The current dire situation?
The moment those words appeared in the Holographic Projection, Bard Wendell frowned almost imperceptibly. As the "first recipient" of the large quantity of technical data sent by the Noi people earlier, he had privately speculated more than once since that day about what upheaval had occurred on that distant alien world several light-years away. Those thoughts had led to many unsettling guesses, and now it seemed... something really had gone wrong on the Noi side!
Beltira, the on-site commander, immediately ordered a text to be drafted asking what the Noi people meant by their "dire situation." But before the Star Resolvers could finish, the Sorin Main Antenna received the Noi people's next message:
"During the previous communications blackout, we sent you a large quantity of technical data. Did your side receive it?"
Bard looked up toward Beltira and saw the commander give him a slight nod. "Answer them, and ask what those materials are supposed to mean."
A corresponding message was quickly drafted and sent to the distant alien world: "Yes. Although our communications system temporarily disabled its transmission function, its receiving function remained active. We received a large number of technical documents, including 927 blueprints—these documents have caused us considerable confusion."
The Noi people's response did not take long. Moments later, new text appeared on the communications interface and was quickly translated into the common language: "We had no intention of causing your side trouble, but please understand that time is running out—for both you and us. We must act against the Magic Tide immediately. To demonstrate our sincerity, and to allow your side to begin evaluating the entire project as soon as possible, we sent a complete set of technical data, including the Magic Tide Observation Device and the Mind Unity Field System.
"All