In AMT 379 the terraforming mission of Mars, nearing completion of its final phase, had a catastrophic failure of unknown cause. The Martial orbital ring collapsed and several towed resource asteroids crashed to the surface, while others were flung out and destroyed Station Aether. A sudden climate shock destroyed most of the viable farmland of Mars, and drastically reduced the yield in those that did survive. The ecological and societal catastrophe led directly to the Martian Revolution.