The sun hung high over the Amazon rainforest, casting its golden glow upon an endless canopy of green. It was supposed to be a routine survey—an effort to monitor the indigenous tribes living in protected zones. For Marco Alvarez, a seasoned drone operator and pilot, it was his fifth expedition with Fundação Indígena (FI), Brazil’s official agency for indigenous affairs. Though familiar with these missions, he could never shake off the mix of curiosity and caution each one brought.
“All systems go,” Marco announced, gripping the controls as his drone lifted smoothly into the air.
“Confirmed,” replied Dr. Elena Costa, the lead anthropologist on the project. She sat in the shaded observation tent a few hundred meters away, eyes locked on the live feed streaming from the drone’s camera. “Let’s keep it above 300 feet. We don’t want to disturb anything.”
The emerald expanse of the rainforest stretched endlessly in every direction. This was one of the most remote parts of the Amazon, an area marked as a no-fly zone to prevent unintended contact with uncontacted tribes. However, recent satellite images hinted at unusual activity—clearings where none had existed before. That was why FI had authorized this drone mission.
“Approaching the coordinates,” Marco said, guiding the drone toward the designated area.
“Hold steady,” Elena replied, her voice tinged with anticipation. “Zoom in slowly.”
What they saw next sent a jolt of adrenaline through their veins.
First Contact—And an Ominous Sign

The drone’s camera zoomed in on a small clearing nestled deep in the jungle. At first, it seemed unremarkable—just a patch of bare earth surrounded by towering trees. But as the drone hovered, Marco and Elena noticed movement.
A group of people stood motionless, their eyes trained on the sky.
“Oh my God,” Elena whispered. “There they are.”
The tribe members were dressed in simple garments made of woven fibers, their skin painted with intricate patterns of red and black. They carried bows, spears, and baskets—objects that spoke of a life untouched by modern technology. One man, taller than the rest, stepped forward and raised his arm, pointing directly at the drone.
“They see it,” Marco muttered, adjusting the drone’s altitude to maintain a safe distance.
“What do we do now?”
“Stay back,” Elena instructed firmly. “We’re here to observe, not interfere.”
As the drone circled the clearing, more details came into focus—small huts constructed from thatch and wood, arranged in a semicircle around a communal fire pit. Women were grinding seeds with stone tools while children darted in and out of the shadows, their laughter faint but discernible through the drone’s microphone.
It was a glimpse into a world that had endured for centuries, despite encroaching modernity. But then, something unexpected happened.
The tall man suddenly gestured frantically to the others. In seconds, the tribe scattered, disappearing into the trees. The clearing was empty.
Except for one thing.
Lying next to the fire pit, partially covered with leaves, was a metallic disc that gleamed unnaturally in the sunlight.
A Mystery Buried in the Amazon

“What is that?” Marco asked, leaning closer to the monitor.
Elena’s brow furrowed. “It looks like metal.”
Marco hesitated. “Do we get a closer look?”
“I don’t want to spook them more than we already have.”
“Just for a moment,” Elena urged. “We need to document this.”
Reluctantly, Marco lowered the drone, bringing it within 200 feet of the object. The camera’s resolution sharpened, revealing something that defied explanation—
A circular metal disc, etched with symbols. Its corroded edges suggested that it had been exposed to the elements for decades, if not centuries.
“That’s not possible,” Elena murmured. “How could an uncontacted tribe possess something like this?”
Before she could voice her thoughts, a sudden movement on the monitor caught her attention. The tall man had returned, flanked by several others. Their weapons were drawn, their expressions filled with fear and defiance.

One of them aimed an arrow at the drone, pulling the string taut.
“Marco, pull back. Now!” Elena shouted.
The drone jerked upward just as the arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing the camera. Marco’s heart pounded as he maneuvered the drone out of range, the live feed shaking from the rapid ascent.
“What the hell was that thing?” Marco demanded, his voice thick with adrenaline.
Elena didn’t answer immediately. She was replaying the footage of the mysterious object, her mind racing.
“I don’t know,” she said finally, her voice tinged with unease. “But whatever it is, it’s not supposed to be there.”
Ancient Relic or Something More?
The following morning, Marco and Elena convened in the observation tent to review the footage. A satellite communication link allowed them to send data to FI’s central office, but Elena hesitated.
“We need to tread carefully,” she said, watching the video on a loop. “This isn’t just about the tribe. It’s about respecting their customs.”
“What if that disc is a relic from an ancient civilization?” Marco asked. “Something they’ve been guarding for generations?”
“That’s one possibility,” Elena replied. “But it could also be part of their culture—maybe it’s ceremonial.”
Later that afternoon, FI’s senior director, Paulo Mendes, called in.
“We’ve seen the footage,” Mendes said. “The metallic disc is… troubling. Could it be linked to illegal mining or deforestation?”
“Unlikely,” Elena said. “There are no signs of outside interference. My guess is that this artifact has been with the tribe for decades—maybe longer.”
Mendes sighed. “Then you’ll have to investigate further. But from a distance. No direct contact.”
That evening, Elena pored over historical accounts of isolated tribes. One obscure journal from the early 20th century mentioned a ‘metal sun’ worshiped by an Amazonian group. The artifact was described as a gift from the gods, used in rituals to mark the changing seasons. The resemblance to the disc in the footage was uncanny.
“Marco,” she said, “I think we’ve stumbled upon a living tradition. That disc might be a cornerstone of their spiritual practices.”
Marco frowned. “So they scattered because we were invading sacred ground?”
Elena nodded. “It’s possible. And it means we need to be even more careful moving forward.”
The Final Decision
Over the next few weeks, FI authorized further drone flights, but with strict limitations. The goal was to study the tribe without intrusion. Meanwhile, archaeologists and historians debated the implications of the metallic relic. Could it be evidence of a lost civilization? Or something even more mysterious?
As Marco and Elena prepared for their next mission, one thing was clear—
Some secrets of the Amazon are meant to stay hidden.