For a gnome, there is nothing else like the thrill of terraforming rocky world planets.

Terraforming is the art of transforming newly created planets, which consist of mostly barren rock expanses, into green and living landscapes. Entire ecosystems can be formed using basic organic materials, that is, if you know what you’re doing.

Gnomes are almost always involved in terraforming projects. It’s one of our specialties and one of our favorite job placements.

You might be surprised to know that ever since the troublesome but instructive start to planet Earth, almost all rock-based planets are terraformed using what is called the rocky world template. The template is really just a set of standardized and easy-to-follow instructions that follow the same procedures that eventually led to success on Earth.

The template is for modern plants in a modern world, not dinosaurs in a prehistoric world. The creator gods have realized that worlds populated with huge plants and reptiles are a dead end. Gigantic reptiles fill evolutionary niches, but they never advance beyond the most rudimentary levels. The beasts are so finely tuned for their tropical worlds that any climate change means catastrophe. Dinosaur worlds are no longer designed, created or supported.

These days, using the rocky world template as a guide, planets move rather quickly from freshly created empty worlds to paradises filled with modern flora and fauna. The rocky world template instructions are easy to scale up or down, depending upon planet size.

I am always astonished to see how similar every rocky planet appears when it starts out. This actually makes sense since there are a limited number of basic rock types that can be created on a new planet. It does vary a bit, depending on the basic elements available in a solar system and the unique debris from meteors crashing on the developing planet.

The terraforming procedure is also very much the same on every rocky world. Standard animal species and plant varieties are scheduled, delivered and maintained. It’s the inevitable evolution that provides an interesting throw of the dice. Variations are watched closely as planets and animals uniquely adapt to each planet, often surprisingly fast.

Interestingly, life on the smallest worlds always evolves to be especially beautiful. Birds and animals are vividly patterned with intense colorations. Every living thing seems to have a brighter essence. These small planets are like exquisite jewels, each one more colorful and unique than the last. Visiting any of them is a sensory delight.

You may not realize that humans have been upgraded since Earth was created. This is not due to evolution. The creator gods have merely downloaded some subtle new instructions into human souls. The people on every planet have been guided to be less aggressive and more appreciative of the rare and fragile planets they have been given. Taking care of each planet has become a higher priority.

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Humans merely need to look around the universes to see any number of ruined worlds that serve as examples of how easily civilizations can be destroyed and how long reclaiming a ruined planet takes.

Across the universes, everyone agrees that the new humans are preferable to the old-style warlike and unappreciative humans.

Finally, the terraform designers have not forgotten to look up into the evening skies. The rocky world template instructions require at least one moon to orbit around each terraformed planet. This requirement goes back to the original Earth design experience.

Earth’s single large moon was towed into place many millions of years ago in order to stabilize ocean tides and weather. Viewing that moon on warm summer nights has become a standard experience for humans and inspired countless attempts at poetry and romance. The moon’s unexpected allure has made it so popular with earthlings that adding a moon has become standard.

The creator gods don’t like to admit it, but a moon is not just a beloved addition for inhabitants. It is also an inconspicuous and inexpensive viewing base to track the planet. After a planet is terraformed it is only occasionally visited by the creator group and their assistants. However, it is continuously spied upon by extraterrestrials living in moon bases. Moons are essential as observational bases to follow how a planet’s population is progressing.

A moon is also the first destination that civilizations visit when they finally travel outside of their own atmosphere. This results in astronauts being shocked to discover extraterrestrial researchers living on the moon in plain sight.

The unexpected alien visitors may have been there for thousands or millions of years. When they are discovered, the space beings explain that they have no plans for removing themselves from their lunar observation posts. Intergalactic observers are an agreed-upon part of the maintenance portion of the terraforming contract. Terms were agreed upon by the galactic supreme council eons ago.

How a civilization handles the discovery that there really are aliens says a lot about how they will fare as part of the interstellar neighborhood. Fortunately, there are interplanetary groups that specialize in guiding governments and societies through this potentially destabilizing era. As always, civilizations are free to make their own decisions as long as they follow existing laws and procedures.

Most humans do not realize there are small magical beings living on all rocky planets. These include beneficial beings like wood sprites, elves, leprechauns and fairies. These fairytale beings are not actually invited to live on new planets. They simply find out about marvelous new unpopulated territories opening up, and then populate them. They are usually welcome since they band together to keep out the occasional evil magical being.

Gnomes are magical too, of course, but we arrive as part of the official terraforming group. As the planet matures, gnomes stay on as hidden caretakers. We often work with other small magical visitors who have moved in. After all, their goal of a healthy planet is the same as ours.

After working on dozens of terraforming assignments, I can handle anything that’s thrown my way. I’ve nurtured all types of plants and wildlife. I can tend to any sick or injured being as needed. I have even developed strategies for working peacefully with both humanoids and magical beings.

I can handle everything except … except when I finally come to a planet I can’t bear to leave.