Z19

Z19 left the ship and fell into the atmosphere. It is quite a way down, according to the radar altimeter. The flight down was routine. Atmospheric analysis, particulates, toxins.

The base temperature was currently that of interstellar space. An infrared scan indicates a surface temperature exceeding 80°F. Which means animal life could be present. Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels indicate abundant plant life.

Z19 passed through the Exosphere, and its temperature changed from absolute zero to 3,000°F in a very short time. The Thermosphere was doing its role in protecting this planet and keeping it safe.

Radar pinged off satellites adrift at this level, still above the Kármán line, so theoretically still in space. Z19 entered the Mesosphere, and the temperature dropped nearly instantly to -125°F. This means that the small autonomous craft also passed through the ionosphere, and no radio signals were detected. If there is life on this world, it is basic and fundamental.

Dropping even lower, Z19 warmed to 5°F, the Stratosphere. This is the level where air traffic would be flying, nothing. Z19 has yet to encounter anything that resembles intelligent life.

The temperature lowered again to -60°F, and Z19 stopped and hovered. Readout indicates the O three molecule, ozone. Molecular density is 14 parts per million; this density is consistent with the ability to block and filter visible and invisible light from the star.

Z19’s camera rotated and measured the distance to the star. 92 million miles. Interesting, one astromical unit. Another program was activated when the variables created the loop. Z19 continued its path to the surface. Knowing it was in the Troposphere, the zone of life.

The temperature rose to 80°F, and Z19 hovered silently over an area where intelligent life once existed. Zooming in on the surface, Z19 captured images of buildings, partial buildings, and a great amount of rubble.

Activating its life detector, it found organic life. Physical size was relatively small, a few feet. Walking on all four extremities. Dog, wolf, bear, Z19 needed to find out.

Dropping even lower, Z19 hovered one hundred feet above the pack of canines, possibly wolves.

Z19 received the signal, the ship was departing, and will return in one revolution. As the sky began to darken, Z19 activated the secondary cameras, infrared, and night vision. Rotational speed and location put the star’s rise at 9 hours.

Locating a perch where the area, or a very large portion of it, was located, Z19 watched all night. Nocturnal activity was far more active than estimated. However, as the star’s light hit the area, the amount of animal life was more than expected.

By its programming, as the day started, Z19 should have continued its mission, but the vantage point over the valley brought with it a true and unexpected teeming of life in this area.

Hoping to spot intelligent life, Z19 waited. Three more rotations and nothing of consequence. As the star rose on the fourth day, Z19 headed in a direction. The star rose to its starboard. After 11 hours of travel and seeing nothing new, Z19 detected a signal.

Increasing its speed to the detected signal, Z19 hovered over an array of antennas. It received and recorded the signal but did not understand its meaning. It heard bits and pieces about time and a tone, Colorado, and about something called Noah. National Oceanographic, and the signal broke up.

Recording everything, Z19 hovered more than a day at this point in space. No life, but managed to receive the entire message, a woman’s voice. It was not originating from this point but was being retransmitted here at lower power and off frequency.

Z19 went up to 6 miles and headed in the direction of the setting star. The star rose a few hours ago, so it was quite bright, and the sky was clear and blue.

As Z19 began its flight, it increased its speed to 900 Miles per Hour. Calculating the planet’s rotational speed and the estimated diameter, Z19 found that it will return to the starting point in one rotation of the planet.

A lot of water, a partially sunken island, great plains covered in glass. That is when Z19 ran closer to the surface in this area and learned the glass was due to nuclear activity. A final war was fought on this planet, and not one intelligent lifeform survived. Somehow, animals and insects survived, and Z19 found and scanned more than 200 animal species and 22 insect species.

The land was lush, and the radioactive decay in the soil Z19 discovered indicates the battle was over more than 2,000 years ago. There was a lot of rubble and not many structures that could be recorded. Once again, Z19 was over the mountains, the antenna array, and turning itself 90°, with the rising star again on starboard, it headed to the pole. Circumnavigating the planet again, and during the process, discovered movement as Z19 rounded the opposing pole. Staying in place for several days and watching, more than 1,000 distinct lifeforms could be counted.

The mission of Z19 was to watch without being detected, verify all results, and retain all recordings of discoveries. Z19 never considered getting closer. These were intelligent, sentient beings, possibly armed with weapons capable of reaching a certain altitude and destroying Z19. So, Z19 maintained its silent vigil in the perpetual star light at this location and watched.

The lifeforms killed a great beast, removed its skin, sectioned its flesh, and carried it back to the concentration of lifeforms several miles away. Z19 understood the animal’s need to consume flesh and proteins, but that is about the extent of it.

For the remaining time on this planet, Z19 searched this area for additional lifeforms. No technology, nothing that could be considered modern convenience, was found among the 9,000 intelligent beings observed.

Returning to its starting point, Z19 passed over an area of inland water. Receiving the signal and activating its small engines to attain orbit, it recorded one final image.

A deteriorating, very large, green statue of a woman holding a book in one hand and what appears to be a torch in the other.

Perhaps once they return home, an exploration ship can be sent here to discover its secrets and its inhabitants.