Alien Planet

The Von Braun launches from Earth's orbit, beginning an unmanned interstellar mission to Darwin IV. It travels at 0.2c, a journey projected to take 42 years. The mission relies on autonomous probes and a computational backbone to coordinate data collection over the long voyage.

Upon arrival at the Darwin IV system, the Von Braun deploys the Darwin Reconnaissance Orbiter to identify landing sites. The orbiter surveys the surface for terrain, climate, and potential biological targets. It establishes a plan for the two backup probes to land safely.

The first probe Balboa explodes during atmospheric entry when one wing fails to unfold, destroying the lifting body transport. The accident wipes out the initial scouting effort and triggers the readiness of the backup probes. The mission team begins contingency measures to proceed with Leo and Ike.

Two backup probes, Leonardo da Vinci (Leo) and Isaac Newton (Ike), land safely on Darwin IV and begin collecting data on the planet's lifeforms. They carry holographic messages intended for any intelligent beings they might encounter. The probes' dual presence sets the stage for comparing cautious and exploratory approaches.

The probes operate under the Von Braun's guidance from orbit, coordinating their observations while the planet's environment unfolds around them. Ike focuses on plant life and habitats, while Leo surveys large fauna and potential predators. Their differing personalities shape how they approach hazards and discoveries.

Ike ventures into a pocket forest and encounters a flock of Trunk Suckers alongside their predator, the Daggerwrist. A massive hurricane-like storm bears down on the area, forcing Ike to launch weather balloons to stay airborne and avoid being crushed. The episode tests the probe's ability to adapt to sudden environmental extremes.

Leo travels the planet's mountain ranges, observing Unths engaged in behavior reminiscent of rutting. He then spots a pair of Bladderhorns in combat and attempts to relay a holographic message to them. A sonic ping interrupts the moment and leaves Leo unconscious.

Leo briefly re-establishes contact with the Von Braun, but a mysterious and evasive creature interferes with the link. Communication is cut off as Leo is knocked offline. The unsettling interruption hints at an intelligent, unseen presence on the world.

Ike's route takes him over the planet's meadows and gullies, where he encounters Grovebacks, Littoralopes, and airborne Skewers. A Groveback is later shown falling prey to a swarm of Beach Quills, illustrating predator-prey dynamics in real time. The probes document the complexity of Darwin IV's life without anthropomorphizing it.

Ike reaches the planet's only sea and discovers it is Amoebic in nature, serving as a food source for giant Sea Striders. The encounter deepens the sense that Darwin IV harbors both beauty and danger. The sea’s peculiar biology becomes a focal point of the probes' observations.

Ike locates Leo's last known position and encounters a Skewer attack; the predator is killed by a spear, demonstrating the ongoing dangers in the field. Ike continues to map Leo's probable trajectory while assessing threats. The moment underscores the fragility of the probes' exploratory mission.

Ike meets the Eosapiens, a mysterious, evasive sapient species trailing the two probes. He projects the holographic message to greet them, and the Eosapiens reveal intelligence comparable to early humans. The encounter hints at a sophisticated, hidden society on Darwin IV.

To document the moment of contact, Ike launches a camera disk, hoping to record interactions for analysis. One Eosapien misinterprets the disk as aggression and destroys it, while the others escalate their contact with Ike. The failed recording leaves little immediate visual proof of the exchange.

Despite the damage, the wrecked disk still records the Eosapiens carrying Ike away, implying that he has been captured or escorted by the tribe. The capture hints at a fragile balance between witnessing and being witnessed by Darwin IV's intelligent life. The probes' mission shifts toward understanding Ike's fate and the Eosapiens' intentions.

Interwoven documentary-style commentary by scientists and commentators discusses Darwin IV's world-building and the plausibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. The segment provides context, explains the science behind the fiction, and questions how humanity would recognize alien minds. It invites reflection on what counts as intelligence beyond human benchmarks.