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At first it was thought that an asteroid was on a collision course with the solar system. It was so large it was thought to be a planet spun out of orbit, perhaps, by the demise of its own sun. Where this exactly could have taken place, no one was sure. It was many miles across and somewhat circular in shape and after a few years of observation it was calculated to be heading directly toward our sun.
It became the center of attention for most astronomers, armatures as well as professionals. It was traveling very fast when it was first seen and as observations took place over the next few years, a most profoundly wondrous thing became apparent. It was slowing down.
By the eve of the 21st century, it was still decelerating. Its configuration changed ever so slightly as the months passed and scientists were perplexed to explain why as it got closer it actually got smaller. With enough study it was equated that it would reach earth in two more years. The Hubble scope never took its sight off the object, the entire time.
The world concluded that the new century would ring in the first contact and every scientist and fiction writer on the globe had a publication to explain what was, or might be, happening. The military needless to say, had other concerns as the world waited.
The closer the craft came the smaller it continued to appear. Hubble photos showed what looked like enormous foil sails continually shrinking. Like the canvas of a sailboat being hauled in of the mast. Finally the alien craft took up an orbit around the Earth which was half the distance to our moon, The ship remained there for a month, during which a steady stream of data was being directed toward the craft and likewise we receive transmission within a bandwidth that caused us to believe that the transmission was visual. And indeed it was.
The signal was continuous and repeated, it was several visuals, first, a star chart position explaining where they had come from, second, a view of their world from space, third, a panorama of one of their cities with the flora and sky and mountains, like a beautiful postcard. This same signal was sent repeatedly for the next three months and then changed showing a picture of the moon with a location marked, approximately, in the Sea of Tranquility.
After a few more weeks had passed the aliens sent a small craft to the moon at the position that had been indicated. It remained there for a another week and then returned to the mother ship. Certainly, we had guessed that they wanted a rendezvous. But there was no way we could get things together in time and communication was at a standstill. The ship continued to send a picture of the moon. After careful consideration we sent pictures of the lunar lander under construction along with every peaceful visual portrait anyone could imagine. A picture returned. It was a picture of a very human looking alien with a pleasant looking smile.
Jim Chase and Bob Young , NASA astronauts ,had patiently waited for their turn into space. They could not believe their turn popped up for such a monumentious occasion. They would do their best to be the shining example of humanity. It had been sometime since the last moon landing and Jim and Bob had had the most simulations in the lander. All the previous pilots were too old at this point to fly the mission.
The lunar lander was finally launched. Allowing for distance and speed the alien craft sent its convoy to the moon to co-inside with the arrival of the lander. The lunar landing went just as if it had been back in the old days; none of the experience of the Eagle landing was wasted. The lander set down within a quarter-mile of the alien craft.
The two astronauts assembled the lunar rover and drove cautiously over to the alien ship. The astronauts dismounted the rover and walked toward what appeared to be a door on the side of their craft. They called Houston and relayed they were about to knock. Jim made a fist and was about to pound on the door when it started to open. They both took a step back. They could see a moderately sized, empty room, inside the opening. Apprehensively, they stepped inside the door.
The door closed behind them, and they could hear the environment being equalized. The inner door opened and there stood one terribly nervous looking alien. Much like the image that was received before, but in person there was more of strangeness to the alien. Tall, maybe six foot six. Thin, maybe one thirty.
Jim and Bob, trying not to look so suspicious, went through a series of testing for air quality. Oxygen, nitrogen, bacterial and viral testing as expected was essentially the same as Earth. Satisfied they were safe they helped each other crack their suit helmets and remove them. They looked at the alien and Bob sheepishly stated, "We come in peace may are two races prosper from the exchange of knowledge which may now commence." The nervousness of the alien had somewhat diminished at the greeting but did cause it to furrow its brow in a quizzical look, it moved his hand with a gesture which ended with an outstretched hand, which seemed to say please come this way.
The three entered the next room, which was now bare except for several well cushioned chairs. The alien with an open hand extended motion to the chairs and they all sat down. Jim opened a container and removed pictures of the transmission that the aliens had sent. Upon examination, the alien smiled and reverently bowed his head again making a seemly formal gesture with his hand. The alien then pointed to the wall and after touching a control panel the Earth transmissions appeared in rapid succession. The visual display appeared, but none of the audio transmission that had accompanied it. This was completely beyond the crew’s comprehension. The much-needed Rosetta Stone was not going to be found in this room.
Bob struggling to find a common ground next pulled a set of colored lights out of a case and began to blink the lights in a sequential order. The alien showed patient interest but was mostly confused by the display.
The two men were becoming vaguely aware that the room had a familiarity to it. It was as silent as the vacuum of space. There were different panels around the room, but as lights blinked there were no accompanying noises that they were so accustomed to hearing on an Earth ship. Jim and Bob looked at each other for a moment and then turned to the alien and gave a sign with their right hands in the air, palms forward, two fingers together on one side and two fingers together on the other forming a flat V shape. They both said. "Live long and prosper". The alien's eyes lit up as he stared at their hands, first in confusion, then rubbing his head a smile came to face. He walked to the Jim and slowly put a finger on the crewman's ear then returned his hand to his own head and moving his hair to the side revealed only a flat surface of skin. The alien backed away and raised his hand in the same V shape up and covered his mouth with his other hand. Both crewmen sat down while staring at the alien.
Jim looked at Bob and simply said “Duh! They don’t hear sound.” The communication key was found. First contact could now begin.
It became the center of attention for most astronomers, armatures as well as professionals. It was traveling very fast when it was first seen and as observations took place over the next few years, a most profoundly wondrous thing became apparent. It was slowing down.
By the eve of the 21st century, it was still decelerating. Its configuration changed ever so slightly as the months passed and scientists were perplexed to explain why as it got closer it actually got smaller. With enough study it was equated that it would reach earth in two more years. The Hubble scope never took its sight off the object, the entire time.
The world concluded that the new century would ring in the first contact and every scientist and fiction writer on the globe had a publication to explain what was, or might be, happening. The military needless to say, had other concerns as the world waited.
The closer the craft came the smaller it continued to appear. Hubble photos showed what looked like enormous foil sails continually shrinking. Like the canvas of a sailboat being hauled in of the mast. Finally the alien craft took up an orbit around the Earth which was half the distance to our moon, The ship remained there for a month, during which a steady stream of data was being directed toward the craft and likewise we receive transmission within a bandwidth that caused us to believe that the transmission was visual. And indeed it was.
The signal was continuous and repeated, it was several visuals, first, a star chart position explaining where they had come from, second, a view of their world from space, third, a panorama of one of their cities with the flora and sky and mountains, like a beautiful postcard. This same signal was sent repeatedly for the next three months and then changed showing a picture of the moon with a location marked, approximately, in the Sea of Tranquility.
After a few more weeks had passed the aliens sent a small craft to the moon at the position that had been indicated. It remained there for a another week and then returned to the mother ship. Certainly, we had guessed that they wanted a rendezvous. But there was no way we could get things together in time and communication was at a standstill. The ship continued to send a picture of the moon. After careful consideration we sent pictures of the lunar lander under construction along with every peaceful visual portrait anyone could imagine. A picture returned. It was a picture of a very human looking alien with a pleasant looking smile.
Jim Chase and Bob Young , NASA astronauts ,had patiently waited for their turn into space. They could not believe their turn popped up for such a monumentious occasion. They would do their best to be the shining example of humanity. It had been sometime since the last moon landing and Jim and Bob had had the most simulations in the lander. All the previous pilots were too old at this point to fly the mission.
The lunar lander was finally launched. Allowing for distance and speed the alien craft sent its convoy to the moon to co-inside with the arrival of the lander. The lunar landing went just as if it had been back in the old days; none of the experience of the Eagle landing was wasted. The lander set down within a quarter-mile of the alien craft.
The two astronauts assembled the lunar rover and drove cautiously over to the alien ship. The astronauts dismounted the rover and walked toward what appeared to be a door on the side of their craft. They called Houston and relayed they were about to knock. Jim made a fist and was about to pound on the door when it started to open. They both took a step back. They could see a moderately sized, empty room, inside the opening. Apprehensively, they stepped inside the door.
The door closed behind them, and they could hear the environment being equalized. The inner door opened and there stood one terribly nervous looking alien. Much like the image that was received before, but in person there was more of strangeness to the alien. Tall, maybe six foot six. Thin, maybe one thirty.
Jim and Bob, trying not to look so suspicious, went through a series of testing for air quality. Oxygen, nitrogen, bacterial and viral testing as expected was essentially the same as Earth. Satisfied they were safe they helped each other crack their suit helmets and remove them. They looked at the alien and Bob sheepishly stated, "We come in peace may are two races prosper from the exchange of knowledge which may now commence." The nervousness of the alien had somewhat diminished at the greeting but did cause it to furrow its brow in a quizzical look, it moved his hand with a gesture which ended with an outstretched hand, which seemed to say please come this way.
The three entered the next room, which was now bare except for several well cushioned chairs. The alien with an open hand extended motion to the chairs and they all sat down. Jim opened a container and removed pictures of the transmission that the aliens had sent. Upon examination, the alien smiled and reverently bowed his head again making a seemly formal gesture with his hand. The alien then pointed to the wall and after touching a control panel the Earth transmissions appeared in rapid succession. The visual display appeared, but none of the audio transmission that had accompanied it. This was completely beyond the crew’s comprehension. The much-needed Rosetta Stone was not going to be found in this room.
Bob struggling to find a common ground next pulled a set of colored lights out of a case and began to blink the lights in a sequential order. The alien showed patient interest but was mostly confused by the display.
The two men were becoming vaguely aware that the room had a familiarity to it. It was as silent as the vacuum of space. There were different panels around the room, but as lights blinked there were no accompanying noises that they were so accustomed to hearing on an Earth ship. Jim and Bob looked at each other for a moment and then turned to the alien and gave a sign with their right hands in the air, palms forward, two fingers together on one side and two fingers together on the other forming a flat V shape. They both said. "Live long and prosper". The alien's eyes lit up as he stared at their hands, first in confusion, then rubbing his head a smile came to face. He walked to the Jim and slowly put a finger on the crewman's ear then returned his hand to his own head and moving his hair to the side revealed only a flat surface of skin. The alien backed away and raised his hand in the same V shape up and covered his mouth with his other hand. Both crewmen sat down while staring at the alien.
Jim looked at Bob and simply said “Duh! They don’t hear sound.” The communication key was found. First contact could now begin.
Last edited by smiley on Tue May 12, 2009 11:07 am; edited 1 time in total
