SOW

Abstract

Does life have the right to force its continued existence, even at the expense of other life? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, a pilot has been tasked with making the long journey, over the vastness of space, and over an unthinkable amount of time, to find a specific plant and spread panspermia capsules on the planet, ending the potential natural evolution of the planet, and seeding it for the eventual evolution of his own species. However, now that the moment of truth has arrived, the pilot has doubts. Does he have the right to potentially end the natural evolution of other species? Is it fair to be push life into being knowing that there is the risk of horrible pain and misery? In the final moments, he betrays his mission, and chooses not to drop the capsules on the unsuspecting planet.