NOTE: this covers the first spell of contact between myself, named [untranslated word], and the human explorers. This translation into one of their languages (English) has been made at the request of human cosmonaut Dr Viktoriya Rozhkova and human cosmonaut Gustave Quincy. I have inserted, for reference, the humans’ names for planets, satellites, etc. in their star system. I have also used the name supplied by the humans, ‘Bala’, to refer to myself. I cannot, however, provide English equivalents of the proper names of myself and my companions, nor of our home world.
IN MY previous report I gave a detailed overall description of the planetary system which [untranslated words] and myself have been charged with exploring, with a view to learning whether there exists life in that system, and whether any of the worlds have potential for colonisation. Here follows a brief summary.
The four innermost planets are rocky and of no use to us: far too hot and with far too high a surface gravity. We at once realised that we could not venture closer to the star [Sun] (a yellow Main Sequence type G2 in the humans’ classification) than the orbit of the innermost gas giant——the fifth from the star——which is also the largest planet in the system [Jupiter].
That gas giant has a promising satellite orbiting [Europa]: large and covered in water ice with clear evidence of cold liquid water beneath it——just what we need for a successful habitat. But unfortunately its surface gravity——at nearly fifteen times that of our home planet, [untranslated word]——is still too great: it is likely that if any of us were to settle there we would never be able to escape its gravity. We have sent an urgent message to [untranslated word] requesting that, if any further envoys are sent to this system, they must be equipped with a more powerful neutrino-drive implant.
Planet number nine [Pluto] which orbits the star slightly further out than number eight [Neptune], the outermost ice giant (although with an eccentric orbit which intersects that of number eight) was also considered, since it is another small ice-world. But it too was ruled out because of its excessive gravity (about seven times that of [untranslated word]), which although survivable would be uncomfortable. However, we may consider it again if none of our chosen worlds check out.
In the end we decided upon three suitable candidates, and my assignment was to the most promising: an icy satellite [Enceladus] orbiting planet number six——the second gas giant——the one with the most prominent ring system [Saturn]. This has a mostly water-ice surface which again appears to cover a liquid water layer——and its gravity is suitable for us at just a little over that of our home world. [untranslated word] takes on a satellite [Nereid] orbiting the eighth planet [Neptune] while [untranslated word] is to visit a minor planet orbiting the star independently [Chiron].
Having agreed on the allocation of worlds to visit, we parted company and I began my descent to the ice world [Enceladus]. Then I noticed something unexpected. An artefact of some sort, apparently a kind of space vehicle (such as we used to use before we developed the neutrino-drive implant) was orbiting that same world. One of our directives is to establish contact with any intelligent alien species we may encounter——and this artefact certainly looked as if it was constructed by intelligent beings.
I observed this spacecraft carefully and was able to detect low-frequency modulated electromagnetic radiation emanating from it——as well as very low-energy incoming radiation of the same kind. This seemed to be the aliens’ signalling method, and it was a simple matter for me to analyse the signals and hence gain some knowledge of their relatively simple language. It was unfortunate, however, that I am not equipped to respond to them in like manner: the aliens evidently have not developed a neutrino-pulse signalling system equivalent to ours.
Nevertheless I immediately contacted [untranslated word], the leader of our mission, and was directed to remain close to the alien spacecraft and see what it would do.
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After a short delay the spacecraft did indeed de-orbit and start a gradual descent path towards a point on the world——almost the exact locality which we too had chosen as the most favourable spot for exploration. I therefore arranged to settle myself on the surface a short distance from the spacecraft’s expected landing position, and await its arrival.
Once on the surface I took the opportunity to replenish my water reserves by making boreholes through the ice. I observed primitive life-forms in the water which appear to be native to this satellite.
I observed small bipedal beings [humans] emerge from their spacecraft and set up equipment. Not having had orders to approach them directly, I waited——and in due course one of the beings came close to me. I had prepared an internal chamber for the purpose of communication so I drew the human into my interior.
Unfortunately I accidentally damaged the human in doing so, by exposing it to vacuum which its species cannot tolerate. Accordingly there was a delay, amounting to ten orbits of the satellite about its primary, before I could restore the human and its protective covering to full functionality. Luckily the biological structure of the human was relatively simple to analyse and manipulate, and it was a straightforward matter to keep it alive during restoration.
During my restoration work other humans approached me and attempted to damage me. I had to use my [untranslated word] mode to protect myself. Eventually they withdrew.
Once the human I had taken in was functional, I attempted to communicate using visual symbols. The human appeared to have difficulty in working with the binary representation I used——and appeared to be anxious to rejoin its companions——so I released it.
I had of course continued to monitor the signals emanating from the humans’ spaceship, and to my surprise I detected what seemed to be a large database containing much information about the species, most of it not relevant to their current mission. Since it seems unlikely that they would have had any occasion to transmit this database to their home planet, I deduced that the signal was sent for my express benefit. Using the extra data, I was able to improve my understanding of their language and culture, and also to employ the more succinct representation of the language which the humans appear to use among themselves.
I was also able to determine, using this enlarged information, that the humans experience binary sexual reproduction, and that the human who visited me was a female of the species: that is, one equipped to directly bring forth young.
In due course the original female returned, and using the improved communication system we were able to exchange information. The human then requested that another of her kind be admitted——and I agreed to this, subject to obtaining permission from [untranslated word]. The second human turned out to be a male of the species: one equipped to supply its genetic material to the female, who then combines the material in her body to produce young. I asked whether the two of them were prepared to demonstrate their reproductive procedure, but they declined. It seems that the process is a very private matter among the humans, which they do not willingly reveal to others.
The two humans made a second visit, during which I supplied them with such information about ourselves as we are permitted to disclose to beings of a species less developed than ourselves. Then the female requested that she be accompanied by a different human for the third visit. To this I consented——but the outcome was unfavourable. The newcomer——a female apparently with expertise in biology——appeared hostile and attempted to cut away part of my body. At this point the stress caused me to go into a state of [untranslated word], in consequence behaving irrationally for a while. When I became rational again, I observed that the first female was no longer present and the second female was damaged beyond recovery. I retrieved all the soft tissue from it but it was evident that repairs were impossible: the human was dead.
Shortly afterwards, other humans came and attempted to attack me. I assumed my defensive mode but they persisted, so I thought it best to relocate to a more distant locality on the same world.
Thus far, I have received no further visits from humans. I have reported all my experiences to [untranslated word] and I await further instructions.
Report submitted by [untranslated word].