Incubator

Over the radio, Earth-based HQ clapped and cheered while the first human-crewed Mars mission landed, and a human being set foot on the red planet.

Mars Mission One commander Thomas Jones spoke ...

"HQ, we've inspected the underground research base and set coordinates to mobilize. The construction bots built it perfectly. We hope to discover proof of life someday."

"Roger MM1, keep us updated."

As the Martian rover rolled onto the elevator pad and began its descent, a burst of light filled the atmosphere.

They halted all operations ...

"HQ, did you see that?"

"Affirmative MM1, and we still see it. A tear formed in the fabric of space. Unbelievable, there's a small ship coming out of it!"

Static and interference saturated the radio waves.

"HQ, do you read me?"

An English speaking female voice, fit for hosting a talk radio show, spoke—

"Sentient species of Earth—You've triggered our engagement."

Commander Jones responded, "Who are you?"

"We come from a solar system far away. We've designated the planet you call Mars for incubation."

The voice sounded human, and yet its pronunciations came across as controlled by a computer.

"Why have you decided to come now?"

"Negative. We patrol for threat assessment. Many species evolve. We grant them safe passage. They reach to the beyond. They do not occupy. We do not interfere. We wait for a sign."

"What kind of sign?"

"A sign of imminent threat to our claims."

"Can we reach an agreement? A meeting for cooperation?"

"Negative. Species known to occupy without requesting further contact cannot negotiate."

"We've never heard of you. Our radio telescopes have tried and found nothing."

"Negative. We sent primordial life to evolve coexisting intelligence and make contact—suppressed by your hostility or driven to extinction. Further attempts too dangerous."

"Commander, Jones, this is HQ. Can you hear us? Shit! An armada of thousands of tiny ships. No, no, correction, there must be millions coming out of that wormhole."

Jones asked, "Alien ship, what did you mean by incubation?"

The alien ship replied, "Planet Mars designated as an incubator to evolve new lifeforms. Earth's biological anomaly, species humans, has proven a hostile threat. Deploying eradicators."