Mars Wars, Part 1

I thought it would be fun to share a plot that I've been mulling over for a few years about a war between Earth and Mars. It's based on a pattern which seems to repeat throughout history, namely that a rebel group leaves its motherland to settle a new colony, only to be hassled by the motherland until it establishes its independence via war. For example, the Pilgrim Fathers left the UK to found the US, and established its independence after the Boston Tea Party.

In my story, it's the year 2050, when genetic engineering, space flight, and computer technology are far more advanced than they are now. It's within mankind's grasp to modify humans significantly, enhancing basic abilities with a combination of genetic therapy and computer implants. However, for a variety of political and religious reasons, most powers such as the US, China and Europe ban such radical re-engineering.

A group of rich, powerful, and free-thinking individuals get together and form their own independent effort to form a colony on Mars, far from the repressive influence of Earth. They develop and implement the changes necessary to create "Homo Superior", or "Humanity 2.0" if you prefer. Over a period of twenty years, the colony successfully creates a new kind of human that excels in virtually all respects relative to traditional humans.

During this time, tension builds up between Earth and Mars, with Earth feeling increasingly threatened by the promise of the "new humans", and Mars worrying that the Earth will pre-emptively shut down their colonies before they can start flexing their technological muscle. This tension culminates in a war between Earth and Mars, effectively representing the evolutionary struggle for dominance between Humanity 1.0 and Humanity 2.0.

What's the result of the war? Well, you'll have to stay tuned for part 2 of this blog entry!

Comments

[Mark]

I've enjoyed L.E. Modesitt, Jr's stories on modified humanity in the Archform:Beauty, Flash and The Ethos Effect.

Modesitt frequently weaves themes of the benefits (and sometimes dangers) of nanotechnology and cyber implants into his SF stories.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0765308029/ref=pd_sbs_b_1/002-0039643-9112850?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Mark