Signals from Outer Space: Part I
A small disparate bunch of military persons and civilians, learned and laymen, was gathered in a dim room where they waited, visibly impatient, for something unknown to happen. Commander Iactus stepped onto a platform before them as a light came on, illuminating a large blast door behind him.
“Apologies for the poor lighting. We were a bit rushed preparing for this.” He paused for a moment, and the silence was filled with stifled coughs and shuffling feet. “We don’t have much time now,” he went on. “Behind this door is a device of unknown nature and origin. It has a series of lights, which we have detirmened to be a timer, and another set that are currently inactive.”
Expressions from the audience were confused and alarmed, and Iactus made no apparent attempt to reassure them. “To be blunt, it is believed to be a bomb. The timer started counting down soon after we discovered it. In a moment the door behind me will open, and we’ll have just about two days until the time runs out.” He paused again, but this time the room was silent. “Since you all are the only people on the base not already working on something more important, we’re stuck figuring this out.”
“Why not just get rid of it?” asked a short man in the front, amid worried chatter. “Throw it somewhere far enough where it won’t hurt anything when it goes off.”
“That’s a good question,” replied the Commander, “and we did think of that. When the device is moved away from the area where it was discovered, a few feet underground not far from this room, the second timer comes on and counts very quickly until it’s returned. We have no idea what the timer is counting, but it’ll be difficult to get it far enough away before the time runs out. Our best guess so far is that the device is paired with another nearby that we haven’t found yet. But since we still have two days, we have plenty of time to try to figure it out before we resort to tossing it.”
A worker in a white coat appeared from a side door. “We’re ready, and we’re opening the door now if you are.”
Iactus went on. “Any more questions? I probably can’t answer them since you all now know exactly as much as I do.”
“What are we supposed to do?” someone asked.
“We still aren’t really sure what it is or what to do with it. We need fresh ideas. Anything at all.” The door opened, bathing them in light.
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Justin
