Brady could still, hardly believe that they had made it. The red, barren terrain of Mars stretched endlessly in every direction, but beyond that stark surface, the future of their survival was waiting. The ship was intact, the supplies were sufficient, and Angie—who had adapted remarkably well to her new form as a warehouse—was up and running smoothly.
"Alright, team," Brady said, clapping his hands together as the last of their gear was unloaded from the ship. "Let's get this show on the road. We need to scout the area and see what we're dealing with. Caleb, you're on navigation. Jason, keep an eye on the perimeter. Viktor and I will handle anything else."
Without wasting any more time, Caleb activated the Quickdrive ship, its sleek metallic form humming to life as he synced it with their coordinates. "Ready to go. We'll cover a lot of ground with this," he said, tapping in the coordinates to take them across the planet's surface.
The ship's thrusters ignited with a soft whine, lifting them into the Martian sky. The transition was smooth, and the landscape below shifted from empty plains to rugged terrain as they soared over valleys and distant mountain ranges.
"Man, Mars is huge," Jason remarked as he stared out the viewport, watching the miles stretch beneath them.
"Yeah, and empty," Viktor added with a frown. "I thought we'd see more signs of life already. Where are all the people?"
"I don't know," Brady said, eyeing the barren landscape. "It's almost too quiet."
Caleb worked the controls expertly, guiding the ship toward a larger region of Mars. "I'm picking up some heat signatures ahead. Maybe we're getting closer to something."
As the ship zoomed over a large crater, the terrain began to shift. They approached a series of towering structures in the distance—massive buildings gleaming with a strange metallic luster.
"What is that?" Jason asked, squinting through the viewport.
Caleb's eyes narrowed. "Looks like… a city. But it's not what I expected. No ruins, no decay. These structures are intact."
The Quickdrive ship descended smoothly, landing just outside the perimeter of the city. As the team stepped out, they were immediately struck by the sharp contrast to the barren wilderness they had just left behind.
The metropolis was bustling with activity—unlike any Martian colony they had ever heard of. The buildings weren't just research stations or military outposts. They were skyscrapers. Streets were lined with hovering transport pods, and in the distance, large docking bays were busy with cargo ships coming in and out.
"This is…" Brady started, his voice trailing off in disbelief. "This isn't what I thought we'd find."
The sight of fully operational infrastructure, gleaming metallic structures, and bustling movement was a far cry from the desolate images Brady had been led to believe. It looked more like a thriving city, built to scale with Earth's largest megacities.
"It's a metropolis," Viktor said, eyes wide as he took in the enormity of the place. "But how? After the invasion?"
"Doesn't make sense," Jason muttered, his brow furrowing. "Mars wasn't supposed to be this… alive."
Caleb opened a small communication channel to Angie. "Any intel on the city?"
"Affirmative," Angie's robotic voice crackled through their comms. "This is a highly organized colony. The structural integrity is sound, and there is a consistent flow of resources and personnel. It's more than just survival. This is high-efficiency civilization."
Brady exchanged a glance with Viktor. "Who's running this? The government? The elites?"
"I don't know, but I'm getting a lot of activity in the central district," Caleb said. "Let's head there. We need to figure out who's in charge."
As they navigated through the city, the team noticed the vast array of people. The streets were teeming with well-dressed individuals, some moving with purpose while others seemed to enjoy the luxury that Mars offered. There was no sign of the scramble for survival they had expected. This place looked like a perfectly functioning society.
As they walked, they passed a large holographic display, showing a message in multiple languages. "Welcome to Mars: The New Dawn. Building the Future Together."
"That's a bold statement," Viktor said, crossing his arms. "It's almost as if they never stopped."
Jason shook his head. "They didn't. And it's not just a colony. This is a full-scale society."
Suddenly, a few individuals walking by caught their attention. One of them—a tall man in a sharp suit—was discussing something with another. As he passed, Brady couldn't help but overhear the conversation.
"We've got to keep the operations smooth for the upcoming summit," the man said, his tone confident. "Mars is where the real power lies now. Earth is a wreck, but here—"
Brady's heart skipped a beat. "Did he just say 'summit'?"
"Yeah, and did he say 'real power'?" Caleb added, eyebrows raising. "Looks like Mars is more than just a haven for survivors. It's where the elites are."
The team continued to observe, seeing more evidence of the power structures in place. There were large holographic billboards touting technological advancements, military systems, and resource management strategies. Martian society wasn't just surviving; it was thriving. And it wasn't just ordinary people running things.
"What the hell is going on?" Jason muttered under his breath. "These people—there's no way they're just colonists. They're running the whole show."
Brady nodded, a realization dawning. "The Periclusapiens ignored Mars completely. The elites didn't just escape here—they took control. They built this entire system, and now they're running Mars like it's Earth's new capital."
The group stopped, their eyes scanning the towering structures ahead. It was clear now. Mars wasn't just an emergency refuge. The most influential and powerful people on Earth had relocated to the Red Planet, establishing a society that operated with even more efficiency than the one they'd left behind.
"They didn't hide. They didn't retreat," Viktor said quietly, his voice filled with both awe and disbelief. "They took over. Mars is theirs."
Brady's expression hardened. "And they didn't bother to warn us."
Caleb shook his head. "They never cared. Mars was always a backup. Now, it's the new center of power."
"So what now?" Jason asked, looking to Brady for direction.
Brady took a deep breath, considering their options. "Now we get to work. We need to understand exactly what's going on here, who's in charge, and how we can use this to our advantage. And we need to be smart about it."
The team continued walking through the bustling city, more determined than ever to learn the truth. The elites weren't just surviving on Mars—they were thriving. They had built their own world, and it was more advanced and more powerful than anything Brady could have imagined.
But that world was not about to be left unchecked. Not anymore.
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