hand to the Comm-Tech and turned to the Helmsman. "How long to the Jump Point Mr. Zavi?"

"Two minutes twenty-three, sir."

"Put Captain Lasalle through." He used the delay to compose himself. "Captain. I’m sorry about your ship."

"So am I Capitaine. May I trust that you shall care for our honour?"

The ridiculousness of French etiquette, that demanded such obtuse speech in a situation like this, struck Hewson, but he had to much respect for Lasalle to disappoint her now. "You may trust us Captain."

Relief tinged Lasalle’s voice. "Then thank you and farewell Capitaine. Vivé l’Emper..." The transmission was cut of in mid-word.

"What happened!" Hewson demanded.

"l’Inflexible’s power-plant went into melt-down, sir."

"Shit!" Hewson stared into space after the alien ship. "Mr. Zavi, how long until Jump Point?"

"Forty seconds, sir."

Leaning over the young Helmsman’s shoulder Hewson whispered in a not quite sane voice "Let’s go to hell."

"Aye aye, sir." Zavi grinned. "Shall we break out the ice skates?"