Chapter Ten: Bacteria

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The two mantis assistants responsible for collecting genetic samples from Earth’s species had completed comprehensive sampling in the Amazon basin, the African continent, the Iranian plateau, Siberia, and the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Now, they were piloting a miniature craft, taking off to rendezvous with Kondon’s ship in a region of Earth's upper atmosphere. Another mantis assistant, tasked with investigating human social culture, arrived as scheduled.

The three mantis assistants piloted their miniature craft safely to Kondon’s vessel. The mission to Earth had been smooth; the four-member team was laden with success. Kondon’s ship gently pierced through Earth’s atmosphere, then accelerated, swiftly reaching the edge of the solar system where the Walter Cloud lay and successfully docked with Kos’s large interstellar ship. Soon after, the large vessel, utilizing the effects of time-folding and spatial tension, sped toward the Quartapa star system at several times the speed of light.

Despite the extraordinary velocities of the Quartapa ships, the vast distance from the solar system to the Quartapa star system meant the Kondon team still required time to reach their destination. The five took turns piloting the ship. Fortunately, various natural black holes scattered through space allowed the ship to pick up speed. The closer they approached the galactic center, with its supermassive black hole, the faster their ship accelerated under its gravitational pull.

As the dark red home planet of Quartapa grew larger before them, Kos initiated the deceleration protocol, and the ship began sub-light travel. In a corner of the cockpit, the three mantis assistants slept soundly. Kondon’s wave-language roused them, reminding everyone to prepare for landing. Kondon assisted Kos in maneuvering the ship for descent. Drawing on previous experience, Kondon deftly activated the anti-inertia and anti-gravity systems. At a position about two light-seconds above the atmosphere-less Quartapa planet, the ship instantly reduced its velocity to zero and held stationary.

Kondon said, “Everyone, refresh yourselves and relax. We’ll soon meet Director Yanan. I believe he’ll be satisfied with our work—there are rewards for us all.”

One mantis assistant replied, “It’s been so long since we enjoyed the pure spectrum of our Quartapa home star. We’ve survived on artificial spectra for too long; my digestive system is near collapse.”

Taking advantage of the ship's stationary state, the three mantis assistants crawled out the window, basking joyfully in the dark red spectrum radiating from their mother star.

Kos said to Kondon, “After so much exploration in Earth's atmosphere, you must have gained many insights into its magnetic field and air—knowledge we lacked before. With your three mantis brothers landing for direct investigation, I’m sure you’ve gathered vast information about Earth.”

Kondon answered, “Indeed, the data collected is immense. Once we’re home, I’ll share it with you in detail.”

Kos said, “Excellent. I found an intriguing substance on a rocky planet at the edge of the solar system.” As he finished, Kos produced a glass vial from the cockpit, containing a semi-transparent liquid.

Kondon asked, “What is this?”

Kos replied, “While measuring spatial tension in the Walter Cloud region, I discovered a small rocky planet. Its atmosphere contained this liquid, whose molecular structure is remarkably similar to our Quartapa food. I wish to hand it to our food scientists—perhaps they can process it for our nourishment.”

Kondon scrutinized the vial in Kos’s hand for several seconds. Extending his octopus-like limb, he took it, then used another limb to open the cap. As he prepared to draw a straw, Kos immediately understood Kondon’s intent and stopped him, saying, “Don’t consume it—it could be highly toxic.” Kondon replied triumphantly, “I was only joking,” laughing heartily.

“Everyone, come inside—we’re preparing to land,” Kos called to the three mantis assistants still outside absorbing the stellar light.

Reluctantly, the mantis assistants crawled back into the ship. The vessel reduced speed from sub-light to sonic, then slowed further, hovering at one hundred meters above the Quartapa planet. A great crowd awaited in the plaza below, eager to welcome Kos's team home—including Director Yanan.

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The enormous ship’s hatch opened, releasing an inner shield containing all crew and supplies, which gently settled to the ground like a feather. The robotic arms within the intelligent door tenderly extracted Kos and Kondon, while the three diminutive mantis assistants clung to Kos’s tentacles and were pulled out alongside the mechanical arms.

Medical staff waiting at the ship’s entrance immediately enclosed the astronauts in a transparent sphere and transported them to Quartapa’s premier hospital for examination.

The information within this large, transparent cube was immense; this was Quartapa’s top hospital. With their unique biological traits and physiology, Quartapa's medical equipment and techniques were unlike anything on Earth. Quartapa people have no parents, only predecessors; patients could trace their own health back through generations via blood samples. Numerous doctors and mantis nurses prepared to conduct comprehensive health checks on the astronauts...

The Quartapa scientific expedition returned in triumph. Under Director Yanan’s guidance, including Sphere Chief Abbott and other top scientists, they gathered to analyze the vast array of genetic samples (holograms) from Earth’s species and the cultural data on humans. Their purpose was to discuss whether Quartapa’s nemesis, the Tal, had violated the Quartapa-Tal Agreement with their actions on Earth, assess the relative value of Earth’s species genes, and evaluate whether Earth’s civilization posed any potential threat to Quartapa.

Experts assembled to examine the valuable materials Kos’s team had brought back.

A biology expert, antennas twitching, said, “According to the samples collected by Kos’s team, Earth’s species are identical in life form to those on the Tal planet, especially with striking similarities in deoxyribonucleic acid.”

A naturalist commented, “Some species have severely mutated DNA, which must be due to Earth’s ecological imbalance. Many species are on—or have already embarked upon—the path to extinction.”

Another scientist remarked, “Research on human sperm and egg nucleus samples shows that humans have a reproductive lifespan of about four million years. Without external assistance, given their intelligence, it would be difficult to extend their lineage...”

After exhaustive analysis of the materials from Earth, the scientists concluded that, despite Earth’s diversity of species, its life forms lacked variety. Studies of its geology and physical properties led the Quartapa people to lose interest in Earth’s environment and all its species—including humans—judging that neither Earth nor its civilization held any value or posed any threat to Quartapa. Earth's continued existence was meaningless to them.

Sphere Chief Abbott declared, “I personally am not interested in Earth or its species’ genes. We’ll set aside discussion for now. Once Kos’s team completes their health checks, I invite you all to join in further discussion on human society and culture. I anticipate a final conclusion regarding the relationship between the Tal and humans, and the Tal’s actions and motives on Earth...”

The examination results arrived. Kondon, the mantis assistant investigating human society, and Kos were all in good health, but the two mantis assistants responsible for collecting genetic samples had contracted a bacterial virus unknown to Quartapa. This revelation immediately drew expert attention. A top Quartapa medical scientist, searching the planet’s disease records, discovered that the biological weapon used by the Tal army against Quartapa in their last war originated from the same pathogen now infecting the two mantis assistants. This shocked all of Quartapa society...

Sphere Chief Abbott urgently convened experts and scholars to deliberate.

Abbott said, “In the last Quartapa-Tal war, the Tal army deployed a terrifying biological weapon against us. Our soldiers’ organs rotted after infection, and their corpses could not divide and regenerate, resulting in true death. Fortunately, thanks to our army’s valor, the Tal ultimately surrendered, and, with the intervention of various other alien civilizations, both sides signed a ceasefire agreement. One key clause stipulated that the Tal must cease developing and exploiting biological resources beyond their planet. Although we lack concrete evidence that the Tal’s actions on Earth involve bioengineering, we must remain vigilant. The Tal are untrustworthy; they possess genes for deception. The evidence of their secret pyramid construction on Earth and their relentless surveillance of our investigations constitute a direct affront to us.”

“We could take preemptive action, mobilize our army to directly attack the Tal homeworld, and force them to comply with the agreement by force,” said Quartapa’s Supreme Military Commander, Sade.

Director Yanan, always prudent and politically wise, replied, “The commander’s words are reasonable; we cannot sit idly by. But we must not fight unprepared. We need to understand the Tal’s military strength and uncover more of their secrets on Earth.”

Abbott said, “Let’s proceed according to Director Yanan’s strategy. Ultimately, we may still rely on Commander Sade to fulfill our mission.”

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Though Sphere Chief Abbott’s words sounded simple, they revealed that Quartapa would not hesitate to use force to resolve threats to its security.

As the debate raged, a mantis assistant crawled into the meeting room.

He reported, “The two mantis assistants recently returned from Earth succumbed to the bacterial infection—treatment failed, and several medical staff have also been infected.”

The room was stunned. A medical expert immediately instructed his mantis assistant to isolate all infected individuals and those who had contact with them, preventing the virus from spreading, then to take further measures.

Abbott asked another medical expert, “With our current medical capabilities, can we effectively control this virus?”

The medical scientist replied, “Because the isotopes in Earth matter differ from those on Quartapa, and Earth’s biological genes vary greatly from ours, we must use biological material from Earth or the Tal planet to produce an effective drug to suppress the virus...”

The meeting covered a wide range of issues. Sphere Chief Abbott realized that the urgent priority was to treat the infected Quartapa and contain, even eradicate, the virus.

Abbott immediately ordered his subordinates to seek aid from the King of Tal, explaining that the Quartapa scientists became infected while investigating Earth, and requesting medicine. Abbott’s message to the Tal King was also a test of their response.

As the meeting dispersed, the medical expert advised, “Quickly cleanse the bodies of the two mantis brothers—otherwise, decomposition will prevent their corpses from dividing and regenerating.”

A swarm of top Quartapa medical scientists and staff rushed to save the mantis assistants' bodies, preventing decomposition from infection. The timely intervention averted true death; their remains could divide and, as usual, give rise to new mantis infants.

During this expedition, Quartapa scientists unfortunately contracted Earth’s bacteria, and inadvertently discovered that the origin of the Tal army’s biological weapon used against Quartapa came from Earth. This inevitably fueled suspicion toward the Tal—perhaps becoming the greatest obstacle to future peace negotiations between the two civilizations.