> scanning for carrier... NO CARRIER
> retry 1/4 ... FAILED noise floor too high
> retry 2/4 ... FAILED no handshake
> retry 3/4 ... PARTIAL 14% of packets recovered
> retry 4/4 ... handshake ACK LINK ESTABLISHED
| Parameter | Telemetry Stream |
|---|---|
| HEADER | [ INCOMING TRANSMISSION ] |
| ORIGIN | HIGH ORBIT, PLANET ERID (40 ERIDANI SYSTEM) |
| CURRENT VECTOR | OUTBOUND — PEGASUS GALAXY |
| DESTINATION | EARTH |
| SIGNAL STATUS | CRITICAL (TRANSMITTER BATTERY AT 2%) |
Hello... ▒░#%/|:;*? Can anyone hear me?
If you're reading this, then the transmission somehow made it through.
Hi, its Roy. I'm an explorer from Earth, currently somewhere beyond the reach of anything familiar.I've discovered something out here. Something extraordinary.
There is a civilization on this planet. Not human, not biological, but undeniably intelligent.
I've spent what feels like a lifetime trying to understand them. And I think... perhaps they are beginning to understand me too.
I've wanted to tell Earth about them for so long.
▒░▒#░▒░#▒░▒░#▒░▒#░▒░#▒ [ LINK LOST ]
> retry 1/3 ... FAILED
> retry 2/3 ... FAILED
> retry 3/3 ... handshake ACK [ packet 52 retransmitted ]
But my ship is failing. The transmitter is barely holding together, and the distance between us is almost impossible to comprehend.
Even if this message reaches home, I won't live long enough to hear a reply. I suppose that's something I've made peace with.I've left the ship's terminal accessible through this connection.
There are records, logs, and a few things I haven't been able to make sense of myself.
Perhaps you'll understand more than I did.
[ END OF TRANSMISSION ]
> connection handed to Earth ... REMOTE SHELL GRANTED // EXPLORER-1
earth@explorer-1:~$ _
The message made it. The rest of the records are still on the ship, locked, and the battery is at 2%. Someone on Earth has to open the connection.
[ ⚡ INITIALIZE REMOTE UPLINK ]
"Whoever you are, on whichever side of the distance: good luck.
Read before you act, keep looking at the edges, and listen to the end."