Library of Steel

"As a child, I'd lose myself in the Library of Steel's endless stacks, fingers tracing the embossed pages. The whispers of ancient minds ignited my imagination – visions of distant worlds, forgotten wars, and timeless wisdom. I'd run, laughing, through the aisles, chasing the ghosts of Plato, Sun Tzu, and Hypatia. Those steel pages held secrets of the past, and keys to our future. They fueled my dreams of a united Mars, free from tyranny. The Library of Steel sparked the fire that forged me into the warrior I am today."
~Antimony Neamhan, First Rifanid of Mars

History of Knowledge

The Library of Steel, envisioned by an eccentric trillionaire, was sealed beneath Mars' surface before Terraforming. This vast repository aimed to preserve humanity's collective knowledge up to that point. Metal pages, stamped with corrosion-proof ink, safeguarded: Schematics for innovative technologies, Treatises on tactics, strategies, and philosophies, Timeless literary works, Historical accounts, Scientific discoveries.
Clan Neamhan's sages, leveraging memorized oral histories, unlocked the Library's secrets. Literacy's revival enabled the clan to tap into humanity's accumulated wisdom, transforming their understanding of the world and their place within it.

A Fortress of Genius

The Library of Steel's imposing structure, a mile south of Olympus Mons, defies destruction. It boasts multiple subterranean floors house stacks of steel-page books, a bomb-proof design, Secret rooms and hidden cul-de-sacs many of which remain undiscovered, censored works, deemed threatening by various governments, find refuge within its walls.
Each newly uncovered text reveals fresh insights, contributing to the Library's reputation as an unparalleled treasure trove. Cataloguing efforts continually uncover surprises, testament to the Library's boundless potential.

Mightier Than Swords

The Library of Steel's impact on Martian history is profound. Clan Neamhan's rise to dominance during the Unification Wars is almost solely thanks to the insights and innovations from Old Earth. It fostered the spread of literacy, sparking a cultural renaissance. It served as inspiration for Antimony Neamhan's revolutionary ideals, which led to the downfall of the Commonwealth. A more subtle contribution; the strict anti-censorship stance of the Clan Neamhan curators makes the library a potent symbol of resistance against oppressive regimes and a warning to would-be conquerors; Mars will not bow, and Mars remembers the old ways.
As Antimony Neamhan's words attest, the Library of Steel's knowledge has forged leaders, fueled revolutions, and reshaped the Martian landscape. Its steel pages remain a powerful reminder to humanity's enduring legacy.

Type

Library

Parent Location

Mars

Ruling/Owning Rank

Rifanid

Owning Organization

Clan Neamhan

Contested By

• Pan-Solar Consortium