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To: <classified>

From: <classified>

Date: 31/10/2036

Subject: <classified>

For the attention of <redacted>:

Further to today's discussion, there is little doubt that, despite their lack of <redacted>, these <redacted> are <redacted>. With respect to the Vice President, I must strongly object to his suggestion of <redacted>.

I trust you see my point of view on this matter.

<classified>

OBSERVATIONS FROM A CITY ON KEPLER 435-D

The species found inhabiting Kepler 435-d has now been designated the scientific name of Ultimarana sapiens. Investigations are ongoing to determine what, if any, link this species has to amphibians on Earth.

After three years, the difficulties with the probe were temporarily resolved,  before contact was lost again. We are now able to offer a detailed look at the city. The probe was also able to observe transport links, and facilities which appear military in nature.

While in some remote villages, transport connections are observed to be poor, interplanetary transport appears a feature of daily, and especially commercial life. Transport routes link the moons and outer planets. Observations from the two closest solar systems show that  Ultimarana sapiens also inhabits these systems. In a surprising development, to be discussed in a future report, Ultimarana sapiens appears to have mastered faster than light (FTL) travel. This is a concept that has hitherto only been thought to exist hypothetically.

During this second flypast mission, contact was lost with the second probe as it observed a military installation on the asteroid belt. In spite of the abundant natural resources of the exoplanet, travel to the Kepler-435 system is thus NOT recommended.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the look at the city, a market, a transport station, a group of apartments, a row of shops and a park were observed.

THE CITY MARKET

A large commercial area was observed behind what appeared to be a space and rail station with transport links to various destinations around the planet.

This open air area had a variety of sections and was reminiscent of markets on Earth. The ubiquitous jumping scooters were being sold, as well as boats and various garments. Surprisingly, what appeared to be body armour was also sold. This appeared to be made from the carapaces of trilobite-like creatures. One section sold small snails and eggs. Another section sold large glass bottles of liquid similar to those seen in the pools. The liquid came in a range of colours and in some of the bottles, live worms were visible. Another section sold moss, wood, grasses and mushrooms of various types, as well as coal, metal and an array of rocks. The floor of the market was covered with a mossy material.

Interestingly, one section of the market sold wheels that resembled tyres. On closer inspection several specimens of Ultimarana sapiens were creating wheels from huge caps of fungi. The fungus resembled rubber.

The reason for the large lack of food sold in the market was soon discovered. Ultimarana sapiens frogs were seen eating plants growing nearby, capturing flies and small creatures flying and crawling around. Several frogs also picked berries growing in and around the market. Thus, food sources are abundant. Some frogs captured flies with their tongues and instead of eating them, placed them in baskets, presumably to prepare a meal.

The market included a large fluting plant similar to that seen in the village. Portable versions of this plant, as well as statues of it, were sold in front, and frogs were seen entering and leaving. This adds weight to the theory that this is religious in nature.

Interestingly, the market also sold book-like objects, rocks and slates with writing on them, as well as objects that appeared to have screens. Writing implements were also sold.

THE STATION

The station had rail, water, air and space transport. Each was distinguished with a picture depicting the mode of transport, like bus and plane symbols on Earth. The space port area was decorated with stars and planets. The probe did not observe the water and air sections.

The railway platforms and tracks, as well as the exterior of the trains, resembled those on Earth, although much wider. Some, although not all of the carriages were quarter filled with water, implying there is a mechanism in these vehicles to prevent electrocution. Family groups with tadpoles were seen entering these.

Some trains were made wholly from metal and were extremely similar to those on Earth, while others had a covering of moss and fungi over a presumably metal frame. Some trains had compartments where large snails and slugs were seen being encouraged on. Based on the observations of the village, these appear to be akin to donkeys and horses on Earth.

The space port area was busy. The spacecraft were covered with rubber-like materials, while others appeared made from metal. Fungi were observed sprouting from one spacecraft. Water rushed from many of these spacecraft when the doors were opened. While amphibians can survive without access to water due to the moisture they obtain from the air, in the pressurised and constrained environment of a spacecraft, it is theorised that Ultimarana sapiens needs substantial water resources during the journey.

It was undetermined where the frogs were going.

THE SHOPS

The shops and restaurants were in the centre of the city. Some of them appeared to be accessed by diving underwater into plants, but the probe could not do this. Instead, it observed shops with transparent facades next to the water, which had been built from coal, rocks and wood. Signs on some of the shops indicated what they were.

While frogspawn has not been observed, signs on one shop showed a swimming tadpole with large eyes, a mother frog and a large clump of frogspawn. Gravid females were observed going in and out of the shop, which featured an array of items including spades, multicoloured blocks, animal figures and books.

Besides this 'children's' shop were several outdoor pools filled with varying liquids. No tadpoles were observed in the pools, several of which were filled with live worms, which the frogs caught and ate. A frog was seen distributing food to those in the pools, and some collected food but took it away in baskets. It is thought that this was a restaurant. While most individuals in the city did not wear clothing, all the frogs in the pools were seen to wear it.

A third shop appeared to be a tattoo or body art parlour of some kind. A plain grey frog entered and left the shop with brown and green patterns and markings on its back, and dark green eyelids.

Finally, one shop was entirely devoted to selling fungi. One picture on the shop front showed photos of fungi growing on walls and on mossy banks, in indoor and outdoor settings. Another picture featured four frogs of various sizes crouched close together on a mossy floor, beside several tadpoles in a pool of water. Above the group was a large yellow and purple mushroom. It is unknown whether these are for food, decor or another significance.

THE APARTMENT BLOCK

At a distance of 10 miles from ground level, the probe followed a frog which had exited the fungi shop with a bright green mushroom, approximately one metre long. After placing the mushroom in a bag strapped to its back, the frog hopped for over 1.5 miles unassisted until it reached a much quieter area full of apartment blocks made from limestone and soft coal. All the apartment buildings, except for ground floor areas, had long ledges from their windows. Irrigation channels seemed to lead to the apartment buildings from the bottom, and there was also a device which collected water on the roof.

From there, the frog hopped onto a platform. The platform rose several storeys above the ground, whereupon a bridge extended from it to the front facing window. The frog hopped onto the ledge on the apartment building and entered with a key.

Shortly afterwards, a family of frogs appeared, having swum to the apartments from a canal or irrigation channel. The platform sunk into the ground and filled with water. Rather than hopping directly to their building, the platform took the family to the roof of the apartment blocks, which was washed with water and barricaded to keep it in. From there, the family swam to an area on the opposite side, one adult opened a large trapdoor with a key and the frogs and tadpoles disappeared from view.

THE PARK

Like most frogs on Earth, Ultimarana sapiens has a fully aquatic tadpole stage. As this species is presumed to have human or supra-human intelligence and grows to a large size, this stage is thought to last several years. Thus, while the park was clearly analogous to those on Earth, it included striking differences. The park included what appeared to be brightly coloured play equipment submerged in water. Both tadpoles and adults could be seen here. There was also a toilet area on drier land at the edge - and presumably one below the surface.

The dry land sections included several large mushrooms (over 6 foot in size) and trees. There were several 'wild' areas where few frogs entered. Several frogs were seen collecting and eating flies, berries and other food, and there was a stall where snacks were being sold.

Some frogs were walking with iridescent beetles or small, otter-like creatures. At one point during the study, a green bear-like animal covered with leaves and vines made its way through the park. The creature was left undisturbed. Large dragonflies and purple worms were also seen; while the frogs regarded them warily, they also did not disturb them.

MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Contact was lost with the probe, before this part of its mission could be fully analysed.