The Ethicators

Human missionaries set out from the Sun‑lit cradle of Earth aboard a curious, cube‑shaped scout that folds space as it moves. Their solemn duty is to seek out fledgling souls in the cosmos, hoping to extend a guiding hand to any species that shows even a hint of self‑awareness. Guided by a stoic Conductor and his eager Bosun‑Colonel, they chart a distant star system, scanning each world for the tell‑tale signs of a hospitable climate and intelligent life.

When the third planet emerges from the clouds, it dazzles the crew with verdant oceans, emerald forests, and a climate that mirrors their own. Yet the apparent paradise quickly reveals a savage tableau: massive, bristled beasts clash in brutal contests while razor‑toothed, scaly birds circle above, feasting on the carnage. The missionaries confront a raw, untamed ecosystem where survival is a daily, gruesome spectacle—forcing them to reconsider what “civilized” truly means in a universe where even beauty can mask ferocity.