As Professor Ron Fremont is being interviewed by Ann Hoffman, a Lowell Banner science reporter, two of his doctoral students detect a radio signal seeming to come from or near the dark horizon of the Moon using the radio telescope at the UML observatory. The signal appears to contain intelligent characteristics, but unlike anything of Earth origin. At Ron's urging, Ann agrees that mention of the detected signal in the newspaper will be suspended until Ron determines its nature.
Professor Fremont and his students eliminate the possibility of the signal originating from any satellite or terrestrial source, and verify the existence of intelligent content. They are baffled and curious as to why others around the globe haven't reported this signal. The intelligence embedded on the signal defies all their attempts at decoding. The students continue to detect the signal with the rise of the Moon above Earth's horizon as viewed from the UML observatory. All attempts to subscribe the signals to satellites or Earth launched spacecraft is for naught, firming belief that the signal is being generated by beings not of the Earth..