[Steve Deshen and Alex Kursh were Mission Specialists aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They were the first to establish radio contact with the alien craft.]

Deshen: Everything ready?

Kursh: Roger.

Deshen: Copy that, attempting radio contact with Echo-Tango-Alpha. One second pulse, one-oh-eight-point-niner megahertz, sending a middle C note at one-two-four volts.

Kursh: And away. Godspeed.

Deshen: It’s a radio wave, Kursh.

Kursh: I’m just-

Kursh: Jesus Christ.

Deshen: That’s middle C.

Kursh: I’ll be damned.

Deshen: Uh, attempting second transmission, one second pulse, one second silence, one second pulse, same parameters.

Kursh: Let the, uh, record show that approximately eight seconds after second transmission, ISS received response transmission from Echo-Tango-Alpha. Response appeared identical to second transmission.

Kursh: Now what?

Deshen: Could be signal reflection. Attempting third transmission, morse code ‘Hello’, same parameters.

Kursh: That’s been eight-

Deshen: Shh!

Deshen: Let the record show approximately 23 seconds after third transmission, ISS received response transmission from Echo-Tango-Alpha, a series of rapid beeps. Echo-Tango-Alpha confirmed manned. I repeat, Echo-Tango-Alpha confirmed manned.