Authors Note: This is the first part of a five-part series and is set on an alternate version of Mars, so whereas some things are the same, many other things will be different. Let me know what you think!

In the series, Mars was essentially bought by the Plutarkians and the Cave Mouse population was sold out by the Government, meaning the Plutarkians had no need to use force until their plans became obvious and worrying to the general population. But what if the Martian government hadn't been corrupt? Would the Plutarkians have still attempted to take Mars as their own?

Probably...

&&&&&&&&

Alstare didn't know whether to be amused or outraged.

Dominic T. Stilton had requested a meeting with him and although his mistrust of the Plutarkian racer ran deep, he had to behave diplomatically. It was all part and parcel of being involved in politics. Besides, Stilton had alluded to some kind of business opportunity in several major Martian cities and so help him, he was curious as to what it might be. Mars was not known as a place where businesses flourished, particularly the types that generated money enough for the Plutarkian coffers.

Stilton had arrived to the meeting and Alstare, having some prior experience with Pluarkians, had prepared by receiving the fish in a well-ventilated cave. Even so, the smell was hard to ignore.

"Let's get down to business, shall we?" Stilton had not arrived alone, two burly bodyguards with him, but Alstare wasn't worried. He could take out three Plutarkians without breaking a sweat and there were enough bodyguards of his own outside the room. "There are several plots of land which the Plutarkian Government is interested in. They are, shall we say, rather large and already occupied. We understand the difficulty this acquisition could cause for your Government..."

"To buy the amount you're suggesting, it would have to go to a vote of the Martian council," said Alstare bluntly. "I don't see how I can help you."

"You are a member of the Council and would have a vote in this matter," replied Stilton coldly. "All we ask is that you use your vote wisely."

Alstare was getting tired of the conversation, tired of the bad smell, tired of all the nonsense. "I really don't see how the Plutarkians having this land would help our planet in any way. There are rumours..."

"Unfounded!" said Stilton, trying for a smile and managing a grimace instead. "But, ah, I can see how this vexes you. Maybe if I were to offer you something for your troubles...?"

One of the bodyguards stepped forward, producing a case from beneath his voluminous robes and opening it. Alstare widened his eyes. The case was filled with Gold Gills, the most highly valuable currency in the entire galaxy.

Enough to buy anything at all, look after my family for the rest of their lives, holidays, new bikes, everything I could dream of...

"So, we can count on your support during the voting process?"

Alstare tore his gaze from the Gold Gills and back to the smirking Stilton. All that money for one small vote and it wasn't as if his would even make a difference.

Unless they had got to the rest of the council too...

"Forget it!" he snarled, turning away from the Plutarkians in disgust and storming to the far end of the cave. "I don't take bribes and you'll never find a Martian who will! Keep you Gold Gills and we'll keep Mars."

Stilton lost all pretence of niceness. "Very well Alstare. But you're the one being a fool here. The council shall vote our way tomorrow – and we shall have the land. You have missed out on all of this - and you shall still lose."

"Get out!"

After the Plutarkians left, Alstare sat at his desk, still fuming. It was the first time he had ever dealt with anything on this scale, having been in office less than a month. He shouldn't even be there, if only his predecessor hadn't had that bike accident...

Well, wish in one hand and shit in the other, see which one filled up first.

The council shall vote our way tomorrow...

How was Stilton so sure? Unless – could there actually be some mice who would take the money? Alstare was new to politics, but he wasn't naïve. He had been tempted to take the money himself, yet he didn't really need it. If there were those who needed cash badly or were less moral than him, then yes, maybe the vote would go the Plutarkians way.

Over my dead body.

He thought over the council. Several of them he knew well – the mouse population wasn't very large and the same types tended to be attracted to politics – some of them he knew a little, others he barely knew. Maybe there was some way he could sway their loyalties away from the cash...

Hitting some buttons on the vid-link, he began to make some calls.

"Hi! Look, about the vote tomorrow..."

"Remember when we..."

"Behind you all the way last week when you wanted..."

"Tried to bribe me, can you imagine? I know none of us would ever accept, but..."

By the time Alstare had finished, he was grimly pleased, deciding it was unlikely the Plutarkians would be able to buy the land they wanted.

&&&&&

"Unthinkable!"

Grand High Poo-bah Lord Camembert roared over the vid-screen at the cowering Stilton. "You mean to tell me that after all those bribes – the Martian council voted NO? That we may not just buy the land we need?"

"We did not expect to find an honest politician sir. I – I shall try again Lord Camembert.."

"At what cost this time?" Camembert glared into the screen and Stilton began to wish he had asked one of his subordinates to make the call – that upstart Limburger perhaps. Of course, if he had assigned it to another, they would be trying to undermine him to the High Council. Plutark ran on politics.

"No more bribes. No more chances." Camembert seemed to come to a decision. "The Martians could have had their money but if they want to play this the hard way, then so will we. Send in an invasion force."

"Yes Chairman," said Stilton, suddenly beginning to feel better. In charge of an invasion force was high power indeed. "What are your orders?"

"Start with the area around Brimstone and fan out from there," replied Camembert. "That's where the population is at it's heaviest. Oh, and Stilton? Ensure that the army presence throughout Mars is eliminated. I want no unnecessary delays with this mission."

"I assure you, there will be none Lord Camembert."

Stilton grinned as the Vid-screen went blank. He would have Mars taken for Plutark – and the Martians would have no way of fighting back.

Mars was finished.