TRANSMISSION_TRANSCRIPT_3251.185.1925_ZULU:
Exoplanet Archeology, Mission EXO2375-R, Day 21 of planet-side operations.
Report: Research on the as yet unnamed extinct civilization continues at an accelerated pace due to the local animals willing to work at menial tasks normally requiring calling lifters or skimmer transports from orbit. At over seven meters in length, some near nine, the motivations of the huge animals remain vague at best but most of the crew has been “adopted” one of the things, the support staff calling them “Feathered Dragons” for want of a better term. At first everyone was terrified of the lumbering beasts but after a few were actually helpful, clearing sand and large rocks from the first excavation as we all stood around dumbfounded, the mech crew got brave and actually discovered: 1. They are smooth and endotherms, 2. They like being pet or rubbed and 3. They like people riding and crawling on them. Apparently, sticking to one while in the air took a bit of experimentation. The key thing is they all want shoes removed first and will happily trill at watching someone take off boots or shoes and then start climbing up an offered arm, shoulder or even from the tail. Usually to shivers and rumbling which the crew take as a happy thing. Recommend a team from the bio-sci group is detached to research the oddly tractable animals. One item of interest, reference the accompanying photo: they soon refused to allow the safety gear and bridles removed from the ground, instead flopping down in front of their chosen “friend” to climb up their body to remove the items, and for a nuzzle. At first, thought was the animal had taken ill and we instructed the medical specialist look at them. It became clear the animal was getting excited as she climbed up its body, shivering and crooning happily as she climbed to a perch on its chest, letting her then remove the equipment by standing on an arm. Note: Most are still a mystery as to gender but she assures me after curling around her tent and crooning until she let him hold her for most of the night, that Bluey is a male of the species. Several other team members have since reported during daily calls on the gender of their own special friend, though I’m unclear on their method of examination. After spending 14 days on the orbiter, I noticed on return to the surface today our team were distinctly more “casual” with the giant animals, spending time held in a paw or laying on them during meetings. As long as the work proceeds, we figure it’s a better outcome than happened with the 6m long Sciurid species claiming crew members as nest-mates on Epsilon-Endi 6. As I will stay onsite rather than return to orbit, I can provide more information soon, since this was dictated sitting between the forelegs of one of the huge dragons which seems to have followed me around all day. The humming is... soothing.
Next report in 21 standard days.
TRANSMISSION_ENDS.

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One day on an Alien Planet. With a nod to terraraptor, I can't see many of the pics on this site without thinking about the story to it.