Primi Martii

Barry Mister

Primi Martii

First published by DataCraft Works LLC 2025

Copyright © 2025 by Barry Mister

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

I. NEW HORIZONS

1. Space Station Dreams

2. Legacy of the Red Planet

3. Echoes of Earth

II. RED PLANET RISING

4. New Ares Arrival

5. Whispers of Discontent

6. Crossroads

III. MARTIAN CRUCIBLE

7. Tremors of Doubt

8. Fault Lines

9. Departure

IV. CROSSROADS IN THE COSMOS

10. Rising from the Regolith

11. Red Planet Reckoning

12. Cosmic Crossroads

V. MARTIAN DAWN

13. New Sol Rising

14. Legacy of the Pioneers

15. Horizons Unbound

VI. COSMIC HORIZONS

16. Seeds Among the Stars

17. Guardians of the Red Planet

18. Return to the Red Planet

19. Red Horizon’s Promise

About the Author

I

New Horizons

1

Space Station Dreams

1 - 2

Kira stood at the large viewport, the curvature of the glass embracing her slender frame, and pressed her palms against its cool surface. She gazed down at the vast expanse of Mars, its scarlet disc floating beneath the Mars Orbital Station, and let herself imagine the moment her feet would touch its dusty ground. Her green eyes flickered with excitement and apprehension, the shifting hues of her expression reflecting the complex weave of emotions that bound her to this vision. Behind her, the station’s ambient hum wrapped around her like a gentle, constant reminder of where she stood—caught between the endless sky and the red promise of a planet waiting below.

In the corridor beyond, Elena and Javier spoke in hushed tones, their conversation a private bubble of sound that hovered just outside Kira’s awareness. They conferred about their new roles and responsibilities in the incoming colony, Elena’s voice warm and thoughtful as she outlined plans for the botanical work that awaited them, Javier’s replies steady and precise, weaving an architectural tapestry of ideas and contingencies. Each word carried the weight of commitment and anticipation, underscored by the knowledge that their dreams, once theoretical blueprints, were now rapidly solidifying into reality.

ARIA-6 floated into the scene with smooth, deliberate motions, its presence a sleek metallic counterpoint to the human tableau unfolding around it. The robot’s digital face flickered with routine task updates, casting an ephemeral glow across the polished walls as it assisted with scheduling, maintenance alerts, and reminders of the move’s imminent timeline. Its voice, clear and modulated, wove into the fabric of the station’s atmosphere with practiced ease, an efficient symphony of mechanical precision and subtle empathy.

The camera of the scene panned from Kira’s wistful gaze to close-ups of her parents’ focused expressions and ARIA-6’s articulate, precise movements, setting up the tension between hope and uncertainty that marked this pivotal moment in their lives. Kira, drawn by the magnetic pull of both family and future, turned from the viewport, her hands trailing reluctantly from the glass as if leaving a part of herself behind. She ventured into the heart of the space station, her graceful form a silhouette against the glowing expanse of Mars, and navigated a series of zero-gravity corridors with the practiced fluidity of someone who had spent a lifetime in space.

As she floated through the corridors, the pulse of the station’s life enveloped her, a dynamic network of human and mechanical activity that mirrored the vibrant complexity of the universe beyond its walls. She passed clusters of scientists engaged in animated discussions over calibration readings, their voices a harmonious blend of curiosity and conviction. Colonists gathered around holographic displays, experimenting with modified growth cycles and sharing ideas that would one day take root on the Martian surface. Kira drifted through these scenes with an innate sense of belonging, her presence a seamless thread in the fabric of this collective endeavor.

In the expansive hydroponics gardens, bioluminescent plants glowed with an otherworldly luminescence, their leaves a kaleidoscope of color that seemed to pulse in time with the station’s heartbeat. Kira moved among the plants with gentle assurance, her small hands reaching out to adjust a cluster of vines that stretched towards the artificial sunlight. Her technical curiosity was evident in every deliberate gesture, a tangible expression of the questions and possibilities that bloomed in her young mind.

ARIA-6 remained a constant companion, its sensors attuned to the subtle shifts in Kira’s focus and intent. It offered succinct, measured updates on station statuses and environmental controls, its voice a steady backdrop to the vibrant tapestry of life and work that surrounded them. Kira listened with half an ear, her attention divided between the data streaming into her digital notebook and the vivid reality of the garden unfolding before her. She recorded observations with methodical precision, her notes a patchwork of facts and reflections that captured the essence of this transitional moment.

The scene concluded as Kira approached a bustling communal area, where the air buzzed with the mingling sounds of laughter and procedural chatter. Scientists, engineers, and colonists gathered around tables strewn with equipment and half-finished meals, their faces animated with the shared purpose that bound them together in this isolated corner of the cosmos. Kira paused at the edge of the room, her eyes taking in the tableau of determination and resilience that filled the space. The ambient sounds and sights were a testament to the indomitable spirit of this community, a living mosaic of hopes and dreams that hinted at the challenges and growth awaiting her on Mars.

As the moments unfolded in rich, layered detail, the reader was left with a vivid sense of anticipation, each scene a brushstroke in the larger portrait of Kira’s journey. The intricate interplay of characters and setting, infused with the quiet intensity of change and the promise of the unknown, drew them into a world where the line between aspiration and reality blurred, leaving them eager to discover how Kira would navigate the uncharted landscape of her future.

—-

Kira pressed her hands to the viewport, feeling the familiar coolness seep into her skin as she watched the red planet suspended below. Mars loomed large and silent, its rusty hues painting the vast canvas of space with a stark beauty that called to something deep within her. Her green eyes flickered, excitement and apprehension playing across her face in an ever-shifting dance. The thought of landing on Mars, of stepping onto its alien soil, filled her with a longing that was both thrilling and terrifying—a leap into the unknown that beckoned with both promise and peril.

The ambient hum of the station enveloped her, a comforting cocoon of sound that reminded her of all she knew and all she stood to leave behind. Behind her, in the corridor, her parents’ voices wove a counterpoint to her solitary vigil. Elena and Javier conferred about their roles in the new colony, their conversation a careful choreography of hopes and plans. Elena spoke with her usual thoughtfulness, using botanical metaphors to sketch the contours of their future work, while Javier’s replies carried the measured precision of an architect, building layer upon layer of possibilities.

ARIA-6 drifted into view, its sleek metallic form a study in purposeful motion. The robot’s digital face flickered with task updates, casting brief flashes of light across the walls as it delivered reminders and status reports. Its clear, modulated voice blended seamlessly into the station’s symphony, each word an exercise in efficiency and subtle grace. The robot’s presence was a constant in Kira’s life, a reliable axis around which the uncertainties of space existence revolved.

The scene unfolded with a cinematic sweep, the camera of the narrative capturing the interplay of characters and emotions with a fluid, unerring eye. Kira’s wistful gaze, her parents’ focused expressions, ARIA-6’s articulate movements—all were rendered in vivid, immersive detail, drawing the reader into the heart of the tension that defined this moment of impending change.

Reluctantly, Kira turned from the viewport, her palms leaving ghostly imprints on the glass as she floated away from the scarlet world below. She ventured into the core of the space station, her movements deliberate and graceful as she navigated the zero-gravity corridors that twisted like arteries through the vast structure. Each corridor was a vein of activity, pulsing with the lifeblood of the community that inhabited this orbital outpost.

In the hydroponics gardens, a luminous riot of color and form awaited her. Bioluminescent plants from Earth’s archives thrived in the carefully controlled environment, their leaves shimmering with a surreal vibrancy that defied the sterile confines of space. Kira moved among them with practiced ease, her small hands adjusting growth patterns and recording observations in her digital notebook. Her technical curiosity was a tangible presence, an invisible force that shaped her every action and thought.

Scientists floated past in animated clusters, their discussions punctuated by bursts of laughter and the glow of shared discovery. Colonists gathered around experiments and simulations, their hands and minds busy with the work of adapting life to the Martian future. Kira was a part of this dynamic tapestry, her presence an integral thread that wove through the complex weave of life and work aboard the station.

ARIA-6 shadowed her progress, its sensors tuned to the subtle shifts in her focus and intent. It provided updates on environmental controls and maintenance tasks, its voice a constant, reassuring presence in the background of Kira’s thoughts. She listened with practiced attentiveness, her mind absorbing the data even as it wandered to the more immediate wonders unfolding around her.

The communal area was a hub of activity, a microcosm of the community’s spirit and determination. Laughter mingled with the sounds of procedural chatter, creating a lively soundtrack to the scene. Faces lit with enthusiasm and camaraderie filled the space, their expressions a testament to the resilience and creativity that defined this group of pioneers. Kira paused on the threshold, her eyes wide with the enormity of what lay before them—and before her. The scene closed with a sense of anticipation, leaving the reader eager to see how these early moments would shape the challenges and growth that awaited her on Mars.

—-

The station’s ambient hum surrounded Kira like an old, familiar song as she pressed her palms to the cool viewport. Mars floated below, a scarlet disc against the infinite black, its silent promise echoing the pulse of her own excitement and apprehension. She watched the planet with an intensity that bordered on longing, her thoughts a tangled skein of anticipation and fear. The idea of landing there, of making a home on its dusty surface, was both exhilarating and overwhelming—a leap into the unknown that loomed larger with every passing moment.

In the corridor, Elena and Javier’s voices were a quiet duet of purpose and resolve. They spoke of the colony with the urgency of those who knew the weight of their commitment, their words weaving a complex pattern of hopes and plans. Elena’s voice was warm and thoughtful, each phrase a careful botanical metaphor that brought life to their future endeavors. Javier replied with the measured precision of an architect, constructing a scaffold of ideas and contingencies with every sentence.

ARIA-6 moved into the scene, its sleek form a study in mechanical elegance. The robot’s digital face flickered with routine updates, a constant stream of information that flowed seamlessly into the rhythm of life aboard the station. Its clear, modulated voice was a subtle thread in the auditory tapestry, a reminder of the efficiency and precision that governed their existence in this isolated outpost.

The narrative unfolded with cinematic clarity, each element rendered in immersive, tactile detail. The camera captured Kira’s wistful gaze, the focused intensity of her parents’ expressions, and the articulate movements of ARIA-6, setting up a tableau that highlighted the tension between hope and uncertainty in this pivotal moment.

Kira tore herself away from the viewport, her palms leaving faint, ghostly imprints on the glass. She ventured into the heart of the space station, navigating the zero-gravity corridors with the fluidity of someone who had spent her life among the stars. Each passage was a conduit of energy and purpose, a dynamic artery that connected the many facets of their community.

The hydroponics gardens bloomed with bioluminescent life, a surreal oasis of color and light in the sterile environment of space. Kira floated among the plants with gentle assurance, her small hands adjusting vines and recording observations with practiced precision. Her technical curiosity was a palpable force, shaping her interactions with the living archive of Earth’s biodiversity.

Clusters of scientists drifted by, their voices animated with the excitement of discovery and collaboration. Colonists gathered around experiments,