On the intelligence factor, I think what we just assume is that it is intelligence with a technological bent, which is only common to our closest ancestors who are extinct.  Intelligence is not so much a modal aspect (a species is technologically intelligent like us or not at all), but a range.  There are other species on earth that have developed high intelligence, but it has been our ability to communicate with them meaningfully that is very low.  To date we have only been able to communicate in any meaningful but limited way with a few great ape individuals, not so much with intelligent cetaceans, octopus, elephants, birds, or dogs.  It seems that communication is very dependent on shared biology, genetics, and shared experience.  For that reason, I would raise the intelligence factor and lower the ability to communicate.