Ephemeral Species Book One - The Dawning

by Patrick Smith

  Chapter 4

  Nisha woke up early to watch the arrival of the Spacex mission into orbit around the Moon. The US stock market opened down big again and had dropped a total of 15% since the voices began.

  The DHS contacted Nisha and she spoke with General Sherman again.

  "Good morning Dr. Chandra. Within an hour, our astronauts will make visual contact with the alien vessel. Right now the vessel is orbiting on the other side of the moon from our astronauts. We want your input as to what to expect."

  "I wish I could give you a clean list of expectations and guidelines, but I can't," Nisha said. "The most important thing is to be prepared for any eventuality. This is probably the most significant meeting the human species has ever attended. The meeting might go in many different directions."

  Okay, we're listening," the General said.

  "First, they might ignore us. We might be nothing but a fly on their wall. In this scenario, take care to not irritate them or they might swat us away. Don't do anything to make the situation worse."

  "Okay, what else?" the President said.

  "Next, they might regard our approach as a threat. We must approach them slowly and carefully. Use passive reconnaissance, don't scan them. They're highly advanced so I doubt we're a real threat. However, if we threaten them, they might remove the threat to make their lives easier."

  "I agree," the General said.

  "Thirdly, they might be here to explore. There's no way to hide our planet or species now, so we might as well be open. Let them scan us and possibly we can be curious too."

  "Let's hope they aren't too curious," the President said.

  "Finally, this might be a probe with no sentient or organic creatures aboard. Be careful not to do anything that might lie outside of their pre-programmed plans. The probe might execute software instructions designed for self-protection. We don't want the vessel to protect itself by killing the astronauts or destroying the Earth."

  "Yes, sophisticated systems might overprotect themselves," the General said.

  "Try to learn about them and record as much information as you can and send it back to Earth instantly if possible. That's all I can tell you for now. I'll be ready when they get close. If they're organic, I might be able to spot behaviors which can help our cause. Our cause might range from learning about the universe to the survival of our species."

  After another 10 minutes of discussion had elapsed, they finished.

  "Thanks Dr. Chandra," the General said. "Our mission will be in visual range in 45 minutes. Stand by to connect to the mission. Thus far, no change in the status of the alien vessel has been observed. I'm sure they know we're coming. You'll connect before we're in visual range."

  "Okay," Nisha said. "Good luck!"

  The next 45 minutes seemed like days. The stock market gradually drifted 2% lower on the day on low volume as people waited. Billions of people on Earth who had access to a connected device watched anxiously. Business activity ground to a halt. Heavy traffic seemed to evaporate from cities and highways. Airline flights were canceled due to low passenger volume.

  Nisha connected to the astronauts on board the Spacex mission. She and her family were able to watch in real time, as though they were there. The nearby Moon filled half the sky, in high relief against the black void of space. On the Moon's horizon, a small shining star appeared.

  "We've established visual contact with the alien vessel," astronaut Steve Messier said.

  Nisha monitored her twitter stream's astronomy list for the latest updates. Many important astronomers and scientists promised to update Twitter with all relevant discoveries and observations.

  "Steve, thus far I'm receiving no reports of any changes coming from the vessel," Nisha said.

  "Acknowledged," Steve said.

  "I understand the voices have come to you too," Nisha said.

  "Yes, right now I hear them faintly, at precisely the same time we got into visual range."

  "I detect nothing right now," Nisha said.

  "As we get closer to the vessel, the voices are getting louder."

  "Be careful!" Nisha said.

  For 20 minutes, they edged closer to the sphere and they went behind the moon from the Earth's perspective. After four more minutes, they emerged

  "We're now 10km from the alien vessel," Steve said. "It's perfectly spherical and reflective. It's as smooth as a mirror. Even from this distance the vessel fills a 90 degree arc in the sky. We're picking up no signs of communications or other energy transmissions. The thousands of voices continue to become louder as we get nearer. They appear to be communications of some sort. The voices are clearer up here compared to when I'm on the surface of the Earth. They're unlike any language I've ever known, assuming they're voices."

  Nisha continued monitoring her network of astronomers on Twitter and more direct links.

  "Nobody on my networks detect any signs of activity. I'll keep monitoring the situation."

  "Five kilometers and closing," Steve said. "We're preparing to decelerate. The vessel is silent. We're picking up nothing on our instruments here on any frequency other than the static which we hear as voices. We calculate the diameter at 32 km or 20 miles. From this distance, the vessel takes up over 120 degrees of angle in the sky. The moon is reflected perfectly in the sphere. I get confused looking down to the moon and looking up to its reflection. It's disorienting to be this close. The voices sound louder. They're still unintelligible."

  "Nothing is being reported on my network," Nisha said.

  On Earth, activity came to a standstill. The US stock markets were still open for trading. The averages had dropped 3% and stabilized. The President and members of Congress were holding sessions underground. Most schools were closed or had sent their students home early. People studied their Eyepieces, mobile devices, monitors or video screens.

  20 minutes later they drifted to within 100 meters of the surface of the enormous alien vessel.

  "We detect no signs of activity," Steve said. "We can see our reflection. We're so close we can no longer perceive the curvature. The sphere appears to us like an endless flat mirror. My heart rate is 120. The alien vessel is magnificent. Allen Cassini is prepared for the spacewalk now."

  "I'm still receiving nothing new down here," Nisha reported.

  "Acknowledged Nisha," Steve said. "Allen, proceed when you're ready."

  Within a minute, the airlock opened and Allen exited the spacecraft. He lightly used his thrusters.

  "80 meters to the edge," he said.

  "Go slow," Steve warned.

  "60 meters and closing at one meter per second. I'm reading no anomalies at all from any instrument," Allen said.

  "Same down here," Nisha said.

  "The voices seem to be speaking at a more rapid pace," Steve said.

  "I'm going slow and easy," Allen said. "30 meters and closing at 0.5 meters per second. My pulse rate is 120."

  After one of the longest minutes in human history, Allen closed to within one meter of the surface of the sphere.

  "I'm reading nothing unusual here other than an extremely high frequency emission which seems to envelop the sphere within a few meters of the surface. The closer I get, the more intense the emission becomes. I can't detect any patterns at all. The sphere might act as an antenna, focusing weak signals from their home world."

  "My pulse is also 120," Steve said.

  "Allen, proceed with extreme caution and attempt to get as close as you can. The voices are increasing in intensity."

  "Acknowledged," Allen said. "I think I'm as close as I'm going to get. My reflection isn't as clear as was further back. The surface has no solid edge. I can push my hand in a little bit, but there's some form of resistance.

  "Stop," Steve said. "The instant you touched the surface, in my mind the voices became more active. I'm picking up an energy transmission now. I think you better get back here immediately."

  "Affirmative," Allen said. "I'm on my way back."

&nb
sp; Nisha noticed some new tweets coming in from her astronomer twitter list and other sources.

  "A burst of transmissions came from the sphere just as Allen made contact. I also recommend an end to the space walk."

  "Understood Nisha," Steve said. "The withdrawal process is underway now. Hold on, I picked up a brief static electric charge. Allen, get back here now."

  "This is weird," Allen said. "There's a bulge developing in the reflective surface. Do you see that?"

  "Yes I do. Hurry up," Steve said.

  "The bulge is getting bigger. A smaller sphere popped out. The visual effect is like when a drop of water hits a puddle and a smaller drop reemerges."

  Billions of people on Earth watched the events unfold. The stock market began to drop more.

  "Allen, be calm and don't engage the object," Nisha said. "Don't act aggressive or show fear. Slowly make your way back to the ship."

  "Understood," Allen said. "I'm 80 meters from the ship. My speed is 0.5 meters per second away from the big sphere. The smaller sphere is about three or four meters in diameter and heading right towards me. The surface is reflective and looks like the big one does from further away. The sphere is getting too close for comfort. It's only three meters away from me. ? I'm detecting an energy transmission."

  "Okay," Steve said. "The sphere is probably scanning you. I'm not detecting any ionizing radiation or any other danger. Stop and let the scan proceed."

  "All stopped," Allen said. "Wait, I notice a little bulge developing in the smaller sphere. A little floating object has emerged. Can you confirm?"

  "Yes," Steve said. "It appears to be a drone about the size of a basketball. The device is mechanical and not organic or living. Several of its thrusters can fire in rapid succession. Don't move and let the drone examine you. Your pulse is 140. Take a deep and slow breath."

  "Understood," Allen said. "The drone is moving closer and is now right in front of my face. Some intelligence might be at the controls, but I sense the drone is acting autonomously. It appears to be scanning me. A camera or eye is in front. Eight legs are opening up from a central body. This drone looks like a metallic king crab or a giant spider. It's nimble like a spider."

  "Allen, don't move. The voices are getting more active in my mind now. Something is happening. Nisha, are you picking up anything on the ground?"

  "Yes, the voices are louder now Steve," Nisha said. "I think they're clearer to you because of your close proximity. Nobody I'm following is reporting any significant changes in the status of the big sphere."

  "Acknowledged Nisha," Steve said.

  "The spider drone is an inch from my helmet now Steve," Allen said. "Its legs are grasping onto the edge surrounding my clear visor. I'm having problems seeing. I'm beginning to not like this."

  "Stay calm Allen," Steve instructed. "Let it finish studying you and return to the sphere."

  "Understood," Allen said. "This is strange. Now I can't seem to move. I can breathe fine but I can't move my arms or legs. I'm paralyzed."

  "The drone is probably doing this to avoid any trouble while data is being collected. Try to relax. Breathe deeply and slowly."

  "Easy for you to say," Allen said. "My heart rate is 150. Now the drone is grasping around the edge of the clear visor part of my helmet. A thin appendage is coming out of the center thorax of the drone body. The appendage is thick but nimble, like the labrum of a mosquito. I hope the purpose is different. The labrum is tapping on my helmet. I think it's searching for a way in. I can't move or get this thing off of me. If my suit is punctured I'll die."

  "Stay calm Allen," Steve said. "Their mastery of AI and other technologies is highly advanced, so they must know what they're doing. If they wanted to kill us, we'd already be dead. They paralyzed you but you can still breathe. They know what they're doing. They're trying to examine you."

  "I hope you're right," Allen said. "Steve, the drone is drilling a hole in my visor. Tell my family I love them. I can't move. The drill is penetrating now."

  He paused for a very long second.

  "I haven't lost suit pressure, though the needle has penetrated my visor by about one inch. The needle is half the thickness of a straw. I thought the drone would try to suck my blood or inject me with something but so far nothing has happened."

  "Allen, this is a good development in some ways," Nisha said. "The drone seems to be taking care to not allow the air to escape from your suit. You're wanted alive. I'm watching the video from the camera that's inside your suit. I can watch everything you're seeing. You're sweating a lot. Try to stay calm and breathe evenly. The drone might be sampling your air and doing other tests."

  "Right Nisha, but I'm wondering why the drone wants me alive. Maybe it wants to incubate something in me. Well I should not be arguing at this point, right? I'm still alive at least," Allen said, trying to bring a little humor to the situation. "Wait, a small cloud of dust is coming out of the hollow needle. The drone is too close for me to see."

  "This is only speculation at this point," Nisha said. "The cloud isn't dust. Judging from the way the cloud moves, the cloud is intelligent. The cloud seems to be comprised of small nanometer sized drones which can move independently. As I watch, they move as a swarm too. Now they're dissipating within your helmet. What are you experiencing?"

  "My neck itches," Allen said. "I'd like to scratch but I can't move. Even if I could, I can't scratch through my suit. They're, crawling all over my body. Some are in my nose. They're going down my throat. This is uncomfortable."

  "More of those spider drones are exiting the small sphere," Steve said. "They're heading towards the lunar module. I'm starting to become paralyzed so I'm strapping myself in. The voices are loud now."

  "I'm looking at the external cameras," Nisha said. "The spider drones are crawling around over the entire ship. They seem to be inspecting the external components. I notice one floating over to the biggest window. Do you see Steve?"

  "Yes, the spider drone's labrum is drilling a hole in the glass. I hope it remembers to keep the air inside. ? Now the labrum is through the glass and the air isn't escaping. The drone is releasing a cloud of those nano drones."

  "The stock market is crashing," Nisha said as she watched her Twitter stream. "It's down 10% in the past 3 minutes. Trading is halted. That's a 20% drop in the past few days. People are emptying stores too."

  "The nano drones are filtering into all of the electronics," Steve said. "Some are crawling around on me now. Allen, are you okay?"

  "Yes, but that's a matter for speculation," Allen said. "The drones are exploring the inside of my body. My insides are itching, like a million ants are crawling around inside. I'm not in pain and I'm not sick. I still can't move. I'm floating out here."

  Two minutes of silence.

  "Wait, now something is different. I think the drones stopped probing. They're exiting out of my nose now. My nose itches like crazy. ? Yes, they're all leaving and they're entering the labrum of the spider drone. I'm worried what will happen when the drone pulls out the labrum."

  "Steve, what's happening over in the capsule?" Nisha said.

  "Clouds of them are everywhere," Steve said. "The inside of the cabin looks dirty. Cleanup seems impossible. They're inside of me too. The experience is similar to the tingling when your leg falls asleep, except it's all throughout my body. Some of them are returning to the spider probe now."

  "Allen, what's happening with you?" Nisha said.

  "The spider probe on my visor is withdrawing its labrum right now. I don't detect any air escaping. The labrum is filling in the hole in the glass. What a relief! The tingling is gone. Also, I'm beginning to regain some control over my limbs. I think the paralysis is wearing off."

  "That's good news," Steve said. "Get back to the capsule as soon as you can. The nano drones have reentered the spider drone. The hole is sealed."

  Steve paused for a while, then continued.

  "The spider drones are reentering the small sphere. Now the small
sphere is heading towards the huge sphere. ? The little sphere entered the big sphere like a water droplet falling onto the surface of a larger body of water. I think we're going to be okay!"

  "The stock market is rebounding," Nisha said. "In the past minute, half of the losses have been recovered. The averages are still down about 5% on the day though. You guys will need to stay up there while we assess the contamination protocols. We can't allow you return to Earth now."

  "I understand," Steve said. "I look forward to the resupply and decontamination shuttles. We're going into a lunar orbit on the other side of the moon from them now."

  Twenty minutes later, Nisha signed off. She sighed and logged into her retirement accounts and sold everything. She realized the unpredictable nature of this encounter and the uncertainty of the future. The stock market hates uncertainty.

  Soon afterwards, the DHS contacted Nisha. Her family hid behind the door as usual.

  "Hello Dr. Chandra, this is General Sherman. You did an excellent job today!" Nisha smiled.

  "Thank you General. I had to improvise my way through the whole thing. We know nothing."

  "That's why we wanted you here with us," the General said. "We needed someone with a wide array of skills to assist us. We'll need you for some time. It appears they'll be here for a while."

  "I agree. Their technological prowess is impressive," Nisha said. "Do you want to know my initial impressions?"

  "Yes."

  "First of all, the nano drones are extremely complex. I think they know everything about our bodies now. They know our capabilities, our limitations, our DNA, and everything else. They might know more about us than we know about us. They also know about our technology. They've inspected our computer systems and probably downloaded information. They can paralyze us quickly and easily. Their voices sound like parts of an interconnected hive-mind."

  "Do you think the alien entities behind this are artificial?" the General said.

  "I can't tell if their intelligence is machine, organic, a hybrid of the two, or something else. Perhaps their AI hit a singularity. Then the original organic species went extinct and these machines are what's left."

  "That sounds familiar."

  "Yes, our species is coming to a critical point in our evolution where artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence. When that happens, we may be outsmarted by AI and go extinct. The smarter species always wins. We might leave behind machines which later explore the universe. The machines we're encountering now might be what's left of an organic species from a distant planet. Their makers might be extinct. The voices I pick up in my mind sound electronic to me."

  "Yes, we've been discussing this AI singularity extinction thing in my DARPA meetings lately. It sounds like sci-fi to me."

  "Don't take this lightly General. I've spent my life studying the living and dying of species. Species go extinct when others get an edge on them. An advanced AI will have an advantage over us. And it won't care about us because it's self-modifying. We'll be out of the loop."

  "Okay fine," the General said. "Now, what lesson did you learn from this encounter?"

  "The most important lesson I learned from this, is they learned a great deal about us and we learned little about them. We're going up to bat with two strikes against us. I need to think more about this before I can say any more. I hope they're friendly."

  "I hope they are too," the General said. "Thank you Dr. Chandra. I need to go, but keep us informed the minute you know anything."

  "I will," Nisha said. "Be careful when you quarantine the astronauts when they eventually get back. Active nano drones might still be inside them."

  Nisha signed off and wrote a few tweets, updating everyone about what she had learned. Priya ran into the room first.

  "Wow Mommy, you're a star! Everyone in the world will know about you. More than 20 million people follow you on Twitter!"

  Quinn ran to Nisha and picked her up in his arms.

  "I'm proud of you Neeshimi!" he said, with the widest smile.

  "Put me down you oaf!" she cried out. "Bring me my crown Quinnster and bow down before your queen like the subjugate you are!"

  They laughed.

  "What's going to happen now?" Quinn said.

  "I have no idea," she said. "All we can do is to wait and watch what they do. We can't be like a Jedi knight in an old Star Wars movie and suggest to them, 'Move along now, this is not the planet you're looking for!' What's happening now is my biggest dream and my worst nightmare all rolled into one. For right now, I want to have dinner and relax for a while. Oh, by the way I sold all of our stock holdings to be on the safe side. I bought some put options so if the market drops, we make money."

  "Good move Neesh! Quinn said. "Your hands are sweating again, but they weren't a minute ago."

  "Yeah, I was so focused on what was happening up there that I forgot about being scared. It was a nice feeling while it lasted."

  After dinner, Nisha walked outside to watch the moon through the telescope. She wondered if these were the last of the good old days. All the sudden, she felt nostalgic for the recent wars and famines which had killed millions and displaced hundreds of millions. It would be nice to only have those problems to worry about. They seemed quaint compared to what may lie ahead. An hour later, Quinn walked out into the warm and fragrant summer air.

  "Neesh, you've been staring at the moon for a long time. What are you thinking?"

  "I'll tell you in a minute," Nisha said, deciding not to tell him everything. "Peek into the eyepiece. You need to view the alien sphere."

  Quinn followed the sphere transiting across the lunar face. He felt goosebumps.

  "The sphere is an enigma," he said. "It silently orbits around and around, not allowing us to know anything. We're wondering, without hope of understanding its purpose or mission."

  "Oh, we'll find out I'm sure," Nisha said. "They don't seem to be leaving. I hoped after a few scans of some humans and other life forms here on Earth, they would be ready to take off on the next leg of their mission. The longer they stay, the more worried I get. But I still have hope they only want to learn about this solar system and afterwards they'll move along. However, they spent only a short time looking at the other planets on our solar system. I think they're interested in us or this planet."

  They talked for a while, arm in arm as the watched the object, then they walked inside and read the news. People were still fighting the same old wars they were before the voices arrived. Politicians were still promoting their special interests. People were still following their favorite sports teams. On the outside, life seemed normal despite the headlines about the alien sphere.

  She sent out one last tweet before turning in for the night.

  "The alien sphere isn't leaving. Be careful! #WeirdVoices #Sphere #astronomy."