??? Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)02:46 No. 655321 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143669437758.gif - (950B , 400x220 , Init2.gif )

~click~

Stellar body proximity detected. Restoring systems from stasis . . .

ERROR. System damage detected.

Unable to boot all systems.

??? Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)02:47 No. 655322 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143669445671.gif - (78.25KB , 400x220 , Init1.gif )

Processing.

Emergency protocols online.

Initializing system diagnostic.

??? Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)03:23 No. 655326 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143669660736.gif - (667.24KB , 397x219 , DiagFinal.gif )

System diagnostic complete.

Heavy impact damage to rear systems. Overall system integrity estimated at approximately 68%.

Notable results of diagnostic:

/Power Cell μ is sustained terminal damage, and is no longer operational.
/Minor damage to Power Cells α, ζ, and ψ. Cells also show varying levels of energy drain inconsistent with prior stasis state.
/Hull solar panels were fractured at local area of impact, and have lost an approximated 25% energy production
/Matter-to-Energy conversion chamber has been damaged beyond operational capacity. This is of higher concern than the solar panels, as it is the primary source of cell recharge. Solar panels are for basic operation and emergency power only.
/A number of auxiliary systems have sustained some level of damage. A full diagnostic of the individual systems will be required to determine exact damage and remaining functionality.


Low level sweep with long-range sensor array indicates discrepancy: Stellar body detected does not match on-file data for target solar system.

//Results of diagnostic and sensor sweep: Unit was struck by foreign object during stasis, causing integrity loss and unknown degree of deviation from preset trajectory. Loss of cell drain indicates extreme deviation from planned travel distance. Unable to calculate time spent in stasis state.

- - -

Primary mission directive does not preclude accidental deviation from course, or system damage. Repairs can be made as needed using local resources. Deliberation of forthcoming actions needed.

//Review mission directives?
//Run more thorough long-range scan of solar system?
//Run full diagnostic of individual primary or auxillary system?
//Self destruct? ERROR: Self destruct system blocked until total mission failure or compromise event.

What are we supposed to be doing?

>//Run full diagnostic of individual primary or auxillary system?
>//Run more thorough long-range scan of solar system?
Identify faulty subsystems of primary power generators.
Identify status of refinery and fabrication units.
Identify sources of raw materials for repairs.

>>655329
sounds good.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)04:17 No. 655332 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143669987584.png - (12.21KB , 597x332 , Mission Directive.png )

>>655328

//Reviewing Mission Directives

This unit's mission directives are short and concise. Unit XNΩ-118 is designed to implement creative strategies to accomplish objectives.

any planets around? might be able to fulfill mission objectives even if we're not in the target area. Still going to have to try and fix this thing first though before we can really do anything.

We're an autonomous teraforming device? Geeze, that's not going to go horribly wrong in the wrong system. Our designers were careless or morally bankrupt.

Now run the full diagnostic. We need to know exactly what's wrong.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)11:18 No. 655385 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143672511329.gif - (12.36KB , 554x363 , Fulldiag.gif )

>>655329
>>655370

Unit XNΩ-118 was not installed with a morality core, as morality is an illusory construct, and irrelevant to the mission objectives.

_Running Full Diagnostic_

.

.

.

_Complete_

Results:

//Short-range scanners: Operating fully. These scanners exist for detailed scans of nearby planets and, if necessary, space vessels.
//Long-range scanners: Operating fully. These scanners exist to analyze entire solar systems, but are incapable of the precise results of short-range scanners.
//Shield capacitors: Currently at 25% operational capacity. Several overload buffers are unusable, and projectors are damaged. In current state, shield capacitors are only useful for brief, localized shielding in emergency situations, as capacitors will begin to short out with prolonged usage. Capacitor units require 400% more energy from cells than normal to project a shield.
//Exploration Module: Present and undamaged. Orbital to atmosphere aerial drone with a scanner array and camera uplink. Capable of functioning autonomously for 30 hours before internal power cells drain. Possesses no defenses, installed with a single warp crystal for emergencies, and internal self-destruct module.
//Conversion Module: Present and undamaged. Conversion module exists to begin conversion of planet for terraforming. Internal cells are capable of autonomous power for 60, but beginning conversion process has a heavy drain on cell resources. Unit possesses solar panels for emergency recharge, but this is time consuming and requires shutdown to stasis state. Also installed with self-destruct module.
//Defense Lasers: Currently at 10% operational capacity Inoperable within safe parameters. Attempts to use defense lasers in current state is 90% likely to result in overload and explosion, destroying defense lasers and damaging further systems.
//Pulse engines: Operating fully. These are used to move around in space at a maximum speed of 5% the speed of light. High energy drain and full speed.
//Hypertunnel engines: Operating fully. These are used to create a hypertunnel, a special kind of wormhole, allowing immediate travel to another location within a solar system. Hypertunnel engines utilize the spacial distortion created by stellar bodies to engineer the wormhole, and its already high energy cost becomes prohibitively high beyond a certain distance from a solar system.
//Navigation systems: Operating fully.
//TransMat Beam: Currently at 65% operational capacity. Matter transference functions intact, but targeting systems are too damaged to utilize effectively. Until repairs, the TransMat beam will only be useful for extraction of auxiliary modules from planetary surface, as they possess internal locating beacons to lock onto.
//Orbital pod: Operating fully. One in stock. This exists to deploy one of the non-aerial modules to a planetary surface. It is non-reusable, and therefore must be conserved until such time as it can be utilized effectively, since TransMat beam cannot be currently used to deploy a module.
//Nanite Control System: Operating fully. This is optiminal, as nanites are little more than very fine sand without the ability to direct them.
//Nanite Producers: Currently at 0% operational capacity. Nanite production is an extremely delicate process, and damage to the system has rendered further production impossible until repairs are made. Internal stock of premade nanites still present, but insufficient for full system repairs.
//Communications system: Currently at 50% operational capacity. Local solar system communication nominally possible, but long-range distress call impossible. This is largely irrelevant however, as current location is unknown, and therefore ability to call for help with reasonable chance of success of indeterminate.
//Self-destruct Module: Operating Fully. In the event of mission failure or compromise by xenofauna, this module is capable of total destruction of XNΩ-118 beyond any salvage by causing molecular destabilization. Technology acquisition by xenofauna is not permitted.
//Cloaking field: Currently at 35% operational capacity. In current state, this unit is capable of deflecting scans, but full concealment is impossible. Whether this system possesses xenofauna with technology capable of scanning process is yet unknown.
//System backup drive: Operating fully. Currently unnecessary, as primary file system is intact.
//Construction Drone: Unable to locate construction drone. Examination of damage indicates that entire drone module was knocked free during impact event. Recreation from on-board resources impossible, scavenging for local solar system resources required.
//Warp Crystal Array: Currently at 15% operational capacity. The warp crystal array has suffered significant compromise to their crystalline matrix. Attempts to utilize for short-range teleportation is 70% likely to result in random matter distribution in transit and subsequent mission failure. Unit XNΩ-118 is efficient, but not capable of functioning properly as a cloud of disparate matter.

>>655385
Okay, the subsystems that are down include every defensive/combat system we have. That can't be a coincidence.

> repairs
Sounds like we'll want to repair the nanite producers soon, before we run out of nanites. I'd say do it first, then we can have more nanites at once and fix things faster. Presumably.

> was not installed with a morality core
That's what you think.

>>655385
Right. Now, obviously, scan the system. See what we have to work with.

I notice that diagnostic had nothing to say about internal software or OS integrity.

Anyway to get these systems up and running to (at least) working condition?

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)12:30 No. 655407 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143672943959.gif - (28.51KB , 519x377 , Nanite.gif )

>>655389
>>655402

Acknowledgement: Nanite production will be required for further repairs, as all repairs are accomplished by nanite reconstruction.

Activating all 20u of stored nanites and initiating repairs.

.

.

.

Nanite stores depleted.

Nanite production now at 50%. Production of nanites possible, but slowed by inefficiency and incomplete repairs. Focus made on restoring functionality, not speed.

On-board resources include raw metals for 40u more nanite stores, but can only product 2u of nanites per cycle (approximately one hour). Process has been begun, but completion will not be for some time. Further resources are also needed to produce further nanites.

Lets scan the system then. We'll need more raw materials I think.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)14:15 No. 655422 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143673571785.png - (9.34KB , 581x423 , Solar System Map.png )

>>655408
>>655400

Internal software and operating system is undamaged and possesses no file corruption.

~Beginning Long Range Scan~
/Estimated Completion time: 2 Cycles
/Power usage: ~3% of a power cell

- - -

Scan complete. Results are not indicative of full information, just what was gained from long-range scans.

/This solar system revolves around a Class 13Ψ star.
//Medium-large, late-middle stage of life cycle. Approx. 3 billion years left in life span.

/Eight significant bodies of mass detected in orbit around star.
//Three in distant, highly elliptical orbit. Five in more stable orbit in closer proximity to star.

/System procedurally designated 13Ψ-8 pending formal redesignation.

/Information on solar system bodies, procedurally tagged.
//α: Medium-small solid planet. Unusually high mass for size, suggesting high metal composition. Heat signature also higher than average for distance from star. Atmosphere negligible or nonexistent.
//β: Large gas planet. Scan suggests high noble gas content consisting mostly of Xenon.
//γ: Medium-large solid planet. High liquid content on surface, but mass analysis suggests that the oceans are not water, but mercury or a mercury compound.
//δ: Medium solid planet: Slightly high mass for size, no other notable features.
//ε: Medium-small solid planet: Light surface liquid, scans suggest a water compound. No other notable features.
//ζ: Medium liquid planet: Planet almost entirely covered with liquid water compound. Mass suggests a solid core. Unsuitable for terraforming, possible valuable materials to be gained.
//η: Medium-large solid planet. Moderate non-water liquid content on surface, dense atmosphere. Unable to determine liquid composition with long-range scans.
//θ: Unknown: Scans suggest Small Planet sized body in a slightly elliptical, irregularly close orbit of star. Interference caused by proximity to star makes it impossible to gain any relevant information with long-range scans. Proximity to star makes short-range scan of body impossible without repairs to shield capacitors.

- - -

Unit XNΩ-118 is capable of creating a Hypertunnel to any planet in this system, though the process of using that engine is very energy-intensive, consuming approximately 50% of a power cell's maximum capacity.

As a reminder, with current functioning power cells, Unit XNΩ-118 has 233% cell power remaining. Solar panels are only current way to recharge, and will only restore 1% cell power per fifteen cycles in standby mode, until repaired. Therefore, careful deliberation of destination is highly advisable.

let's go to alpha, the high metal content makes it sound good.

Given our software and OS is operating correctly what is the likelihood of any of these planets possessing xenofauna?

What would our estimated eta be approaching with solely Newtonian mechanics? I would expect on the order of years. How much energy would operating for this long take?

If time is not a factor, we coast to the planet we want, and have plenty of time to do all the nanite repairs possible without additional materials.

What resources are required for repair? Rate each planet with the estimated availability of necessary repair resources.

What factors make the presence of xenoforms on a planet likely? Rate each planet with an estimated likelihood of xenoform contamination.

Is there and an asteroid belt? Gathering repair-resources from outside a gravity well would cost less energy, and would decrease the odds of encountering planet-bound xenoforms before defensive systems are operational.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/12(Sun)18:10 No. 655491 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143674980052.png - (4.42KB , 466x302 , Xenofauna.png )

>>655428
>>655429

On-file data for xenofauna presence is based on previous statistics, but is by no means an accurate way to predict the presence of xenofauna in the system. Previous evidence suggests the possibility of xenoform organisms in virtually any environment, including situations of external colonization rather than natural evolution. It is possible that all planets in this system possess some form of life, or that none do.

However, this unit will arrange the planets into three groups of approximate likelyhood.

//Unlikely: α, β, γ, θ. The conditions of these planets make likelyhood of xenoform inhabitation very low, <2%
//Moderate: η, δ: The conditions of these planets could be considered moderately viable for survival of xenofauna. Estimated range of 2-10% likelihood of xenofauna inhabitants.
//High: ε, ζ. These planets contain conditions most idea in this system for xenofauna. The likelihood of inhabitation is approximately 10-20%.

>What would our estimated eta be approaching with solely Newtonian mechanics? I would expect on the order of years. How much energy would operating for this long take? If time is not a factor, we coast to the planet we want, and have plenty of time to do all the nanite repairs possible without additional materials.

Error: Subject: "Newtonian mechanics" not found in data system. However, time is a factor. Unit XNΩ-118 has exited stasis state, and thus has a minimum upkeep requirement for systems, requiring the use of nanites. This is normally negligible, but a voyage of millions of cycles without new sources of raw materials to construct nanites would result in eventual breakdown of systems - especially with the hull breach currently present - assuming some form of space debris did not finish the job. Re-entering stasis state is not possible or feasible either. This unit was designed to remain in stasis until nearing a stellar body, and does not possess a way to time a stasis state duration.

>Is there and an asteroid belt?

Long-range scans did not detect the presence of an asteroid belt. Some systems lack such collections of space debris, though a search for asteroids in the general vicinity using short-range scanners is possible, if unfeasible.

I suggest α as a destination for use of a Hypertunnel. The heavy gravity does suggest plentiful resources for repairs and the higher heat indicates plentiful geothermal energy.

Alpha seems like the choice. Right now, as I understand it, what we need is:
-metal
-time to repair undisturbed
-a clear view of the sun to keep our solar panels working
As a metal-based planet with no atmosphere, Alpha has the best prospects for all of these. We can worry about reaffirming once we're back in working order.

... I'm assuming there's no known time constraints for when the planet should be terraformed by. Are there?

α makes sense

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/13(Mon)03:08 No. 655616 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143678209742.gif - (183.92KB , 520x356 , Hypertunnel.gif )

>>655603
>>655599
>>655496
>>655427

Acknowledged. Spinning up hypertunnel drive now. Destination: Planet α, 13Ψ-8 solar system.
//Estimated time until arrival: Approx. 8.5% of a cycle.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/13(Mon)04:33 No. 655633 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143678722721.png - (42.46KB , 810x596 , Alpha.png )

- - -

Arrived at destination successfully.

/Significant system changes: Power cells now at approximate. ~183%. Redistributing power to ~61% per active cell to minimize energy loss in the event of further damage to power cells.

Beginning analysis with with short-range scanners.

- - -

Scan complete.

/Notable results:
//Planet composition: Primarily titanium. Significant traces of osmium, platinum, iron, gold, and silicon detected.
//Surface temperature: Average ~900 K
//Core temperature: >3000 K
//Atmosphere: Faint carbon and hydrogen cloud, insignificant density.
//Xenofauna: None detected.
//Rotation period: Approx 6 cycles.

This planet exhibits several irregularities. It is extremely hot for a planet this distance from the solar system core, and its heat is entirely derived from its core. The planet is rotating at an accelerated rate atypical of a planet this size, and the hardness and density of the planet has caused it to crack apart into fault lines across its surface in which molten metal is visible, instead of distorting from a nearly spherical shape. Given it's lack of atmosphere and significant heat loss from these cracks, the energy and heat being produced from the core is excessive for a planet this size. Additionally, the planet is exhibiting subtle vibration on the surface that suggests the core of the planet is rotating at a speed far in excess of the rest of the planet, creating a centrifuge of molten metal that is likely causing the planets' high rotation speed. This unit has no record of a naturally occurring planet with these characteristics, and is unsure if this is a natural anomaly or manufactured. The planet is suitable for resource harvesting even with current shielding, however, assuming the fault lines are avoided.

That's no planet. It's a space station.

Go down and nibble on it to repair yourself. Take your time.

the core is probably heavily radioactive. like, uranium or something. ether land or send down a drone that can gather materials. be sure to monitor tectonics so a new split doesn't surprise appear under your landing site.

The rotating core makes me think this planet is just one giant dynamo. If it is manufactured this wouldn't be a ship in itself. It'd be its power core. Of course the size of the thing would boggle the imagination.

Yeah, let's avoid landing until we're sure we can leave better than we arrived. For now do some detailed short range scans, and deploy the exploration module. We don't know how stable this thingy is or if there's someone else there hiding from us, we want a detailed danger assessment before landing. Can we use the hypertunnel system to gather up some cometary or asteroid lumps and get started on building a new construction drone?
Also, please give me a feasibility study on borrowing those solar panels from the conversion module to refill our batteries.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/14(Tue)04:10 No. 655844 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143687225251.png - (24.68KB , 752x512 , Modules.png )

>Yeah, let's avoid landing until we're sure we can leave better than we arrived.
>Go down and nibble on it to repair yourself
>either land or

Clarification is needed here. Unit XNΩ-118 is a deep space terraformer node, as mentioned earlier. This unit can travel through space, but is unsuited for operation within a gravity well. It possesses no landing gear and poor maneuvering capabilities. It is theoretically possible to slowly descend backwards using engines, but such a process would be needlessly energy-consuming both in entry and exit

XNΩ-118 primarily utilizes it's modules to interact with a planet in a three-stage process:

/The Exploration module is first line for scouting and determining planet threat level and viability for location to begin terraforming. It is the smallest, most maneuverable, and most replaceable module, and is capable of manipulating its surroundings in minor ways beyond surveillance.
/The Conversion module is deployed when low likelihood of terraform failure is judged by the Exploration module. It begins the process of converting the local resources and organisms into a more suitable format. This module is also the most capable of communication, should the unlikely scenario arise that negotiation be required with local xenofauna.
/The Construction module is deployed once sufficient area is terraformed, and is capable of accelerated resource gathering and construction of macrosystems, defense networks, and other end-level facilities.
//Unfortunately, it is also lost, as indicated earlier. A new one can be constructed from schematics, but the cost of manufacturing it is prohibitive with current system damage and unnecessary given other, higher priority issues.

- - -

>deploy the exploration module

That being said, deploying the Exploration module is an excellent idea, and XNΩ-118 will now unpack it from storage and deploy to investigate the planet's surface.

>feasibility study on borrowing those solar panels from the conversion module to refill our batteries.

Theoretically possible, but cannibalizing the Conversion module would require repairing it again later, and the solar panels installed on it are intended for a different amount of energy transference than the external ones on XNΩ-118, and would need to be modified by nanite work. Still possible, but it is unclear how useful they will be after being modified to work on charging the ship, but probably not very.

Are you sure you wish to go forward with such a plan?

how about eating the conversion module for parts? just process it into more nanites to do more repairs. without proper repairs it is basically useless.

anyway, how well can the exploration module gather resources? would doing some alterations to it be a good idea? add a better drill or cargo hold so it can bring back better/more materials when you beam it up.

Why not asteroid field?

>>655851
just said in
>>655491
that this system does not have asteroids. or at least, not enough to be detectable at long range. there may be one or two floating around but detecting them with long range scanners is effectively impossible.

>>655846
I personally don't like cannibalizing parts, we have no idea what is replaceable and what is not. And we have a planet right there that can be used.

>>655854
i direct you to this
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/12/episode-100-white-mage-makes-it-all-better/

what is better, a ship with a fully capable selfrepair/construction system, a ship with a damaged repair system and a large machine doing nothing?

There is a planet. Right. Below. Us. That is perfectly capable of supporting our repairs. We do not need to cannibalize our systems to do so.

>>655872
there is another resource at play here, not just matter. energy/time. we are basically bleeding from the energy loss. and the exploration module is not designed to dig a lot, it can take samples, but only the construction module can do anything about large amounts of material. the faster we get fixed the faster we can just build a new conversion module.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/14(Tue)14:39 No. 655904 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143690998427.png - (86.79KB , 774x1118 , Harvest.png )

>>655846
>>655860
>>655885


Unit XNΩ-118 feels the need to point out that the rate at which the missing construction module harvests planetary resources would be gratuitously excessive for our needs. The exploration module is more than capable of collecting small samples of the planet for use in nanite production, which will be sufficient for the time being.

/It is also worth noting that our energy loss, while a problem, is currently of lower priority. Unit will list several top priorities at the current time, in order of importance.
//Nanite production must be repaired to bring repair speed to most optimal levels
//Repair of hull and solar panels
//Repair of remaining functional power cells and restoration of broken power cell.
//Repair of the TransMat beam

For the time being, these are not so pressing that cannibalizing parts from other systems is recommended. This suggestion will be filled away for a more urgent emergency situation.

- - -

The Exploration module has reached the planet's surface and is reporting very little. The planet is primarily smooth, with occasional irregular mounds of metal protruding from the surface. These seem to be the extent of the planet's mountains, save for buildup around the planet's fault lines. There is even an absence of significant impact damage for a planet with no atmosphere.
//Hypothesis: This planet has at some point at least partially liquefied, possibly several times, resulting in smoothing out of most of its natural features.

The small protrusions from the planet's surface are also ideal for collecting from, as they will require less effort to extract than excavation into a titanium-based shell.

Keep a close eye on temperatures to make sure we don't experience a melting point soon, otherwise proceed with collecting materials for the repairs.

yeah, the mechanism that triggers the global melts could be anything. even sunspots or something. just be ready to beam up the module if something weird happens.

Examine the metal clusters carefully before extraction, that's too smooth for a planet without an atmosphere. Some of that may attributable to the apparent lack of comets and asteroids in the system but that is another factor which could be a suspicious anomaly. Can we look in data banks for norms of expected system composition and planetary features according to observed data about the stellar and planetary composition?

>>655904
> priority list
Huh. What about repairing the matter-to-energy converter? I would think that would be of higher importance than the power cells. Also, unless they're prohibitively energy-expensive to use, defensive lasers should be pretty high on that list, it would suck to get mostly repaired only to be hit by another asteroid or raiding party.

XNΩ-118 Kaed 2015/07/20(Mon)02:20 No. 657077 ID: 9d4ab1
File 143738400784.png - (65.27KB , 815x614 , Gather.png )

>>655906
>>655910
>>655931

Accordance. Close monitoring of the planet's temperature will be made during the process of resource gathering. Statistically speaking, however, the likelihood of a planetary meltdown occurring right as this unit begins harvesting it for metals is extremely low.

>>656026

The priority list currently places higher value based on viability of repair than intrinsic value of the repaired part. Nanite repairs can accomplish quite a bit, but some damaged parts need to be replaced, and repairing a matter to energy converter or laser array will require somewhat more exotic material than a titanium allow. Several useful elements for those repairs will likely be found on the mercury laden planet and/or gas giant, depending on the exact composition and density of the planets in question.

Further, the defensive laser array is not designed for asteroids or space combat. The spin-up time on the laser array makes it unsuitable for firing on fast-moving targets as would be required for spacecraft warfare. That is what the cloaking device and shields are for. Or will be, when those are repaired, in any case.

well then, i suppose we should also make all the parts of other systems that can use materials available. such as, i am sure some components of the construction module have titanium or iron in them.

Directive: Look up stellar system charts, aggregate data about differences between systems acted on by civilization (including interstellar like our own) and uninhabited systems. Perform statistical analysis to determine likelihood that observed features of this system (lack of comets, lack of asteroids, suspicious smoothness of planet) are natural or artificial. Estimate degree of civilized activity/presence if possible.

For reference these are the two planets we might have to visit in order to complete repairs.

//β: Large gas planet. Scan suggests high noble gas content consisting mostly of Xenon.
//γ: Medium-large solid planet. High liquid content on surface, but mass analysis suggests that the oceans are not water, but mercury or a mercury compound.
Any chance of recovering energy before we make another tunnel? Or are we going to have to potentially risk going under 100%?

> defensive laser array is not for asteroids or space combat
... errr... what is it for, then? I guess it must be defense against xenofauna?

Any case, let's get a briefing on what's needed to repair the shields, then. The less time we spend completely defenseless, the better.

>>657141
As I understand it, we currently can gain energy, but only by going into standby for long periods to build up energy from the solar panels.
I don't suppose repairing the solar panels will put their energy yield above our passive use threshold?

> what do
Well, unless the shields can be repaired with just the materials on this planet, that priority list sounds like the right order to repair things. So do that, once we're reasonably sure pulling metal from this "planet" won't provoke retaliation.

While the exploration module is gathering materials, start a survey of nearby stars, especially bright distant stars, and any other galactic-scale landmarks. Needs to be done sooner or later, and if there's some other interstellar civilization active nearby, sooner might be important.

Make absolutely sure whatever samples the exploration module brings back aren't contaminated with alien nanotech.