/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ >> LACUNA OPERATIONS – CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTATION >> CLEARANCE ACCESS CODES – “KILLING MACHINE” “ENDLESS PURSUIT” >> LOG #0001845 >> MONITERING OF UNIDENTIFIED SATELLITE >> SUPERVISING OFFICER: CHARLES STROSS >> >> DECRYPTION 10% -!-!-!- COMMUNICATION FREQUENCY ISOLATED >> >> DECRYPTION 20% -!-!-!- CONFIRMED INTELLIGENCE COMMUNICATION >> >> DECRYPTION 60% -!-!-!- KNOWN SUBSPECIES, “GRAYS” >> >> DECRYPTION 90% -!-!-!- LANGUAGE ISOLATED; “ “GALACTIC COMMON” “ >> >> DECRYPTION 100% -!-!-!- COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED, STORED >> >> >> >> TRANSLATE >> >> TRANSLATING FROM //GALACTIC COMMON TO //ENGLISH >> >> >> >> RECORDING START: [Unintelligible] – intelligent life. Observe for yourself. Current place >> of observation [Unconfirmed: Context implies Oceania region, implication Australia]. Analysis >> shows atmosphere mostly nitrogen at around seventy seven percent. >> >> Understandable. I sense hesitation. Remaining twenty three percent composition? >> >> Oxygen. >> >> Concerning. And? >> >> [Word meaning either apology for perceived offense or declaration of a misunderstanding]. >> Just oxygen with one percent other gasses. >> >> [Long silence. Intensification of receivers and audio enhancement detects only atmos, static.] >> >> The slow oxidization alone must be incredibly painful. To breathe in such a combustible >> amtmosphere. >> >> It seems they need the oxygen to survive, from samples taken by expedition craft. >> >> They're one of [heavy inflection on word to indicate weariness/distrust – See canteen logs] >> carbon based lifeforms then. Curious to see so many non-aquatic variants. >> The lifespans must be atrocious. Four hundred years? Three hundred? >> >> //TRANSLATION NOTE: All time converted to human best estimates. >> For untranslated copy, additional permissions required. >> >> These [Translated term for human. For untranslated copy, additional permissions required.] >> are particularly long-lived for their planet. >> >> Closer to eight hundred, then? Understandable, given their apparent technological level. >> I am seeing complex ropes and habitation, as well as communal societies. >> >> [Word meaning either apology for perceived offense or declaration of a misunderstanding]. >> Closer to fifty. >> >> [Atmos] >> >> How then? >> >> Unusually aggressive evolutionary methodology observed. Result of >> [Word used as threat, an insult, or definition of “carnivore”] planet. >> >> Disgusting. Because life wasn't short enough. >> >> We've isolated a point in their history where there were only 40 breeding pairs. It seems that >> small stock and short life cycle has refined them, as it exacerbates the more… aggressive >> nature of evolution on their planet. >> >> This surely works in the favour of similar inhabitants of their ecosystem? >> >> Yet these humans have achieved status as apex predators, in spite of their seemingly small and >> spindly stature. They've filled a niche in their ecosystem as pursuit predators. >> We predict that by the time the light of this observation post reaches them, they will have >> a biomass greater than 100 times greater than any other occupant of this planet. >> >> Pursuit predatation? Do they simply follow? >> >> [Word meaning agreement or indication of accuracy.] To the ends of their planet. Consider >> this continent, then. The species diverges greatly over region, you see, due to their >> relative infancy. Here we see a [horse] being ridden by a [human]. The animal has been >> domesticated for use, which should indicate their level of advancement alone. >> >> How did they breed a creature larger than itself which would bow to its whims in such >> a short time period? >> >> Pursuit predatation. A human could simply follow that creature until it collapsed and died >> of exhaustion. This one simply followed it for three days until it could no longer run. >> It is a simple matter to them. Look! That one with the [Unknown]: He stole it in gestation >> so that it would know no parent but him, and so it serves him. Those [canine] pelts are from >> their partnership. >> >> Then if they are such adept hunters, their development shall stall. There will be no need for >> the development of agrarian societies from which technologies take place. >> >> Some cultures yes. Others lack such geographical convenience. If we observe [Best Estimate: >> Chinese empire] we can see such societies have long developed. It is simply such that sufficient >> land quality is a contested value, and different tribal groups disagree on ownership. >> They seem very possessive and territorial, such that mass loss of life often occurs during such >> contestation. Some even seem to relish the opportunity. There is no shortage of enthusiasm. >> >> A vicious and warlike organism, then? >> >> Potentially. Some. They have great capacity for collaboration intragroup, but outside groups >> are more prone to assimilation and homogenization. >> Wait until the rotation of planet provides optimal view. Subject matter [Roman Empire] for >> consideration. >> >>//TRANSLATION NOTE: LOG #0001836 indicates best guess of observation as an imperial >> province within the Roman Empire. For list of landmarks and estimated geographical >> co-ordinates, see attached appendix on indicated log. >> >> An empire of [Word used as threat, an insult, or definition of “carnivore”]? >> Fortunately they are still tribalistic. Or else I would grow concerned. >> >> [Atmos] >> >> Your silence is disconcerting. >> >> Perhaps, while time elapses, we should >> // // CLASSIFIED \\ \\ >> >> // // CLEARANCE INSUFFICIENT \\ \\ >> >> // // DOCUMENT CUT TO NEAREST GRANTED ACCESS \\ >> >> This is the same species? >> >> Yes. >> >> They seem to have little in common with the tribalistic cultures seen previously. Look at all the >> refined metals. Look at the mathematical precision of their architecture. Such exhorbitant and >> grand monuments. What is that cylindrical stone building a testament to? >> >> We believe it is an entertainment venue. Is it not astounding? They use it to practice warfare. >> For the entertainment of crowds. Sometimes they even flood it by diverting that river, so >> that they may hold naval battles using their aquarian ships, all for the delight of the spectators. >> Then the water is pumped out and we see contests of [horse] domestication ability by contest. >> Surprising amount of deaths in that, too. >> >> I am growing less surprised by the word. How does such a sophisticated iteration of the species >> exist while others live in relative squalor and mud? It defies comprehension that any being >> capable of [communism] would so freely resort to such levels of disparity. >> >> Some cultures have merely advanced faster than others. Without a means of flight >> on this planet by conventional means due to the ratio of its atmospheric density to its >> gravitational pull to their muscular density, they are left to land and simple ocean bridges for >> now. As a result, each culture develops in relative isolation, allowing geographical influence to >> shape them greatly. >> >> We face no threat from them then. Surely internal warfare should keep them sufficiently >> occupied. Imagine a species so constantly losing its children to war. It would lack the >> elders and civillians required to develop beyond this foetal stage. >> >> They are tribal, [word meaning either remember or infer]. We have observed comfortable >> civillian life in the core of large groups. And with a life expectancy so low, the attrition to >> warfare is… less profound, though no less significant. Thinkers and fighters are relegated >> to where they are most fit for purpose. >> >> Then these roving warbands? >> >> Are representative of the larger culture you see here. They are not an independent society of >> raiders, but a militarized branch of the tribe. >> >> Prior, we have accounts of seven thousand soldiers in this region, a precursor to the [Romans] >> you see here, fight against over one hundred thousand opposing forces. Almost >> victorious. Fought over three of their days, taking shifts to kill. >> >> They will not back down from a superior opponent? They will so ruthlessly swarm? >> >> [Agreement or affirmation] >> >> So they will not back down from superior numbers. Nor did their opponents back down from >> superior strength. >> >> Fascinating, yes? >> >> Terrifying. So forgiveness for changing the topic. They work well intra group, you professed. >> Do you mean to tell me they use warfare to achieve homogenization? >> >> Yes. They do not merely wish to eradicate their opponents for love of violence. It appears they >> wish to assimilate them. >> >> [Atmos] >> >> You comprehend we are a thousand light years away? >> >> [Agreement or affirmation] >> >> You are showing me a species that has advanced a thousand years from what we are seeing. >> >> [Agreement or affirmation] >> >> And, in a thousand years, they too might see us? Or, given sufficient advances in technology, >> hear us? >> >> [Placation or dismissal]. Even by our most conservative estimates, they will crumble to >> infighting. We have seen no signs that they can collaborate outside of their own culture. >> Due to this, we believe they will not reach their [untranslatable: Current best estimate: >> Industrial revolution] for another three thousand years. >> >> Yet from what you are showing me, this desert culture appears to be collaborating with the >> sprawling one. They are both of competitive size, yet seem to be benefiting from trade and >> exchange. >> >> [Atmos] >> >> [Expression of disbelief or nausea]. >> >> They both seem to be thriving from this trade as well. >> >> Last observation showed them at war. If humans are capable of collaboration of this scale, >> this throws previous best-estimates well off. We might even see development of [untranslatable: >> Current best estimate: Industrial revolution] in the next thousand, based on current level of >> advancement. >> >> They might be able to see us, then? And, if they should ever achieve their first steps into the >> stars, what if they speak of our first contact? >> >> [Atmos] >> >> We may have overstayed our welcome. >> >> Should we shut comms off? >> >> [Expression of agreement or affirmation][Expression of fear] >> END LOG >> >> /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ >> LACUNA OPERATIONS – CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTATION >> CLEARANCE ACCESS CODES – “KILLING MACHINE” “ENDLESS PURSUIT” >> MISSION STATEMENT >> MISSION BRIEFING >> SUPERVISING OFFICER: CHARLES STROSS >> >> KNOWN SYSTEM INHABITANTS AS “GRAYS” HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED >> OBSERVING EARTH'S DEVELOPMENT UNTIL RELATIVE RECENCY. WE ARE >> STILL RECEIVING PERIODIC COMMUNICATIONS. >> >> THEY ARE FEARFUL, AND THIS IS CONCERNING. >> >> WE DO NOT WISH TO FACE A COLD WAR ACROSS STARS. WE AS A SPECIES >> DO NOT WISH FOR OUR INTRODUCTION TO THE GALACTIC COMMUNITY >> TO BE OF FEARMONGERING DUE TO OUR HISTORY. >> >> USING THESE COMMUNICATIONS, WE HAVE TRACKED THE GRAYS TO THEIR >> DESTINATION. >> >> WE HAVE ANALYZED THEIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES AND FOUND THEM >> LACKING. >> >> CONVENTIONAL WEAPONRY REMAINS SUFFICIENT TO ERADICATE TARGET >> IN SINGLE CO-ORDINATED STRIKE. >> >> THE WARHEADS ARE EN ROUTE WITH TRACKING INFORMATION. >> >> HUMANITY'S FIRST TRIUMPHANT STEP INTO THE STARS WILL NOT BE >> MET BY MILITARY ACTION. FOR THIS TO OCCUR, TACTICAL ASSASINATION >> OF FIRST CONTACT ADVISED. >> >> PUBLIC DOMAIN SUFFICIENTLY SATURATED WITH XENOPHOBIC PROPOGANDA >> TO BE FORGIVING AT TIME OF DETONATION. >> >> DRONES ARE IN PURSUIT OF TARGET SHOULD WARHEADS PROVE INSUFFICIENT. >> >> SIGNAL JAMMING MEASURES WILL BE IN EFFECT. >> >> EMPS OF WARHEAD TO MASK THAT OF TYPICAL CELESTIAL PULSE TO MASK >> FURTHER SUSPICIONS >> >> PLANETARY DEFENSES MAINTAINED UNDER GUISE OF ASTEROID DEFENSE >> PROTOCOL IN CASE OF RETAILIATION STRIKE. >> >> IF RETALIATION INSTIGATED, WE WILL PURSUE VINDICATION. >> >> LACUNA: MISSING INFORMATION FROM A PAGE TORN FROM A BOOK. >> LACUNA: AN EXTENDED SILENCE IN A SONG >> LACUNA: THE PRESERVATION OF HUMANITY AS WE JOURNEY OUTWARDS