Department of Exoplanetary Exploration

File: 118432-1
Codename: Operation Second Sun

Date: June 18, (redacted)
The Hossman class interplanetary space vessel, designation Hossman XII, is launched from the martian Gale Spaceyard, also known as Area M2, on an exploratory mission to Jupiter. The objectives of the mission were as follows:
Observe and investigate the properties of the gas giant
Determine if any useful natural resources might be present within the gas giant
Investigate and map the various natural satellites
Determine if any useful natural resources might be present within the natural satellites
Determine if there is the potential to set up a colony or outpost upon any of the satellites.

The first of the natural satellites to be investigated was the moon Ganymede. It is not only the largest, but one of the outer-most orbiting satellites. It is also the slowest orbit compatible to the others, making it the most viable for a first landing.

From the journal of Dr. Jacob Arento, lead scientist of Operation Second Sun.

Date: October 9 (redacted)

We have finally made it. Even with our newest engines pushing us, the journey from Mars till took 113 Earth days, give or take a few hours. But now we are here. Looking out of the viewport, seeing Jupiter looming so close outside is... the closest thing I think I will get to a religious experience. Some of the soldiers and other scientists have expressed the same feelings.

But the anticipation of our mission finally starting is also palpable. We are currently moving the ship into the tragectory of Genymede's orbital path. By this time tomorrow, we should be in orbit of the moon itself. Mapping of the surface will start immediately. Hopefully we can find a suitable landing site. We already know most of the composition of the moon to be rock, of the standard low-iron composition found in most moons. However, Ganymede is unusual in its high level of ices. Much of it is solid amonia, and other such volatile substances. But initial scans have confirmed there is also subterranean liquid oceans, though we have not yet determined their composition yet.

Hopefully the surfaces is stable enough for a landing. Unlike Io and Europa, Ganymede is not subject to much volcanic or tectonic activity.

In the following 6 days, Hossman XII entered a high orbit around Ganymede and began scans of the surface. The composition of the liquid below the surface was determined to be a combination of hydrate sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate. This high concentration of salts is, in part, what keeps the liquid from freezing within the low temperatures so far from the radiation of the sun. Though some irregularities were determined to be present, requiring a closer surface investigation.

On day 7, orbital scans found a suitable site for landing the shuttle pod. A small team, consisting of 4 members of Bravo unit and 6 scientists. Dr. Arento was among the landing team.

Date: October 15 (redacted)

We've finally touched down on the surface. I never thought I would see this day. I am among the first people to set foot upon an alien world since the first missions to Mars (redacted) years ago. But I must keep myself focused. Ganymede is not the most welcoming host. Thanks to the composition of the moon's core, it has an atmosphere, but not one breathable by any Earth-born species. Our landing caused a magnetic storm, and the sudden winds nearly knocked our landing shuttle out of the sky. Thankfully, our pilot, Lieutenant Braderson, is one of the best, and she got us touched down with only a few bumps.

The geologist Dr. Kaskavitch is already out collecting samples while the military team works on setting up a temporary base camp. Dr. Sandin is scanning the surrounding landscape. She says she's looking for any sort of unusual formations, such as natural caves, but I think she's hoping to find an alien or something. I won't lie, I wouldn't mind finding that, either, but I'm not so childish.

Date: October 17 (redacted)

It's amazing! Dr. Sandin found a natural cave! Only 1.6 kilometers away. Initial scans show it slopes down at a gradual but steady pace. We are planning on expedition into the cave tomorrow, as long as Captain Bowrey approves. The man has been a bit of a stickler about risk analysis. These military types. It's like they expect little green men to pop out of the rocks and start shooting at us with their ray guns or something.

(Dr. Arento remains silent for several seconds)

I can't fault them. We are the first people to be here. There is no telling what we might find. All those old tales of martians shifted to the next nearest planet. Now people worry about Jovians plotting an invasion. When will they learn? Well, we'll find out tomorrow.

A small outpost is made, including a drop site for supplies to be sent via drop-missiles. A Tracker-class truck designed for exoplanetary exploration is delivered for the cave exploration.

Date: October 29 (redacted)

(the recording is silent, except the sound of shaky breathing)

...Lieutenant Thelema and Dr. Forindal are dead. D-During our exploration into the cave system, we found... we found the ocean. It was... beautiful. Shimmering blue-green. But deadly. It happened so fast. Roger... Dr. Forindal... He was leaning in with his equipment to get a sample, then... then he was falling. The rocks were slick. Nancy... Lieutenant Thelema... she tried to grab him, but fell with him. They went into the water. The caustic liquid ate through their suits before we could react. And it was so cold...

(Dr. Arento is silent again, except a light sob)

They would have died quickly, at least. Captain Bowrey is... stoic, as always, but I can tell even he is shaken. Talk of returning to Hossman XII has come up already. I'm... I'm not sure if we should give up. It would mean they died for nothing! I... (he sighs). I just don't know.

The decision is made to continue the expedition. The cave system is further mapped. After 21 days on the surface, the team is rotated back to the Hossman XII, except for Dr. Arento, Dr. Sandin, and Captain Bowrey. New additions are Lieutenant Justins and Dr. Carathian.

Date: November 16 (redacted)

We... we found something. Not sure what, but... I thought she was just making it up, but I've seen the scans! It's...

(Dr. Arento's breathing is rapid, and he takes several moments to try and calm it.)

Okay. Be professional, Jake... (He clears his throat) Okay. Several hours ago, Dr. Sandin's scans of the caves picked something up. At first, we thought it was just a high iron deposit within the rock, but the analysis suggested it was not iron at all. It was a kind of alloy! Analysis is inconclusive about what kind, but... ALLOY! That doesn't just happen naturally! Veronica... Dr. Sandin... she is beside herself with excitement! This could be proof of some kind of alien life! ACTUAL extraterrestrial life! Intelligent life!

(Dr. Arento lets out a heavy sigh)

Of course the good Captain is warning us of the dangers. I don't blame him. After- ...the incident... we're all taking precautions. The scans show that our find is only a little deeper within the caves, but it has been difficult to get proper sonar readings due to the presence of the liquids so nearby. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like where this anomaly is is under the waters. We'll find out soon. As long as I can convince the good Captain to allow us to go forward and not run back to the shuttle.

Date: November 18 (redacted)

This... this is... overwhelming. Where to begin?

We have made our way to the source of the anomalous scans, and what we found... it's a structure. An alien structure. Smooth walls made of a metal we cannot fully identify. It has traces of titanium and iron, but there are other compounds we cannot identify. And initial scans show it to be... older than the rock around it. This may have once been something on the surface of the moon, and over tens or hundreds of thousands of years, it was buried.

(He takes a deep breath)

But that was not the most... mind blowing thing here. We found... writing. At least we think it's writing. Etched into a tablet. The tablet itself is of the same material as the walls. It seems resistant to the effects of aging and erosion. The edges of the... markings upon it are still clean, not worn at all. The tablet is around a meter tall, half a meter wide, and 8 centimeters thick. The markings appear to have been etched with a precision tool, possibly a laser or other cutting instrument. Contrary to Captain Bowrey's concerns, moving the tablet has not caused any kind of traps to spring or the ceiling to collapse. Removing it from the structure has also not caused any noticeable effects.

Dr. Sandin is... supposedly... working on trying to translate the markings. But we have no point of reference, so I fear that task is impossible. If the age analysis is correct, this tablet may predate... us. As people.

After numerous on-site scans of the artifact, designated codename Hieroglyph, it is taken back to Hossman XII for more thorough analysis. While compositional scans remained inconclusive, various methods of dating among the known composition was preformed. These were also inconclusive. Speculative estimates are over 500,000 Earth years, or older.

98 days after the initial landing, the expedition made another discovery.

Date: J... January... 21... (redacted)

(Dr. Arento's voice is shaky)

W-we found... we found a-another... another tablet. Another structure. Like the last one, a single structure. A 12 meter cube room with nothing but a tablet within. Same material. B-but... this tablet is... it's written in Cuneiform. An EARTH language! One of our oldest! It's... impossible... but... we have our point of reference! Veronica is beside herself... we all are. She is already hard at work recording everything. We're calling this the Ganymede Stone. Our very own Rosetta Stone... we hope.

16 days later, a third tablet was discovered, written in a third, unknown language.

281 days after the initial landing, the expedition came to an abrupt end. By order of President (redacted) Hossman XII and all crew were to return to martian space with their artifacts for full analysis.

76 days into the return journey, the translation was finalized by Dr. Veronica Sandin.

Translation is as follows:

We are the people of stardust.
We know if you can read this, you are also the people of stardust.
We were like you. Explorers. Wonderers and wanderers.
We looked up from our home and asked who was waiting for us past our sky.
We traveled to the black ocean, seeking others of stardust.
We found none in our own star. None in the black ocean islands around us.

We traveled father, past the light of our home star, seeking, hoping, praying we would find others like us.
We could not accept that we were alone. We could not be the only ones.

We were.

We cannot accept this.
We have taken the dust of us, and we made more.
We found other islands in the black ocean that the dust could take form.

We made you.
We are you.
You are we.
The people of stardust.

All records of this operation are to be sealed and classified at the Omega level.
Any personnel involved in Operation Second Sun are to be sworn to silence.
Discussion of the events will be considered an act of treason.