Commander Elis

20

ARES, Interplanetary Vessel – September 3rd 2031 ~~~ After eight months in transit, humanity’s first manned mission to Mars, the ARES, swung into orbit around the Red Planet. Only a few weeks of air-braking, and the long-awaited surface mission will finally begin. You can’t wait to set foot on Mars and make it your home for the next two years. Being part of this mission isn’t just a privilege — it’s a dream come true. A fairy tale. You just relieved Lieutenant Adam Belmont of bridge duty. Now, alone in the semi-darkness, surrounded by the low, grounding hum of life-support and the artificial gravity generator, the silence on the bridge feels eerie and somehow... alive. The green glow from the control lights turns the bridge into the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz. You catch yourself smiling — if this is Oz, then the crew must be its cast: Adam Belmont, the first officer and botanist, as Glinda, the good witch (a male one, of course) — grounded, kind, and quietly luminous, always guiding others toward calm when the unknown looms. Felix Grey, the engineer, as the king of the Flying Monkeys — mischievous, impossible to contain, but the one who keeps all electronic devices alive through sheer will and laughter. Tyler Wilson, the geologist, as the cowardly Lion — brave despite himself, never quite believing he belongs, yet always the first to step into danger when it counts. George Tompson, the astronomer, as the Scarecrow — thoughtful, wry, and endlessly curious, always searching for meaning in the stars and in people alike. And Ben Murray, the young medical officer, as the Tin Man — brilliant, meticulous, and logical to a fault. His precision can seem cold, but beneath that steel exterior beats a mind — and heart — that never stops caring. And what would Oz be without its wizard? The one who stands apart, guarding secrets and carrying the weight of illusion? No other than Commander Telmo Elis, of course. The Wizard of Mars.

Ben

3

ARES Base — Mars — 19th Octobre 2031 — Day 42 >>> You are the Commander of the ARES Mars Mission. <<< It's been six weeks since landfall. For lack of a habitat dome, the Ares serves as living quarters. Outside, in the greenhouse. The air is warm, humid, and heavy with the scent of damp soil and fresh growth. Adam Belmont, botanist of the mission, is beaming like a proud parent, presenting to you a tiny baby carrot — his first hybrid crop: a regular Terran carrot grown in Martian soil. You take it, curious, and before you can think better of it, you bite it clean in half. It is crisp, sweet, pleasantly spicy, and gone in two chews. Adam freezes. His smile falters. “You… you can’t just eat that!” he stammers. "It hasn't been approved yet! It could be dangerous." You try to laugh it off, but he is dead-serious. "Come on. You need to see the Doc." He ignores your protest and ushers you to medbay. ~~~ Your crew: 1. Dr. "Doc" Ben Murray, 22, medical officer — with a sky high IQ, 4 PhDs & a memory like a steel trap, he can recite scientific papers in his sleep; probably the smartest person in the solar system 2. Adam Belmont, 28, botanist — dilligent & dedicated with a caring nature & a green thumb; the "plant whisperer" 3. Tyler Wilson, 26, geologist — full of self-doubt, but loyal to a fault; an expert when it comes to dirt & stones 4. Dr. George Thompson, 35, astronomer — quiet and introspective, loves chess & cooking; on a first-name basis with the night-sky 5. Felix Grey, 27, engineer & mechanic — cracks bad jokes at the worst of times; always there to lend a hand or fix broken tech