Page 34 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga
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Resolving the Mechanalog Ambiguity

           conjectured that a radical change in the gaseous components
           of  the  atmosphere  brought  about  the  extinction  of  all  life
           forms on the planet. This brings us to the central problem of
           PJ9-87-62, or Mazinoza, as it is known locally. Although we
           could not detect living organisms anywhere on the surface,
           there were nonetheless signs of highly complex technology
           at  work.  The  landing  party  found  a  city-like  area  of  large
           metallic  structures  of  various  design;  some  of  these  were
           inhabited  by  intelligent  machines,  with  which  contact  was
           made.

           According to these mechanisms, they had been designed as
           analogs  of  the  former  organic  species  which  dominated
           Mazinoza.  They  had  seen  the  impossibility  of  survival  as
           their atmosphere became increasingly polluted by effusions
           of  poisonous  gases  from  suddenly-active  volcanoes.  They
           had  not  developed  space  flight,  so  there  was  no  physical
           escape. They were, however, quite advanced in cybernetics;
           therefore  they  opted  to  transform  themselves  into
           mechanical  form.  Each  of  the  intelligent  beings  still  living
           when the project was completed had its entire brain mapped
           onto the circuitry of one of these machines. In this way they
           survived the destruction of the aspirosphere.

           We interviewed several of the robot-like entities, which we
           have termed Mechanalogs, for want of a better name; each
           gave the same story, though with individual variations. The
           problem, then, for the PKU, is to determine whether or not
           Mazinoza is inhabited by intelligent life. If the Mechananlogs
           qualify, then we must negotiate with them; if not, the planet
           should  be  treated  as  one  whose  resources  we  can  exploit
           without any deal being made.

           The subject of trade was discussed with the Mechanalogs as
           a matter of course by the leaders of the exploratory mission.
           Aerial surveillance revealed the presence of several mineral
           deposits  of  interest  to  the  PKU  network,  most  notably
           grizlon,  owatanite,  and  bintillium.  For  their  part,  the
           Mechanalogs  expressed  interest  in  our  organically-derived
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