We started the project with the best of intentions.

We wanted to build a beacon, a signal fire to announce the universe that we're here.

We're searching and we, in turn, hoped to be found.

Construction on the terrestrial orbit relay communication hub or torch began nearly a decade

ago.

The relay was built in secret with a small team and launched quietly once complete.

So we wanted to avoid the controversy that we'd seen with new technology like the large

Hadron Collider.

And honestly, we didn't have the highest hopes for success.

Torch was something new, an orbital satellite that emitted a constant signal across thousands

of different spectrums, all imperceptible to humans, powered by an experimental generator

that promised greater range to our beacon than anything we tried before.

Still.

It's a big universe out there.

Myself and the rest of the team didn't expect any return on our investment, at least not

for several generations.

So we kept quiet about Torch, launching into orbit during routine tests of my company's

latest rocket model.

To have to admit, it felt good to have a secret from the rest of the world.

Then the torch was up there, rotating above us, a light in the darkness.

A told bell we couldn't hear.

Others might.

...