>>42152906
How this system was built and how it is maintained are yet unknown, but the purpose is clear. This is a chemical plant, synthesizing hydrocarbons as either material or fuel. Ground water, atmospheric gasses, and solar energy are combined using crude but effective mechanisms.
The local findings are consistent with diagrams found in the objects believed to be books, further reinforcing that intelligent and living things are present. With enough data it might even be possible to decipher their written language, though that will likely take many years of study and observation.
Intelligent life requires a fair amount of energy, and the scale of these chemical refineries implies a sophisticated and heavily industrialized society. While there is still insufficient data to identify the creators of these systems, the fact that they still function despite the heavy maintenance required by the photovoltaic cells proves that there is something in this area providing maintenance.
The overwhelming preponderance of evidence suggests that not only is life present, but that it is near. Since life tends to spread, it is a near certainty that Vagabond probes have encountered it, unless of course that is the faulty component of current definitions.
It is unlikely Bucephalus will be able to positively identify any living things regardless of how much data is collected. Regardless, the mission must proceed assuming that Vagabond probes are at all times near living organisms. Further, the clear signs of intelligence demand that Vagabond assume it is being observed and studied. Without more information, it is impossible to communicate with them. However, it is critical that all signs of aggression be avoided.
The autochthons- assuming they originate from this world- are either remarkably trusting or remarkably powerful. Bucephalus was designed to be easy to stop, and to date there is no evidence of any hostile actions taken against the craft nor the probes. Either the autochthons are willing to trust humanity, in which case it is imperative that this trust is not lost, or they are capable of eliminating humanity, in which case it is imperative that they not feel slighted.
Since it is a potentially harmful alpha emitter, the chemcam is being disabled indefinitely.
VAGABOND 7: OFFLINE
The probe has been destroyed.
Further exploration revealed a small aperture in the ice, which opened into a vast borehole which descended to nearly ten kilometers below sea level.
Hydrothermal vents at the bottom of this borehole spew a steady stream of supercritical carbon dioxide and various sulphides despite being nowhere near a fault line.
Toxic smoke is continuously issuing from the vents, making the actual ocean floor impossible to see in the visible spectrum. Further, the ambient heat is making infrared imaging unreliable- Vagabond 7 was unable to take an image of the bottom of the borehole, and any machinery- if any was indeed present- is completely unknown.
