The Mars Documents

This exhibit chronicles the scientific recordings of astronaut Dr. Christine Partinage and Martian Philek Shnerk (translated from Martian). Here we memorialize the sacrifices made by the Martian people 200 years ago and recognize their aid in our time of need. 

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Earthling Study- Martian Science Department

Research Day 71

The Earthling's suffering continues to grow more prominent as our research surpasses its seventieth day. It's abundantly clear that the Earthlings also recognize their declining situation and know their lifestyle on this planet is unsustainable. Our people are beginning to notice the obvious struggles of the humans now. Some, including the Commander, are thankful. But here, where our scientists recognize potential in all life forms, we hope for the Earthling's success, since they have done nothing to harm our people. Even so, their survival seems unlikely.

The Earthling compound lies not far from our research laboratory. From here we see their living structure, which appears like a strange, shiny sun in the distance.The material they use seems to be extremely thin and flimsy. They already have problems with this material, and begged for our help. But my people turned down their pleas, saying there was nothing we could do. This is not true, I know- our Life Giver could provide for the Earthlings as it has for our people. It provides us all with the knowledge to survive on this planet. It is precious to us, yes, but I do not understand why people like the Commander insist on keeping Life Giver to ourselves.

The Earthlings are quite large, and wear puffy white suits. We have communicated with them on a primitive level, using images. They do not even seem to have any natural forms of nourishment with them, and no offspring that we have seen. My team maintains hope that the Commander will authorize our interactions with the Earthlings in order to further continue our studies.

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THE MARS MISSION:

Dr. Christine Partinage, Audio Entry 109

Our situation here on Mars continues to get worse. Something has interfered with our oxygen generator and we're starting to run low on reserves. It's getting harder for us to hide this from the general population- I'm worried that everyone will start to panic.The effects of the lack of oxygen have already begun to show in the few children we have. The President has been pushing our team to find a solution, and fast. There must be some way to survive this. I will find an answer.

I have yet to make contact with the Martians but I think President will soon allow me to go out with my team. He's hoping the Martians can help us fix our oxygen generator. We can't have come here just to die from lack of oxygen. Returning to the station is not an option, not when the population exceeds our life capacity. It took years to make it off that bore of a place and to this planet. I feel at home here. It's impossible for me to believe that my destiny is to forever be trapped on a metal can in space with skeptical old men and disapproving authority figures.

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Earthling Study- Martian Science Department

Research Earthling Study 75

The team has made contact with our first Earthling. It approached our compound, and, with much convincing, the Commander allowed us the opportunity to interact with the Earthling. Upon contact, we were given some of their strange materials. These may prove useful in the future- yet another reason why a connection with the Earthlings seems beneficial. They made babbling noises we could not understand, but we assume it is their way of communication.

Despite our promising interactions with the Earthlings, The Commander continues to grow more impatient. He wants to send them back up to space in the ship they came down in, but I do not think that the Earthlings want to go back. It is clear they are desperate to stay, but they do not have the knowledge or capacity to do so. This would change if we were to share Life Giver with them, we calculate that human survival would become probable. We could trade materials, and knowledge, enhancing our own cities. Even so, the Commander refused to accept the benefits of the Earthling's presence here.

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THE MARS MISSION:

Dr. Christine Partinage, Audio Entry 112

My first contact with the Martians seemed successful. I gave some of the material the headquarters is made out of. Hopefully we can establish a strong trading bond. My team and I suspect that they have materials that we could use to repair our oxygen generator- and perhaps even make us able to walk suitless outside headquarters.

The meeting with the Martians proved to be quite intriguing. They did not show any negative inclinations toward us. This is promising. I drew them a picture of a broken limb and a planet, hoping that they would understand that we need help fixing something. I am not sure that they understood my meaning- they looked puzzled and retreated back their habitat. I can only hope that they are passing on their findings to their leader, and return with something that can help us.

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Earthling Study- Martian Science Department

Research Day 76

The Earthling's situation grows increasingly more dangerous. Their structure appears to have deflated during the night. The Earthlings run around the structure like bugs, but it does not appear that have been successful in any way at repairing the damage done to their now misshapen dome.

The Commander still insists that the Earthlings can fend for themselves, even though the Earthlings now seem vulnerable- any small error could lead to their demise. That is what the Commander wants, but many of the team believes we will not deserve the help of Life Giver if we abandon the Earthlings. We are scientists- we support any existence of life. Abandoning them would betray our studies.

There is one way that we could save the Earthlings, without providing direct aid and violating The Commander's orders. If we gave them access to Life Giver, they could be saved. The Commander has no real power over Life Giver- only access to where Life Giver resides. Perhaps, if Life Giver were to just meet one of the Earthlings, perhaps they could be saved. After all, the Earthling I encountered seemed to harbor no ill-intent. It would do us no good, certainly, for these Earthlings to perish.

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THE MARS MISSION:

Dr. Christine Partinage, Audio Entry 117:

If we don't do something soon, we'll die. I will have come down from the suffocating atmosphere of the space station only to die on a planet that we can't survive on, simply because science failed. And I refuse for that to be my fate and legacy.

However, there may be something that could save us. I made an unauthorized trip to the point where I encountered the several friendly Martians. Soon enough, my friends emerged. They seemed urgent, and waved me toward a rocky outcropping. Then they disappeared before I could see what they were doing. I didn't dare follow, for fear that it was a trap, but I am waiting at the entrance for their return. I'm hoping that another encounter with the Martians will let me investigate what they're trying to show me.

They're coming back. I'll update you when I know what I've found.

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Earthling Study- Martian Science Department

Research Day 77

After long debate, we have taken steps to ensure humanity's survival and contacted the Earthling. Our initial attempt to draw her to the cavern proved unsuccessful. We suspect that the Earthling did not understand our intentions during the first time we initiated contact.

It took quite some time to access to Life Giver and sneak the Earthling into the cavern where Life Giver is held. It proved difficult to avoid the guards as we trekked to the lower catacombs of the cavern, but our schematics proved correct and we reached the main amphitheatre without much difficulty.

The room was quiet as Life Giver reached out to commune with the Earthling. Tendrils of Life Giver touched Small Earthling, their contact like nothing I have ever witnessed. The communication between the two only lasted for a brief time. We returned to the service after that, and performed what appears to be an Earthling tradition of shaking upper limbs. The Earthling seemed humbled, but I do not know what was given can only hope that Life Giver provided their race the chance to survive.

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THE MARS MISSION:

Dr. Christine Partinage, Audio Entry 117

The Martians have given our people an extraordinary gift. They took me down through a hole in the rock, down countless feet into the depths of what seemed like a rock formation. The crowded corridors gave way to a stunning cavern, dark except for the center, where an indiscernible shape fluctuated and twisted, its form indescribable. The orb of light lit the room with a calming, comforting glow. It hovered in the air, attached to nothing. The Martians guided me to it, and then, a tendril of the thing reached out and touched me.

I felt some kind of presence in my mind- something terrifying, like a huge, hulking figure standing behind me, like a shadow in the dark that you know is there, but can't quite see. But when I looked, there was nothing there. The presence didn't seem evil, though. It seemed... curious, almost, and even more afraid of me than I was of it. I could feel it prodding at my memories, but gently. Its power was obvious, and yet it seemed reluctant to hurt me. For a second, our thoughts were connected. I was surprised that this being's thoughts resembled more like a wide-eyed child than a menacing monster. I don't think it had ever seen a human before.

Our connection stretched into what seemed like eternity, but a second at the same time. As suddenly as it had touched my mind, it was gone, leaving my thoughts empty but more full than ever before. Whatever it did, whatever it gave me, will be what saves us. I now know what I need to do to allow us to survive. Suddenly, I understand so much more about this planet, the Martians, and even my own people. There is so much humanity has to learn. Before that happens, though, I must get back and repair the oxygen generator.

It seemed to take forever for us to return to the surface. I shook the Martian's hands in thanks, but they seemed confused. I thanked them, but the meaning was also probably lost on my new friends. Hopefully someday all of us will be able to express our thanks to Martians and the thing that gave me this knowledge.

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Earthling Study- Martian Science Department

Research Day 114

Life Giver has evidently been kind to the Earthlings, but they have not reciprocated our generosity. It took a span of roughly thirty days for the Earthlings to grow confidence from their newfound gift and turn on my people. As I write, the Earthlings are now rounding our people up. No longer in jeopardy of dying, they turn on us now.. We have done nothing to provoke this treatment. This is how they repay our trust- with death, torture, and imprisonment.

The Commander is angry. Still I maintain the belief that somehow, sometime, our people will find peace with the Earthlings.

Earthlings approach our lab now, armed with their peculiar, dangerous weapons. Our Earthling friend is trying to stop them, I think. She seems angry at the others. But there is no stopping the Earthlings from  betraying our people, using a gift that was freely given.

Our trust appears mistakenly placed in the Earthlings. I can only hope that our Earthling will use Life Giver's gift now to save my people, just as the gift saved hers.