The attack younger Sank experienced and told of in his speech, was just a week and a half before a conversation between the head of research Dr. Alistair Lockhart, and the head of the military operating in Franklin, Colonel Donald Fawn, (known as Kernil Fon to the Minare,) took place over telecommunications. According to information recovered from the excavation of the US Department of Justice Archives, a criminal case - based on a still undiscovered crime - was being built against Fawn before his death. Human investigators rigged his telecommunications with recording equipment, to see if there was any relevant criminal admission for later use. The result would give us a recording of the conversation, which foreshadowed a major event that occurred the next night.
The following transcript is of that very recording:
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0:01 – 0:08
(Phone rings. First to speak is Colonel Donald Fawn, second to speak is Dr. Alistair Lockhart)
0:09
Colonel Donald Fawn: Dr. Lockhart?
0:10 – 0:13
Dr. Alistair Lockhart: Colonel! I was told you’d call. Did you read our report?
0:14 – 0:17
D: Yes, and that is what I want to talk to you about.
0:18 – 0:23
A: Fire away, colonel, sir! I’d love to talk to you about anything we found.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
0:24 – 0:34
D: Alright then. So, it says here that the alien we studied is composed of elements mostly found in all known life here on Earth. Is that right?
0:35
A: Yes.
0:36 – 0:45
D: However, all the gear on it and all the samples given to us by those on the ship, are mostly composed of elements not found on Earth.
0:46 – 0:54
A: Indeed, some are so unique that they’re of elements not found in this solar system or galaxy. They could possibly be from a different universe. Imagine the implications.
0:54 – 1:06
D: And by studying their ship’s outside, you theorize they gained their ability to travel through space using, again, the materials endemic only to where they came from?
1:07
A: Yes.
1:08 – 1:25
D: Then you say in here, the weapons that we recovered from it, which are also made up of these unique elements mind you, share remarkably similar signs of weapons manufacturing techniques used in Europe during the 1500’s?
1:26 – 1:43
A: Umm, yes. A colleague of mine at Georgetown compared our notes and he is ninety-nine percent sure that is the case. There are differences in the general look and some operation and function, but they are essentially alike.
1:44 – 1:53
D: And the ship, appears to be so low-tech, that it can be said it is less advanced than the earliest manned spacecraft. Correct?
1:54 – 2:01
A: Most…most likely, but we won’t know for sure until we gain access to the interior.
2:02 – 2:13
(A deep slow breath can be heard.)
2:14 – 2:34
D: So… what you are telling me, is that we poured time and money into researching the technology…irreproducible technology, ultimately worthless for practical human usage… of alien steampunk conquistadores? Is that what you’re telling me, Dr. Lockhart?
2:35 – 2:38
(Silence.)
2:39 – 2:46
A: Umm…well, in such terms…yes?
2:47 – 2:53
(Silence.)
2:54 – 2:59
D: Here’s what we’re going to do, doctor. You are going to postpone the report’s release-
3:00
A: But, colonel-
3:00 – 3:27
D: You are going to postpone the report’s release, while I go and request from my superiors an authorization to use preemptive force. We’re going to find a way to get inside that ship, whether they like it or not, and find something that will make all this worth our while. And if they try to stop us, you’ll have more giant cadavers you can study on your time. Is that understood, Dr. Lockhart?
3:28 – 3:30
A: Y-yes, colonel, but-
3:30 – 3:33
D: Don’t argue with me, just do it.
3:34
(Recording Ends.)