First Contact
First Contact refers to the historic event on July 18th, 2021 CE, when giant discs appeared simultaneously over 42 of the most densely populated cities across the globe, providing irrefutable evidence of extra-terrestrial intelligence. The arrival of these discs, later dubbed "the Observers," marked a pivotal moment in Human history, confirming long-held suspicions of the existence of advanced alien civilizations. The appearance of the Observers caused widespread fear and chaos, as the sudden and unexplained presence of such colossal objects in the skies triggered global panic. Initial reports estimated the death toll from the ensuing chaos to be in the hundreds of millions, with some sources suggesting that over a billion lives were lost due to mass hysteria, accidents, and conflicts that arose during the event.
The design of the discs was eerily familiar, resembling the flying saucers that had been reported throughout history and particularly over the previous 70 years in UFO sightings and conspiracy theories. These similarities led many to speculate that the Observers were the so-called "Greys" from UFO mythology, although no definitive proof of their biological nature was ever provided. The discs themselves did not present any organic beings or emit any direct communication, other than a single, unchanging transmission of data that was broadcast across the globe. The nature of the Observers remains a mystery to this day, with debates still ongoing as to whether they were biological entities, advanced machines, or some form of artificial intelligence.
The transmission from the Observers contained a vast amount of data, which was received by scientists, government agencies, and private organizations worldwide. The data itself was an enigma, encoded in a manner that was not immediately comprehensible to any known human technology or scientific understanding at the time. For nearly six months, the discs remained stationary in the skies, as the data continued to be transmitted and received. During this period, governments and research institutions dedicated immense resources to deciphering the information, but initial efforts proved fruitless. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the discs vanished, leaving humanity to grapple with the implications of the event and the vast amount of undeciphered data left behind.
The departure of the Observers did not bring immediate relief, as the world struggled with the aftermath of the panic and the profound impact of First Contact. Over the following decades, scientists worked tirelessly to decode the transmitted data. It took more than 20 years before the first breakthroughs were made in understanding the information, revealing detailed instructions for the development of a new, revolutionary material known as Plasteel, as well as blueprints for Faster-than-Light (FTL) engines. These technologies, which became collectively known as Observer Tech or OTech, represented a quantum leap in human capabilities, enabling the construction of durable megastructures and interstellar travel. The advancement of OTech uplifted humanity into an interstellar species, fundamentally altering the trajectory of human civilization.
The implications of First Contact continue to resonate throughout society, as humanity grapples with the knowledge that we are not alone in the universe and that a far more advanced intelligence has taken an interest in our development. The appearance of the Observers and the subsequent dissemination of OTech have led to new philosophical, ethical, and existential questions about the nature of intelligence, the future of humanity, and our place in the cosmos. While the Observers themselves have not returned, their legacy endures, shaping the course of human history and opening up possibilities that were once the realm of science fiction.
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