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Walk Away

Jamie B. Granger

// BEGIN TRANSCRIPTION // 1I/2017 U1 // OUMUAMUA // CLASSIFIED //
#
    Transmission Fragment # 11
    ... If you can understand me, congratulations! The unusual path of my spaceship alerted you to its origin outside of this star system, then earlier transmissions encoded with the physical properties of the [...] (universe?) gave you my language. Since my time within this system will be short, I will [...] (cut straight to the point?). Please provide information about your species which I can preserve for the future before your planet becomes another graveyard...
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    Transmission Fragment # 35
    ... while you collate the [...] (essence?) of your civilization, I will introduce myself. My name is [...] (untranslatable), better said under water. My species comes from a water world rotating around a gas giant, similar to the ones in this system. We had no awareness of space behind the icy firmament until an encounter with an asteroid resulted in an ice breach. From this, we comprehended the immense, external [...] (universe?). We left the ocean and began exploring our system...
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    Transmission Fragment # 67
    ... to the [...] (general?) asking for weapons. The Librarians do not interfere — our goal is only to observe and preserve all knowledge. Many [...] (guild?) members focus on the cosmos. This includes the magic of stars, the glories of comets, and the majesties of gas giants. Very few of us dedicate ourselves towards the risky observation of life. More than one of my brethren diedor sank into [...] (insanity?) after encountering intelligent life. Thus, we try to transit most systems at high speeds, allowing for little interaction and we will not provide technologies you don’t already possess...
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    Transmission Fragment # 103
    ... Indeed, my vessel is an asteroid, captured by [...] (a hook?) and towed near our planet. It may appear natural but is traveling at speeds fast enough to escape this star and is not moving along the [...] (plane of the elliptic?). These giant ships were going to be our colonies among the stars. But before we completed the first ship, a war broke out. We fought about either returning to the water or continuing to explore the Universe. I was just a young [...] (intern?) when the war began and hid on this immense ship for my safety. Unfortunately, the chief engineer launched the ship, and after her death, I was the only one left on board...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 140
    ... I implore you to hurry, for due to immense speeds, my ship will leave the system. Soon after, your species will come to an end, as all intelligent life does. If you wish anything to be preserved, please transmit per the instructions previously provided...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 183
    ... As many before, you ask about [...] (the Divine?). I am not [...] (G-d?) –a common mistaken assumption when encountering a Librarian. Higher beings have often been mentioned, but I’ve never met them. Nor have I ever met any species that transcended and became [...] (Divine?). Even in my home-world, we worshiped such beings: water, light, and ice. If I ever encounter such a species, I look forward to preserving their valuable knowledge...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 216
    ... to the honorable scientist, I cannot divulge information collected about other species to you, but I can answer questions about the limits of scientific knowledge. Faster than light travel does not currently exist. While someone may still discover it, I and my [...] (guild?) have never encountered such technology. But faster-than-light transmission of information or [...] (an ansible?) is possible and is achievable via [...] (quantum entanglement?). You already have this technology, but it’s unstable. Immortality is also achievable...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 278
    ... As requested before, please send any information you want to preserve. The Universe is filled with graves of intelligent life and all that remains are memories. We do not pass judgment on whether the culture from one [...] (nation?) of your species is superior and will preserve it all, except for [...] (minds?). Accusing or threatening me is useless. Librarians do not destroy other species — you will destroy yourselves. In any case, I have heard it all before. By the time any of your inferior weapons reach my current location, this vessel will be elsewhere. As for me, I will be enjoying a good night’s sleep once again...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 304
    ... to the [...] (reporter?): I am flattered by your personal questions. I was but a [...] (student?) during the launch of this vessel and it took me several years to manage to figure out its computers. While my species is social, I was one of the few who didn’t swim with their [...] (pod?). I also had a desire to be a scholar; reading beats going out [...] (hunting?). Since my species is prone to hibernation, the initial trip felt like a normal night’s sleep. Eventually, I found the Librarians and joined the guild. Ever since then, I have done the same—accelerated my vessel to near light speed between systems and sleep...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 341
    ... you ask about [...] (Fermi’s Paradox?): Why is the universe not teeming with life? Even at less than light speed, our galaxy should have colonized by now. The truth is, while many space-faring species have existed, they are all dead. Instead, the Universe is empty except for graveyards and my guild. The answer is very simple: no species can survive the transition to a space-based civilization and most don’t even become a planet-wide one. The bonds that keep a species together are hard to hold across an entire planet, and more so in the vastness of space, even with [...] (an ansible?). It is safe to assume that by the time I reach the next star, your planet will stop supporting life, because you will destroy it. This is why I implore you again to send the [...] (essence?) of your species. At least a memory will persist...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 389
    ... my vessel is leaving as I get ready to sleep in my watery [...] (bed?). If you also want to achieve immortality, it is easy: get a big enough rock to shield you from radiation and accelerate. Time will pass slower and slower and you will live forever. But only individuals can open themselves to the majesty of space while striving not to descend into [...] (insanity?). As a species, the only way to be immortal is to share your [...] (essence?) with the guild. We will not forget you...
#
    Transmission Fragment # 413
    ... to the distinguished (engineer?): Why preserve physical bodies? Is a memory not good enough? I offer immortality, to remember your species until the end of the [...] (universe?). Is that not good enough? But if you choose to reject this, then you must abandon all hopes of space and focus within. The bonds that hold your species together might survive within a planet but very few choose that road. Once you are no longer alone, how can anyone walk away?
#
// END TRANSCRIPTION // 1I/2017 U1 // OUMUAMUA // CLASSIFIED //

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