An Account of the End of a Planet

Expedition log. Day 648. The date is 37/89/43892.

                We have successfully traversed the galaxy and have finally arrived at Helios 3.  Scans show that the atmosphere is composed of 78.084% N2, 20.946% O2, 0.9340% Ar, 0.039% CO2, 0.001818% Ne, 0.000524% He, 0.000179% CH4, 0.000114% Kr, 0.000055% H2, 0.00003% N2O, 0.00001% CO, and trace amounts of other gases. Surprisingly similar to that our own planet. The Ozone is still intact so the environmental suits will not be necessary. A majority of the planet is covered with H2O while the rest is composed of various rock types.  The core is likely made up of Ni and Fe. Immense amounts of flora and fauna. There seems to be only one species that could be considered sentient, however they are primitive at best. More on them later. We were right, however, in the sense that we did discover a planet populated with sentient life! This is the most single most exciting discovery in history. We’ve made great progress thus far but tomorrow is when the real work begins

 

Expedition Log. Day 649. The date is 37/90/43892

           

As I had expected, the atmosphere is hospitable and we did not need the environment suits. The crew landed on the planet’s surface with no complications. The entire team has been busy taking samples of everything we could find. The one thing we have yet to take a sample of is the sentient population. I think I have correctly identified them and classified them.  I believe they are classified as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Family: Hominidae

Genus: Homo

Species: Homo sapeins

Sub-Species: Homo sapiens sapiens 

Hopefully we will be able to obtain one to study. With proper camouflage, I feel we might be able to study their societies even.

 

Expedition Log. Day 650. The date is 37/91/43892

 

            The Homo sapiens seem to have formed into various different factions. These factions are comprised of millions of these creatures and there appears to be thousands of these factions. Along with each faction is an individual culture, consisting of language, dress, religion, political ideology, and, varying levels of development. This may seem strange to us but it is only natural for this phenomenon to occur on a planet this massive. However it is not as if these factions are not in contact because the land, the skies, and the seas are all filled with vehicles connecting the land masses together. It is also notable that that the air is just saturated with radio waves that carry unlimited amounts of information.

 

The entire crew has fallen ill. The surface of the planet is simply covered in pathogens, something we had not taken precautions for.  From now on the environmental suits will be a necessity for anyone wishing to surface (which includes all of us.) Luckily our craft has a medical bay and we are all going to recover without any serious harm. Feeling weak. Need rest. More reports when I am recovered.

 

Expedition Log. Day 653. The Date is 37/94/43892.

           

            It’s almost the new year and I’m very excited. If the Coms worked this far out, I’d want to wish everyone back home a happy new year. Sadly, I cannot so, to anyone reading this, happy New Year. On a more serious note, it has been observed that the factions are engaging in a primitive form a conflict that our ancestors perhaps engaged in. However, this concept is foreign to us. The different factions are exchanging lives with other factions and it is assumed that the faction with the most lives at the end will receive some sort of reward. (possibly  land or recourses. This will have to be studied later).

In order to accomplish this, they are using machines that that cause fire to rain down upon the other factions. It is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The brutality of it.

 

Expedition Log. Day 654. The date is 37/95/43892

 

            It is the last day of 43892 and I wish I had better news. The team has decided that the surface of the planet is too dangerous for further study so now all we can do is make observations from orbit. Even from orbit we can see the fighting. The fire being rained down. The massive scale of death. This is the most horrid event ever experienced by our people. The entire planet is now involved slaughter. This is indeed a sad day. No one could have imagined the destructive power of these beings.

 

Expedition Log. Day 655. The date is 00/00/43893

 

            Happy New Year. The Homo sapiens launched a cylindrical shaped satellite today. We are not sure as to its origin or its purpose. We need to keep observation of it and study it if we are able.

 

            The satellite just fell out of the sky. It has only been a couple of hours since it was launched and it has been decided that this is by design. We fear that it is another one of the death machines. More to report when it lands. 

 

Our fears were confirmed as the satellite landed and exploded into such a massive cloud of fire we had to avert our eyes. It was indeed another death machine.  Scans showed that radiation levels in the area of the blast jumped significantly.

 

 

Expedition Log. Day 656. The date is 00/01/43893

 

            In retaliation, the Homo sapiens all over the planet launched hundreds if not thousands of the cylindrical death machines. Clouds of fire and radiation were visible all over the face of the planet. The atmospheric radiation rose to levels that could not support any life at all. These beings just eradicated themselves right before our very eyes. This expedition is over. We’re coming home.

Comments & reviews · 5
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KatKage
Review

Ok, this is amazing ^^ I love the point of view the person in this writing has on earth, or what I guess is supposed to be earth ^^ At first I was thinking it was aliens that were observing our ancestors, but then the reader realizes that they're talking about now-a-days and that was pure genius ^u^ I can't wait to read more from you ^^

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zencherry Review

This is really awesome. This idea could be made in to an entire novel, a very epic novel at that. Keep up the good work, you are very talented.

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zencherry Comment

This is really awesome. This idea could be made in to an entire novel, a very epic novel at that. Keep up the good work, you are very talented.

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Butterfly18
Review

This is interesting.

I can tell you're into your science terms, and that's great. However, you open strongly with an expedition log and a hook - reaching Helio 3, but it falls instantly flat here:

'Scans show that the atmosphere is composed of 78.084% N2, 20.946% O2, 0.9340% Ar, 0.039% CO2, 0.001818% Ne, 0.000524% He, 0.000179% CH4, 0.000114% Kr, 0.000055% H2, 0.00003% N2O, 0.00001% CO, and trace amounts of other gases.'

I don't know the make up of Earth's atmosphere, and so I couldn't say whether or not these are true stats or not, and it just clutters. You state that it's breathable for these explorers here:

'Surprisingly similar to that our own planet.'

Now, I am assuming Helios 3 is Earth, or similar to Earth. If I'm wrong on that though, the rest of my thoughts will be useless.

I like the concept, the destruction of this planet due to the primitive species eradicating themselves, but the 'destruction' itself ('the Homo sapiens all over the planet launched hundreds if not thousands of the cylindrical death machines.') is a bit unbelievable.

If these Homo sapiens are at our level of intellect or more advanced, wouldn't they be smart enough not to cause this? We know what mass nuclear war would do to our planet, right?

Anyway, that's just my thoughts.

Hope its helpful. :)

It's a really neat idea, just needs more development and the loose ends singed.



I *do* like flipping tables.
— Faye Whitaker, Questionable Content