First Contact

Chapter 2

Gob walked to the podium once everyone had settled down. The auditorium was full, some of them students but mainly with peers from the Stargazer programme along with some Elders. Gob began:

"Welcome, I am glad to see so many of you here today. As you all know, we are here to discuss the two objects from space that arrived on our planet some cycles ago. Observer Drak has handed out some devices to you, I request you to not use them yet. We will get back to them later during this presentation.

Close to 50 cycles ago, our automated monitoring stations reported an anomaly in The Blue Belt, or simply the belt as we call it. An object was observed leaving the belt, its speed suggesting that it had been travelling in the same direction for quite some time. One of our Rock Hopper teams intercepted this object and brought it down to the surface. This marked the first known communication we received from the other side of the belt, something we hadn't thought was possible."

All the students were fascinated while the Stargazers did not react, this being known information for a while after all. Gob allowed some time for the chatter among the students to quiet down before he continued.

"The object was metallic and had several monitoring devices connected to it. It carried a yellow colored disc, similar to what we use for data storage. The object was sending signals to the other side of the belt, but had not received a response in a long time. The disc contained images and sounds, some of the sounds were similar to what we hear around us on the planet all the time. The images depicted a planet covered in vegetation and flora, a planet much different than ours. We spent another couple cycles trying to understand more about the object, using its technology to advance ours. Several of the devices we use today including the devices in front of you were inspired by th design of this object. We attempted to send signals of our own to the species that built the object but without knowing their precise location in space communication was close to impossible. After learning everything we could, the Stargazers resumed our mission to observe space. The devices in front of you have been loaded with these sounds and images, please take a moment to study them."

Everyone switched on their devices and spent some time looking at the images and listening to the sounds. Some of the sounds were familiar like the sound of wind or moving rocks, but there were some strange sounds as well. The images seemed the most alien of all, so many colors that were not visible on Seb and clear flowing liquid that covered the lands. Gob had to wait for some time to let the chatter stop.

"I hope you enjoyed that, once everyone has finished with their devices we will continue. 20 cycles ago our systems reported another anomaly. Another object had exited the belt, thanks to the technological advancements made by The Watcher group we intercepted this object quickly. This object was worn down and broken compared to the first object, several of its systems had stopped working and the technology itself seemed to be much further behind. It used a rudimentary communications system and carried a gold plate made from the same material as the disc the first object carried. The plate had a depiction of the species that sent it, who we now refer to as The Kom or the soft-skinned. Their species does ont have the same hard exterior that we do. The plate also contained etchings that when translated gave us coordinates to a fixed point in space, the origin of the Kom we believed. The differences in the technology between the two objects and the broken state that the second object arrived in made it clear that their species was in decline and their civilisation was collapsing. We realised that the second object carried their coordinates because they needed help, and we transmitted a signal to that location in an attempt to communicate with the Kom."

Gob paused to allow the information to sink in, but also because public speaking takes a toll.

"The vast distance between us and the coordinates meant that communication was going to be slow but we hoped that our signal would give them some hope. Then about 10 cycles ago we received a response! Our signal had given them a rough trajectory and the Kom had begun their journey to us. They requested exact coordinates from us along with some information about our region of space, which we shared. Because this is an unprecedented citation a council of members from all branches of the Stargazers and the Elders has been formed to oversee operations as the Kom make their way to us."

Excitement erupted around the room, this was the first time the general public was made aware of the Kom's journey to Seb. Generations of trying to survive on the planet had bred a hopeful but limited school of thought among the Sebji. While everyone wondered about how space was useful to them, noone ever had the imagination to question whether they were alone in the universe. Knowing that not only were you not alone but that your new friends are already on the way was big news.

"We hope this presentation has been interesting and informative, we greatly appreciate your participation. Observer Drak will be present in the auditorium should any of you have more questions."

Gob stepped down from the podium and made his way back to the observation lab to find his seat and wait until everyone had left, hoping noone came looking for him. Speaking in front of so many people is bad enough, extended conversations would just make things worse.

Some time passed before everyone left and the Stargazer headquarters went back to normal. Just as Gob was about to leave the lab one of the machines sprang to life, monitors flashed and one of the machines printed a report. A rush ran through Gob as he read the report, the Kom had responded and they would arrive in 10 cycles.