The faint hum of supercomputers was ever present; technological monstrosities forever analysing data. Workers stationed in their designated work stations reviewed the signals received. It was not the kind the facility was initially built for, but the kind that was practical currently. Their eyes scanned charts, graphs, numbers and countless other forms of information. Coffee brewed fresh lay within their palm's reach. The steam entered their nostrils. They took sips time to time, refilling often. It kept them working. It kept them productive.

They were handling several signals being sent from space stations and spacecraft alike at the moment. Every big nation had one such communications centre for space missions. Hundreds of people constantly checked data and redirected the dishes in order to keep a steady connection. An A.I helped as well.

Steve Dawson, one of the many in charge of the communications with the space station Ultima was done for the day. The space team aboard the Ultima was retiring for the night and so was he. The night shift workers were coming in as he put his mug down on the table. He was now about to log out of the computer.

Beep beep!

What now? He eyed at the screen with visible displeasure and saw that a window had popped open on his monitor. A message. It was from the A.I.

He frowned and reluctantly clicked on it and put on his headphones, sighing heavily.

"A signal is being received at the moment from the M13 globular cluster in the Hercules constellation..." it continued on with exact coordinates and duration of the message. Steve was taken aback.

In his entire career this was his first encounter with such a signal. Steve couldn't help but feel a little excited. Microscopic beads of sweat formed on his hands, coalescing to form larger ones appearing visibly on his forehead. His breath quickened.

He was the only one in the new generation employees who was skilled enough to review it. And he knew the gravity of the discovery if he was going to make one.

In a single moment, all thoughts of the world left his mind, and with a certain sharpness in his eyes proclaiming the determination they projected- he followed protocol. He switched on the red button. It indicated a sudden incoming of work unaccounted for. The night shift worker who was to work in his station would acknowledge it and move to a different computer. There were always vacant ones at night as workload was not so high.

He minutely and intricately checked every aspect of the signal and was utterly transfixed to his chair. It was as if the world had vanished from around him and the only thing between him and nothingness was his computer.

He did not notice how long it took. It might have been a few minutes. Or a few hours. His phone was on DND (Do Not Disturb) so he received no incoming calls. No distractions.

Disbelief. Anxiety. It all came rushing in. Like wisps of smoke of a spirit, it all made way into him. This can't be happening... it just can't... His hands were shaking. And his face said it all. It was as if he had seen a ghost. Only it was far more bizarre than that.

He was seeing patterns. Perfect and constant. Consistent.

His eyes were wide open. It all lay before him. The data showed it all. There was no mistake.

"This is contact. First contact," he muttered.