White noise. Besides the odd interference that's all Crystal Gaze heard from this thing.
"Sssszzzssdzzzz".
She lazily tuned the receiver half-listening.
"Sssszzzz beyoop. Byop beyoop."
Crystal noted "PP" on the paper readout collecting beside her.
PP, Pinkie Pie or a Pinkie as it was often referred to caused quite a stir when she first recorded it at the Listening Station of the Observatory. After some hasty analysis the signal was traced not to the stars but to the small town of Ponyville. Specifically one earth pony named Pinkie Pie.
How an earth pony could unintentionally transmit a signal was unclear but when she visited the Observatory the machines went crazy. After confirming that Pinkie wasn't an alien or a pony-shaped signal broadcast tower the signal was just written off as an insignificant anomaly. Residents of Ponyville were used to Pinkie regularly performing the impossible so weren't all that surprised. Now it was just to be marked as a Pinkie Pie or "PP" on the charts but otherwise ignored.
Perhaps I should explain some background. As her name implies* since an early age Crystal Gaze was fascinated with astronomy so when a position was advertised in the Manehattan Post at the recently opened Royal Observatory she jumped at the chance. The advert was rather lacking in detail however, only having just enough space to print:
Exciting opportunity at Canterlot's new Royal Observatory. A chance to discover something amazing!
Followed by a closing date.
In the interview she'd gushed about her enthusiasm for astronomy and had finally been taken to the room sure was now sitting in. The great mammoth of a telescope dominated one side of the room but instead she was directed to a Listening Station at the far side. Here a large panel full of waveform displays and related instruments spat out a continuous stream of paper marked by a guided pen. Basically if you've ever seen a classical lie detector you'll know what I mean. Large satellite dishes outside picked up the distant signals and background noise with the hope of detecting new planets or even alien radio signals.
This wasn't exactly what she had in mind but it was reliable and beat working at The Hayburger. Background noise didn't generally yell at you for being too slow with their order. Besides she was still working at the Canterlot Royal Observatory, perhaps she could progress to become the observer-pony.
She had tried to talk to her telescope-operating companion but Opti Charm had made it quite abundantly clear that she was not willing to chat and that Crystal should "shut the buck up and get back to (her) station". This type of occupation didn't attract the most sociable of ponies.
"Ssssszzzzzddddddsssssszzss..."
The only break from this monotony was the occasional visit from Princess Twilight Sparkle who would visit the Observatory on occasion. But she would only be interested in the telescope and would witter on to the disinterested operator about stars and suchlike. The Listener as her job was called was forgotten in the corner.
She adjusted the dial with her hoof. The static continued. Crystal hummed a small tune to herself, receiving a dirty glance from Opti.
"Sssszzzzsssssszzd plip"
She stopped tuning the dial and tried to return to the source of the 'plip'.
"Pleep ...in Karachistan US forces were able to secure Benroute forcing the insurgents to retreat..." This was, she hoped, definitely not a local signal. The galaxy this transmission was coming from was a long way off from Equestria. She got up suddenly, earning a glare from Opti.
"What?"
"I... I don't believe it," Crystal Gaze exclaimed giddily
"Another Pinkie?" Opti said bitterly
"No no. This is something new. Something totally different."
With a sigh Opti walked over and put on a set of headphones with her magic.
Crystal rewound the tape recording and played it back. As it played Crystal waited for Opti's expression to change. It didn't.
"Probably just another local broadcast," she said flatly
"But no, look where it's coming from!"
Using the coordinates given, Opti adjusted to telescope to point at the location the transmissions came from. It was another planet, covered in a haze so hard to make out but still, it was alien. An alien broadcast. This was probably the first time Crystal ever saw Opti smile.
A gaggle of press, scienceponies and officials were crammed into the small room in the observatory, listening to the transmissions now being played through the Listening Station’s speakers. Crystal, Opti and her superiors were inundated with questions about the broadcast. “Where was it coming from? Was it alien? What brand of manecare products do you use?” Some of the questions seemed a bit unconnected. It was a bit overwhelming to be honest after being alone and pretty much forgotten for so long and Crystal had to step outside for some air. Taking a breath of fresh but slightly chilly air Crystal Gaze looked up to the sky. Of course, it was silly, without the equipment nopony could see the planet they were looking at with a naked eye. Instead the sky was a pleasant shade of blue with puffy clouds and the odd Pegasus flying by. Peaceful. The princess’ castle perched on the cliffs and the sprawl of Canterlot (the observatory was outside the actual city, needing to be away from any light sources or stray magic that could interfere with the instruments.
