Rediscovery
My story begins shortly after University. I had majored in Xenobiology, with a minor in Linguistics. My first practical work was a thorough investigation of a recently discovered (or possibly rediscovered) planet.
Upon arrival on the planet, I found only one piece of civilization in a world of wilderness. In the center of one of the larger continents, I found a single building, opening up into a large complex below ground.
Inside, I found numerous hints at the structures purpose. At first I suspected it to be some sort of shrine for the Ascended, though my limited understanding of the Old Universal language led me to believe that it was, in fact, a research station.
I was quick to call in for help after making this discovery. I gradually improved my knowledge of Old Galactic, and began to piece together this planets story.
It went by the archaic name of Delta Panzerus. The complex was, as I had suspected, a research lab. The entire planet had been a nature preserve, for the containment of a grand study of evolution, genetics, and developing ecosystems. Incredibly, it had been running consistently for hundreds of millions of years. We decided to leave it unsettled, out of respect for our predecessors, and to continue the grand experiment.
As I explored more of the complex, I found massive computer banks, loaded with information about past and present animals inhabiting the planet. Unfortunately, degradation of the microscopic elements of the system had destroyed a significant fraction of the older information. In the deepest sections of the installation, I found a cryogenic chamber, which held strange creatures who I can only assume were the researchers. Unfortunately, due to a possible power loss some time in the distant past, the spark of life had passed out of their bodies. I left their bodies untouched, once again out of respect.
I must confess, this failure of the vaunted technology from before the dark ages has shaken my impression in its perfection- though it could be argued that the simple fact that it has survived this long is a testament to engineering genius in itself.
As I slowly translated the surviving information on the planets lifeforms, the great tree of evolution began to come into focus before me. It seems that all animal life descended from a planktovoric amalgamation of unspecialized cells known as a Blobster. One of my fellow researchers suggests that there are in fact two main branches, and that the arthropods of Delta Panzerus do not descend from the Blobster, but from some other animal. However, we simply do not currently have the means to find out for sure, and the damaged memory banks say nothing on this matter.
Despite some successes, I have come across numerous problems in classification. The most significant one is the group of animals collectively known as Finners. The computerized information on them was particularly corrupt, and complicating the problem of classification, they had astoundingly little genetic similarity to other animals. I can only assume that they diverged even before the Blobster developed, or perhaps evolved entirely separately. There are several other species like this, such as the Zeeboos and Yuckius.
NOTE: A thought which struck me right now is that several of these species ancestors were introduced by the Ascended from off the planet. However, that would not explain the small amount of genetic similarity between these animals and the more easily-classified ones. Perhaps there is genetic engineering in their past, but there is truly no way to know with my current resources.
Classifying (or re-classifying) all of the animals on this planet is a truly daunting task. Certainly there will be great challenges and conundrums, some of which I may be incapable of solving. There are the Ghostrexes, Leafworms, marvels of the ocean depths, and other animals which I find near-impossible to classify. But I look forward to it greatly.