Gallagher-Kouroulis Communique, 2605-10-06
Message sent: 2605-10-06, 26:19:04
Message received: 2605-10-13, 01:53:29
Route: Tyrrhennia-Rukwa-Beta Hydri-Zeta Tucanae Doctor Kouroulis, I have arrived safely at the excavation site, and spent the last several hours inspecting the workers' progress. There do indeed appear to be pre-settlement constructions here, though I cannot yet say whether they are of Cetian, Mperi, or some other origin. At any rate, I must say before I go into detail that the landscape of Nuragia is at once astoundingly beautiful, and strangely unnerving in a way that is difficult to describe. I watched intently as our liner approached the planet, as I do whenever visiting a world for the first time. It was naturally difficult to even make it out at first (you will recall my distaste for artificial visual enhancement in these cases - I like to see a thing with my own two eyes), but as it came into focus over the hours of our deceleration I was struck by its rugged beauty. The first explorers of Nuragia had classified the planet as "marginally habitable", and I could see why at once: its relative lack of surface water and cloud cover left the washed-out browns and greens of its hostile face free to menace the sight of any aspiring settlers. Nonetheless, where night covered the planet I could see the distinctive lights of numerous sprawling arcologies illuminating the void below us, as though proclaiming humanity's stubborn refusal to be denied any corner of the cosmos. We docked at the orbital ring before boarding an elevator to the surface. I had hoped to take a shuttle directly to the dig site, but confusing airspace restrictions stemming from the planet's disorganised governance made that unnecessarily difficult. At any rate, we boarded a tiltrotor almost immediately upon reaching the surface, meaning I saw very little of New Calabar. I was scarcely concerned with the lack of sightseeing, however, as the low-altitude aerial trip gave me a closer look at Nuragia's alien landscape. The strange rock formations for which the world is named indeed reminded me of my time in Sardinia on Earth, and gave the strange impression that an ancient race had long ago erected sprawling settlements of squat stone towers all across the badlands we traveled over. I knew of course that they were merely the product of aeons of wind and water erosion, but the sight of many hundreds of those miniature plateaus looming over the scant human civilisation of that region triggered something akin to the primal dread of the mouse fleeing the eagle within me. At length, we arrived at the dig site, feelings of awe, wonder, and terror still mingling within my being. After brief introductions with some of the local staff, Diego showed me their most recent find. I must say that I was somewhat puzzled by it. The mural itself is constructed of local stone, and is covered in innumerable alien symbols whose origin, as I have said, I have not been able to determine. Diego has suggested - and I agree with him - that the stone was carved by relatively primitive instruments, likely something akin to a chisel and hammer, rather than the laser carvings commonly ascribed to the Cetians. Given the mean nature of the implements, and considering what we know of Mperi physiology, it seems unlikely that they were the ones to construct this mural, especially given the complete lack of evidence for their ever having inhabited this region of space. The workers have yet to excavate the entirety of the mural, and so I am hoping - though by no means expecting - that the lower portions may reveal some as yet hidden insights into the nature of this construct. If not, we will have to hope there are more artifacts in this region left behind by whatever culture created it, for I have begun to find the carvings strangely familiar, and would like to know why. -Dr. Colten Gallagher.
Message received: 2605-10-13, 01:53:29
Route: Tyrrhennia-Rukwa-Beta Hydri-Zeta Tucanae Doctor Kouroulis, I have arrived safely at the excavation site, and spent the last several hours inspecting the workers' progress. There do indeed appear to be pre-settlement constructions here, though I cannot yet say whether they are of Cetian, Mperi, or some other origin. At any rate, I must say before I go into detail that the landscape of Nuragia is at once astoundingly beautiful, and strangely unnerving in a way that is difficult to describe. I watched intently as our liner approached the planet, as I do whenever visiting a world for the first time. It was naturally difficult to even make it out at first (you will recall my distaste for artificial visual enhancement in these cases - I like to see a thing with my own two eyes), but as it came into focus over the hours of our deceleration I was struck by its rugged beauty. The first explorers of Nuragia had classified the planet as "marginally habitable", and I could see why at once: its relative lack of surface water and cloud cover left the washed-out browns and greens of its hostile face free to menace the sight of any aspiring settlers. Nonetheless, where night covered the planet I could see the distinctive lights of numerous sprawling arcologies illuminating the void below us, as though proclaiming humanity's stubborn refusal to be denied any corner of the cosmos. We docked at the orbital ring before boarding an elevator to the surface. I had hoped to take a shuttle directly to the dig site, but confusing airspace restrictions stemming from the planet's disorganised governance made that unnecessarily difficult. At any rate, we boarded a tiltrotor almost immediately upon reaching the surface, meaning I saw very little of New Calabar. I was scarcely concerned with the lack of sightseeing, however, as the low-altitude aerial trip gave me a closer look at Nuragia's alien landscape. The strange rock formations for which the world is named indeed reminded me of my time in Sardinia on Earth, and gave the strange impression that an ancient race had long ago erected sprawling settlements of squat stone towers all across the badlands we traveled over. I knew of course that they were merely the product of aeons of wind and water erosion, but the sight of many hundreds of those miniature plateaus looming over the scant human civilisation of that region triggered something akin to the primal dread of the mouse fleeing the eagle within me. At length, we arrived at the dig site, feelings of awe, wonder, and terror still mingling within my being. After brief introductions with some of the local staff, Diego showed me their most recent find. I must say that I was somewhat puzzled by it. The mural itself is constructed of local stone, and is covered in innumerable alien symbols whose origin, as I have said, I have not been able to determine. Diego has suggested - and I agree with him - that the stone was carved by relatively primitive instruments, likely something akin to a chisel and hammer, rather than the laser carvings commonly ascribed to the Cetians. Given the mean nature of the implements, and considering what we know of Mperi physiology, it seems unlikely that they were the ones to construct this mural, especially given the complete lack of evidence for their ever having inhabited this region of space. The workers have yet to excavate the entirety of the mural, and so I am hoping - though by no means expecting - that the lower portions may reveal some as yet hidden insights into the nature of this construct. If not, we will have to hope there are more artifacts in this region left behind by whatever culture created it, for I have begun to find the carvings strangely familiar, and would like to know why. -Dr. Colten Gallagher.
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