A Promising Start

By jinnis

Translated back to English by linahanson

„Guard Chico, report!"

„At your command, Commander Horac. We've secured the primary perimeter. The jungle out there is dense, but we didn't encounter any hostile life forms. But we encountered quite a few natives and captured a few of those. Shall we bring them in for interrogation?"

„Positive, soldier. Carry on. Bring them directly to the medical bay. In the meantime, I'm going to rustle up the interrogation specialists."

* *

Report to the attention of Space Commander J.K. Horac, responsible for surface mission 345.76 h – ta 870°896'65.

Today, perimeter was extended to 500 km, no issues encountered. Native life forms exist in abundance and the ways the flora has proliferated is amazing. If exploited carefully, the colony could solve the problem of combustible fuels for the next millennia. No need to dig for fossil fuels.

The fauna is primitive, but responsive. If the physiognomy is anything to go by, they could be our distant ancestors. This comparison is making rounds among the troops and they're now spreading some old sci-fi tales about aliens showing up in prehistoric times of our own planet.

Various field studies have been instigated, to block those fairy tales, which are as incorrect as they are inappropriate. The medical corps and the security division have cooperated to capture a few specimen for purposes of research and have conducted a battery of intelligence tests. The result was disappointing; those life forms have the brain power of molluscs at best. Despite the physical similarities, autopsies have not been able to prove genetic relationships either.

Dr. Orci und the biology team are now working on the classification of the exotic fauna. The most promising of is theories is the one where he suggests that similarities in the environment foster the development of life that is similarly adjusted to its surroundings.

Dr. Arraco is of the opinion this world could not benefit from catalytic effects like significant changes in climate and shortage in natural resources or food, which would have encouraged the development of intellectual prowess.

Tomorrow we will extend the action radios towards the sandy plan and the single hill behind it. The topography of this planet is dominated by abrupt changes in terrain: rocky surfaces next to soft or eroded landscapes. This is incomparable to anything we are familiar with and we would need the leader of the geology team to tell us more. Unfortunately, he did not surface the process of hibernation.

Be this as it may, since we solved the navigation problems, the mission has made significant progress. We were really lucky to find this landing zone despite the fact that our sensors were blind.

J.K. Horac, transmission ends.

* *

„Tommy, come inside, now. Dinner's ready."

„In a minute, mumsy. Just let me finish the street for my soldier bugs. I've even built the insect trap, look!"

„You're playing with insects? Good heavens. Paul, come here. The garden is full of creepy-crawlies, ants and insects. Bring me the spray, will you?"