The Broadcast

Over 70 years ago, Italian-American physicist, Enrico Fermi asked “Where is everybody?!” during a conversation about the probability of intelligent life in the distant universe he was having with fellow scientists, giving birth to the Fermi paradox. The paradox centers around the fact that there is such an overwhelmingly high likelihood that intelligent life exists in space, in some way, shape, or form, yet we have found zero evidence to support this. 

I have spent much of my life, and all my academic life studying the history of the universe. I have become the world’s leading universal historian and researcher. Everything that we know about the birth of the universe, to its expansion, are areas I have studied. Black holes, supernovas, quasars, and the fact that we will live in a dark universe as the rate of universal expansion overtakes the speed of light. I have researched all of it. 

I may be an expert on space, but the exact science does go over my head at times, while the history of it leaves me salivating. I cannot know enough. I will never know enough for it is impossible. The infinite scale of the universe is a concept that even the smartest of our species cannot handle.

In the years since Fermi uttered his famous words, there have been many hypothetical explanations for the paradox. One is that a technologically advanced civilization will destroy other intelligent life as it appears across the universe, either out of pure survival or prudence. This implied fear of destruction from another intergalactic civilization could mean others are out there, but they are staying quiet and undetectable out of a sense of survival. 

Take a look at humanity. It has spent its entire existence at war with itself. The conquest for power and superior standing has been seemingly unquenchable on our planet. If an intergalactic and advanced species has evolved past their self-destructive tendencies, wouldn’t they view all other primitive species as a threat? 

Again, look inward at our history. Humans do not have the best reputation when it comes to discovering another intelligent group that looks different from us. For instance, slavery or the American colonist’s destruction of the Native American people. Have we evolved culturally since then? Yes. But at our core, we are savages with shiny toys and a sleight of hand. 

Before I lose you in my ramble of philosophical speak, I’ll get to the point – we were contacted. 

We don’t believe it was on purpose, and of course, what was broadcast is unintelligible. But we do know with certainty it came from intelligent life forms and was not some form of anomaly. I assume that it was an accidental broadcast. At the end, before it abruptly cuts off, I believe I could sense panic.

I could be reading into the situation, but deep down I know this will not end well. I am afraid and I think they may be coming for us. They know that we now know we are not alone, and now we either co-exist or only one survives. 

The panic at the end of the broadcast had to come from a realization that they had been revealed. And now, like a cornered dog they will lash out at what they perceive to be a threat. Even if they aren’t cornered, if it wasn’t panic at the end that I heard, it's because they aren’t afraid, they are the superior entities.

Today there was an emergency, top-secret meeting held with world leaders, scientific leaders, and experts in the field. I was in attendance as the universal historian. I was told that my panic was “harboring doom” but that my concerns would be “considered.” I have never been in a room surrounded by so many smart and powerful people, yet felt so far away from a single person who held a semblance of rationality and common sense. 

I feel like my worries and expertise were not given proper merit by those around me, those of my colleagues that I felt so close to. They all see this possibility of contact with interstellar life as a scientific breakthrough and a pivotal point in history. They see this as a learning opportunity. Scholars so hell-bent on learning, with a ferocious thirst for knowledge, they find it impossible to look past what this could mean for science going forward. 

Although I guess to a certain extent I do have to agree with one of their viewpoints. This is a pivotal point in history because this is where ours ends. 

You sit there and read this asking yourself how I can be so certain. What could I possibly know that would warrant such a worrying response from the most groundbreaking moment since humanity learned to walk upright? The answer is simple. 

Twenty-five minutes ago we received a second broadcast. This time, we could understand, they spoke our language. How? Because they are the superior species with technology we couldn’t fathom understand. 

The broadcast was short, but it has been set to play on a loop. I believe, as a warning. 

“We are coming” is all they said.