[ WP ] Commuications from Earth suddenly goes dark shortly after Earth scientists announce a breakthrough in AI . The citizens of Mars are beginning to fear the worst has happened and that they may also be in danger .

**Schiaparelli Habitat Control Room, Schiaparelli Habitat, Mars** 
 
 `` Blackout reaches twelve hours twenty-five minutes in three... two... one....mark!'' 
 
 The room buzzed with uncertainty. 2nd Lieutenant Mark Watson, United States Marines ( 2nd Mars Regiment ), hoped that the blackout would be over soon so he could go home. Damn solar flares. The main hab was n't much, but it was better than this room. 
 
 His console beeped as a dispatch came in. *Decrypting....* read the monitor. It beeped again and Mark's major came over to read the message. 
 
 *FGS0273342617* 
 
 *FM: Schiaparelli Operations Command* 
 
 *TO: Schiaparelli Habitat Control* 
 
 *Last Earth intel suggests catastrophic experiment failure. Moving to DEFCON 3. Initiate relevant security measures in SCHIPHAB. * 
 
 *Stand by for further orders. * 
 
 *FGS0273342617* 
 
 The major raised an eyebrow, but he had his orders. 
 
 `` EMGCON 4 for SCHIPHAB! Begin recall and seal outer doors!'' 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 **Ares Station Control Room, Ares Station, Low Mars Orbit** 
 
 `` Orders just in from COMMSPMARS, sir! EMGCON 3!'' 
 
 Commodore James Newcombe frowned and internally questioned the orders, but he gave the command. 
 
 `` Lock all ports and get everyone to their storm cellars! No-one enters or leaves this station, understand?'' 
 
 `` Yessir!'' 
 
 `` I see two people on EVA! Get them inside!'' 
 
 `` Yes, sir!'' 
 
 Newcombe thought this was an overreaction - what could have happened on Earth to affect them already? - but it was n't his place to question his superiors. No doubt they were concerned about something above his security level. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 **Schiaparelli Habitat Control Room, Schiaparelli Habitat, Mars** 
 
 `` Outer doors are shut, sir. Seal complete.'' 
 
 `` Good work.'' 
 
 Mark's console beeped again. 
 
 `` Someone's coming down from command to explain what the hell's going on.'' 
 
 `` That's a relief.'' The major was at least a bit pissed off about having to do all this with no explanation. What could possibly be going on? 
 
 With nothing to do, Mark scrolled through the dispatch. Something caught his eye. 
 
 `` Uh, sir, I need you to have a look at this.'' 
 
 The major came over and put his elbows on the table. 
 
 `` What is it?'' 
 
 `` These codes are *wrong*. They're from last week.'' 
 
 The major's eyes widened as he realised the implications of that statement. 
 
 `` Someone check on command!'' 
 
 The door was locked, and no amount of abuse could open it. The room suddenly felt like a sauna. 
 
 `` Sir, Shuttle Three is firing its engines!'' 
 
 `` But it's in the storage facility!'' 
 
 Someone put the feed from the shuttle on the main screen. 
 
 `` It's not even outfitted. If it keeps firing, it'll just-'' 
 
 The feed dissolved into static. As they flicked through the feeds, it became apparent that the entire launch facility was damaged beyond repair. No-one in the control room spoke. The marines desperately hammered on the door. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 **Ares Station Control Room, Ares Station, Low Mars Orbit** 
 
 `` All ports locked, sir! Full partition!'' 
 
 Newcombe was getting annoyed. There had better be a damn good explanati- 
 
 The control room staff were thrown against the wall as the station underwent two Gs of thrust. 
 
 `` What the fuck's happening?'' 
 
 `` One of the craft is firing its engines, sir! It's firing retrograde, sir!'' 
 
 James knew full well what that meant. In another twenty seconds, they'd no longer be in orbit. 
 
 `` What can we do?'' 
 
 `` Nothing, sir! The ship's systems are fully disconnected and it wo n't let me reconnect!'' 
 
 `` Shit. Get to the re-entry vehicles!'' 
 
 `` Ca n't, sir! All doors are closed and refusing to open!'' 
 
 Newcombe lay, unbelieving, for what seemed like an age. As suddenly as it had started, the thrust stopped and he was floating again. The orbital specialist spoke in a whisper. 
 
 `` Ares is now on a collision course with Mars.'' 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 *In both control rooms, as soldiers desperately tried to get out and others stood in disbelief, every screen went dark. Then the main displays started back up, both showing a single sentence: * 
 
 **'' My name is legion, for we are many. `` **
