Mars

Mars is the fourth planet in the Sol system and the most terraformed throughout imperial history. It is known as the breadbasket of the empire, the whole surface devoted to agriculture, with the populace living in underground cities to shelter from dangerous radiation.

The terraforming project on Mars was the first to be completed, int he years before the founding of the Empire. Thermal pumps bring heat from deep underground to the surface and large lakes of water have been seeded under the surface. An orbital ring provides an artificial magnetic field, has 2 space elevators at the poles and causes a mid-day eclipse.

Deimos was the location of the first research stations on Mars but was quarentined in 55 IY.

Phobos is the main orbital base of Mars, it has a station with tethers that can scoop craft inot orbit from about 10km altitude which reduces the cost of lifting cargo significantly. Over the centuries 2 of these tethers have been lost and impacted with Mars, leaving persistent scars on the face of the planet.

While the surface of Mars is covered in farms the populance live below the surface in large caverns and tunnels. In the House Periods of the empire society was structured along a serf/lord model but with the dissolusion of the houses the strict classes were also dissolved.

This historic imbalance continued, however, with workers working for land owners who group together in conglomorates. These conglomotates typically own the franchise for running justice and policing on Mars.

The surface of mars is still plagues by dust storms and although the atmosphere has been improved face masks or genetic modifications are required to stay on the surface for long.

Imperial Acomadation
With the founding of the tempore the situation on Mars was uncertain, they had not sworn to any Warlord, although they had been involved in the fighting, so the Emperor offered them a deal. They would retain their autonomy on the proviso that trade flowed and they kept to the surface.