Michael McCollum 
Life Probe [EPUB ebook] 

The Makers are an advanced, intelligent alien species. For hundreds of millennia, they have been on the hunt for the secret to faster-than-light travel. Their chosen instruments were the far-reaching Life Probes, in hopes of encountering other advanced civilizations out among the stars.After a 10, 000 year long journey, one of these machines stumbles upon 22nd-century Earth. Upon arrival, the probe isn’t quite sure that this planet contains anything that could be considered "advanced" or "intelligent".But the Makers need help from humankind-the probe is damaged and must be repaired if their search for knowledge is to continue…