NOTE: INCOMPLETE AND INTENDED FOR CLASSROOM USE
Abbreviated Archeological Survey
Twenty-second century mass extinction
Digital Artifacts
Northern Continental University
94/4808
Conducted for the Continental Department of Archeology
Financed in part by the Imperial Historical Association
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Background
The twenty-second century has become famous for being the most recent mass-extinction event on the planet. It is the responsibility of our department to facilitate education about our past and, through survey and research, to provide clear evidence as to the history of Humanity. In the world of modern medicine it is important to study the mistakes of our predecessors so that we might learn from them, and be careful to not make them again.
In our 4806-4807 survey of the mid-continental regions we excavated several thousand kilograms of primitive personal computational devices. Due to both the crudeness and age of these devices, it has taken our department over a year to transfer and translate the data gathered.
Presented below are what we believe to be inter-personal messages, public news, and other assorted documents. Unfortunately, due to the age and condition of the artifacts, only partial texts were able to be recovered. Dating methods place the artifacts within approximately a year of each other, though precise chronology is, so far, unknown.
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A summary of findings can be found after the artifacts.
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EHWI-38475
… Dr. Martin was found dead in his office this Monday morning due to unknown causes. “It’s an absolute tragedy,” said Dr. Henry Zholof, a colleague at the CDC. “He was an extremely bright man, in fact the breakthrough that allowed us to develop the cure came from him. We’re extremely sad to see him go, but we also want to assure the American people, and the people of the world, that this will not keep us from our work. We are days away from being able to produce on a national scale, and will be ready to lead international production within the week.” Dr. Zholof’s reassuring sentiments were shared by the President in an address…
A372-9
AMAZON PRODUCES GAS MASKS FOR BABIES
Amazon has begun production on a new line of gas masks designed specifically for infants after a young boy tragically suffered fatal injuries to the head resulting from an improperly adjusted adult gas mask. Medical experts say that gas masks are not necessary safety equipment at this time and their effectiveness is still being evaluated. Regardless, the company has opened preordering so far receiving over one million orders.
GE7293-G
CURE DEVELOPED
The United States announced today the completion of their research into a treatment for SLR-8B. This suddenly places the disease-hotspot over a year ahead of the rest of the world in development, according to unofficial sources. The Secretary of State made the announcement during a phone interview this morning, saying that production was nearly under way and distribution would begin … domestic use first before extending shipping to other countries within the week. The CDC did not respond to our… “It is a testament to our ingenuity and scientific ability that not only have we discovered this cure, but we did it long before anyone else.”…response, WHO has officially announced a directive to halt all work on researching treatment and is instructing nations across the world to shift their focus towards production, standing by for the US to share its findings. The White House… within a week.
3732938-E
… but transfer tickets run upwards of $3000. I keep hearing people saying they might close the border, but as long as there are still people in the embassy I’m honestly not too worried. Seems like an overreaction to me, like what a few ants here and there are showing up with some rando disease and now you can’t travel across borders? Seriously it’s only present in insects anyway so I’ll just stay away from flies, lol. There’s like thirty billion ants I’m sure the food chain’s gonna be fine…
K3849
CONFIDENTIAL
Quit the bullshit. … national image. We can’t afford to lose …the last fifty years. The economic boost yesterday alone was … diplomatic bargaining chip … If you won’t, we’ll find someone who will.
Sincerely,
….
Office of the …
7-FIL35[1]
…
NAME AGE SYMPTOMATIC …
Bradford Ruston 45 3 weeks DECEASED
Bill Rusnak 32 4 days DECEASED
Tisa Flinchbaugh 92 2 hours DECEASED
Becki Blasko 18 … DECEASED
Fermin Defranco 63 … RECOVERED
Elvin Klopp 10 4 weeks DECEASED
Bradly Foulks … 1 hour DECEASED
Kesha Lapeyrouse 26 2 days DECEASED
Ernest Medley 51 3 days DECEASED
HE-82G
Dr. Zholof,
As I’m sure you’ re aware, Vietnam has closed their last research lab. This leaves only one possible development site still open in Iran. It’s my opinion that when people eventually find, and they will find out, out there won’t be time to re-open them. I don’t need to remind you how long some of these patients are symptomatic for, according to my numbers at this rate by the time someone by some miracle actually develops a treatment or vaccine there won’t be enough production assets left in the country to create more than 10 million dosages per year. Those numbers are being extremely conservative with the estimated infection rate.
Consider this early warning a courtesy for our years of working together. I’m telling the press, and I’m doing it today. I won’t be a part of this any longer…
EXT-9
BREAKING NEWS: SLR-8B VIRUS INFECTS OVER 10 MILLION
Today marked a milestone as the SLR-8B virus infection spreads to a confirmed 10 million cases. This, just one month after the first confirmed outbreak, raises questions as to the effectiveness of the protective measures WHO has recommended… suspension of public transportation, airlines, the postal service, and international borders. At this time… research continues towards a treatment …
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Summary of Findings
[Abridged]
Based upon the limited number of surviving records, the events which led to the twenty-second century mass extinction have been long speculated with no tangible evidence other than the knowledge that it had happened. What our survey has allowed us to uncover paints a clear picture. These findings are based on the artifacts above, as well as others which were omitted form this report.
It is the general opinion of the Continental Department of Archeology that the twenty-second century brought with it a disease, referred to as SLR-8B. This disease was contracted first by insects but spread to humans, as well as other mammals, at an alarming rate with a variety between cases the more primitive society was not prepared for. Being so unprepared, world nations began separate production on treatment with communication through a central body lacking authority. A treatment was finally announced by a nation known as the “US,” which appears in other texts by different names. This cure was, we have determined, likely a fabrication corroborated by the governmental scientific community in a ploy to avoid national embarrassment, facilitate temporary economic growth, and increase prominence. The death, which many members of the team have speculated to be a murder, of a doctor involved in the conspiracy is one of eight similar events we have uncovered.
With a high death rate, and extreme contagiousness, the estimated two weeks delay in research was enough to reduce the mammalian population on earth by roughly 80%.
The complete archeological survey, artifacts list, findings, and list of contributors is available on the neural-networks of the Continental Departments of Archeology and Anthropology, as well as in the Northern Continental University catacombs
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Description
With the prompt of pandemic and the option to write creatively, I wanted to do a piece that would be an experience for the reader. Some of my favorite stories we have read in class have been of this style, where the reader is directly placed into the world the story takes place. ”Only A Mother” does this with its letters, “Erg the Self-Inducing…” as a parable, and “Galactic Guidebook for the Gourmet” as a restaurant review being a few examples. The decision to write an archeological survey was partially inspired by the Martian astronomers in “The Star,” but with the difference that this piece jumps between the year 4808 and the twenty-second century as the “artifacts” are presented. This let me try and tell two stories with one narrator relying on the reliability of the other. The report presents some pieces not directly related to the underlying conspiracy which provide come context to the twenty-second century world and the scope of the pandemic, and every artifact is presented as incomplete.
The piece it purposefully sparring of novums, like “The Star” I wanted this to seem like something that could happen in the real world. The novums included are there to add some futuristic flavor to the world of the year 4808 and there are only two or three of them, excluding the artifact serial numbers and the way the date is written. Also taking influence from “The Star” was the explanation at the end of the story.
Placing the piece into the history of SF, it was clearly written with the US in center view. This, along with its themes, I believe places it close to the works of the “golden age” era of the 50s, perhaps with some influence form the “new wave” in its experimental form. This is compounded by the inclusion of the thought experiment, cautionary tale, pandemic, and disaster story tropes.
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[1] This is an incomplete sample of the recovered artifact, though is statistically representative of the list as a whole. The full artifact is viewable in the complete archeological survey.