> 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.
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."