Mission Report: Surveillance of Earth (Short Story)

Mission 346:                                Surveillance of planet earth

Target:                                          Assessment for potential first contact.

Mission commander:                  Elidara l’Oriano

 

Report:

My team and I have been observing earth for 300 earth days, during which the planet went through a global pandemic and several political crises.

 

The global pandemic is caused by a virus, which while dangerous could have been easily controlled, had the population followed the indications of their scientists and political leaders. These are merely to keep a safe distance, wear a mask and follow basic hygiene rules. However the population is split basically into three groups, of which two don’t follow these rules:

 

The first one that is actually following the scientists’ recommendation, they make an effort to act sensible but they are getting increasingly frustrated as their efforts are being undone by the other two groups.

 

The second one oddly is just interested in amusement with a complete disregard in the protection of their society. On a personal note I have to admit that I am appalled by their disregard for the most vulnerable members of their society, especially the elderly, who at one point worked to ensure the future of the generation which are now so selfishly endangering them. Truth to be told this is quite bizarre.

 

Finally we have the third group, which is probably the strangest group of all. Basically what they do is call all the facts they dislike lies and make up their own version of reality without any real basis. They are even more reckless than the second group, as they actively undermine the safety measures just to antagonize the authorities. They construct theories in their mind and then claim that those are facts.

 

Another worrisome issue is the global disregard for the wellbeing of their planet. As you know from my previous mission report, they don’t possess yet interstellar travel, meaning they couldn’t reach any alternative world to settle in if earth became uninhabitable. Despite this fact and that they know that they are destroying their planet, the chose to ignore the dangers. They continue to use the same technology that is killing their world slowly in full awareness of the consequences. They do this, even though they already have alternative technology at their disposal, which could substitute the dangerous technology.

 

In regards to politics they have largely advanced systems in place. Unfortunately their politicians are often chosen from the above mentioned groups two and three, which undermines the whole concept. Some leaders completely ignore that their duty is to serve the population that has elected them and instead only act focusing on their personal gain. Again we have seen moments, when they dislike the people’s choice and claim that the results were manipulated, without any proof whatsoever. Then they try to create their own version of the truth, without any proof at all.

 

Conclusion:

While some members of earth’s population are enlightened enough to welcome an alien species with an open attitude there are still large parts of human society, whose horizon is not open enough and who would probably react with severe hostility to a first contact. Initiation of the first contact protocol is therefore not recommended. Instead we suggest reevaluating earth’s progression in 50 years. If they haven’t destroyed themselves by then, the next generation might be ready for a first contact.

 

End of mission report