The Signal

Public astrophysics record
Property of the Royal Atheneum of Hövnís, Eörpe

Contains plot spoilers to the hyperphys dread visual medias Gamma Curse of Sector Five and The Last One Sings.

Origin: Unknown Type: Extraplanar Risk: Viral Rarity: Common

The Signal is a persistent feature of the darkverse's cosmic sea, that is known to spread to other spaces via atmospheric vibrations, electrical currents, low frequency radiation, and perhaps other yet unknown mechanisms.
It remains a poorly understood phenomenon, and is classified as an environmental hazard for both crewed riftcrafts and post-travel personnel.

Etymology & Definition

The Signal was named by andelin astronomer Seenannr, credited as the one who to identify the phenomena and most of its currently known properties. As a hyperphys dread genre enthusiast, they named it after the iconic Signal acting as the main antagonistic force in the culture classic The Gamma Curse of Sector Five.
It's scientific catalogue-name is NIRDA300099, with subnames assigned for each of its identified parts: The infrared waves have subname NIRDA300099-R and sound waves have subnames NIRDA300099-N, where N is a numerical value. An exception is the heartbeat sound that is catalogued under subname NIRDA300099-H.

History

Origin

The origin and source of the Signal is unknown, but may be a result of cosmic background radiation interacting with the strange physics of the Cosmic Sea.
The source directionality appears to be subjective to those that perceive it. Listeners of infected comm equipment have on numerous occasions reported hearing the sounds coming from a different direction than the speaker guilty of transmitting it.

Temporal Winds Theory

Shortly after the wormhole theory was popularized, a related theory cropped up that the Signal transmits sounds from 'everywhere and everywhen'. Sound caught by a black hole would be compressed and transcoded into infrared radiation.
When the radiation exits a white hole only a portion is decoded back into sounds and the rest remain as waves in the infrared spectrum. Some are convinced that the key to neutralizing the Signal's negative effects is to decode the missing part and correctly reassemble it.

Minute Mayhem

The anchor locus Minute became the site of an aural pandemic after riftcraft crew and local workers failed to adhere to proper security routines when handling an infected mobile cleaning robot. It escaped containment and disappeared into the walls, and it took local maintenance and security crew several hours to recapture it.
By this time, the infection had spread to the majority of the locus' equipment, including the main infocom broadcast systems.

The Last One Sings

The Last One Sings is a visual entertainment media whose script is partially based on the investigation of a previously thought lost exploration riftcraft named Evra's Wish. In it, the craft's mechanic is found in the mess hall, singing an otherworldly tune to the Signal blaring out over the intercom speakers.
Contrary to the media piece, there were no alive members of the crew left aboard the vessel when it was found. There were no traces of any of them at all.

Manifestation

The Signal consists of continual waves of electromagnetic energy in the infrared spectrum, with a wavelength measured at around 1200nm, that by unknown means is partially translated into loud sounds in the cosmic sea's atmosphere.

Propagation

The Signal has the ability to infect electrical equipment exposed to it, with communications devices being especially susceptible, and propagating through them. This includes limit-range or closed loop devices such as nanocoms, intercoms, and pocket reckoners.
Infected equipment is contagious and can keep spreading the Signal until they break or malfunction, even if brought out of the darkverse.

Howls of the Sea

The exact number of sounds varies but are all at infrasound levels, between 8-17 Hz, with a loudness ranging between 150-170 decibels.
The nebulas found in the cosmic sea has some insulating effect to the sounds, lowering the volumes to circa 65-70 decibels but isn't very effective in blocking the infrared radiation portion of the Signal. And the vapor clouds shrouding the glails act as effective reflectors of the infrared radiation, and also muffles most of the sounds, lowering their volume to circa 15-20 decibels.

The Heartbeat

Closer examination revealed that the frequency and loudness of individual sounds weren't as variable as first thought; there's always be a unique sound present at exactly 15 Hz.
According to researchers that isolated the sound on a recording, it consisted of a clearly discernable, 0.9 second long sequence of rhythmic beats, described as 'being reminiscent of the sound of a heartbeat'.
No permanent recordings of this sound exists: regardless of recording method or storage medium, the heartbeat sound will degrade and eventually erase itself. The record length of storage is 4 days and 62 minutes on an antiquated, small optical drive made from copper and silicate fibers contained in a thin plastic sheath.

Luxuma Sonus Theory

Soon after the discovery of the heartbeat sound, it was postulated that the Signal could be an audio or audiovisual analogue of a biological virus.
It's not considered a farfetched theory today as we already know photon-base and even stranger extrinsid species exist, but it has so far been difficult to prove the Signal is a lifeform rather than a phenomenon.

Effect

The sounds produced by the Signal is known to adversely affect many non-native species, and will cause rising levels of discomfort and anxiety even at very low volume. Prolonged exposure to the Signal can cause a permanent state of paranoia and panic, often called 'suffering the dread throes'.

Deaf individuals have also reported experiencing discomfort when exposed to the Signal.

— Notation by Dr. Tybulus Svilen

Anodynic Vibrations

Qcwu-specific Effect

The vibrations caused by the low-frequency sounds have an anodyne effect on qcwu. Prolonged exposure causes increasing mind fog and eventually severe sleepiness.
Interviewed individuals have claimed to experience a pleasant, soothing drowsiness. There is at least one known incident where it caused a qcwu to prematurely initiate metamorphosis.

Visual Dissonance

Lusoyan-specific Effect

Lusoyan are among the most resistant to the effects of the auditory portion of the signal, but are susceptible to suffering a sudden onset of heavy headaches, dizziness, and nausea when viewing the infrared radiation present in the cosmic sea. It's unknown why, as the radiation's wavelength is outside of the spectrum of light they're normally capable of perceiving.
Interviewed individuals have claimed to see an unknown color they can't describe, and the color is what causes them to feel violently ill.

Effects on Infected Equipment

Infected electrical equipment will generate heat and vibrations, as well as emit the Signal's sounds if capable of doing so, at gradually increasing levels.
The heat signature can peak at circa 2900°C, and sounds' loudness at 170 decibels. Most devices malfunction and even break/melt long before reaching those levels. There's also a considerable risk of short-circuits and electrical fires.

Decontamination

An infected device can usually be saved — or at least be left in a repairable/salvageable state — if isolated in a sufficiently thick, non-conductive box. It should ideally be vacuum-sealable.
When cut-off from its energy source and means of propagating, the infection tends to eventually dissipate by itself. The amount of time needed for full decontamination depends on how long its been infected, and the level of energy that was left in it.