One day an Object appears

[Bilbo]

February 14, 2010

At 9pm in what sci-fi geeks will name a "wormhole" opens between the Earth and the Moon. Out of the wormhole apears an object of unknown type that immediatly begins a fast orbit of the moon. The day after the object appears a small object detaches from the object and heads towards Earth. The small probe splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean where it is quickly recovered.

Inside the probe which appears to be a simple but advanced rocket with powerful grappling arms is a message in the form of a dozen carved in steel plate images. The plates contain the following images

1. Image of an alien planet surface with an advanced society. Aliens walk around what must be an throving alien metropolis.
2. Image of wormhole appearing and object coming out of wormhole.
3. Object going into orbit over one of two moons.
4. Object opening up and extending pieces of material as it builds a copy of itself.
5. New Object moving into orbit over planet.
6. First object building additional copies of itself.
7. 16 objects in orbit over planet
8. Rocket from surface that reaches origional object in lunar orbit and attaching probe.
9. Original object disapearing into a wormhole.
10. Image of alien planet surface again with people and buildings.
11. Image of 16 devices detonating.
12. Image of alien planet surface. No aliens are present, fires burn everywhere, buildings are destroyed.

In addition to these plates is a 13th plate with a map of our galaxy with a location marked. That location is about 500 lightyears from Earth. Finally there is a circular device with 1000 lights on it. 8 of the lights have gone out and an aditional light goes out every 9 hours 32 minutes.

You are in command of the "Department to handle really scary shit".

What is this and what do you do?

[Bilbo]

For this scenario I can answer additional questions or clarify as needed.

[The Romulan Republic]

It sounds like the aliens have sent us a threat in plate-picture form. Since they have informed us of our impending doom, I destroy the probe, after having recovered anything I can risk from it. I set up a quarintine around the recovered object incase of disease or some sort of weapon. The Vice President is relocated to a secret bunker, maybe the President as well though that would likely cause a panic.

If the wormhole is still their, I have a probe sent through for recon. purposes. If possible, I obviously want to go to this place 500 light years away (keeping in mind that we're clearly being directed to this point, so it may be a trap of some sort). I also put out a very vauge press release, saying that an unknown object of potentially alien origin has been recovered. Why go public? Well, if we end up needing to mobilize for war, the public will end up knowing, and its better to ease them into it for the sake of avoiding a sudden panic.

Oh, and NASA's funding goes through the fucking roof.

[Bilbo]

It sounds like the aliens have sent us a threat in plate-picture form.

Oh, and NASA's funding goes through the fucking roof.

Nasa says thank you. Biden whines that he does not want to go hide under a mountain like Dick Cheney did.

One of your chief researchers points out that the message was inside the probe attached to the object. So he believes that plates are more of a warning from the objects previous victim.

The wormhole closed seconds after the object came through.

[Zablorg]

I beg to differ, Romulan. The story in the images suggests that this device destroyed the alien people and the eigth image represents them attatching the probe with the images inside to the object.

So they've pretty much given us a friendly warning. The lights are clearly a countdown for our impending doom. The total time until it all goes to hell is around thirteen months. Within that time I attempt to destroy or otherwise neuterilize the object and its spawn by any means necessary. I shall also try and arrange a probe to get in close and take a peek at the objects, but that may or may not be feasible in the timeframe given.

I also try to figure out how the thing is replicating and stop it, if possible.

[Bilbo]

I beg to differ, Romulan. The story in the images suggests that this device destroyed the alien people and the eigth image represents them attatching the probe with the images inside to the object.

So they've pretty much given us a friendly warning. The lights are clearly a countdown for our impending doom. The total time until it all goes to hell is around thirteen months. Within that time I attempt to destroy or otherwise neuterilize the object and its spawn by any means necessary.

The object builds its first double in about 33 days. Doing the math you quickly realize that the amount of time it takes for the object to build itself 16 times in total does not match with how long till all the lights go out. The last light will go out while an object is in the middle of construction.

[The Romulan Republic]

It sounds like the aliens have sent us a threat in plate-picture form.

Oh, and NASA's funding goes through the fucking roof.

Nasa says thank you.

So will the Air Force.

One of your chief researchers points out that the message was inside the probe attached to the object. So he believes that plates are more of a warning from the objects previous victim.

I rule out no possibilities. Though I really should have noticed that I suppose.

Ok, if its a warning I send out a message aimed at the star 500 light years away. Granted, it won't get their for 500 years, but I'd want to try to get in touch with any survivors of other attacks. I know we may be dead long before then if I don't destroy the probe somehow, but their will always be the risk of future attacks. This will likely be a long-term fight, so I may as well start planning for it now.

The wormhole closed seconds after the object came through.

Damn.

Alright, my long-term plan (presuming I destroy the probe) goes something like this:

First, having moved top officials to a secure location, set up a quarantined lab, and made my press release, I begin work on the diplomatic game. Other countries are no doubt going to want access to this technology (not bloody likely), and their governments may be concerned about political fallout and social upheaval as a result of First Contact. Managing the political/PR side of things is going to be important. I'm hoping that over time the knowledge that we are not alone will lead to a more united humanity, perhaps a social movement towards a "human" as opposed to national, ethnic, or religious identity. If so, I will try to foster this movement (as much as I can without angering my own or other governments anyways). Also, repealing arms limitations treaties in space is probably a good idea.

A huge boost in military funding will be nessissary. Missile defense systems capable of hitting weapons or craft in orbit become a top national security priority. Systems will include ground-based lasers and/or rail guns.

The Space Program also gets a boost in funding, with a number of key goals. First, we will attempt to set up observation posts throughout the Solar System. These will ultimately be expanded into self-sufficient bases, with the goal of providing an insurance policy against humanity being taken out completely in a surprise strike. Secondly, NASA will begin work on building vessels capable of sub-light interstellar travel. Obviously this is a long-term effort, and we may not have time, but I don't want to be leading a one-system civ. against a multi-system empire. Reaching the location indicated on the "plates" is a long-term goal. Finally, NASA will be ordered to conduct research into the wormhole in the hopes of eventually duplicating the effect.

In the short term, of course, I try to destroy any attack probes (up to using nukes if nessissary), and move enough supplies and personel into old Cold War bunkers to try and give the species a shot at survival if that fails. Maybe try to set up a base off-world as well, though I really doubt I have the time.

Note that the probe in the picture went into orbit, while this one crashed. So maybe its malfunctioned and we don't face imminent destruction after all.

[The Romulan Republic]

Biden whines that he does not want to go hide under a mountain like Dick Cheney did.

And I tell Biden that his life is worth more than his pride, and that its time to get his ass in the bunker.

[Bilbo]

Note that the probe in the picture went into orbit, while this one crashed. So maybe its malfunctioned and we don't face imminent destruction after all.

The Object is in lunar orbit and has begun building copies of itself. What crashed was the small probethat attached itself in Plate Image #8 .It detached itself moments after the Object came out of the wormhole and headed towards Earth.

[The Romulan Republic]

Note that the probe in the picture went into orbit, while this one crashed. So maybe its malfunctioned and we don't face imminent destruction after all.

The Object is in lunar orbit and has begun building copies of itself. What crashed was the small probethat attached itself in Plate Image #8 .It detached itself moments after the Object came out of the wormhole and headed towards Earth.

Ok. I found that unclear from the OP.

The only option I see in the time available is to load rockets with nukes and fire them off. However, it will most likely fail, since the aliens could presumably have done the same.

With almost certainly insufficient time to build an off-world base, I'm probably stuck with the bunker option. Sorry, this senario just doesn't give enough lead time.

[Johonebesus]

How could the previous victims attach a probe depicting their demise before their demise? How did they know that the sixteen satellites would explode and devastate their planet? How did they know the probe would go into a wormhole after making the bombs but before they detonated?

[The Romulan Republic]

How could the previous victims attach a probe depicting their demise before their demise? How did they know that the sixteen satellites would explode and devastate their planet? How did they know the probe would go into a wormhole after making the bombs but before they detonated?

Who knows? I've seen less logical sci-fi plots.

[Bilbo]

How could the previous victims attach a probe depicting their demise before their demise? How did they know that the sixteen satellites would explode and devastate their planet? How did they know the probe would go into a wormhole after making the bombs but before they detonated?

You have no idea. Maybe they say it happen before. Maybe it was a solar system with two inhabited planets and theirs was the second one taken. This is the information they sent, how they knew, did they guess, did they lie.

These are all things different people under you are arguing about constantly.

[Solauren]

That thing is obviously a self-replicating weapon that likes to brag.

Order the space shuttles into orbit, carrying nuclear missiles.

The shuttles are to grab the thing, tow it away from the moon, disable it, launch it towards the sun, and then blast it with the nukes.

[Grog]

I beg to differ, Romulan. The story in the images suggests that this device destroyed the alien people and the eigth image represents them attatching the probe with the images inside to the object.

So they've pretty much given us a friendly warning. The lights are clearly a countdown for our impending doom. The total time until it all goes to hell is around thirteen months. Within that time I attempt to destroy or otherwise neuterilize the object and its spawn by any means necessary.

The object builds its first double in about 33 days. Doing the math you quickly realize that the amount of time it takes for the object to build itself 16 times in total does not match with how long till all the lights go out. The last light will go out while an object is in the middle of construction.

This assumes that the new objects don't build copies also. If they can then they will double in number every 33 days and all 16 will be built in about 160 days at most and the lights go out in about 390 days.

[Bilbo]

I beg to differ, Romulan. The story in the images suggests that this device destroyed the alien people and the eigth image represents them attatching the probe with the images inside to the object.

So they've pretty much given us a friendly warning. The lights are clearly a countdown for our impending doom. The total time until it all goes to hell is around thirteen months. Within that time I attempt to destroy or otherwise neuterilize the object and its spawn by any means necessary.

The object builds its first double in about 33 days. Doing the math you quickly realize that the amount of time it takes for the object to build itself 16 times in total does not match with how long till all the lights go out. The last light will go out while an object is in the middle of construction.

This assumes that the new objects don't build copies also. If they can then they will double in number every 33 days and all 16 will be built in about 160 days at most and the lights go out in about 390 days.

Several of your scientists bring up this fear and you watch carefully. When the second duplicate is launched it goes into Earth orbit but does not start making copies of itself. Only the origional in Lunar orbit builds more.

[Vultur]

Start putting the biggest nukes we've got on boosters big enough to get them to the thing (it's at the Moon's distance; we'd need a booster that can get escape velocity rather than just orbital.) Pack as many hydrogen bombs as possible on the booster; hopefully we can get quite a few. Rig up a way to detonate them by radio; just as the thing reaches its closest approach to the Object, or right before they collide, set them off. The OP doesn't give a size for the Object, but assuming it's reasonably sized (smaller than a battleship or aircraft carrier, anyway) a bunch of H-bombs should kill it unless it's made of something really exotic (degenerate matter armor, neutron star matter, some sort of deflector shield).

While this is being done, a separate group - in strictest secrecy - is building an underground shelter. This shelter will support a variety of edible and otherwise useful plants and animals, and those other species (such as decomposers) necessary for their survival. In addition, there would be as many preserved seeds, eggs, etc. as possible (possibly using one of the existing seed banks). It would have power (and light for the plants) from the best power sources that can be gotten there in the time (13 months is probably too short for a full nuclear reactor to be built, but maybe a sub's could be moved there and refit?). If the attack is merely a fiery sterilization of the surface, it should be possible to recolonize within days to months, using the seed banks and animals to restore an ecosystem. (There is no mention of the oceans being boiled, so the phytoplankton will *probably* survive and keep oxygen levels livable -- at least, sterilizing the oceans would be much more energy-expensive than just burning the land.)

If it is really just a worldwide fire, then it may be survivable even above ground in some places -- I'd also move vast amounts of supplies and seeds to our Antarctic bases and switch out the people to get a roughly even gender mix and a wider variety of skills, in case they are the ones to recolonize.

[loomer]

What if the count down has nothing to do with the object replication? It could be an ignition sequence, not a time estimate.

It could even signal the approach of refugees/invaders.

Personally, I'd prepare for the worst case scenario but also try and work out a way to obtain wormhole technology from the bloody thing - if we survive this with the tech in hand, we'll potentially be in a position to go check the other system that was ravaged for survivors.

First we just need to bring it down to Earth without severe damage.

It might be worth getting the best electronics experts and programmers to try and work out a way to hook the thing up to a computer or some speakers. See if the thing has any kind of AI inside. Hopefully this line of research and analysis will tell us how to blow the fucking things apart.

[Bilbo]

The Object in orbit is about the size of a Greyhound bus.

Several of your scientists giving their "expert" opinions think the explosions shown on Plate #11 are massive nuclear explosions.

[Bilbo]

Also, the 1000 light device appears to be very simple. Close examination shows that it really is just 1000 lights, a power source, and a simple device to turn them off one by one.

[fgalkin]

How long does it take to build the second copy?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Bilbo]

How long does it take to build the second copy?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Each copy takes the exact same 33 days to build.

[fgalkin]

I send a shuttle mission and have an astronaut do a spacewalk mission on one of the objects, trying to open it up. What happens?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Bilbo]

I send a shuttle mission and have an astronaut do a spacewalk mission on one of the objects, trying to open it up. What happens?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

The Object appears to be completely sealed with no obvious access points. Are you willing to cut into the Object?

I am assuming you are talking about the first copy. Also, the Copy does not respond to your approach but the Object in lunar orbit moves itself so that it has a direct line of sight with the copy and the shuttle.

[fgalkin]

I send a shuttle mission and have an astronaut do a spacewalk mission on one of the objects, trying to open it up. What happens?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

The Object appears to be completely sealed with no obvious access points. Are you willing to cut into the Object?

I am assuming you are talking about the first copy. Also, the Copy does not respond to your approach but the Object in lunar orbit moves itself so that it has a direct line of sight with the copy and the shuttle.

What is the location of the second copy relative to the first?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin