[they already suspected that the man-made structures were having a negative impact on the planet, but feeling that confirmation from the planet itself is a bit of a blow.

the base, though, is something they can work to fix so that it isn't an open wound on the planet's surface. the sickness, the spreading malevolence, that's the part they're struggling with.]

We tried to cure the illness, but we're missing something we need. And while we're searching, those warping aliens keep trying to attack us.

[he pauses to let a mental visual flicker--the warpers surrounding the base, trying to grab anyone in the water, tied into Dirk's image of them. then, with a bit of difficulty, he tries to show an image of the warpers shutting off--a hypothetical, but the ultimate goal they're going for.]

We need to keep them at bay until we can find a way to help. So they don't hurt anyone else.