Post by Floyd Looney on Oct 27, 2009 23:17:06 GMT -5
I once had a story that begins when a news report announces that there is something entering the solar system. Something spotted by an amateur astronomer trying to find the next Hale-Bopp Comet.
Days later scientists report that whatever it was was decelerating. It was slowing down. Soon they reported it had stopped in orbit of Jupiter, the giant planet. A passing satellite managed to refocus and get two stills of the object as it lowered a long 'hose' down into the Jovian atmosphere.
The photographs spread around the world within seconds of their release to the public. It was most definitely a ship. After a couple of days scientists at NASA and MIT announced that both had estimated the legnth of the craft at 8 miles.
The ship soon left Jupiter orbit and began heading inward, it was pretty obvious that it was heading towards Earth. All this time one of the guests on certain programs along with scientists was a science fiction "futurist" who speculated about the mission and nature of the ship and possible occupants.
The host would ask him questions like "Could it be on auto-pilot"?
"If the builders were advanced enough to be able to program drift of stars in relation to each other and how to navigate things like wayward asteroids and comets, it would be within their grasp."
"Do you there is an alien or aliens aboard the vessel?"
"I hope so. I hope its not just going to borrow some water and be on its way, scanning us for its databanks to take home centuries from now."
They talked about whether it could be hostile with retired Generals and what could be done if it were. How could we defend ourselves from such an advanced enemy?
Before long the ship passed the orbit of Mars, this got the worlds attention. Within days a carrier signal was recieved on the dark side of Earth and soon the signal could be found even on the sun-facing side of the world.
"Could it be monitoring our broadcasts?"
"Lord, I hope not. That would almost force them to put us out of our midery, wouldn't it?"
The Secretary-General of the United Nations in front of the General Assembly made a big show to welcome the alien vessel "In peace, forever".
Meanwhile the worlds major countries were quietly putting their forces on alert. Which everyone quickly knew about.
A countdown clock begins on the carrier signal in several languages. The worlds population was in front of their TV's and computers when it reached the appointed time.
The screen is dark, a vague humanoid outline could be discerned as the words began. The words came in english, russian, chinese, spanish, arabic, french and other languages at the same time.
"There shall no longer be poverty, no more hunger, no more war, no more divisions. There shall only be unity."
The alien takes a step closer and it is a beautiful young short-haired woman, "I am Unity".
The message ended. Another countdown began to another message.
The world began to debate the meaning of the first. Everyone thought they knew exactly what it meant. Some thought she was bringing them the way to pure socialism. To Utopia. Others thought she might be an angel while others thought her species might have been the ones to colonize Earth and become humans two million years ago.
The scifi writer was on television once again when the host asked the first real question since the original broasdcast.
"What, again, if they are hostile? Even though it would mean she lied, what if?"
"She said there will only be unity, and she is Unity. I suppose it could mean she has come to rule the Earth"
The show went to a commercial after an awkward quiet that followed.
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Days later scientists report that whatever it was was decelerating. It was slowing down. Soon they reported it had stopped in orbit of Jupiter, the giant planet. A passing satellite managed to refocus and get two stills of the object as it lowered a long 'hose' down into the Jovian atmosphere.
The photographs spread around the world within seconds of their release to the public. It was most definitely a ship. After a couple of days scientists at NASA and MIT announced that both had estimated the legnth of the craft at 8 miles.
The ship soon left Jupiter orbit and began heading inward, it was pretty obvious that it was heading towards Earth. All this time one of the guests on certain programs along with scientists was a science fiction "futurist" who speculated about the mission and nature of the ship and possible occupants.
The host would ask him questions like "Could it be on auto-pilot"?
"If the builders were advanced enough to be able to program drift of stars in relation to each other and how to navigate things like wayward asteroids and comets, it would be within their grasp."
"Do you there is an alien or aliens aboard the vessel?"
"I hope so. I hope its not just going to borrow some water and be on its way, scanning us for its databanks to take home centuries from now."
They talked about whether it could be hostile with retired Generals and what could be done if it were. How could we defend ourselves from such an advanced enemy?
Before long the ship passed the orbit of Mars, this got the worlds attention. Within days a carrier signal was recieved on the dark side of Earth and soon the signal could be found even on the sun-facing side of the world.
"Could it be monitoring our broadcasts?"
"Lord, I hope not. That would almost force them to put us out of our midery, wouldn't it?"
The Secretary-General of the United Nations in front of the General Assembly made a big show to welcome the alien vessel "In peace, forever".
Meanwhile the worlds major countries were quietly putting their forces on alert. Which everyone quickly knew about.
A countdown clock begins on the carrier signal in several languages. The worlds population was in front of their TV's and computers when it reached the appointed time.
The screen is dark, a vague humanoid outline could be discerned as the words began. The words came in english, russian, chinese, spanish, arabic, french and other languages at the same time.
"There shall no longer be poverty, no more hunger, no more war, no more divisions. There shall only be unity."
The alien takes a step closer and it is a beautiful young short-haired woman, "I am Unity".
The message ended. Another countdown began to another message.
The world began to debate the meaning of the first. Everyone thought they knew exactly what it meant. Some thought she was bringing them the way to pure socialism. To Utopia. Others thought she might be an angel while others thought her species might have been the ones to colonize Earth and become humans two million years ago.
The scifi writer was on television once again when the host asked the first real question since the original broasdcast.
"What, again, if they are hostile? Even though it would mean she lied, what if?"
"She said there will only be unity, and she is Unity. I suppose it could mean she has come to rule the Earth"
The show went to a commercial after an awkward quiet that followed.
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