First Contact

Chapter 2

Dr. Louise Banks sat in her office at Arizona State University, watching the news. Arizona was in a state of emergency since the night before and she was one of the very few who were still present for her job.

"...the police have already set up a blockade here around the area. As you can see we've got just about close as we can, but unfortunately, Arizona right now, is on a complete lockdown."

"The object apparently touched down just before midnight yesterday, and the authorities were already at the scene several hours prior. We're waiting to hear if this is perhaps an experimental vessel or..."

"...the President has declared a state of emergency with as many as five thousand National Guard being deployed in the state of Arizona alone. Borders are closed and flights have been grounded, stranding millions of travelers. Panic buying of gas, water, and food continues to escalate, and federal authorities have temporarily lifted all caps on overtime for law enforcement. The ATF has put a temporary ban on new gun licenses, forcing many independent suppliers of hunting equipment and firearms to close their doors to the public."

Louise was broken out of her trance as she heard footsteps at her door.

"Less that a day," said a bold-headed dark-skinned man at the door, "and already, the public expects us to know the answers." He showed her his badge. "I'm Colonel G.T. Weber. We've never formally met, but two years ago, you did some Farsi translations for Army Intelligence."

Louise nodded as she surmised the reason for the sudden appearance of the Colonel.

"You made quick work of those insurgent videos," said the Colonel.

"You made quick work of those insurgents," she quipped back.

The Colonel was silent for a moment as he sat down opposite Louise. "You're on the top of everyone's list when it comes to translations of obscure languages that not even AIs are properly capable. And you have another two years in your SSBI, so you still have top-secret clearance. That's why I'm in your office, and not at Berkeley."

"Okay."

The Colonel stared at the Professor for a moments, as if still debating whether or not to proceed. He slowly reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a standard recording device and set it on the table. "I have something I need you to translate for me." He pressed play.

"Why are you here," asked a voice on the recording. A clear assertive tone replied in sounds that the linguistics professor recognized as some sort of language but it didn't have any language roots she recognized. It wasn't like any human language she knew or heard, but she knew, at once, that it was something she could speak, if only she learned how. "Can you understand us?" The voice replied again in the strange language. "Where did you come from?" Another reply. The Colonel reached forward and stopped the recording.

"Now you heard it," said Colonel Weber. "What do you make of it?"

Louise was silent for a moment as she tried to comprehend the words. "Is that..."

"Yes."

"How many?"

"How many what?"

"Uh—How many, speaking?"

"Two."

Louise stayed silent as she considered it—tried to discern any pattern in the speech to compare it to the language roots she knew.

"How would you approach translating this? Do you hear any words? Phrases?"

"Words, maybe. But I don't—I don't know."