First Contact by Dimension X

Summary

Relic Radio Sci-Fi: "First Contact" – A Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Relic Radio Sci-Fi (Old Time Radio)
• Host/Author: RelicRadio.com
• Episode: First Contact by Dimension X
• Release Date: March 10, 2025

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Introduction to the Mission

"First Contact," an episode of Dimension X, transports listeners six months into space aboard a human exploration vessel utilizing the Overdrive—a faster-than-light propulsion system. The crew's mission is a routine flight of exploration and scientific research towards the Crab-like Nebula with its twin stars.

Timestamp: [00:35]

Narrator:
“Had been in space six months now, moving with the incredibly faster than light speed of the overdrive.”

---

The Encounter with the Unknown

The crew notices an unidentified object approaching rapidly. Mr. Dort, the ship's officer, detects a solid object 90,000 miles away, sparking concern about the vessel's security.

Timestamp: [01:43]

Mr. Dort:
“Solid object about 90,000 miles away, sir.”

As the object advances, the Captain orders full alert and weapons readiness, reflecting the tension of a potential first contact scenario.

Timestamp: [02:11]

Captain:
“Action stations. Man all weapons. Condition of extreme alert in all departments immediately.”

---

Realization of Alien Presence

Upon analyzing the object's behavior, the Captain recalls a similar past encounter, deducing that the object likely belongs to an alien spaceship. This revelation ignites fears about the unknown intentions of the extraterrestrial visitors.

Timestamp: [02:17]

Captain:
“There's a spaceship out there, all right. It's not manned by human beings.”

Narrator:
“Mathematically, it was almost a certainty that such a race existed.”

---

Attempting Communication

The alien ship halts its approach and attempts to communicate through modulated short waves. Mr. Dort observes the alien ship releasing an object, suspected to be a communication device, which prompts him to volunteer for an external inspection despite the Captain's reservations.

Timestamp: [05:07]

Mr. Dort:
“Sir. I'd like to volunteer to go out there and look that thing over.”

Captain:
“You understand, whoever does examine it is expendable.”

---

Developing Dialogue and Misunderstandings

Mr. Dort successfully interacts with the alien device, establishing a rudimentary communication channel. However, the conversation is fraught with mistrust and ambiguity, leading to escalating tensions between the two ships.

Timestamp: [07:26]

Mr. Dort:
“We can say almost anything we want to say to each other.”

Captain:
“I have a decision to make. On the one hand, opening contact... On the other hand, if they're hostile...”

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Psychological Tensions and Strategic Dilemmas

As weeks pass with ongoing communication, psychological strains mount. Both crews grapple with the uncertainty of the aliens' true intentions, leading the Captain to consider drastic measures to ensure Earth's safety.

Timestamp: [13:33]

Captain:
“If in 70 hours we don't see any other way, then I have no further choice. I'll blow them to bits.”

Mr. Dort:
“I believe you're a friend.”
[19:18]

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Climactic Confrontation

Eventually, mistrust triumphs over the thin veneer of diplomacy. The Captain orders the destruction of the alien ship, only to realize moments later that the aliens still communicate, implying they were never truly destroyed but had become invisible to human detection.

Timestamp: [18:01]

Captain:
“Fire.”

Mr. Dort:
“They're gone, sir. Not a trace of them left.”

Captain:
“I'm receiving signals, sir. Set the machine up. We'll be down there in a minute.”

---

Ambiguous Conclusion and Reflection

The episode concludes with an unresolved tension. The Captain and Mr. Dort ponder the nature of the encounter—whether it was a genuine attempt at peaceful contact or a deceptive ploy by the aliens. The uncertainty leaves listeners contemplating the complexities of first contact scenarios.

Timestamp: [21:21]

Mr. Dort:
“They may be friends, or they may be the most deadly enemies.”

Captain:
“We don't know anything, sir.”

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Mr. Dort (01:43):
   “Solid object about 90,000 miles away, sir.”

2. Captain (02:11):
   “Action stations. Man all weapons. Condition of extreme alert in all departments immediately.”

3. Captain (02:35):
   “That's right. There's a spaceship out there, all right. It's not manned by human beings.”

4. Mr. Dort (05:07):
   “Sir. I'd like to volunteer to go out there and look that thing over.”

5. Captain (07:48):
   “I have a decision to make. On the one hand, opening contact... On the other hand, if they're hostile...”

6. Mr. Dort (19:18):
   “I believe you're a friend.”

7. Captain (21:06):
   “You said they had a sense of humor, Dort. What a joke to play.”

---

Conclusion

"First Contact" masterfully encapsulates the anxiety and excitement of humanity's first encounter with an alien civilization. Through intense dialogue and suspenseful storytelling, it explores themes of trust, fear, and the thin line between diplomacy and aggression in the vast unknown of space. This episode serves as a thought-provoking narrative on the potential complexities inherent in interstellar diplomacy and the human psyche when faced with the extraterrestrial.

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Credits:

• Written by: Murray Leinster
• Adapted for Radio by: Howard Rodman
• Produced by: William Welch
• Directed by: Fred Way
• Cast: Wendell Holmes, Bob Hastings, Clark Gordon, William Malley, Stan Early
• Announcer: Fred Collins

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Relic Radio Sci-Fi continues to bring classic and original science fiction stories to life, allowing listeners to journey through space and time as envisioned by the great writers of the genre. Don’t miss out on future adventures from RelicRadio.com.

Transcript

[Host]

Relic Radio.

[Captain]

This is Relic Radio. Sci Fi Old Time Radio Science fiction.

[Mr. Dort]

Stories from relicradio.com.

[Narrator]

Adventures in Time and Space Transcribed in Future Tense the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with street and Smith Publishers of Astounding Science Fiction Bring you Dimension X. Tonight's story First Contact by Murray Leimester had been in space six months now, moving with the incredibly faster than light speed of the overdrive. In six months, they had gone from Earth outward and outward to the Crab like nebula with the twin stars. A routine flight of exploration and scientific research.

[Mr. Dort]

Solid object about 90,000 miles away, sir.

[Captain]

Located door. Exactly. Identify it.

[Mr. Dort]

A small object, sir. Captain, I've never seen anything like this before. Whatever it is out there is coming toward us at an incredible speed. And retreating to zero just as rapidly.

[Captain]

What's the mass of the object, Dort?

[Mr. Dort]

Well, it varies with the distance from us, sir.

[Captain]

Step up the scanners.

[Mr. Dort]

Nothing, sir. Absolutely nothing shows out there. And yet there must be something. Those alarms are foolproof.

[Captain]

Action stations. Man all weapons. Condition of extreme alert in all departments immediately.

[Mr. Dort]

Captain. What is it, Dort?

[Captain]

I ran into the same thing once before on the Earth Mars run. We were being located by another ship. And they're located. Beam was the same frequency as ours. Every time it hit, it registered to something solid and monstrous.

[Mr. Dort]

But, Captain, we're the only earth ship in 18 light years around. How?

[Captain]

I didn't say it was another Earth ship out there, Dork.

[Mr. Dort]

Another race?

[Captain]

That's right. There's a spaceship out there, all right. It's not manned by human beings.

[Narrator]

It had been contemplated and speculated upon. Mathematically, it was almost a certainty that such a race existed. But in 18,000 Earth years, no human spaceship had ever encountered them. Now the situation was precipitated. And somewhere outside the Earth vessel there was an alien race. Of what shape? Of what quality? Of what psychology?

[Mr. Dort]

It's moving, sir, heading right for us.

[Captain]

That speed will be in touch in 10 minutes. Heading right for us, huh? Just what we'd do if a strange ship appeared in our hunting grounds. Friendly? Well, maybe we'll try to contact them. We have to do that. Friendly? Thank the Lord for the blasters.

[Mr. Dort]

They may not be hostile, sir.

[Captain]

They may be. That's what I'm paid for put on this job for. To worry about the troubles that may never happen to all hands. Now hear this. A ship is approaching, manned by an alien race. I'll give the signal for attack or defense if it be necessary. There'll be no move made unless I give the order. I do not wish to Provoke trouble. Standby.

[Mr. Dort]

Their ship is slowing down, sir. It stopped.

[Captain]

Weapons department, report. Weapons department, report.

[Mr. Dort]

Alien ship remarked target fixed.

[Captain]

Weapons alert. Communications department, report. Communications department, report. We're receiving a modulated short wave, sir. Frequency modulated? Apparently a signal. Not enough power to do us any harm. We'll try to make some sense out of it. Report any progress to me immediately.

[Mr. Dort]

One thing in their favor, sir. They didn't attack immediately. Without question. They're trying to establish contact. That seems to indicate they're reasonable.

[Captain]

We'll see. We'll see. What are they doing now? Can you make out the locator screen? Bring that power up.

[Mr. Dort]

They're doing something now, sir. There's a section of the hull opening. Probably an airlock, sir. If they breathe there, they're letting something out. It's round a bomb, sir. Unknown object released from alien ship.

[Captain]

Observed by weapons department and targeted. Standby.

[Mr. Dort]

See what they're doing, sir. They've left the object out there right where they were. And now they're withdrawing the ship.

[Captain]

There's no reason why that object couldn't be a bomb. Mr. Dort intended to let us think precisely as you're thinking right now.

[Mr. Dort]

I just have a hunch, sir. I think they're friendly. I think whatever it is out there is a means of communication.

[Captain]

You're probably right, but I won't gamble the ship on the probability.

[Mr. Dort]

Sir. I'd like to volunteer to go out there and look that thing over.

[Captain]

You understand, whoever does examine it is expendable.

[Mr. Dort]

Yes, sir.

[Captain]

Requisition of lifeboat.

[Mr. Dort]

If it's all right with you, sir, I'd prefer just a suit with the drive in it. It's smaller, and the arms and legs won't make me look like a bomb. And I'll carry a scanner, sir.

[Captain]

You may leave when you're ready.

[Mr. Dort]

Thank you, sir. I'm all ready. Clear the lock and let me out.

[Captain]

Weapons department reporting to the captain.

[Narrator]

Mr. Dort located. Mr. Dort is targeted.

[Captain]

Standby. If that object out there is a device to capture one of our people for observation and questioning. It'll be blown out of existence. Including Mr. Dort. Stand by, Mr. Dart. Mr. Dart, report.

[Mr. Dort]

Object, as you can see on the scanner, sir, is covered with many small horns. Like the detonating horns of the obsolete minds formerly used in naval warfare.

[Captain]

Is that their purpose, do you assume, Mr. Dort?

[Mr. Dort]

I'm gonna find out, sir. I'm going to grab one.

[Captain]

Mr. Dort?

[Mr. Dort]

I'm here, sir. I don't think this is a mine.

[Captain]

Circle it so we can see it completely through your scanner.

[Mr. Dort]

Deadlock, sir. Nothing to report that the scanner hasn't shown you. Oh, wait a minute, sir. A section of the outer hull seems to be opening.

[Host]

Do you see it?

[Captain]

Very good dart. Hold that.

[Mr. Dort]

I'm sure it's a communications device, sir.

[Captain]

It looks like it. Fix your scanner so it'll focus on that communications device. Return to the sh. Communications department. Communications department. Progress report, please.

[Mr. Dort]

We've established communication, sir.

[Captain]

Is there a psychologist on the team down there with you?

[Mr. Dort]

Yes, sir. Mr. Burns is working with us.

[Captain]

Both of you, please report to the bridge at once. You look tired, Dort.

[Mr. Dort]

We've established fairly satisfactory communication, sir. They seem to have highly developed thought patterns. We got a satisfactory translation from the machine on the fourth attempt. We can say almost anything we want to say to each other. Now, of course, how much of what they tell us is the truth? We have no way of knowing.

[Captain]

Mr. Burns, you're the psychologist. What do you think? Well, I don't know, sir. They seem to be completely direct.

[Mr. Dort]

They haven't let slip even a hint.

[Captain]

Of the tenseness we know exists. They act as if they were setting up a means of communication for friendly conversation, but, well, there's an overtone that. Yeah, well, Mr. Burns, I have a decision to make. On the one hand, opening contact with the friendly people of a vastly different culture. Could only be beneficial to us of Earth. On the other hand, if they're hostile, I ought to blast them out of existence without any other preliminaries.

[Mr. Dort]

But, sir, you can't.

[Captain]

I'm not talking to you, Dor. It's not warranted yet, sir. Yes. Now hear this, all departments. Hear this, all departments. This ship is on an extended alert. Provisions will be made so that personnel can have maximum rest and nourishment.

[Narrator]

Communication continued by means of the artificial language. Set up arbitrarily between the Earthman and the aliens. Decoded by the mechanical decoders. Dort disobeyed orders. He lived on powerful stimulants so that he could stay with the communications machine, talking. Talking. Talking to the aliens.

[Mr. Dort]

Other people. Other people. Are we being received?

[Host]

We are receiving your message.

[Mr. Dort]

The chief of this ship wishes to speak with the chief of your ship.

[Host]

The message is heard by the chief of this ship. The chief of this ship communicates that he will hear the message of the chief of that ship.

[Mr. Dort]

Go ahead, sir.

[Captain]

People of the other ship, I'd like to say the appropriate things about this first contact of two dissimilar civilized races. And of my hopes that a friendly intercourse between the two peoples will result.

[Host]

People of that ship. What you say is all very well, but is there any way for us to let each other go home alive?

[Mr. Dort]

That's all, sir. They've stopped sending very direct people.

[Captain]

Very direct.

[Mr. Dort]

But, sir, I don't follow. I didn't know what that meant. You know. Is there any way for us to let each other go home alive?

[Captain]

It means what it says, Dort.

[Mr. Dort]

So what's to stop us from just cutting communication and leaving and they can do likewise?

[Captain]

What's to stop us? Simply that whichever ship leaves first will be followed by the other. If they find Earth and get back to their own planet and we don't know where that planet is, Earth will be completely at their mercy. If they leave first, we'll follow them. We'll attempt to find their home planet. Dart, could you swear to any decision that the policymakers on Earth will come to?

[Mr. Dort]

Sir, even if they do follow us, the closer we get to home, the more of our ships and weapons they'll face. They'd never get away.

[Captain]

Well, how do you know that? They can't communicate with their home planet without returning.

[Mr. Dort]

We can, sir.

[Captain]

How do you know they can't?

[Mr. Dort]

I don't, sir.

[Captain]

So that's the situation. We'll sit out here facing each other, trying to outguess each other until time wears us out. And we'll have to face the fact either they destroy us or we destroy them. Navigation Officer, attention. Navigation Officer, attention. Every star map on this ship is to be prepared for instant destruction.

[Host]

The chief of this ship wishes to know whether the chief of that ship can suggest an answer to the problem concerning us both.

[Mr. Dort]

Do you want me to answer that, sir?

[Captain]

I'll answer it myself. Tell me when to talk.

[Mr. Dort]

Now, sir.

[Captain]

I am giving that matter personal attention. Every effort will be bent to the solution of this problem. Will you consider a temporary truce in the meantime?

[Host]

What would a truce gain? Could we trust you? Would you trust us? I suggest that we continue as we have up to this particle of time.

[Captain]

I agree. Sign off.

[Narrator]

Weeks went by, and during the weeks, the exchange of information continued without letup.

[Mr. Dort]

What particle of time are the people on that ship at the resting time?

[Host]

All rest except myself and others on Earth learned duty.

[Mr. Dort]

Same on this ship.

[Host]

You people of that ship are very similar in many ways. Do you have a family?

[Mr. Dort]

I have a mate.

[Host]

I have a mate and three offspring. It is too bad for them as well as us to have to kill each other.

[Mr. Dort]

This ship can't see any way out of it. Can that ship if we could believe.

[Host]

Each ship, yes, our chief would like it. But we can't believe you. And you. You are afraid that we do not tell truth although we do. This ship would trail you home. If this ship were able to, that ship would do the same. But this ship feels sorry about it.

[Mr. Dort]

I believe you're a friend.

[Host]

I share your belief and like you. But there is a possibility that you were put to make a trap for me. I will stop now and think it over.

[Captain]

Just sit down. Dort, control yourself. We're all under tension. Doesn't do any good to pace like some caged animal.

[Mr. Dort]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Captain]

Now, I've read the complete transcription of your conversations with this one alien. What does it prove, dork?

[Mr. Dort]

Sir, these people are so much like us. And they're thinking. Well, sir, they're likable.

[Captain]

They're likable and they breathe oxygen. Their air is 28% oxygen instead of 20. But they could do very well on Earth. Be a highly desirable conquest for them. Dord, I'm as set against violence as you are. I don't see any way out of this. And I think we've got to break this status quo. So if in 70 hours we don't see any other way, then I have no further choice. I'll blow them to bits.

[Host]

Will that ship receive communications? Will that ship receive communications?

[Mr. Dort]

This ship is listening.

[Host]

It seems to me better to communicate than to sit by the machine silently.

[Mr. Dort]

I would have called you, but you signed off before.

[Host]

The problem goes around and around. I find no answer.

[Mr. Dort]

Perhaps we could turn our thoughts to other things.

[Host]

The psychologist of this ship tells us that you people on that ship have a threshold of tolerance to tension. He tells us that you will be forced to take one action or another in a period of less than a hundred time particles.

[Mr. Dort]

I have no communication on this matter.

[Host]

The ship is not trying to extract unwilling information from that ship. A truth is mentioned in passing.

[Mr. Dort]

A report of this conversation will be carried to the chief of this ship.

[Host]

It will be so. We are prepared.

[Mr. Dort]

If only the people of this ship could meet in direct contact with the people of that ship. It might be better.

[Host]

We could not communicate then. The communications machine is too large to carry from place to place and direct contact. The peoples of the two ships would be further apart than now.

[Mr. Dort]

That's true.

[Host]

I am sad much that is pleasant has passed between us.

[Mr. Dort]

I am sad, too.

[Host]

We are not yet ready for each other.

[Mr. Dort]

We are not yet ready for each other.

[Captain]

It's hard, isn't it, Doc?

[Mr. Dort]

Well, Captain, I'M sorry. I didn't know you were here, sir.

[Captain]

I've been here for quite a while. Eavesdropping, I'm afraid.

[Mr. Dort]

It's all right, sir. Nothing can be personal in a situation like this.

[Captain]

That's right. How long is a hundred time particles? Dort?

[Mr. Dort]

Pardon, sir?

[Captain]

That reference he made to us not being able to stand tension is interesting. Their psychologists seem to make more out of us than we do out of them, don't they?

[Mr. Dort]

Yes, sir. They hit the nail right on the head.

[Captain]

Yes, they did. I think, Dort, we'll just have to push our timetable up a bit. No further communication with the aliens under any circumstances. That's clear, isn't it?

[Mr. Dort]

Yes, sir. Sir, if they know so much about our psychology. Isn't it possible that remark was intended to make us act more quickly?

[Captain]

Probable, Dort? Probable.

[Mr. Dort]

Why would they do that, sir? Why?

[Captain]

You tell me.

[Mr. Dort]

Why, Dort, all of a sudden? I have an idea, sir. That's crazy.

[Captain]

It doesn't matter how crazy. I'll listen to him.

[Mr. Dort]

Sir, I think these people are playing some kind of a joke on us.

[Captain]

Joke? A joke, Dort? Yes, sir.

[Mr. Dort]

Over and over again, I've noticed what I think is a sense of humor. A highly developed sense of humor. Do you recall when we went to all the trouble to set up a fictitious star map. And then they just sent us back a mirror image of the same one? I think somehow they're playing a joke on us.

[Captain]

Maybe you're right. In which case, you've seen practical jokers do it. Their jokes aren't always funny. Sometimes they hurt people. All departments, man, instant alert. All departments, man, instant alert. Report instantly. Report instantly.

[Mr. Dort]

Weapons department alerted.

[Captain]

Target the enemy ship.

[Mr. Dort]

On target, sir.

[Captain]

Standby. Fire.

[Mr. Dort]

They're gone, sir. Not a trace of them left. Not a tiny trace. Now we can go home.

[Captain]

Communications to Captain.

[Mr. Dort]

Communications to captain.

[Captain]

Report. Sir, I'm picking up new signals. Same frequency as the original alien signal. That's impossible. That ship was destroyed. I'm receiving signals, sir. Set the machine up. We'll be down there in a minute. Mr. Dorrit. Come with me, please.

[Host]

It's good to be on the way home. Yes, it is good. Do you suppose we'll ever figure out what happened to the other ship?

[Captain]

Never.

[Host]

A blinding flash and they were gone. I suppose they couldn't figure a way out of the situation. An unstable people. They had no sense of humor to cope with the situation. They exploded themselves out of existence.

[Mr. Dort]

It seems reasonable.

[Host]

They must have had powerful weapons. To destroy themselves so completely.

[Mr. Dort]

Yes.

[Host]

What A shame. In a way, I grew to like them.

[Mr. Dort]

This isn't meant for us, sir. I don't know what's happening. But I think we're overhearing a private conversation.

[Captain]

I understand. Dora, be quiet, will you?

[Host]

Many things might have come out of a relationship with that people. They were describing a disease they call cancer. I think it is similar to the Frozen Syndrome. We might have helped him. They might have helped us, too. Well, too bad we'll never find them again. I think the odds of such a chance meeting. In the vast space of the whole universe. There are no figures for such arts, are they?

[Captain]

Turn it up, Dort. Turn it up. Louder.

[Mr. Dort]

That's all there is, sir. The signals stop there, sir. I don't know how, but somehow when we fired at them, we didn't destroy them. But we did set up a condition. Whereby they've become invisible to us. And we've become invisible to them.

[Captain]

Captain to Engineering department, halt. Forward motion.

[Mr. Dort]

Captain, why are we stopping?

[Captain]

Listen, Doig. You say they're invisible. All right. They are. But they're not destroyed because we just heard them. They're out there somewhere, invisible.

[Mr. Dort]

You heard them, so they're heading for home. We're invisible to them, too, sir.

[Captain]

How do you know, Dort? How do you know this whole thing isn't a setup?

[Mr. Dort]

Suppose that's true, Captain. You heard their conversation. They weren't talking like any monstrous people. They seem decent and warm. Just as decent and warm as we are.

[Captain]

How do you know this conversation wasn't planned, deliberately set up for us to hear? How do you know that, Dort?

[Host]

Yes, sir.

[Mr. Dort]

You're right. They may be out there and they may not. They may be telling the truth, or they may be trying to trick us. They may be friends, or they may be the most deadly enemies.

[Captain]

You said they had a sense of humor, Dort. What a joke to play. To deliberately set up a situation. Where we wouldn't know fact from fantasy, truth from lie. Wouldn't that be a joke, Dort?

[Mr. Dort]

But we don't know that they did that, sir.

[Captain]

And we don't know that they didn't. We don't know anything, sir.

[Mr. Dort]

Does that mean we never go home again?

[Captain]

I don't know. I have to think about it. I have to think about it.

[Narrator]

You have just heard another adventure into the unknown world of the future. The world of dimension. Dimension X is presented each week by the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with street and Smith, Publishers of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Your host host was Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman Dimension X is produced by William Welch and directed by Fred Way. First Contact, written by Murray Leinster and adapted for radio by Howard Rodman. Featured in the cast were Wendell Holmes, Bob Hastings, Clark Gordon, William Malley and Stan Early. Your announcer, Fred Collins.