When our story begins, Mars has been settled by human beings from Earth over the
last 50 years. They have dug into the walls of various chasms on Mars such as Valles
Marineris, building atmosphered spaces such as Marineris Station that plays a role in Book
One. There is a slow-moving, long term plan to provide Mars with water through asteroidal ice
and this is going on in the background but will take some time.