by Ed Lerner
“So what lies ahead?”
“The message gets more and more complex. Most of what's left looks like physics and electronics. Amid that technical detail, oddly, is a return to arithmetic. That's followed by a brief return to chemistry. The arithmetic and the chemical reactions both use a symbol we don't understand. Everyone assumes we'll know what it means once we read things in order. The puzzling thing is, that symbol doesn't appear earlier.”
“Give me an example?”
“Sure. Call the undecoded symbol ‘X.’ The math is stuff like 2+3=X and 7-1=X. The chemistry starts as similarly basic chemical reactions, with a reactant missing, replaced by X. Then X shows up in a lot of hairy chemistry material.”
A cloud blew over the sun, turning the harbor air instantly chilly. He was too deep in thought to notice. “You didn't pick ‘X’ at random. You're thinking of everyone's favorite algebra variable: X the unknown.”
“My mind's been heading that way since the speech you put your ambassador up to.”
“Okay, let's assume ‘X’ is something to be solved for. ET used trivial arithmetic problems to introduce the symbol. He used simple chemistry problems to generalize the concept beyond math. And then...” He stopped, staring into space.
“And the remaining occurrences of X might just turn out to be ET's shopping list.”
* * * *
Matthews’ cell phone chimed as the ferry docked. Chattering, jostling tourists almost drowned out Alex's news. COPUOS had narrowly approved task-force continuation: a 43-40 vote. Dean gave a thumb's up to Bridget, now on her own phone.
The gesture was arguably too soon. Alex's next words were less upbeat. “Winning this round meant cashing in several favors owed the US. I expect Mbeke and his allies will try packing the committee with new Third World members before the next review. If that happens, I don't see where the votes would come from to authorize a reply.”
* * * *
Bridget's call was a summons for them both from Kim; they took a cab from the dock to the UN. One short hour after the vote, hundreds of Earth Firsters were already demonstrating in front of the UN building.
To Dean's surprise, Bridget excused herself when they got to the Undersecretary-General's office. “Today's vote was unpleasantly close,” said Kim, as the door closed behind Bridget. “We must do better next time.”
Dean shrugged inwardly. Where was this going?
“Perhaps we need fresh thinking. The kind of insight that your Ambassador showed yesterday ... with your input. Bridget also speaks highly of you.” Kim smiled, “Joining the steering committee would be much more efficient than maneuvering us.”
Matthews didn't protest the insinuation: there was adequate truth to it. Coming from a career politician and diplomat, the remark was probably meant as a compliment.
“Now assuming that you will join us, I suggest that you join a post-vote strategy session.”
CHAPTER 8
It turned out that Matthews’ prediction on the ferry had been only half right.
At his suggestion, the next steering committee meeting included a synopsis of the whole message. The head of the Analysis committee, Koji Matsumoto, gave the summary. Koji was an intense astrophysicist on loan from NASDA, the Japanese space agency. He looked surprisingly awake for someone teleconferencing from Tokyo, where it was 3:00 a.m.
Matsumoto uploaded a graphic. “This chart overviews the entire message and our progress in reading it. Message blocks flow from left to right and top to bottom. The ‘look at me’ pulses and earliest images are at the top left. As you know, ET marks each image with the dimensionality and size of the next image. This lets us separate the message into its parts, although many of the later blocks don't make sense yet.”
Dean studied the graphic. In rough terms, he visualized the image in three segments. The first quarter was red, fading to orange. The middle half was yellow. The last fourth spanned the rest of the rainbow, in thin slices.
“The blocks we think are fully decoded appear in red. We have covered that material at earlier meetings. Orange shows blocks that are partially interpreted. We believe the yellow area that follows is, like the orange, progressively more advanced mathematics, physics, and chemistry.”
Matsumoto sent a new image. “Here we see more detail about the end of the message. The thin green slice is only a few frames long: it is where ET introduces what we think is a question-mark symbol. The blue that follows is what Dean called the shopping list; we'll return to that. The indigo area seems to be electronic schematics. Violet, the final section, appears to derive units of measure, such as time intervals, from fundamental physical constants.”
Another graphic appeared, its blue border suggesting that it came from the shopping-list portion of the message. Dean saw a chemical reaction in which the presumed question-mark character represented a catalyst. Beneath the reaction was a line of three other symbols.
Matsumoto went on. “Here is a typical frame from the shopping list. It certainly seems plausible that ET is asking if we can identify a catalyst for this chemical reaction. On the next line are the ‘us’ and ‘them’ symbols, Earth and ET, separated by something we didn't recognize at first: a vector symbol from the early physics tutorial. We think it is used here to show direction.”
In short, the line read: “Earth to ET.”
Flick. Another blue-bordered graphic appeared. It, too, showed a chemical reaction, seemingly for a fuel cell. A question mark again stood where a catalyst would be indicated. Beneath that were the us, to, and them symbols—but with one key difference: the direction of the vector was reversed.
“In addition to what Dean called ET's shopping list,” said Matsumoto, “we think ET has sent us a catalogue.”
* * * *
From the Earth First chat room.
All_Politics_Is_Local: The $%^#!! UN is still moving toward a reply to ET. How can they be stopped?
Stop_World_Government: See your verbs, dude? Passive voice! UR the problem. What can *you* do?
All_Politics_Is_Local: I'll bite. What can I do?
Radical_Dude: Be in New York when COPUOS meets next. Earth First is organizing mass demonstrations, with support from around the world. If the UN doesn't change course, we'll show them that the Battle of Seattle was only a tea party. Earth's precious resources are for Earth!
All_Politics_Is_Local: I have been properly rebuked and reeducated. Earth First!
Radical_Dude: Amen to that!
* * * *
Call it barter, which sounded primitive, or trading intellectual property, or very long-distance e-business. By any name, the task force had finally answered the question, “What does ET want?”
He wants, it would seem, to learn useful things from us.
Though something like this had been suspected for days, since Dean and Bridget's ferry ride, it was more persuasive in Matsumoto's concise briefing. Consensus quickly jelled on the interstellar trading scenario. Speculation swirled about how the system could work. More heat than light was being generated.
Matthews coughed for attention. “Koji, could you bring back your first chart?” The image Matthews had requested popped up. “I'm going to climb out on another limb.”
“As we keep re-learning, ET is very systematic. So why do electronics reappear after the shopping list and catalogue? Koji, might the indigo area be a new tutorial or trade goods?”
“We see no new symbols in the indigo region, so I would not think it is tutorial. We also found none of the ‘us to them’ or ‘them to us’ phrases, so I do not think indigo relates to trading.”
“As I expected.” Matthews pushed back his chair, feeling the need to pace. “One of the few things ET already knows about us is that the signals we send, or more accurately leak, are so weak he can barely hear us. That's pretty clear from the time-lapsed replay of what he's heard. Surely if ET had extracted any information from Earth's radio leakage, instead of just our dial tone, he'd have sent a bit of it back to let us know.
“ET's transmitter is far more powerful than anything on Earth, or it's capable of incredibly focused beamcasting, or both. So, another speculation. I bet that the indigo material, the electronics, is a transmitter design. There's no reason for ET to ask to trade until we learn to speak intelligibly.”
“Perhaps I can complete the decoding,” added Matsumoto. “If we grant Dean's speculation, a meaning might also be placed on the last portion. At a high level, as I said, the part of the message coded in violet derives units of measure. This appears to include time intervals and a radio frequency.
“If Dean is correct, the last part of the message may be telling us when and where ET will be listening for our reply.”
CHAPTER 9
A side effect of Matthew's new assignment was more time spent in New York. The steering committee met often, with only the furthest-away members telecommuting. His house plants took it hard, but otherwise it worked well. In particular, it gave him the chance to better bond with the other steerers. His new routine of a morning jog with Vladimir Antinov was pure bonus.
Pounding along a Central Park track, Dean saved his breath for keeping up with the fanatically fit general, while Antinov did the speaking. Each run brought a revelation and the always useful reminder one learned more by listening than by talking.
Today Vladimir was pondering a new press release from Dean's former committee fellows. His perspective was always an eye opener, as different from Dean's industrial viewpoint as Dean's was from the academics and bureaucrats who dominated the task force.
“Good technique, my friend, divide and conquer.” The Russian didn't appear to be sweating. “Analyzing as much of the message at once as possible makes sense.”
“In my world, we call it parallel processing.”
“The labs back home say it is an interesting approach.” He referred to what had indeed proven to be a transmitter design.
Dean considered, reminded of his favorite evasion. As in: this casserole is interesting. “More surprising than interesting.” Pant, pant. “Curiously complex.”
“You should think like a Russian.” When the physicist made no reply, Antinov continued. “Consider Mir. I loved seeing the faces on your astronauts when they first came aboard. They were in shock about Mir. So primitive. So klugged.”
“Kludged?”
“Yes, thanks. Kludged. Despite our kludging, or maybe because of it, USSR had a space station twelve years before one piece was launched for a NASA space station.” He jogged in place at the crest of a hill while the huffing American caught up. “The best is the enemy of the good enough.”
“My brain is not at its best when bouncing.”
“You Americans believe advanced capability requires advanced technology. You think ET's solution must be simple and elegant.” They zigged off the path to pass some mere power walkers, then zagged back on. “You never think of Mir.”
“So.” Matthews was out of breath. “You're ... saying ... brute force.”
“Perhaps. Of course, I would not know an elegant radio design if it shot at me. I only suggest that you consider it.”
“Food ... for thought.”
“Only five kilometers. You would not survive a real run.” Antinov pointed to a coffee shop. “Come, we'll get some real food.”
* * * *
"The University of California at Berkeley announced the discovery at the end of the ET message of a deadline for Earth's response. Dr. Enrique Ramirez, of the Department of Computer Science, stated that ET has requested that Earth begin its reply 97 days from today.
"A UN spokesman confirmed that its task force had been seeking an independent validation of a similar translation. The spokesman would not speculate what answer the task force might recommend, or even whether a response was under consideration.”
—GlobalNet Evening News
* * * *
With time running out before a pre-reply COPUOS review, and the authorization vote Alex Klein predicted the task force would lose, Matthews widened his search for ideas.
After hours of chat-room exploration and web surfing, Matthews encountered “A note on amplifiers in the Lalande 21185 transmitter design” by a Joachim Frisch. Dean clicked on the URL and started scanning. As an aura of professionalism emerged, his reading slowed down. Searching on the author, Dean found nine papers in refereed engineering journals, although the most recent was ten years old.
His second review was very slow and deliberate. He was reminded of, and thought deeply about, Vladimir Antinov's comments about Mir.
It was early evening in Frankfurt. Hoping that Herr Frisch was not out enjoying the Oktoberfest, Dean started to dial.
* * * *
From the SETI Conspiracy chat room.
Suspect_Everyone: So now there's a pressing deadline to answer ET ... Who else smells a six-legged, bug-eyed rat?
42_is_true: How convenient! ET spies on us for 30+ years and we get a few months to reply. What's the rush?
Suspect_Everyone: The rush, my naive friend, is to stampede us. Remember that the UN already pushed through a treaty allowing only *them* to answer ET. The vote to reply will be one more pretense why we “need” world government.
Remember_Seattle: They've made a losing gamble. Once we delay them past the deadline, the whole pretense lapses. Join Earth First at the barricades in NYC.
CHAPTER 10
The stretch limo of the American UN mission was twenty minutes late in retrieving Matthews. Traffic crawled, snarled by picketing Earth Firsters. Despite the unruly crowds, Dean could have made faster progress on foot.
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. I appreciate your flexibility, since my calendar doesn't offer much.”
“You're welcome, Mr. Ambassador. What can I do for you?”
“Please, we're alone. It's just Alex. I wanted to advise you of an issue in regard to your recent inquiry.”
Matthews didn't speak diplomatese, but in his experience an issue was never a good thing.
ET's shopping list and catalogue, when decoded, had been much alike. All sixteen entries on the shopping list were related to chemical reactions and materials science. The catalogue hinted at fifteen catalysts and materials; the sixteenth entry promised a superior optical telescope design.
It was commonly interpreted that ET would swap any item from his catalogue for any item we supplied from his shopping list. The problem was with comparative skill levels: ET's wares and the new solutions he sought were both mostly unfamiliar to the task force's chemists and chemical engineers. Lots to ask for; nothing to trade.
ET's shopping list included catalysts for fuel cells. There had been a long-shot chance that the US national labs had related unpublished work. Alex's office had agreed to expedite a DoE query for Dean.
“First off, no luck with the national labs. I'm told, in fact, that the example ET used to define ‘fuel cell’ is potentially better than anything we have.
“On the other hand ... my good friend, the Secretary of Commerce, was contacted discretely by two key constituents, if you know what I mean. The corporations they represent may each have one of the catalysts sought by ET. The research is not yet ready for patent application.”
Key constituents, presumably, were campaign contributors. “Will they share information with ET? Do they understand the impracticality of obtaining payment from him?”
They grabbed armrests as the limo braked suddenly. Three protesters in bug-eyed-monster masks with Devil's horns had darted in front of the vehicle. Their waving placards asked, “Do I look trustworthy?”
Klein grimaced at the street theater. “Barter is awkward, as is the delay. Sixteen years round-trip? That's not the real issue, however.
“Sending technology to ET means a turnover to the task force for encoding and transmission. Neither company trusts the UN to keep proprietary technology secret here on Earth.
“Federal purchase of the technology has been mentioned, but we're talking billions. A purchase probably
couldn't happen in time, even if it were the right thing to do.”
Matthews looked glumly out blackened, one-way limo glass. More and more demonstrators streamed past the trapped limo towards the UN. “Look at this crowd. Can they spell Luddite?”
The ambassador snapped shut his briefcase. “The major economic powers all want the ET technologies. We've been trying hard to freeze COPUOS membership until after the natural milestone of an authorization to reply. I expect to lose the procedural vote on that membership freeze today.
“We have nothing to trade, long odds of getting a reply authorized are about to get worse, and the clock is running out. Your Luddites are the least of our problems.”
* * * *
“I became interested in a report from the Analysis group. As they had determined, there are obvious subassemblies for signal modulation and amplification. There is an impressive design for focusing and steering a beam using a phased-array antenna, like we use for radars. It is elegant work.”
Joachim Frisch tapped the printout spread across his dining room table. The schematic was roughly two meters by three. It had been printed on letter-sized stationery and taped together. “And then we have this complicated mess.”
Frisch was a frail, grey-haired gentleman of seventy-three years. He'd never fully recovered from a car crash two years earlier, and was wheelchair-bound. Until his retirement, he had been a customer-support engineer at the big German electronics firm, Siemens. He still did free-lance consulting, troubleshooting others’ designs and suggesting improvements.
“Forty years moving from customer to customer, application to application, builds a skill set. I thought that mastering yet one more design, even an alien one, would be easy. I've seen many radio circuits in my time.”