The Message

by Anthony John

On the sixteenth of November nineteen-seventy-four, a message, designed by a group of Earth’s greatest minds in the field of planetary science, was broadcast into interstellar space from the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. It’s objective to demonstrate human achievement to any alien intelligences within range. After transmission, it sped outwards toward The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, or M13. A small clump of approaching half a million stars orbiting ‘above’ the galactic centre, where it should arrive in twenty-five thousand years. 

The message, if received intact and correctly interpreted, contained binary data that could inform a recipient of the general make-up of human DNA (as we understood it at the time), our approximate form and size, Earth’s position within the solar system, and broadly, the design of the Arecibo dish. Having sent it on its way, in a single three-minute burst, humanity simply treated it as a scientific curiosity, recorded it in the history books, and gave it no further thought. 

But who knows how many star systems it will pass through on its journey? Or how many it has already passed through? What impacts it may have, or even, be having…

The First Speaker, one of the three Prime Speakers, currently reclining on the triangular podium in the centre of the Great Chamber of the Collective, hefted itself upward. It rose slowly from the padded bench on which it had been reclining, and, given the high gravity, moved with surprising agility on its three stubby, elephantine legs, to the exact central point of the podium. When it spoke, its speech was musical, a series of undulating tones that rose and fell in a harmonious, melodic chant. It’s three mouths, one above each ‘shoulder’, moved independently to produce a separate component of the overall sound. As it spoke it emphasised its speech by gesticulating with its three powerful, multi-jointed arms. At the end of each a large, dexterous looking, six-fingered hand, pointed and waved.

To human eyes, in the dense, fog-swirled, carbon dioxide rich atmosphere, it would not have been visible at all, but for the soft, red-hued light surrounding it. The elongated and inverted tetrahedral shape of the vast chamber carried the sounds upwards, amplifying them as they reverberated around to reach the highest levels. When full, the overlapping triangular tiers that faded into the darkness above the podium could hold well over a hundred thousand attendees. And for this debate it was full.

“Our scientists, searching the skies for what they call ‘silent electric sounds’, have detected what they believe may be a message sent from outside of our collective. Beyond our skies even. They inform me it has characteristics unlike any natural silent electric sounds they have otherwise detected and it is this that leads them to their extraordinary conclusion.’

‘If it is a message, then where, or who, is it from? Leaders of The Faith insist it must be from The Great Creator, testing us. However scientists believe it is a communication from another collective currently far beyond our knowledge.’

‘Is this proof that we are not, as the teachings tell us, unique in the totality of existence; or are as the scientists insist, the points of light they say they have seen in the sky actually other suns, where other collectives may exist as we do?”

It paused, the great chamber pregnant with expectation, and indicated the others alongside itself. “I have with me the Faith and the Science Prime Speakers, they will each speak. Each will present their arguments, after which I shall speak again to sum up. Then you must decide who you choose to believe. You must return and guide your own collectives, present the arguments to them, and report back their views to this Triumvirate. The future shape of our Great Collective depends on your and on their, decisions.” It looked around and it blinked, each of its three eyes winking in turn. “I now give the podium to the Faith Speaker.”

It returned to its bench, lowering itself comfortably into position before another, similar in appearance apart from the colour of its mantle rose, and moved to the centre.

“My words are simple. I do not know what the source of this signal is or even could be. But The Teachings are specific. They say: ‘You are my offspring. There are no others like you. All that you can perceive was created for you to use as you will. No others can use my creation, for no others can think or communicate as you can. Doubt these words, and The Final Destruction will surely follow.’’

‘I shall repeat the key phrase here, ‘No others can communicate as you can.’ It is only possible that the source of this message, if that is what it is, can be either within our Great Collective – which is obviously impossible – or from The Creator itself. If it is the latter, then it has been sent as a test; a test we must not fail. To consider otherwise is to deny The Creator and invite The Final Destruction. And I for one will not fall into that trap.’ 

‘The Teachings speak of The Final Destruction as the end of all things, when everything we perceive, everything we know, everything we are, will be torn down. The Triangular made Square. We are told this end will come when The Creator sees that we doubt The Teachings. When we fail The Creator by thinking that something that is, is not the work of The Creator. Faith is all. Science is wrong. Science questions the teachings, it must be halted, silenced.’

‘I have no idea how such a signal could be caused — the works of The Creator are far beyond my simple understanding — but I am utterly convinced that it can be nothing else. For if it is otherwise, then The Teachings are lies, and that is as inconceivable as it is laughable. The Teachings demand only belief.”

It stopped speaking, and formed its arms into a complex pyramid shape above its head in a benediction to the audience. 

 “I thank you, and I trust I will receive your full support. Creation eternal.” 

The last words echoed back to it in a musical mumble from the surrounding tiers.

The Faith representative lowered itself regally back down to its bench as the Science representative rose. Again, its appearance was similar, but with another different coloured mantle adorning it.

“My fellow collective members. Faith is wrong. It has to be. A message sent by The Creator to test our faith? Why now? Nonsense I say. There must be a scientific explanation for this signal, this string of either high or low silent notes. Everything about it points to it being the work of minds at least as intelligent as our own and probably much more so.’

‘My evidence for this is clear. To begin there is the number of notes in the string, it consists of exactly one thousand, six hundred and seventy-nine identifiable notes. A number which just happens to be the product of the two indivisible numbers, twenty-three and seventy-three? Can this be coincidence? I say no, it is not possible. These numbers were chosen with care. They were chosen so that the message can be laid out in a pattern, thus.”

An image appeared above the podium. “If we arrange the pieces into a grid like this, a near symmetrical pattern appears that we do not believe could possibly be the result of happenchance or corruption. Our best minds are working to decipher it, to understand the pattern.’

‘We have made a start. If we interpret this top section as the binary numbers one to ten.” A section of the image lit up, each component flashing in turn. “Then this next section,” another area lit up, “could be read as the atomic weights of the atoms of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus.” 

It paused, as a harmonious wave of mumbles washed over the great chamber.

“If this is correct then clearly these beings must be in many ways similar to ourselves, replace the phosphorus with sulphur and you have the elements which make up our own physiology. Although, if this section is intended as an image of their form, then they have only bi-lateral, as opposed to our obviously superior tri-lateral symmetry.’

‘Then you must ask from where was this signal sent? Here we have established some clear data. It seems to have originated from a small point of light located here in the fourth sector. It is too small to be seen without suitable instruments, but we have enhanced it for you.” 

The mumbles grew louder; it was speaking blasphemy. The points of light in the sky, visible only from the highest peaks and at night, were just that, points on a black dome. Set in place by The Creator to test the unworthy. The Teachings said so, and The Teachings were never wrong. Those who worked the hardest, who gave the most of themselves to the commune, at their life’s end were carried outward to join them, the greater their service, the brighter their point. The very greatest of them becoming herders to the rest, moving across the sky in a complex dance. 

In the darkness the image moved, enlarged, and a brighter dot appeared among the thousands of lesser dots. 

“Our instruments show us that these are not the souls of our departed as the teachings state, but suns, much like our own, at unimaginable distances from us. And if they are suns, then logic says they must have orbiting bodies, circling them. And if there are orbiting bodies, then logic also says that there may also be collectives. And if so, we must ask, are they warlike?’

‘To this and a thousand other questions we have no answers. We can speculate though. I would hope that a collective sufficiently advanced to send out this message would do so in peace, not as a threat. To seek other likeminded collectives with whom to share ideas, exchange knowledge, to advance their — and our — cultures.’

‘I say we need to formulate a response. We need to build a device with which we can respond in peace. For sure, the distances are so great that neither we, nor our offspring, nor any for many generations, will receive a reply or know any answers, but I believe it is incumbent on us to make the gesture of friendship.”

It bowed and returned to its stool as The First Speaker rose for a second time, and taking up the central position spoke again. 

“The Triumvirate’s only part in this is to enact the collective’s decision once you, the collective, have spoken. If you choose to support Faith, then we will enforce commitment. For clearly it is your communal view that The Creator is indeed testing us, and that destruction will be the consequence of our failure, therefore we must do all to pass this test. Only Faith can tell us how. Only Faith can tell us what changes are needed, what sacrifices will be demanded. We will restrict science and impose total belief upon all, regardless of any other factor. For only by complete dedication and devotion can The Creator be placated and the Final Destruction prevented.’

 ‘But Science says this is wrong. That this is a scientific communication from what must be an advanced intelligence, and that we need to reply, to show ourselves to be peaceful. I am not sure about this. If it is a communication then perhaps we should reply, but can we assume the originators to be peaceful? If the answer to that is no, then do we need to gird ourselves against a possible invasion? What might they want? Science says the peaceful exchange of information. But is that likely? Might they want slaves? Minerals? Resources which are scarce in their own collective. Might they be so advanced that that they would disregard us and crush us as we might crush a flagel-worm?’

‘Our scientists have already developed a flying transport that can go higher than anything we had previously. Using it they say they have gone beyond our atmosphere. They have travelled around our globe, our orbiting body, proving it to be spherical. They know therefore it is possible to go outward. So, can they go outward further? Can they follow this message back to its source?’

‘This my friends is the decision before you. You must consider. You must return to your individual collectives and with your communities there weigh the opposing views, then when summoned return to this place, to inform us of your thoughts.’

‘The council will enforce whatever decision you make. Be it faith or science, there will be a cost, an obligation, a requirement on all to enact the decision. The alternative will be supressed, reduced to a rump of what it now is. The expense, the community’s effort, will be great whichever way the decision goes. If it is to be faith then the Faith Leaders will tell us what the requirements will be. What new practices we will need to observe, what new sacrifices will be demanded, or new constructions required. For they alone can avert the inevitable.’

‘Chose science and we shall need to develop the new technologies. Weaponry and more powerful flying machines designed and produced, and stronger, more defensive collectives created. We cannot take a chance that a superior race will come to us as benefactors. Our own history tells us this is not the case. During the time of expansion, as the individual collectives were united into the one we have now, the weaker collectives were displaced. They were used, subjugated, and in many cases, destroyed. Their resources, stores and breeders carried away; clearly, we will need the ability to defend ourselves, to travel outward to them, and if necessary, to strike the first blow.’ 

‘But what if they do come in peace? Our offspring must be educated to receive new knowledge. These tasks, and a myriad more, will The Council carry out. And we will enforce compliance with whatever decision is made.’

‘There can be no middle ground. That is not our way. Based upon the decision you make we will supress either science or faith. The birthing pools will produce almost exclusively scientists and soldiers or faithalists and followers. Our culture will be irrevocably changed. We shall become either a predominantly ecclesiastic or a scientifically led population. Ultimately, that decision is yours.”

As those in the tiers above the podium started to file out, they discussed what they had learned. The musical sound of their voices rising and falling as the conversations rolled around the three sides, or up and down the levels. Already, to those on the podium, it sounded as if one side was taking control of the debate.