The Crest

“Reports are coming in from all over. There are anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 Antisis out there. Danielle, we’re simply not prepared,” Fernando stated.

“What do you expect me to do Fernando? We’re outnumbered. We’ve got 2300 Crefor on the Crest, 2000 civilian researchers and workers, and another 125 Cybes, who by the way are the only ones who know how to shoot a fucking gun around here. The outlook is not rosy.”

“Ask for help from the enclave and Permafrost. I mean, the enclave must know what’s coming, they’re going to get over-run too.”

“I’ve already invoked article six, the mandatory recall to duty. Hopefully, they’ll get here soon. We need a real defensive strategy, one that surprises the enemy. Any ideas gentlemen.”

“Danielle, Crefor picked up another Morse Code,” Karl told her cautiously.

“Jesus Karl, not now. Another time.”

“Okay, but I think you should hear this.”

“What was it this time, God bless you, Tiny Tim?”

“Huh?” He scowled.

“Sorry, you didn’t deserve that. What was the message?”

“The message was DF-152.”

“DF-152? That’s it? It sounds like a tree code. Karl, come on.”

He ignored her swearing. “You are correct, it's the location of one specific old growth Douglas fir,” he said.

“And they still haven’t found any enemy or refugees out in the woods using shortwave radio.”

“Yes, there are people out there, but they’re not making Morse Codes over radio waves. I’ve got a hunch.”

“A hunch?” Danielle said sarcastically, knowing that his hunches were more often right than wrong.

“We can use Morse Code in many ways. Used as an audio signal, we can transmit Morse code via a radio signal with short and long sounds, it’s highly versatile. In survival situations, we can produce Morse code by banging pots or pans or knocking loudly on an old log. We’re picking this up over the radio. Someone has a spark gap transmitter,” Karl noted.

“And so what? We’ve gone through this all before.”

“Whoever or whatever sent this code is learning.”

Danielle grew frustrated with her senior scientist. “Karl, I think you’re following a rabbit trail on this one. The world is back to using Morse Code because it’s the only thing that works on this damn planet. It’s an old technology, and easy to use. Anyone could be sending a signal. I don’t want to talk about Morse Code again, is that clear?”

“Yes,” he said, embarrassed, now unsure of himself.

“By the way, this arrived for you today. It’s a letter from Germany. It’s postmarked almost two years ago.” She handed him the letter.

Karl looked at the letter with consternation. “Thanks,” he said.