The black outs, constricted days and lengthy period inside got to us all. Gillian called out to Simone for their daily catch up “quick our families on the split screen”. “Alright coming”. They sat down after the announcement made in the light of darkness. After the rolling red dust campaign, the planet was almost in total darkness and the outside even clogged up suits. But that didn’t stop people ...

“We may inhabit this side of the Ea-, Mars, but that doesn’t mean we’re the only ones here.” Jade yelled to her sister Rose. “There is an entire war not far from here! How could you be so careless to steal from their resources?!”

“They don’t even know we’re here!” Rose shot back at her elder.

“And if they figure out, we’re dead. We don’t have any other place to go. Planets don’t come cheap.”

“The...

The dust. There was no escaping it. My life existed solely within an air-tight village, but somehow the dust always got in in. Sometimes I wonder at it (...had to be particles clinging to Suits that had been outside). Sometimes I ignore it. Sometimes, it makes me so angry I could scream.

Today, I wiped down my cooking station calmly, letting out a small sigh when I lifted the rag to see the rust...

“We always knew there were others. Other people, other beings. Mars being a huge planet we are used to hearing of wars over land and territory however we have never had it fall onto our doorstep.

We worked hard creating our homes, our food, our families and this conflict will not hinder our progress.”

I look up from my bowl, and to the screen projected onto the wall in front of me. I sat in sh...

Surrounding me are other people covered in dust, shaking with fear and clueless as to what will happen next. A group of us, maybe 12 people or so, are squished inside a small crater behind a large rock we can only hope that will protect us. I stare up at it and pray it won’t fall on top of us. In the distance, shouting can be heard. Every few moments, I notice it’s just a little bit closer to us. ...

Dear Diary,

Day 325 of living on the Red Planet, and I am bored out of my mind. I still cannot find work due the war. I try to get out as much as I can, when the Zeeps are in their nocturnal cycle. I still find it odd that the Karks don’t attack them, even though their honor dictates that they do not strike sleeping enemies. Yet another way they differ from humans.

I browse the same stores, ...

I have to write this quickly. I’m very aware of the fact that as soon as one of them realise I’m writing this, I’m going to be killed. That doesn’t scare me, but you guys out there not knowing the truth does.

This planet has been known for centuries as “The peaceful planet”, which has just a handful of kinda creatures leaving in perfect harmony. I’m here to tell you guys that is not at all correct...

Everyday I fear for my life. I fear for my sister’s life. We came to Mars for a good life, for a new break after our parents died. And we just needed a new home. We weren’t expecting a war to exist on a planet thought to be uninhabited. They live on the surface. Our colony is underground. We haven’t seen the light of day in almost a year. Nor do we think we ever will see the light. There have been...

Little Leo sat on his Daddies lap. "Listen my little elf." Daddy said. "Okay, Daddy." "Daddy has to go to fight." "Like when big brother Daniel fights the monsters on the games." "Yes, little Elf just like that." "But you'll come back right?" Little Leo asks with a sad expression on his elfin face. "Of course I will baby." "Okay, Daddy."

Time skip two months later

Mommy sat on the sarf (couch in...

Swing,

Lift,

Swing,

Lift.

It was terribly monotonous being a miner on Mars. We do the same thing every hour, every day, every week, every year. It’s just,

Swing,

Lift,

Swing,

Lift.

Over and over again. On Mars we don’t have a constitution or laws that stop slave labor, so it’s just,

Swing,

Lift,

Swing,

Lift.

Eventually ones mind starts to wonder about things. The new war, for instance. Some of th...