There follows intercepted transmissions between the alien inhabitants. Most of these were broadcast transmissions controlled by a few central authorities. These seem designed to keep the general population informed. We have managed to recover a few items of a more personal nature. Translation of some items is a best effort job.

Unexpected meteor shower

Astronomers are united in their assurances that last nights unexpected meteor shower is not evidence of a renewed alien threat. Top officials at the city observatory issued a press release stating that the meteor shower appears to have out of system origin and did not issue from the fourth planet as many have feared. People can rest assured that the alien menace is not returning.

Scientists dissent from meteor theory

Several scientists have come out against the prevailing theory that last weeks meteor shower was not an attack from the fourth planet. They have developed a computer model that shows how objects launched from the dark side of the forth planet could circle the local star and strike the planet appearing to come from outside the local system. Their theories have been widely dismissed as scare-mongering

Two hundred years of peace?

Have we grown complacent? It's been almost two hundred years since the first attack devastated our planet. Our population has only just recovered to pre-attack levels and we've stopped watching the skies. Last months meteor shower should be a warning that we're not ready for another attack. We should be spending all our efforts in developing a defence against the alien menace. We can't just sit back and hope it will go away. It's unlikely that they'll try a full frontal attack again. We must be on the look out for a fifth column of aliens!

It appears that it took approximately two months for our agents to start work. First reports of them turn up in an unlikely place. A nature journal of all things.

Large aquatic creature population in sharp decline

Reports from the southern oceans indicate that the population levels amongst the larger vegetarian aquatic species is falling at an alarming rate. The society for the preservation of large aquatic species has sent several teams to the area. Initial reports from the teams have found that many of the beasts have starved to death. Single cell food in the area appears to have disappeared.

Deaths from disease takes a sharp fall

There has been a sudden fall in the number of reported deaths. The number of reported deaths from disease has fallen to zero. Accelerated cellular growth and Accidental damage now top the cause of death charts. Hospitals in the poorer areas of the world have been emptying as people make miraculous spontaneous recoveries from previously fatal diseases.

Organic waste treatment plants cease to function

As part of an investigation into the release of untreated waste into several water systems around the country it's been discovered that the waste treatement plants servicing those areas have ceased to operate correctly. No mechanical breakdown has been discovered. The plants have just stopped treating waste.

Widespread consternation

There is mounting panic around the world following the celebrations of the last few days. The very systems our world relies on appear to be changing in front of our eyes. Food has ceased to degrade significantly. Remains of animals killed by accidents and for food have ceased to [untranslatable]. There have been reports from scientific communities around the world that experiments involving single cell organisms have failed. [untranslatable] has ceased. There is also a rising tide of malnutrition. The opulent members of our species are decreasing in body mass, while the underclasses are starting to die of starvation.

It seems we made a gross mis-calculation due to our lack of understanding of the biology of this world. Despite our attempts to predict the outcome of our global meddling we have got things horribly wrong. Rather than an arrangement of the single celled organisms living off the multi-cellular organisms there was instead an incredibly complicated arrangement of mutual need. The multi-cellular organisms made use of and in many cases relied upon the single celled creatures to survive. Directly in the case of the large ocean going creatures noted above, and in-directly in the case of most others. The effects of the removal of the single-celled creatures was quite dramatic.

Gut and Lung disease on the rise

The incidence of Immune system diseases has risen dramatically in the last month. A global epidemic of Lung disorders and bowel disorders has swept around the world. The hospitals that empties around the world are filling up again with people unable to correctly digest food. Many of the lung disorder sufferers don't make it to hospital. A sudden loss of lung function is incompatible with continued life.

Global food shortage

A world wide food shortage is now underway. Many countries populations have been drastically reduced by famine. The causes of this are complex but are due in part to the global rise in the insect population. In many places whole countries crops have been destroyed by insects, and what little food there is left doesn't go far enough to cover the increased energy needs of the remaining population.

There follows some correspondence between two individuals of the primary planetary species that we've managed to partially decode. This is difficult due to the language incompatibilities that hamper our attempt to understand their culture.
Hi John,
I appear to be one of the lucky ones. Due to the transplant I had a ready stock pile of immunosuppressant. Enough to last me a couple of months anyway. Not that I have to worry about catching a cold any more. Once these run out though that'll be it. Unlike some other people who'll likely die a quick death from asthma (not that I'd call suffocating a pleasant way to go) I'll die a long lingering painful death as my body rejects my new liver. I don't suppose you know of a good source for replacement drugs do you? I can't seem to get them for love nor money.

Regards,
Julia
Hi Julia,
Sorry. Money is no good anymore. I can't get hold of the drugs either. Let's face it, we're all fucked. It's just a matter of time.

Regards,
John

Conclusion

Our plan to remove the cause of our last failure has back-fired. In failing to account for the effects the removal of all single celled organisms we have badly mis-judged. What little population remains on the planet is not suitable for our needs. The humans that remain will not last long and are so widely scattered to make rounding them up not cost effective. The planet has been over-run with insects that feed off the human remains that lie scattered about the surface of the planet.

A fresh invasion would be pointless. The planet is now un-suitable.