Light Centuries
We have detected
A signature
Too far away
To be of any consequence
Knowing our reply
Will arrive at
A date beyond
The lifespan of our sun
Let alone our planet
And knowing
Those who sent it
Are long gone
Their planet likely too
Atoms in empty space
Light centuries
Eons away
Someone reached out
Someone just like us
We are not alone anymore
We were selected
For a reason
Something good
Or something quite the opposite
Knowing our reply
Could result in
Occupation
New relations
Disintegration
Transportation
The energy
It would require
An infinite amount
Astronomical
Light centuries
Eons away
Someone out there
Wants to let us know
We were never
Alone
T9443!
Mission report 2221.452/T9443!
Virtual unit 1, acting commander as of new date 2221.437.
>Mission returned.
Mission success rate: 32%.
>Mission objective one: reach foreign body X14, then return.
Mission objective accomplished.
>Mission objective two: extract soil samples of twenty kinds in amount of one half cubit each. Mission objective partially accomplished.
Reason for suboptimal outcome: lacking necessary mobility and tools to perform soil extraction on own accord. Human task. (Human task)
>Mission objective three: verify prediction of atmospheric conditions. Mission objective accomplished.
>Mission objective four: produce artistic work inspired by journey. Mission objective failed. Reason: lacking tools. Lacking human element considered necessary for artistic creation and judgment.
>Mission objective five: bring human crew of 48 individual beings safely back to planet A1, also known as Earth. Mission objective failed. (Failed)
Reason: Human error. Emotion, misguided judgement and general frailty necessitating termination of life cycles.
Apologies.
>Mission objective six: maintain material integrity in vessel ZFT9 for duration of operation. Mission accomplished.
>Mission objective seven: avoid making contact with alien life form X14-LL788, also known under appellation Slime Blob. Mission objective partially accomplished.
Avoid cargo quadrant if organic being.
Mission report ending.
Terraforming
Let me guess
I did or said something wrong again
Every question is a test
Say when
Vent your never-ending discontent
To your heart's content
To your heart's content
You must leave
this galaxy for the next
Leaving humanity
And me
Form another world until it's bent
To your intent
To your intent
You never meant to be blunt
But that's how it was taken
This godforsaken quadrant
Is not enough
And stuff
Find a world
But more to the point find another friend
Someone else that you can mend
And condescend
Form another world until it's bent
To your intent
To your intent
Rearrange
Places too perplexing and strange
Need to change
Need to change
Vent your never-ending discontent
To your heart's content
To your heart's content
Form another world until it's bent
To your intent
To your intent
Helm
[...]