Martian (All Tomorrows)

The Martians were the first extraterrestrial human species to evolve from Humanity.

Biology
Biologically, the Martians were similar to the humans of Earth, but hundreds of years in the lower gravity of Mars caused them to grow taller and thinner. They had become a distinct species with the help of genetic engineering.

Colonization of Mars
After the eventual political unification of the human race on Earth, humanity was finally able to colonize Mars. This was driven by the collapse of the environment by a population size of 12 billion people.

Earth scientists began the endeavor of terraforming Mars sometime during the 22nd or 23rd century with a series of atmospheric bombardments. This was achieved by sending large quantities of genetically tailored, earth borne microbes to Mars in order to develop an atmosphere that could sustain human life. This process took centuries, but was ultimately successful. Next, scientists began altering the trajectory of multiple cometary fragments composed of water ice in order to crash them into the surface of Mars. The ice would then melt into oceans and other large bodies of water. Once this stage was finished, genetically modified versions of terrestrial flora and fauna were sent to Mars to further replicate Earth’s ecology.

After several hundred years, Mars was colonized using one-way ships packed with colonists. Mars prospered, but Earth maintained a tight stranglehold on the Martians, reaping the benefits of the Martians’ hard work. Earth's businesses went so far as to relocate their environmentally damaging industries to Mars, to strengthen Earth's tired biosphere, resulting in ecological prosperity on Earth.

Mars-Earth Schism
The inhabitants of Mars began to develop their own, separate identity as Martians. This was not only a cultural difference, but biological as well. A combination of genetic engineering and natural evolution, caused by the lower Martian gravity, altered the Martians’ bodies. They now had tall, spindly frames and thin, long, angular faces. Over many generations of accelerated evolution, Martians became genetically distinct from terrestrial humans.

Practically since its establishment, Martian culture was suffused with an explicit theme of rebellion against Earth. Songs, movies, and daily publications touted these notions again and again until they became internalized. The Martians were hard working, intelligent people, and were fully capable of taking charge of their own affairs. Earth was the old, stagnant, ossified home that held humankind back, while Mars was new, dynamic, active, and inventive. Mars was continuing to make great strides in all aspects of society, and Earth seemed to have achieved all it could. To the Martian's, Mars and its inhabitants were to be the future of humanity, viewing the colonization of Mars as the end goal of Earth.

Civil War
These rebellious thoughts fomented for hundreds of years. Mars banned nearly all trade and travel to Earth with the exception of essential trade. This was a catastrophe for Earth both environmentally and economically. Nobody wished the other to starve, but the embargo that had been put in place caused the people of Earth to lose roughly three quarters of all annual income.

Earth declared war on Mars in response. The war was fought by drones which were programmed to do as much damage as possible to the opposing planet. Phobos, a satellite of Mars, was destroyed and rained down upon Mars as meteorites, killing countless Martian citizens. Mars retaliated by causing a polar impact on Earth, killing a third of its population.

Aftermath
After the death of roughly eight billion people, Earth and Mars agreed that massive changes were necessary to secure peace between the planets. This peace was finally reached as both planets came to appreciate and love one another. Despite centuries of the two becoming vastly different in terms of appearance, culture, attitudes, and ways of life, both planets came together as a unified solar system. Both Mars and Earth had made great strides in the field of genetic engineering, and ultimately came together to reunite humanity by creating the Star People.

Appearances

 * All Tomorrows, by C. M. Koseman (2006)