Ablation cascade? Ablation is typically used to rapidly cool something, or prevent a buildup of heat, or occasionally to mitigate corrosion if you have to briefly send something through some corrosive fluid. It’s a mechanical process, and one that I don’t think can cascade, unless you deliberately set up a very contrived situation.

I like that you are tying the advanced life with similar solar system features as ours, many scientists have proposed such a thing, although nobody can really say for sure how important the Moon or Jupiter and the asteroid belt are for life on Earth.

The other use of ablation, medically speaking, is just when you destroy something. So, loosely speaking, that might work. I think DoItForScience missed your twist, that the commander was actually coming to Earth, only he’s too late. It’s a cute twist, which is probably why it’s been done (at least twice on the old Twilight Zone and Battlestar Galactica).

I feel really dumb right now. T_T too many smart people. I thought it was good, is there going to be any action? (in kinda an action junkie)