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Mars
The fourth planet of the Sol system, Mars remains a desolate, inhospitable world even after decades of colonization efforts that began in 2103 CE with the founding of Lowell City by the European Space Agency. During the early years of settlement, satellites near the Promethei Planum began detecting unusual magnetic field shifts, lending the region a reputation as Mars's Bermuda Triangle. It was not until 2148 that the source of this strange phenomenon was identified by a prospecting team exploring near the Deseado Crater: the subterranean ruins of a lost alien civilization, the Protheans. This monumental find resulted in technological breakthroughs that allowed humanity to develop FTL drives and mass effect technology, and also led to the discovery of the Charon mass relay. Despite the central role of Mars in furthering human space exploration and contact with the rest of the galaxy, the planet has since become a quiet, unremarkable backwater. Immigration and development are restricted as xenoarchaeologists continue the search for new Prothean artifacts, diverting potential colonists to garden worlds such as Eden Prime and Terra Nova. more...