The Future Alien Species That Fell In Love With Humanity (SCP-1342)

Duration: 10:01 1218 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

SCP-1342 is an anomalous object classified as Euclid, consisting of a recovered replica of the Voyager 1 spacecraft that arrived from the star Gliese 445 in 1982. The probe, designated SCP-1342-1, was found intact after an uncontrolled atmospheric entry despite having components that appeared to be constructed from incomplete plans or non-functional parts. Accompanying the physical vessel is a gold-plated phonograph record, SCP-1342-2, which contains cultural and scientific data similar to the golden records on the original Voyager missions but with a pulsar map altered to identify Gliese 445 as its origin. The decoded messages reveal that the sender is a species known as the Gleesian, who inhabit the planet Gliese 445c and have been observing Earth since the invention of radio technology. The encoded images on the record depict the Gleesian civilization in various stages of development, showing a society that has achieved technological parity with humanity through secret collaboration and upliftment. The Gleesian describe themselves as a community of 300,000 beings who lived long lives and advanced their mastery of the universe, eventually gaining the ability to travel across time and space. However, their existence was abruptly ended by a sudden, unexplained event involving bright blue flashes from Earth's sky, which crippled their technology and led to an ecological collapse on their home world. The visual data also portrays a dying planet suffering from pollution, sick children, and neglected orbital infrastructure, suggesting that the Gleesian are now facing extinction without external intervention. The central message conveyed by SCP-1342 is one of profound regret and a desperate plea for humanity to save the alien species before it is too late. The Gleesian explain that they initially kept their existence secret from Earth's governments to prevent cultural shock, but over time they grew to love humanity for its music, science, and indomitable spirit. They express shame over considering the destruction of Earth as a means of survival but ultimately chose to send Voyager as a gift instead. The message emphasizes that despite the catastrophic events that befell them, the Gleesian believe in the inherent beauty of all creators across all worlds and times, hoping that humanity will find a way to reverse their fate. In conclusion, SCP-1342 represents a tragic yet hopeful narrative about interspecies connection and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement. The Foundation continues monitoring Gliese 445 and maintaining Project Heimdall for contingency planning, as the alien species is unlikely to be containable in its current state. The story serves as a poignant reminder that even in the face of impending doom, love and understanding can transcend vast distances of space and time. Ultimately, the anomaly stands as a testament to the power of music and science to bridge gaps between civilizations, urging humanity to act with compassion before it is too late to save its alien friends.

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Item number: SCP-1342 Object class: Euclid Special containment procedures: SCP-1342 is to be stored at Site 15. SCP-1342-1 is to be kept within a Faraday cage measuring 15 m by 15 m by 20 m to prevent transmission telemetry and other data regarding SCP-1342. SCP-1342-2 is to be stored in a standard electronic components locker. One decoded copy of SCP-1342-2 is to be contained in a separate locker. In addition, monitoring of Gliese 445 by radio telescope is to be conducted. As SCP-1342-3 is unlikely to be containable in the near future, Project Heimdall is to continue in its contingency planning operation. Description: SCP-1342-1 is a replica of Voyager 1. Exact replication of the original probe extends the sensor packages and apparent chemical composition. However, some components appeared to have been constructed based on incomplete plans or parts. As a result, several components were non-functional upon recovery. SCP-1342-1 was initially detected on September 25th, 1982 approximately 35,000 km above the Earth's surface traveling at a suborbital velocity. Foundation agents recovered SCP-1342-1 on September 27th, 1982. After SCP-1342-1 underwent uncontrolled atmospheric entry and splashdown, 300 km east of Baker Island, Pacific Ocean. SCP-1342-1's detection was possible due to a large burst of Cherenkov radiation that occurred upon its appearance. It is currently unknown how SCP-1342-1 remained intact during its descent, despite appearing to have similar chemical composition to the original Voyager. SCP-1342-2 is a gold-plated phonograph record with specifications matching the golden records carried on the Voyager probes. Instructions for playing and decoding remain original. However, the pulsar map has been altered to show the star Gliese 445 as the origin of SCP-1342. When decoded, SCP-1342-2 contains a variety of cultural and scientific data in the form of images and audio. Approximately 2 hours of audio recordings are present, consisting of various forms of music and a tonal buzzing. Part of the music appears to be an excerpt of Cavatina from the string quartet number 13 in B flat, Opus 130 by Beethoven. The encoded images vary greatly in content, but all contain physical or chemical information on the subject, such as size, mass, and orbital period of a planet, and a string of pictorial characters. A radially symmetrical organism, referred to as SCP-1342-3, is shown in various stages of development. Fully grown, the organism approximately 2 m tall and has three legs and three elongated arms with each hand having three fingers positioned around a central axis on a roughly cylindrical torso. Three snout-like protrusions exist in place of a head each ending in a beak. 82% of the encoded images show SCP-1342-3 in a wide variety of presumed cultural settings. Scenes identified include agriculture, manufacturing, urban crowds, and the playing of music on a string and bow instrument. Images of a number of celestial bodies are also included such as a Venutian-type world with high atmospheric pressure and a star matching Gliese 445 stellar spectra. One planet shown has a partially Earth-like surface consisting of approximately 60% liquid water, 4% urbanization and plant life, and 36% apparent desert and wasteland. The planet has larger than expected storms and ice caps than would be suggested by physical quantities supplied by SCP-1342-2. It appears to be undergoing massive ecological collapse. An outline of a specimen of SCP-1342-3 is shown next to this planet. This planet is shown to have extensive orbital infrastructure not limited to spacecraft manufacturing facilities, captured asteroid mining operations, and space elevators grounded near urbanized and wasteland areas. All these images show the structures to be in a wrecked or neglected state. The final encoded image shows a vessel heading towards an extremely damaged torus-style space station with a 2-km diameter aperture at its center. Documents 1 through 56 The following message was encoded on SCP 1342-2 in 55 different languages. Matching the 55 in which audio greetings were sent on the original Voyager. And it's consistent in all. The 56 document is entirely composed of pictorial strings. >> This Voyager spacecraft was built in the year 42412 AD by the species you come to refer to as the Gleesian. We are a community of 300,000 beings inhabiting Gliese 445c. This is our message to your world. Ever since we discovered radio, we have lived in your shadow. Decades were spent unraveling your signals, searching for answers among the tenuous strands of reason. Through the static and the chaos, we found you. From your small, distant [music] world, we found your images, your music, your thoughts, your feelings, and your indomitable science. We communicated with your world governments who kept our existence secret from you to prevent a culture shock with their own populace or to reduce your impact upon our own species. It did not matter to us. We could touch the mind of another and know that we are not alone. We learned from you. The scientific revolution following our meeting was miraculous. We lived beyond our natural years and we lived well. Humans uplifted us into an Elysian state, but we could never thank you. From our far-away place, we quietly deciphered your secrets and over time, our technology became your equal. Together we went, advancing our mastery of the universe. We shared our technology with your leaders in secret to try and repay you for all that you will do. In time, came the gates. At a great expanse of energy, we could obtain limitless velocity. With time dilation preserved, we could fly to the universe's birth and its death. The entirety of creation was within our mutual grasp. However, that would not be. Before we emerged, the people who live on your planet crippled us. From the sky above, in bright blue flashes, our lives were ended. We do not know their reasons, nor do we know why their hand was stayed enough to forestall our extinction. But now, we live on a dying world. Our children are sick. Our water is polluted. We cannot maintain our technology. We will not go on. To save ourselves, we could have tried to destroy you. It cannot be denied that is how some of us felt we should act. We could still hear your world, unknowing, uncaring. With what little power we had left, relativistic destruction could reduce your planet to ashes as it was forming. It is shaming, but we came so close. We hope you can understand why we thought what we did. But maybe, if we could change what happens, if we could destroy you, then you could save us. From the stars came Voyager, your gift. In sending your message filled with your music and your joy, you have shown such touching desperation to find another. We fell in love all over again. We had but one chance to put things right. I do not know if you can save us. I do not know if you can change who you one day may be. You say you are trying to survive through your time, so you may live into mine. I really hope that you you do. But above all else, there is one thing you need to know. From one maker of music to another, across all worlds, all times, no matter what you do or what you become, you are nothing less than beautiful. >> [music]