Themes

Almost everyone in Pale Springs is wary of the Martians in some way, and for good reason. The current controlling House Obadar is by far the most corrupt of the four Martian Houses. They alone are responsible for creating the slum that Pale Springs has devolved into, as they parked the mothership above the city as a show of power, and to instill a feeling of being watched and controlled into citizens.

Through the first act of the game, the Journalist is led to believe that all Martians are not to be trusted, and that the paranoia surrounding them is justified. As the story progresses however, the Journalist learns about the Houses of Mars, and that Pale Springs is being controlled by the house that most Martians hate.

House Obadar was put into power in Pale Springs as part of a treaty with Mars that put each Martian House in charge of major world cities, and gave four world powers influence in Martian cities. This treaty was created on Mars' terms, with Earth on its knees at the mercy of Martians. With negotiation off-limits, Earth and Mars exchanged territories, and were forced to grant House Obadar the city they were promised, or risk a far worse outcome.

Is it better to enact justice on the corrupt at the expense of innocent people/friends, or to let them get away?
 * Paranoia
 * Validation
 * The Greater Good