Each of the three major security blocks has multiple large self-sufficient colonies on Mars. In addition there is sizable colony named "Mars Commerce" shared by all three blocks and administered by the WPCC. Mars Commerce is also the home of the large contingent of independent space miners who make a living mining the asteroid belt. The first colony ships from the ASB have arrived in the past several years but they have chosen to set up their colony in the less hospitable Northern Hemisphere away from other colonies. They do have a small representation at Mars Commerce that has minimal contact with the other colonies.

Each major block has multiple colonies clustered over a region of Mars. Each colony consists of a small city with a population ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands containing all the aspects of industry required to support its population as well as to generate goods that can be used to trade with the other colonies or Earth.

The populations of the colonies consist of a mix of transplants from Earth and native-born "Martians". Despite the fact that the oldest colonies have third generation Martian born citizens most of the leadership consists of the Earth born. The security blocks worried about their colonies becoming too independent have periodically replaced the leadership with loyal officials from Earth. This has resulted in no small amount of resentment among the permanent colonists who see this as unnecessary autocratic control from Earth. The NASB colony is somewhat of an exception to this since the upheaval that occurred during the parasite infestation promoted a number of natives to high rank positions. The NASB on Earth has chosen to allow many of these individuals including the current President to remain.

The largest of each block’s colonies are situated on geothermal hot spots where they can generate much of their power for free. The PSB has the largest population amongst the colonies despite being the last of the major blocks to establish permanent colonies. The ASB has the smallest populations having only just arrived on Mars in the last couple decades. Each colony has its own facilities to launch ships to orbit and receive ships from orbit. Mars Commerce has the largest port facilities of any of the colonies with each security block and the Independent Asteroid Miners (IAM) utilizing a portion of the colony.

NASB Colonies

The NASB colonies are known for their production of planetary transit vehicles. They produce the finest Hoppers (for rapid airborne movement about the planet’s surface) and Crawlers (for industrial applications on the planet’s surface). In order to produce these vehicles the NASB colonies have developed some of the finest foundries on Mars. These vehicles and raw materials produced in the foundries are sold to other colonies. The NASB colonies also are a major buyer of raw ore from the asteroid miners and the ESB colonies that they convert to high quality alloys for export. The leadership of the NASB colonies is considered to be one of the most tolerant on Mars. They do not enforce many of the draconian laws present in the NASB on Earth and they pay only a token homage to the NASB theocratic ideals. This has caused some friction between the colonies and Earth but the NASB leadership on Earth has chosen to overlook this in favor of the economic benefits the colonies provide.

PSB Colonies

The PSB colonies are known for their advanced food production. This has permitted the population of their colonies to grow beyond that of the other security blocks. The PSB food production well exceeds what is required for the population of their colonies and the excess is sold to the other colonies. The PSB colonies are also known for their advances in the production of advanced materials which has been necessary for them to build the vast complexes used to house the farms. These materials and the PSB colonists’ expertise in using them are the PSB colonies other major exports. The PSB colonies are run much like the PSB on Earth with strong encouragement of free enterprise but little tolerance for challenges to the pseudo military command structure. Those that challenge the leadership often find themselves on the next transport back to Earth destined for a forced labor camp.

ESB Colonies

The ESB colonies are considered the most technologically sophisticated of all the colonies. They shroud themselves in a cloak of secrecy that covers almost all aspects of their operation. The ESB colonies frequently surprise the other colonies with the introduction of new devices or innovations that dramatically change the methods used for a whole variety of tasks. These devices frequently become export items for the colony both to other colonies and Earth. In addition the ESB colonies are the major producers of pharmaceuticals on Mars. They often produce drugs of higher quality and cheaper cost than what is available from Earth. The ESB colonies have the most extensive mining operations on the surface of Mars. The ore they produce supports their technological development efforts and provides another export for trade with Earth or other colonies. The ESB leadership has very close ties to Earth with new members arriving on a yearly basis. The ESB colonies are run with much tighter controls on the populations than the ESB on Earth. These controls are necessary to maintain the secrecy of their activities but it results in an oppressed population and it is believed by many to be the main cause of the ESB miners’ rebellion.

ASB Colony

The ASB arrived on Mars just a couple decades ago and they selected a site for their first colony well away from the other security blocks’ colonies. The reasons for this are unclear since it will certainly make life more difficult for the colonists. The ASB colonists have been welcomed by the other colonies and the WPCC has provided them space in Mars Commerce to establish a diplomatic post. The ASB colonists accepted the WPCC offer and have a small diplomatic mission at Mars Commerce. Despite this they have chosen to keep their colonies isolated from the other residents of Mars. The mysticism that cloaks the leadership of the ASB on Earth appears to also be an integral part of their Martian colonists. The ASB have become the chief supplier of certain materials and ores exported from Earth that are difficult or impossible to find on Mars.

WPCC

The WPCC are the administrators of the Mars Commerce base. Mars Commerce is the hub of trade between Earth and Mars and the WPCC extract a substantial income in fees from the business that occurs. The WPCC also manages the currency, security market, and commodity markets on Mars. The WPCC’s mission is well defined in a mandate from the WPCC Mars Council and they rarely act outside it. The WPCC is run as an apolitical corporate entity that reports to the Mars Council and the parent WPCC on Earth. The WPCC has employees from all of the major colonies and Earth to help it achieve its mission.