Discovery of a Signal: An intercepted signal coming from the Moon is a classic, high-stakes science fiction trigger, a compelling event that triggers this (fictional) mission to the Moon.

The NASA/ESA angle: This is an ambiguous signal—perhaps complex, repeating patterns similar to the fictional "DNA-style" signals sometimes theorized in other contexts, that are only initially picked up by a deep-space network or a specific lunar-observing mission. The ambiguity necessitates a manned mission to investigate.

HAL and the ARK's Role: Our idea of HAL and the ARK being the only entities with the data and computing power to decode or properly survey the signal's source is cinematic gold. This creates a reliance on the specialized crew and technology, justifying their central role in the mission.

Evidence of Life: The discovery of evidence of other life on the Moon is a monumental event that would instantly trigger a high-priority mission.

The Nature of the Find: This might not be a living organism, but a biosignature—perhaps an unexpected concentration of organic molecules, fossils in an ice sample from a permanently shadowed crater, or a unique biological byproduct found by a robotic lander or rover (like the kind used in current Mars or icy moon exploration proposals). All of these possibilities are for John Storm to discover and interpret.

HAL and the ARK's Role: If the discovery is a subtle anomaly in vast datasets (e.g., spectral analysis of lunar dust or ice), the advanced data processing capabilities of HAL and the ARK would be crucial for initial identification and later, for guiding the human investigation on the lunar surface. This adds a layer of mystery and technical necessity.

Marcus Thorne: Director of Ares Corporation

Core Identity: The ultimate opportunist. Marcus Thorne views the solar system not as a frontier for discovery, but as a balance sheet of untapped resources. His ruthlessness is rooted in a fundamental belief that control equals survival, and only those who take what they want truly succeed.

Estimated Age: 50

1. Origins and Early Life (The Seed of Ambition)

Marcus Thorne was born and raised in a modest, middle-class family in Galveston, Texas, in the shadow of the petrochemical industry and the sprawling NASA infrastructure. His father was a mid-level manager in a failing oil-field services company, constantly chasing volatile contracts and eventually losing everything in a corporate buyout. This early exposure to the brutal realities of the market—where loyalty meant nothing and failure was permanent—scarred Thorne.

He was a hyper-competitive student, not in academics, but in exploiting loopholes. He put himself through Rice University in Houston, studying Finance and Business Law, specializing in aggressive mergers and acquisitions. His focus wasn't on innovation; it was on asset stripping and control.

2. The Rise to Power (The Financial Predator)

Thorne began his career in the early days of privatized space infrastructure. While other companies were focused on rockets and launch costs, Thorne saw the regulatory gray areas forming around orbital debris management and orbital manufacturing.

The Orbital Salvage Hustle: His first major success came when he founded a small, predatory company that specialized in acquiring the salvage rights to failed satellite constellations. He leveraged complex international law to claim rights cheaply, then resold the recovered materials (mostly rare metals) at massive premiums. He gained a reputation for being surgically precise and devoid of sentiment.

The NASA Connection: He understood that to play in the big leagues, he needed institutional knowledge. He cultivated deep, clandestine relationships with former NASA and government procurement officers, offering lucrative consulting contracts. This network gave him advance knowledge of every major planetary geology survey and resource mapping initiative, allowing Ares Corporation to stake claims long before the public, or even other corporate rivals, knew the assets existed.

3. The Birth of Ares Corporation (The Titan Ascendant)

Thorne founded Ares Corporation in his late 30s, deliberately planting its headquarters near Houston—the heart of the aerospace industry—but physically separating it in a fortress-like, modern tower complex that projected strength and isolation.

Ares Corporation's Philosophy: "First to claim, first to profit." Ares rarely builds things from scratch. Instead, it identifies vulnerable or cash-strapped competitors, acquires their resource maps and intellectual property (often through hostile takeovers or legal harassment), and then uses its deep political and financial resources to lock down exclusive planetary mining rights, particularly on the Moon and near-Earth asteroids.

The Modus Operandi:

Exploitation of Legal Ambiguity: Thorne and his legal teams are masters at exploiting the gaps in the Outer Space Treaty and the emerging international laws of space commerce. They are often criticized for their 'claim-jumping' practices but always operate just outside the reach of formal prosecution.

Asset Control: Thorne's primary goal isn't just to mine a resource, but to control the entire supply chain. He doesn't want to compete; he wants to create monopolies on water ice, helium-3, or specific rare earth metals required for fusion power.

The Elizabeth Swann Mission: The mission led by Elias Vance is a significant venture for Ares. For Thorne, the mission isn't about discovery; it's about validating the resource potential of The ARK's location and securing exclusive, permanent mining rights to whatever planetary body it rests on. The 'alien artifact' is merely the key to the vault.

4. Personality and Vices

Public Persona: Cool, impeccably tailored, and often seen giving polished, slightly unsettling interviews about "the future of human enterprise." He maintains a thin veneer of civility that rarely cracks.

Private Reality: Insatiably paranoid and obsessive. He trusts no one, relying entirely on non-disclosure agreements and the fear of financial ruin to maintain loyalty.

Aesthetics: Lives in a high-security, minimalist penthouse with a panoramic view of the Texas coast. Collects ancient Roman artifacts—particularly coins minted by emperors who ruthlessly consolidated power.

The Fatal Flaw: His relentless focus on profit blinds him to the genuine scientific and philosophical implications of space exploration, making him underestimate rivals motivated by ideals rather than cash.

RIVALS

Marcus is a rival of Anya Sharma and Musket Meloni. He views John Storm, and the Elizabeth Swann, as an opportunity missed, but something to chase and sabotage, if that will get him the technology to advance Ares Corporation. He thinks John is a soft touch, after his saving of Kulo-Luna, the humpback whale that defied whaling pirates.

CAST 0F CHARACTERS

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This website is Copyright © October 2025 Planet Earth Trust..

This is a work of fiction, the characters are the product of the authors imagination, except where real or historical persons are included

But where that may be so, the thoughts and actions of those persons is fictional and not those of any historical or real person.