Finding Jake On Mars

Discovering Planet Mars

In a future where trips to Mars have become commercialized ventures for the ultra-wealthy, Jake is hired by the influential Landmark Family to secure and register vast territories on the Red Planet before competitors arrive. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and a singular mission—claim land and return—Jake views the assignment as just another job. But everything changes when he stumbles upon a hidden ravine housing ancient alien ruins, evidence that humanity was not the first to step foot on Mars. Faced with a moral dilemma, Jake must choose between reporting the find—which would freeze all land claims and ruin his payday—or keeping it hidden to complete his mission. When mysterious, unmarked intruders arrive at the site, it becomes clear he’s not the only one who knows. In a bold move, Jake allies with the rival explorers—members of the Outer Planets Research Initiative—and broadcasts the discovery to Earth, sacrificing profit for truth. Jake’s decision sparks a planetary reckoning, transforming Mars from a colonial asset into a shared heritage site. Though he loses everything materially, he gains something greater: a place in history as the man who valued knowledge over greed—and helped protect a mystery that belongs to all of humanity.

On the Staff

Badge of Infamy

The computer seemed to work as it should. The speed was within acceptable limits. He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots. The flare bloomed, and he yanked down on the little lever.