Report 2 on C-131 and Recommendations for Investigation

From close orbit there is still no sign of human life on the planet.  Indeed, there are no inorganic structures still visible to our sensors.  However, our sensors are not built to scan a planet, so this is not indicative.  Instead, our sensors are built to detect metal ships and engine signatures from a distance, as well as long-range communication.

Instead, it is more telling that we have not overheard any transmissions.  There are automated signals from several artificial satellites, but nothing that would indicate anyone is still alive.

Therefore, I surmise that if anyone is alive, they are alive on the planet, in structures sufficiently covered in the plant-life overgrowth as to not be visible.  One assumes that they are communicating via fiber-optic cables, rather than orbital relays, or even radio-wave transmissions.

The other possibility, as unbelievable as it may be, is that there are no humans surviving on the planet.  While one might question what might be capable of annihilating a civilization with space-faring technology and an industrial base sufficient to reach orbit (or an industrial base sufficient to terraform the planet), I am familiar with a number of scenarios capable of wiping out life on a planetary scale.

However, almost none of the theorized scenarios appear to have occurred here.  The survival of the fledgling artificial satellite system alone rules out a number of scenarios, including solar flares, nearby stellar or interstellar phenomenon.  Similarly, the profusion of plant life would rule out the destruction of the biosphere in any form.  There was no usage of nuclear explosives, high-atmosphere radiological dispersion, neutron bomb detonations, large-scale meteor impact, or chemical atmospheric poisoning.

The only existential dangers I can image would be some sort of biological agent introduced into the population, allowed to spread without symptoms, and then activated via some matter of biological clock, inducing morbidity in all cases.  Such an agent would almost certainly be of human design.   Obviously, such an agent would not affect the plant-life.

For such a reason, I would not recommend any excursions to the surface until this possibility can be ruled out.  Furthermore, if we do venture to the surface, which is against my professional recommendation both as a life support specialist and as a ship engineer, then we should stay in hermetically sealed suits the entire time, and undergo extreme disinfection procedures upon our return.  In the absence of proper equipment, I would recommend using the EVA suits: They are capable of enduring both a high-end chemical bath and heavy irradiation.  Again, while this is a possibility, I still do not recommend landing on the planet.

Instead, I would prefer to investigate by physically examining the various artificial satellites here in orbit.  I expect that at least some of them will be equipped for satellite imagery, and while memory is often limited due to minimize payload weight, we should be able to access some data that might shed light on the history of this planet.

By Susana Reiviki