The plausible scenarios I have outlined concern the seeding and emergence of a civilisation in the absence of terrestrial fire – a detail that, whilst seemingly minor, is foundational to the argument. Given sufficient time, such a civilisation could, through alternative pathways, achieve technological maturity without reliance on combustion. That is the crux of the matter.

Moreover, fire – as it is understood on Earth – is not merely a product of an oxygen-rich atmosphere. It is inextricably tied to the cyclical processes of organic growth and decay specific to this biosphere. To assume that such a mechanism is universal is a failure of both imagination and scientific rigour. It is patently unreasonable to presume that alien worlds capable of hosting life would replicate the precise biochemical and atmospheric conditions of this planet.

One might as well expect a symphony to be performed identically by instruments fashioned from entirely different matter – and yet remain surprised when the melody diverges.