Hello, gentle listener, and welcome to nocturnal transmissions, the fortnightly podcast that brings you dark tales both old and new, performed by voice artist, Kristen

Holland.

As regular listeners to the show will be aware, every fortnight we beseech you to watch

the skies, as well as subscribing to our podcast, recommending us to your friends,

writing us a review, and so on. But yes, as well as all that, do watch the skies.

As the great Stephen Hawking said, in relation to whether the earth had been visited by aliens in UFOs at any point in history,

I discount suggestions that UFOs contain beings from outer space.

I think any visits by aliens would be much more obvious, and probably also much more unpleasant.

Vale, Mr. Hawking. Vale.

To accentuate the message that we must all be vigilant in keeping our eyes ever upward,

nocturnal transmissions will this episode be featuring some food for thought on the matter

in the guise of a story entitled

The Pilot from Unsettling Stories.com

Like so many things, it started with a bright spot in the night sky.

As I watched, it grew brighter, closer.

Before long I could hear it.

It was loud and constant, a freight train riding a persistent thunder clap.

Birds were roused from their sleep, and they took to the sky, soaring away from the threatening light and sound.

I didn't move, though. I had to see. It struck the ground in the woods outside my property, perhaps a quarter mile away.

A second later a searing blast of heat and pressure singed my eyebrows and threw me to the ground.

My days, while not insubstantial, was pushed to the side by excitement and wonder.

I scrambled to my feet and ran toward the impact site.

...