Tales from the western desert

2018-05-30

A ham radio enthusiast was said to have captured an unusual low power transmission in recent weeks. Transcription follows.

Begin audio capture

0255hrs local / eastern Nevada / western Utah

monotone male voice
Control, conditions approaching critcal. Request recovery
stacatto clicking
end transmission

normal male voice #1 / control
Last calling station; respond checksum blue, over
end transmission

mmv
Contr-
staccato clicking
-ritical
staccato clicking
end transmission

mv1/c
Last calling station; respond checksum green
end transmission

mmv
staccato clicking
-ol. condition failing. Reque-
staccato clicking
end transmission

mv1
Last calling station; respond checksum eleven
end transmission

demodulationg monotone male voice
-o-o-o-o-l-l-l-l-l. R-r-r-r-r-e-e-e-e-
staccato clicking
electonic squeal
pop
end transmission

mv1/c
Last calling station; respond checksum yellow
end transmission

no response


2 hours later / sunrise

0455hrs
normal male voice / team leader
- mechanical / loud vehicle sounds in background -
Control, we're approching the coordinates logged from the earlier transmission.
end transmission

mv/tl
Unit three, circle around and approach from the south
end transmission

u3 / normal male voice
Roger, team leader
end transmission

mv/tl
Unit two, wide orbit overwatch; weapons free. Scorched earth protocol authorized
end transmission

u2 / normal male voice
Roger, lead
end transmission

0510hrs
mv/tl
Control, we've got a downed DECP unit. No visible sources of damage. It's just frozen in mid-crawl.
end transmission

mv1/c
Recovery one, stick to protocols. Deploy EMP protocol & decouple the locomotor within 5 seconds. Safety first!
end transmission

0513hrs
mv/tl
Control, unit is secured. We're RTB at this time
end transmission

End audio capture


Most curious. Makes one wonder what's going on out in the wastelands, doesn't it?