“You said animals are getting sick? Are they carbon based or something extreme, like sulfur?”
“Carbon, we assume.” Rachel answered her. “The planet’s environment is very similar to Earth’s, as a matter of fact. Nearly identical.”
“Even the atmosphere?”
“Again, nearly identical, although Valuri appears to have higher oxygen levels than Earth as well as a thicker cover of ozone in the higher atmosphere protecting the surface from ultraviolet radiation. With their star so close to the planet, they probably need the extra protection.”
“What kind of animals are getting sick? Land or sea?”
“Coalition satellites spotted group beachings of dead sea creatures about the size of Earth’s orcas. The smallest group they saw was seven, the largest close to thirty. They beach, then after a day or two
