Why does it have to be sentient? It seems...
...reviewers are fixated with the thought that everything from space comes with a purpose.
It could just as well be a virus or bacteria that happens to be stuck on a regular meteorite. No purpose at all. Just like cancer. No will of its own. Landing and then the environment reacts to its presence.
The creations that springs up are results of it. Chance. Not some result of a plan. The new "them" are just mutations I believe. Their intent is their own, not any alien master plan. Who say what they want?
Can people please widen the perspective to include simple chance :) rant over