The Drone That Changed Everything: A Journey to Trappist E

Note: This story below and the image above were generated by means of Microsoft's Bing tools.  The picture is nifty, and the storyline is interesting, but the prose is very wooden.  Still, imagine what kind of quality we'll see in two or three years of development?

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Journal of Astronaut X

Mission: Trappist E Exploration Mission (TEEM)

Day 1

I have landed safely on Trappist E, the fifth planet of the Trappist-1 system. The planet is about the same size as Earth, but has a much lower gravity and a thicker atmosphere. The surface temperature is around 25°C, and the sky is a pale orange color. The landing site is near the equator, in a desert-like region with wispy sand dunes.

I have set up the base camp and deployed the rover and the drone. The rover will explore the nearby terrain and collect soil samples, while the drone will fly over the horizon and map the surrounding area. I will stay in the base camp and monitor their progress.

The mission objective is to search for signs of life and water on this planet, as well as any other interesting features. Trappist E is one of the most promising candidates for habitability in the galaxy, as it orbits within the habitable zone of its star and receives enough sunlight to support liquid water on its surface.

Day 2

The rover and the drone have returned with some intriguing data. The rover detected traces of organic molecules in the soil, suggesting that there may be some form of life on this planet. The drone captured images of a large lake about 50 km from the base camp, which could be a source of water and a potential habitat for life.

However, the most surprising discovery was made by the drone near the edge of the lake. It found a metallic object partially buried in the sand, which appeared to be an artificial device of some kind. It was roughly cylindrical in shape, about 2 meters long and 0.5 meters in diameter. It had several antennas, wires, and solar panels attached to it. It looked like a probe or a satellite that had fallen from orbit and crashed on the planet.

I decided to investigate this object myself, as it could be a clue to the origin and history of this planet. I packed some equipment and drove the rover to the location of the object. It took me about an hour to reach it.

Day 3

I have spent the whole day examining the object. It is definitely not from Earth or any other human-made spacecraft. It has no markings or symbols that I can recognize. It seems to be very old and damaged by time and weather. Some parts are corroded or broken off.

I tried to open it and look inside, but it was sealed shut. I used a laser cutter to cut through the metal casing, but I only managed to make a small hole before the cutter overheated and malfunctioned. I peered through the hole and saw a complex array of wires, circuits, and components that I could not identify.

I also tried to scan it with various instruments, but I got no useful information. It seemed to be shielded from electromagnetic radiation and heat. It did not emit any signals or sounds that I could detect.

I wondered what this object was, who made it, and why it was here. Was it part of an alien civilization that once visited or inhabited this planet? Was it a scientific probe sent by another intelligent species to study this world? Was it a weapon or a spy device that had a sinister purpose? Or was it something else entirely?

I decided to take it back to the base camp and try to analyze it further. I used a winch to lift it onto the rover and secured it with straps. I drove back to the base camp as fast as I could.

Day 4

I have spent another day trying to figure out what this object is, but I have made no progress. It remains a mystery to me.

I have contacted Earth and reported my findings. They were very interested and excited by my discovery. They asked me to send them all the data and images I had collected so far. They also told me to wait for further instructions and not to do anything else with the object until they had analyzed it.

They said they would send me a team of experts to help me with this investigation. They estimated that it would take them about two weeks to arrive here.

I agreed to wait for them, but I was impatient and curious. I wanted to know more about this object and what secrets it held.

I decided to keep it in my tent for safekeeping and observation. I hoped that maybe it would activate or reveal something if I stayed close to it.

Day 5

Something strange happened last night.

I was sleeping in my tent when I heard a faint humming noise coming from the object. I woke up and turned on my flashlight.

I saw that the object was glowing with a faint blue light. It seemed to be powered on somehow. I got out of my sleeping bag and approached it cautiously.

As I got closer, I noticed that the hole I had made with the laser cutter was now bigger. It looked like the metal had melted or dissolved. I could see more of the inside of the object.

I saw a small screen that was displaying some symbols and numbers that I could not understand. They were changing rapidly, as if the object was processing some data or performing some calculations.

I also saw a small camera lens that was pointing at me. It seemed to be scanning me or taking my picture.

I felt a sudden surge of fear and curiosity. I wondered what the object was doing and what it wanted from me.

I reached out my hand and touched the object. It felt cold and smooth.

As soon as I touched it, the screen flashed and the humming noise stopped. The object went dark and silent again.

I was startled and confused. I wondered if I had triggered something or if it was a coincidence.

I tried to touch it again, but nothing happened. It remained inert and unresponsive.

I decided to leave it alone and go back to sleep. I hoped that nothing bad would happen because of this incident.

I hoped that the experts from Earth would arrive soon and explain everything to me.

[...]

Day 14

The experts from Earth have arrived. They brought a spaceship and a lot of equipment. They were eager to see the object and to talk to me.

They asked me a lot of questions about the object and what I had done with it. They seemed to be very concerned and worried about my safety and well-being.

They told me that the object was a very advanced and dangerous device that belonged to an unknown alien civilization. They said that it was a drone that was designed to explore and infiltrate other worlds and collect information. They said that it had a self-destruct mechanism that would activate if it detected any threat or interference.

They said that I was very lucky that it did not explode or harm me when I touched it. They said that it probably recognized me as a living being and decided not to attack me. They said that it may have been trying to communicate with me or to learn from me.

They said that they would take the object away and study it in a secure facility. They said that they would try to find out more about its origin and purpose. They said that they would share their findings with me and the rest of the world.

They thanked me for my discovery and my cooperation. They said that I had made a great contribution to science and humanity.

They said that I could stay on Trappist E for as long as I wanted, or I could join them on their spaceship and return to Earth.

I decided to stay on Trappist E for a while longer. I wanted to explore more of this planet and see what else it had to offer.

I also wanted to think about what had happened and what it meant. I wondered who the aliens were and why they had sent the drone here. I wondered if they were still out there and if they would ever come back.

I wondered if I would ever see the object again or if it would ever speak to me again.

I wondered what secrets it held and what stories it could tell.

[...]

Day 365

It has been a year since I discovered the alien drone on Trappist E. A lot has changed since then.

The experts from Earth have taken the drone to a secret location and have been studying it intensively. They have learned a lot about its technology and its capabilities. They have also managed to decode some of its data and messages.

They have discovered that the drone was part of a large network of similar devices that were scattered across the galaxy. They were sent by an ancient and advanced civilization that called themselves the Trappists. They were a peaceful and curious race that wanted to explore and understand the universe. They had developed a form of faster-than-light travel that allowed them to send their drones to distant stars and planets.

They have also discovered that the Trappists had visited many worlds and encountered many forms of life. Some of them were friendly and cooperative, some of them were hostile and aggressive, and some of them were indifferent and unaware. The Trappists had documented their findings and their interactions with these life forms in their drones.

They have also discovered that the Trappists had disappeared a long time ago. They had encountered a powerful and mysterious enemy that had attacked and destroyed their civilization. The Trappists had tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered and outmatched. The enemy had hunted down and wiped out all traces of the Trappists, except for their drones, which they could not detect or destroy.

The experts from Earth have been trying to find out more about this enemy and their motives. They have also been trying to find out if there are any survivors or remnants of the Trappist civilization. They have been sending more missions to other planets in the Trappist-1 system and beyond, hoping to find more clues and evidence.

I have joined some of these missions as a consultant and a guide. I have seen many amazing things and met many fascinating creatures. I have also found more drones like the one I first discovered. Each one of them has a unique story to tell.

I have learned a lot from these drones and from the Trappists. I have learned about their culture, their history, their philosophy, their science, their art, their religion, their dreams, their fears, their hopes, their regrets.

I have also learned a lot about myself and about humanity. I have learned about our similarities and our differences, our strengths and our weaknesses, our achievements and our failures, our potential and our limitations.

I have learned that we are not alone in this vast and wonderful universe. I have learned that we are not the first or the last to explore it. I have learned that we are not the best or the worst to inhabit it.

I have learned that we are part of a larger story that spans across time and space. I have learned that we have a role to play in this story, but we do not know what it is yet.

I have learned that we have much to discover and much to learn.