Specimens

The first xenobiological specimens known in the solar system had been collected by DeepSoar - the first deep-ocean alien planet recovery and recording robot. The specimens collected were known as Suscus Busculus and Ethania Gigas. The latter appeared to be a simple, multicellular green plantlike organism that was capable of both photosynthesis and chemisynthesis. The former was a sausage-shaped annelid-like organism/animal. The specimens of the SB's were relatively small compared to other specimens detected in the ocean depths of Europa.

DeepSoar had recorded some faint video images of larger specimens of the SB's. But these were recorded as traveling in excess of 30 knots in the deep ocean. Their velocities and distances prevented even DeepSoar these larger specimens.

Ars Angier (captain) stared into Europa LaGrange's large observation tank and made notes on the SB's and the plantlike organism. The SB's appeared to be feeding (successfully) on the chemical nutrient mix administered by Dr. Inconnu and his team. To his worriment, Ars noted that the SB's would still feed on some of the plantlike organisms in the tank.

It was suspected that these organisms also fed on the high levels of microcellular life found in the oceans of Europa. But, ship quarantine policy required sterilization of xenomicrobiological organisms. Dr. Inconnu's microbiology team had cleared the larger organisms for transport to the large observation tank after several weeks in the quarantine tanks.

Having collected the first-known xenobiological's, however, the team felt that guarantees could be made for 100 percent sterilization of the larger organism. Earth-based communications with the operations and ground mission teams confirmed that the xenobiological's recovered by DeepSoar were of too much scientific importance not to recover and observe. The Europa LaGrange crew had felt the same way about it. Even DeepSoar - with his artificial intelligence capability program - had voted for it. It seemed like the logical thing to do. Besides, commented DeepSoar's vocal interface program, "They could make good pets". The comment was a surprise to the crew and even to DeepSoar's on-board operations team.