Unknown Signal Detected near Shamash
31 Oct 2023Kasumi Goto
Public AlertOctober 29, 3309
A disturbing transmission was detected by the navigation beacon in the LFT 709 system on October 28, 3309, causing concern amidst local authorities, fearing that the message which had caused a naval squadron in the nearby Shamash system to go rogue, was at risk of spreading outside of it.
The signal was originally discovered by an independent pilot near the beacon as it retransmitted the message to nearby ships, prompting them to alert the authorities about its presence. Further investigation of the message and beacon logs at time of reception yielded little information of use, as the data was heavily corrupted. No valid ID tags could be retrieved, nor could the signal be traced back to its origin point - only a timestamp dating it to the 28th was found. Additionally, the audio recording that appears to have been intended to come with it was no longer available, due to the corruption.
However, a largely intact transcript was available, and while disturbing to read, it does not indicate the person who recorded it is under the effects of the mysterious signal in Shamash. The transcript is available to read below.
It wants me to look for something. Out... here.
The signal interests it. The one in Shamash. I don't know why.
It protected me from it. I only felt a headache for... I don't remember how long. It's gone now. But it's not what it wants me out here for.
It wants me to observe. To avoid the fighting, not draw attention to myself. Determine if this... can be used? I don't know. But I'm staying nearby, watching. Just not fighting.
Is it afraid that the signal might end up affecting me, by being close to the affected pilots? Or does it want to see if... not participating in the conflict has any purpose? Does this have any relation to those rescued from the Titans? I wish I knew. I can neither tell from what it tells me, nor... anything we've found.
Maybe it wants to know what... what could it want to know? How this signal came to be? Why this is happening out here, in an unimportant system? What its purpose is?
It is frustrated with us. That the major news feed I have access to is just ignoring the beacons placed around the system. What they tell. It wants more information to give back to [unable to transcribe sound]
[Pause in recording. Duration: 1 minute]
It is angry. I have to do what it wants. But I don't know what it is. It just tells me where to go. It hurts [text corrupted]
I don't want to go back. I can't. Have to do what it tells me. It won't let me go back until I do. I don't want to listen to it, but it [text corrupted] when I do.
There is always noise. I can never live without it again. But now it is quiet. Only me. Breathing. Slow. Quiet. Peaceful. I can think. Be myself, when I need rest. When it cannot use me.
[No sound detected for: 5 minutes]
Why am I out here? I don't want to be here. Why did it bring me here? It is not safe. It is not safe! I
Oh no. The noise is... the noise is coming back. It always does. An abrasive symphony of aggressive notes, melodies and instruments. Sometimes, it's quieter. Many times, it's loud.
No! I will not submit!
[Wincing, sound of pain]
No! Stop! Make it stop! It hurts! [Sound of pained groaning, screaming] It needs to stop! I NEED IT TO STOP! PLEASE, HELP M
[Recording interrupted.]
End of transcript.
An additional, partially recovered file was also stored on the beacon, containing some basic information about the person who recorded this log. It states that they are a young woman of potentially Japanese origin. Unfortunately, this is of limited use without the audio recording to determine the accent of the person speaking, or their ID.
The authorities are continuing to investigate the message, hoping to find further clues to where it originated, and have relayed it to Aegis. One official figure has been publicly recorded, stating their concern that a "human abducted by the Thargoids was potentially freed in clandestine manner", rather than brought to a rescue megaship for proper treatment and quarantine, "seeing some of the wording used in the message".
They have also urged caution to anyone attempting to look for the individual, while expressly stating that it "would be ideal if she were found, both for the safety of the public and her own", as it is unknown to what degree the Thargoids may hold control of her, or what kind of modifications were made to her biology, should it turn out to be one of the Titan survivors.
It is, however, likely that her physique still resembles that of a human, if she has managed to go by unseen amidst society, since her recovery. It is equally plausible that she is using means of obscuring her identity in public to remain hidden, whether by her own wish, or external influence. Her message appears to be a call for help, but it should not be assumed that she will respond positively to attempts at detainment.
No comments have yet been made by Aegis, or toward those who may have freed her, be their motives well-meaning and unaware of the potential consequences, or a deliberate, malevolent act.
OOC - yes, this is technically not a new new post, relating to the transmission from the unverified recording, and I posted this on the Frontier forums… but it is relevant to the ‘story’ and ‘mood setting’, yada yada. Besides, I’d like to think the reader base between the two sites differs to a certain degree, and continuity matters.
Part 4 of the Exposure series will be published soon.
Part 4 of the Exposure series will be published soon.