Day 83

[from Devastation: Online]

[TOP-SECRET REPORT]

[DECLASSIFIED FOR YOUR EYES ONLY]

The spacecraft belonging to the individual now identified as "Lael'in" was first detected by ASA scientists on 18th August 2020 at 19:38:38 GMT, as it began to approach Earth. It was then imaged for the first time at 19:55:10 GMT , whereupon the scientists realized it was a spacecraft and the military were contacted. After much discussion as to whether or not to make the discovery public, it was eventually decided to be in the public interest, and was thus announced via an impromptu ASA press conference at 22:15 GMT, generating massive interest across the globe in what was potentially mankind's first confirmed extraterrestrial encounter.

On 19th August, at 01:36:57 GMT, Earth received its first signal from the spacecraft:  an intermittent 20-second pulse transmitted at 1420.406 MHz, almost precisely the "hydrogen line", and thus the frequency expected by some scientists to have been used for such a signal. At 01:39:26 GMT, ASA began to beam the signal back in reply. At 01:56:13 GMT, they then began beaming a second signal to the spacecraft; encoded within were several thousand tweets made by civilians around the planet, using the hashtag #WeAreHere, as well as information on Earth such as its diameter, mass, albedo and atmospheric pressure, intended to indicate to the spacecraft's occupant(s) that humanity was intelligent and knowledgeable about its home planet.

Over the following two days, as the spacecraft continued its approach, signals continued to be transmitted back and forth between ASA's scientists and the spacecraft. At 05:17:18 GMT, the craft's approximate landing point was calculated to be somewhere within the region of Greendale, near the western coast of Albion. At 12:17:08 GMT, it was discovered that the spacecraft was transmitting in what appeared to be binary, however, when translated into both numbers and English, no meaningful pattern was found. It was determined that the craft's occupant was attempting to communicate in its native language, but could not be understood. At 12:54:49 GMT, the signals from the spacecraft ceased, and upon resumption at 21:22:57 GMT, it was once again transmitting the 1420 MHz signals.

At the same time, tests confirmed the craft's extraterrestrial nature, however ASA scientists were unable to calculate its exact point of origin. Thermal imaging confirmed that there was one life-form aboard the craft, now known to be Lael'in, but no further specifics were able to be determined. During an emergency meeting at 13:00 GMT, the world's leaders determined that the spacecraft, being only a solitary ship, did not constitute an invasion fleet, and that Earth was not in any danger from it. At the same time, the decision was made to quarantine the ship and any of its occupants upon arrival, to prevent any alien diseases - to which humanity would have no immunity - from spreading among the populace.

On 21st August, at 08:53:47 GMT, the spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphere, with billions worldwide watching the event live. A congregation of world leaders, including the President of Albion, were stationed in a field on the outskirts of Greendale that had been agreed upon as the landing point. A number of military personnel were also present, and four FA-18 fighter jets were on standby at Arwing City International Airport, ready to be scrambled if the spacecraft showed any signs of hostility. Ultimately, this precaution was not necessary.

After successfully passing through the atmosphere, the spacecraft touched down outside Greendale at 09:02:13 GMT. At 09:03:02 GMT, a door opened in the side of the craft, and six seconds later, Lael'in took her first steps upon the Earth's surface. She was wearing a silver spacesuit and helmet, which she later revealed to have been a precaution not only against potential atmospheric hazards, but against Earthly diseases against which she would have had no defence.

Upon Lael'in's egress, the President of Albion stepped forward, flanked by two armed guards, and declared, "Welcome to planet Earth. We are honoured to have you here," before bowing as a sign of greeting. After a moment's pause, Lael'in bowed in response, then held out a holographic transmitter for the President to take. The President took the transmitter and pressed a green button on the side to switch it on, with the holograms being transmitted across the planet via television cameras.

The first hologram contained a sequence of text written in seven different languages, as well as a notation resembling binary. It has since been translated to mean: "I am Lael'in. I come from Dae'lora. I mean you no harm. I have an important message for your kind." The second hologram was of her home planet, since identified as Dae'lora. The third hologram depicted male and female children of her species, the Dae'lora; the fourth hologram depicted an adult male and female. The fifth hologram depicted a building that has since been identified as the parliament building of the Dae'loran capital city; the sixth hologram depicted a city later identified as the same.

The seventh hologram depicted the same city in ruins. At this, many members of the congregation gasped; some of the military personnel, believing this to be a threat, began to consider taking action until the President of San Felipe told them, "I don't think they caused that [violence]. I think that's one of their cities."

The eighth hologram depicted a giant bipedal robot opening fire on a cluster of what appeared to be civilian buildings. This was later designated as an X-Class Devastator. The ninth hologram was a three-dimensional rendering of the machine, with a scale that appeared to indicate its size as being fifty-two feet. The tenth hologram was a star map with two arrows. One was labelled with a small image of a Dae'loran, and reached all the way to Earth. The other was labelled with an image of a Devastator, and reached only halfway to Earth, stopping well before the Solar System.

Navigating back to the hologram of the Devastator, the President of Albion asked, "Do you mean to say that these machines are on their way to Earth?" When Lael'in did not respond, the President pointed to the machine, then at the ground, and Lael'in nodded. The President then navigated back to the hologram of the ruined city, pointed at it, then as the ground, as though to ask, "Will this happen here [if they arrive]?" Again, Lael'in nodded.

The eleventh and final hologram was another message. This one has since been translated as follows: "You are not alone. My people will help you fight them. We will not allow another race to suffer as we have. But your people must prepare, for they are coming, and they will bring devastation."