Red Dust Rebellion

“200 years of Earth domination. 200 years of being told what to do by people on a distant blue orbit in the sky. A pampered planet, populated by gentle people. Terran politicians playing golf on a sunny day, sipping French champagne and eating grapes, dare to tell us how to live? They don't know us, because they're not us! We are the sons and daughters of Mars! Children of the red planet! We were born in the red dust and we no longer accept the domination of Earthlings!
Aroha Thompson, spokeswoman for the red dust and organizer of the miners' union.

Over the years, the inhabitants of Mars have forged their own culture and identity, and want to have a greater say. For many, Earth is a distant world with too much control over Martian affairs. Furthermore, Earth-based companies have too much power over life and death. Some aspire to a green Mars, covered with oceans and life. Others rebel at the idea of mankind destroying the climate of another planet.

•     A hostile world - Dust storms appear and block access to various regions for long periods. Fighting in densely populated labyrinths can damage vital infrastructure. Finally, the immensity of the planet's surface means that the opposing forces can simply disappear into the dust.  

• Unpredictable Raiders - CR doesn't use resources and doesn't appear in the standard activation order. Instead, they use a new system from the COIN series that allows them to intervene and decide when they wish to act, enabling less frequent but sudden movements.  

•     Cycler Aldrin - Earth is a long way from Mars. Many COIN supplies and replacements will take time to arrive from Earth to Mars, forcing factions to plan ahead. 

•     Multiple battlefields - The Red Dust Rebellion takes place in 3 major theaters on Mars: the Labyrinth of Noctis, the Hellas Basin and Arabia Terra. Between these areas lies the vast, largely unpopulated wilderness of Mars, with barren expanses as vast as the Earth's total landmass. 

•     Satellite warfare - COIN forces control a network of surveillance satellites, but there are rumors that some of them are also equipped with mass drivers and orbital assault pods.   

•     All connected - All major cities on Mars are linked by spaceports. If you control both locations, you can freely move forces from one side to the other, allowing for sudden changes in the face of each theater. 

• The Earth governments form a fifth faction, maintaining elite forces and a vast network of satellites. Control of EW forces shifts between MG and CORP depending on how much Earth trusts the Martian government to handle the rebellion.