"Welcome to Profiles of Mars, New Europa Broadcasting Network's primetime news show where we give you a closer look at those figures who are changing the course of Martian life. Tonight we're going to look at the elusive, mysterious leader of the so-called Nightingale Society. While the actions and motives of the group are up for debate, whether it is a humanitarian, left-leaning activist group or an organization of would-be anarchistic terrorists, one thing is clear- the woman who calls herself al-Malika is deadset on influencing the future of Mars. But how did she get this way? Where has she come from? And perhaps most importantly, where is she going?"
"Tonight we ask ourselves: who is al-Malika?"
The only known photograph of the Director of the Nightingale Society.
"There are several hypotheses as to the identity of the woman behind the Nightingales. The most common guess is that she is a woman from the former Iranian Democratic Republic, or a Mars-born descendant of one. Her potential youth has been noted several times by analysts, which gives rise to the second theory. That theory is extrapolated upon by a member of the Martian Volunteer Relief Program, the parent organization of the Nightingales that was disbanded when the Program's leadership was ousted by a "troika" of masked volunteers who called themselves Catiline, Mukhtar, and of course, al-Malika. This member claims that he knew the Director, and after assurances that he would remain anonymous, told our journalists that he believes she is in fact one Dr.-"
There's a loud buzz of static. The video feed is cut off, and for a moment, the screen shows nothing but blue. After another buzz of static, you begin to see a plain room, with brick walls. Three individuals with varying degrees of weaponry stand in front of the camera.
Operative 1 (a man in plain black clothing and a long coat, with a bandana and aviators. He speaks in a slight Compact accent): Who is al-Malika?
All: We are.
Operative 2 (a Persian woman in patchwork armor and long coat, face obscured by a headscarf): You are asking the wrong questions.
Operative 3 (an Eastern European man in a gas mask and something approaching actual armor): Ask instead why al-Malika has chosen to fight instead of lie down. Ask instead why we have taken a stand with her, as brothers and sisters of a free, just Mars.
O1: Are we humanitarians? By all definitions. Were it possible for us to simply do our work, we would. But it is a poor doctor who treats the symptoms and allows the infection to spread.
O2: Are we activists? Of course. We are simply the most direct of activists. We are tired of posturing, and tired of struggling alongside the people of Mars only to find out degeneracy and stagnation is all the Powers that Be wish for.
O3: Are we anarchists? Socialists? Perhaps. If anarchism means the creation of a self-governed society without the intervention of tyrants and oligarchs, we are all for it. If socialism means the needs of the many are favored of those of the few, we will wear the label of socialism until we die.
O1: Whatever you wish to label us, know this. We the Society are of one mind. We are tired unto death of complacency. We have seen the potential humanity is capable of, and we wish to harness it, for the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. That is the soul of the Revolutionary Humanism we practice.
O2: We believe in Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood. If that makes us anarchists or terrorists, so be it. We are not cowed by labels.
O3: We are the spark of illumination to bring Mars into a new age. And a single spark can start a prairie fire.
All: Solidarity.
The transmission ends with the same static and blank screen for several long, quiet moments. Then, as suddenly as the feed was disrupted, you are taken to a commercial.
