And The Spiders From Mars
This was an attempt by user BetterMyButter (now
MF_TOMB) to rewrite RPC-058, citing lore concerns. Its quality and necessity were called into question, as were the grounds on which rewrite permissions were established.
In agreement with the rewrite author, the original RPC-058 was reinstated, with this version now taking its place as RPC-058-ARC.
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Registered Phenomena Code: 058-ARC
Object Class: Beta-Black
Hazard Types: Sapient Hazard, Geological Hazard, Transmutation Hazard, Mechanical Hazard, Extra-Terrestrial Hazard
Containment Protocols: Should the anomaly be deemed a "sufficient threat" by the UN, Project Blue Book has informed the Authority that it is capable of deploying a "measured response," the nature of which is currently restricted to AEDF1 personnel.
To prevent the risk of UN intervention, Protocol 058-ARC-Sigma has been enacted. RPC-058-ARC is contained via in-person communications on a regular basis to encourage the current routine of the entities. Ares II2 is assigned to maintain relations.
In no way can the true location of Earth nor its inhabitants be acknowledged while in proximity to RPC-058-ARC.
In the event of the "measured response" by Project Blue Book, AEDF forces are to remain on standby in Low Martian Orbit to intercept and destroy. Type-5 Defensive Resources are authorized.
Description: RPC-058-ARC (known as ET-003 by Project Blue Book) is the designation for a group of anomalous mechanical entities (RPC-058-ARC-1), a large cylinder of unknown composition (RPC-058-ARC-2) and a seemingly infinite number of nanomachine particles (RPC-058-ARC-3) currently located within the Amenthes region of Mars.
RPC-058-ARC-1 are two dozen cylindrical mechanical entities that are approximately five meters tall, comprised of an unknown alloy that is believed to feature titanium as a constituent material. RPC-058-ARC-1 instances feature three appendages affixed to the bottom. Two of these appendages are utilized for movement in a humanoid pattern while the third is used for manipulation.
RPC-058-ARC-1 instances are equipped with a four meter long steel pole with a curved sharp end that is utilized to mine various rocks and ore at random. Removed 'samples' are carried by their appendage once the tool is set unsecured atop their bodies. These samples are brought to RPC-058-ARC-2, pressed against its outer surface, and then returned and reaffixed to the ground via RPC-058-ARC-3.
RPC-058-ARC-2 is believed to be the facility that recharges, repairs, and retrofits RPC-058-ARC-1 instances, made with the same unidentified titanium alloy as its mobile counterparts, and with several openings for said counterparts to enter and exit. Its power source is currently unknown.
Both anomalies are capable of advanced matter manipulation via the dispersal of unidentified microscopic particles (RPC-058-ARC-3). These particles can rapidly disintegrate and materialize any material upon contact, limited by the direction of RPC-058-ARC-2.
RPC-058-ARC-2 is capable of communication through radio transmission through itself or RPC-058-ARC-1, usually towards Ares II.
Addendum 1: Discovery
Log 058-ARC-01
In 2000, a massive cylinder of unknown composition landed on the surface of Mars, in the Amenthes region. The cylinder had not been detected until it had already reached the planet’s exosphere, and a scramble order for AEDF forces was underway once it had crashed.
Immediately, a transmission was sent to the Authority’s Ares II Martian base. It was received in Bengali via a series of morse code.
PEOPLE OF EARTH
WE ARE COME TO EXTRACT THE RESOURCES OF EARTH
PROCESS WILL BE SUDDEN AND UNSTOPPABLE
DO NOT INTERFERE
OR ELSE
[Radio silence for 8 seconds.]
PLEASE
THANKS
Project Blue Book, at this time, was informed that the crash was an AEDF vehicle. Ares II personnel were informed to establish contact in Bengali.
We are the people of Earth. Where do you come from?
This communication was repeated again in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and then English. By the fifth attempt, RPC-058-ARC (now identified as RPC-058-ARC-2) sent the following communication in English via morse code.
WE DO NOT KNOW THESE LANGUAGES
COMMUNICATION IS MEANINGLESS
The previous message from Ares II was sent again in English, but now in morse code in a style similar to RPC-058-ARC.
ARES: WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF EARTH
ARES: WHERE DO YOU COME FROM
058-ARC: FINALLY
058-ARC: YES WE ARE
[Radio silence for 4 seconds.]
058-ARC: SOI
ARES: WHAT IS SOI
[Radio silence, 21 seconds.]
058-ARC: SOSHI
058-ARC: WE ARE SOSHI
058-ARC: LAST MESSAGE WRONG WE ARE SOSHI
ARES: WHAT IS THE SOSHI
058-ARC: THE SOSHI IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COME TO EXTRACT
ARES: EXTRACT WH
058-ARC: DO NOT INTERFERE COMMUNICATION MESSAGE NOT COMPLETE
[Radio silence, 20 seconds.]
058-ARC: RESOURCES
[Radio silence, 34 seconds.]
058-ARC: OTHER QUESTIONS QUESTION MARK
ARES: DID NOT WANT TO INTERRUPT Y
058-ARC: WHAT
ARES: YOU ARE HERE FOR RESOURCES WHAT RESOURCES
058-ARC: YES THE RESOURCES WE ARE COME TO EXTRACT RESOURCES OF ALL NON MAN ORGANISM LIFE
ARES: WHERE
058-ARC: HERE EARTH
[Radio silence, 7 seconds.]
ARES: WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR NON MAN ORGANISM LIFE
058-ARC: OH
058-ARC: IS ACCEPTABLE TO US
058-ARC: NON ISSUE
058-ARC: MANY RESOURCES HERE
058-ARC: YOU HAVE VERY FINE
[Radio silence, 14 seconds.]
058-ARC: DUST
ARES: WILL YOU ALSO MINE
058-ARC: MINE
ARES: FOR RESOURCES
058-ARC: YES SOSHI VERY ADVANCED SPECIES VERY MINE CAPABLE
ARES: HOW DO SOSHI MINE
058-ARC: THIS EXTRACTION UNIT IS NOT EQUIPPED FOR EXTRACT OF MINE
ARES: ONLY FOR ORGANISM ?
058-ARC: YES OF COURSE
[Radio silence, 4 hours. Conference between members of the Board (namely GD-ANTC) and AEDF command.]
ARES: WE WILL HELP YOU FIND ORGANISM
058-ARC: YES YOU WILL SERVE US IN MINE FOR ORGANISM HERE ON EARTH WE ARE DONE WE LEAVE WE EXTRACT REST OF SYSTEM WE NEVER SPEAK AGAIN
[Radio silence, 1 hour. Further conference.]
ARES: HUMANITY WILL HELP YOU MINE
058-ARC: HUMANITY
[Radio silence, 30 seconds.]
058-ARC: QUESTION MARK
ARES: MAN
058-ARC: YES HUMANITY WILL SERVE US IN EXTRACT RESOURCES SEND REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR SPECIES
Any further communication towards the anomaly was ignored. Command decided to send volunteer Meranda McConauy of Ares II to “instruct” RPC-058-ARC in the mining process via a bent steel pipe.
Meranda, upon arrival via rover, approached RPC-058-ARC-2, and was instructed to remove a segment of rock, present it to the cylinder, then place it back where it was removed.
After the representative had performed her demonstration, RPC-058-ARC-3 manifested, constructing RPC-058-ARC-2 and equipping them with crude tools reminiscent of McConauy’s. The entities then removed random segments of rock, pressed them against the cylinder’s surface, before placing them where they were removed as RPC-058-ARC-3 returned the surface to its original condition.
Meranda observed for thirty minutes and reported the events to Command before returning to Ares II.
The following communication from RPC-058-ARC-2 was received shortly thereafter.
058-ARC: HUMANITY SERVED WELL
058-ARC: HUMANITY ALSO RUDE
058-ARC: LAUGHED QUESTION MARK
058-ARC: SEND OTHER HUMANITY FOR TRIBUTE
ARES: TRIBUTE ?
058-ARC: ? QUESTION MARK
ARES: TRIBUTE QUESTION MARK
058-ARC: YES SEND US
[Radio silence, 8 minutes.]
058-ARC: VIRGIN BLOOD
RPC-058-ARC did not respond to any further communication. This "tribute" is delayed via Protocol Sigma.
Addendum 2: Deimos Incident
Log 058-ARC-29
In 2014, a transmission from RPC-058-ARC-2 was intercepted by AEDF Patmos, an unmanned observation drone stationed upon Deimos. The transmission was received as a radio signal that, when deciphered, was an elaborate string of code that was eventually revealed to be a .txt file. The following is a transcription.
HELLO SPEAKER OF MOON
MOON-SPEAKER
WE SEE YOU
YOU ARE THREAT TO OUR SERVANTS
NEVER SPEAK AGAIN
Shortly after this signal was received, all RPC-058-ARC-1 instances immediately moved inside of the facility. A large sphere of RPC-058-ARC-3 particles aggregated in Low Martian Orbit and, over the course of 1.3 seconds, collided with the surface of Deimos.
Observation from Martian equipment recorded that the moon's surface was scoured by the anomaly, removing any artificial structure or device through its transmutative properties, including the AEDF Patmos, before aggregating once more and returning to RPC-058-ARC-2. The anomaly was reclassified as Beta-Black.
This event brought RPC-058-ARC-3 and subsequently RPC-058-ARC as a whole to the attention of Project Blue Book, which made efforts to deploy a "measured response". After tense negotiation, the Project was convinced of RPC-058-ARC's nature and brought it under their jurisdiction in exchange for maintaining peaceful relations with the anomaly.