Tootplanet: Captain’s Log Sector 7, Subector 25

Star Log, Sec. 7, Sub 25-1

It had been so long since we saw a technologically-advanced planet that we were momentarily stupefied.

This planet is perfect for humanoid habitation – large oceans, medium-sized continents, ideal atmosphere.

And to the south, it looks like it is only populated by machines, big ground-sweeping agra’bots.

To the north, though, huge, dense, sky-scraping cities crowd what looks to be a rocky, inhospitable continent, and north of that is a sinking mass of industrialization.

I applaud their specialization, but I’m not sure I’d want to live in it.

We sent down a greeting probe.  I’m sure they’ll have something to talk to us about.


Star Log, Sec. 7, Sub 25-2

I can’t believe this planet formed this way naturally, & yet there are no signs of any life more advanced than a rabbit or a fox.

The continents are square and rectangular.  The islands are circular. The hills are bilaterally symmetrical if not radially symmetrical.

There are no buildings anywhere, but perhaps the entire place is an edifice?  If not for the sheer regularity of it, this place would look entirely wild, & yet, with the squaring of the edges, it looks purpose-made.

And yet for what purpose?

We were very uncertain about sending down a team.  In the end, we did, but we sent them down armed and with a translator, in case the place turns out to be inhabited after all.


Star Log, Sec. 7, Sub 25-3

At first, I thought I was looking at Earth.

Impossible, I know.  We are weeks away from Earth at current travel speeds, and light-centuries away.  The universe does not repeat itself.

When I blinked, I realized that, first, the resemblance was only cursory, and second, it was also inverted: where Earth has water, this planet has land, and vice-versa.

It was well-occupied and they have radio.  We sent a standard greeting probe and I tried to ignore how much like Russian their language sounded.

7.25.2

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