Wide field camera: frame 1 [16th May, 2022]

Three days ago [13th May, 2022], on the last day of my recent exploration of the site, I was handed two small canisters of film. It is well-known that the programme used, unusually, specially-produced K-11 and then K-12 process reversal film, as well as some B/W emulsions. Some few images from the programme may still be found, despite the johnsonist's attempt to rewrite history.

The canisters I was given contained one roll of Kodachrome and one of B/W film. It is widely believed that Kodachrome can no longer be processed: this is something that it is convenient for certain people should be true. It is, of course, false and I am fortunate to have certain contacts within various organisations who were willing to attempt to process the film for me.

Although the canister had been exposed to considerable heat, and the film is stock is half a century old, eight images were recoverable from the roll of Kodachrome. Unfortunately only one image is present on the B/W stock: the film appears undamaged but perhaps something intervened after the first frame was made.

I will present the images in the order they were taken. No telemetry or edge markings indicate the exact timeline. These images appear to originate from the sixth mission – the lost mission as it was known. It is not known how or when the canisters were recovered and I will not speculate on this, although I believe it may be very closely related to the exact nature of the current occupants of the site.

This first image seems to have been made while the vehicle was aloft, and presumably rotating. Initial analysis of the image indicates a most unusual spectrum. More detailed analysis is underway, but one thing is clear: the sixth mission was not lost, and this image was not made on Earth.

Wide field camera: frame 2 [17th May, 2022]

Again, no timestamps survive. This image however shows no sign of motion blur and thus was presumably taken after landing, but before the camera arm had moved from its initial downward-facing position.

Again spectral analysis of the image indicates that this it could not have been made on Earth. More curiously it seems that the light that illuminated this scene is not compatible with the light from our Sun. While it is not yet conclusive it appears that the scene was illuminated by two distinct black-body sources: a dominant one which is significantly redder, and thus cooler, than our Sun, and a much lower intensity one which is much bluer. The only conclusion is that this is a photograph of a the surface of a planet which is part of a binary star system.

These conclusions are not yet certain – perhaps they never will be certain – but if borne out by later evidence this would indicate that the sixth mission, although it did not return, succeeded in all its objectives: not only the public ones, but also the investigation of the curious anomalies found in orbit around Jupiter seems to have shown that the conclusions – formerly regarded as extremely speculative at best – drawn as to their exact nature were correct.

It is obvious from this image that water is, or at least was formerly, present in this environment. Investigation of the images of the material in the cracks between the dried plates yields some tentative but astonishing results: these are clearer in later images.

Wide field camera: third frame [18th May, 2022]

The camera arm has started to move in this frame, revealing a different part of the terrain: this is the first indication that the vehicle was functional after the landing. At this stage there is no indication as to whether this movement was performed by the automated systems or not. However since the image is sharp is it seems to be the case that the motion of the arm and the capture of images was coordinated: the automated systems had no facility for this.

The image shows clear indications both of sedimentary deposition and of later weathering, especially in the left part. This terrain could only exist in the (possibly past) presence of water and atmosphere. The overall orange colouration appears to be due to iron oxide – rust – as on Mars.

As before spectroscopy indicates that this image could have been made on no planet illuminated by our sun, and in fact certainly originated in a binary system. This raises intriguing questions, and leads to some quite interesting speculation, needless to say.

Close examination of the small, weathered, fragments seem to lead to some quite astonishing conclusions. I will not discuss these here.

Wide field camera: fourth frame [19th May 2022]

The camera has now panned further up and seems to be pointing downwards at about 45 degrees.

Again this is clearly a weathered scene where water is or has been present, although it currently looks arid. Most details are as in the previous frame. Two faults are visible running diagonally across the image. These are perhaps caused by the material drying over time, or by separate episodes of deposition of material – perhaps there is seasonal deposition.

Most intriguing is the close examination of the loose granular material on the surface. Most, but not all, of this seems to be mineral. However it appears that some of it is not: if this picture had been made on Earth then the immediate conclusion would be that this material was the remains of vegetation.

It is not, yet, safe to draw such a conclusion on the basis of these images, but if it is correct, then this image is the first evidence for something astonishing: this is evidence of life on another planet, orbiting a different stellar system.

Wide field camera: fifth frame [21st May, 2022]

This image shows much the same scene as the fourth: the camera has pulled back and panned slightly right. More faults are visible in the right of the image. This is the last of this series of images.

Once more, close examination of the small fragments in the image reveal what seems almost certain to be fragments of debris from vegetation. It seems now beyond any doubt that this planet either hosts life or has done in the recent past. This is, of course, a most astonishing discovery and, if borne out, would fully justify the expense and risk of the programme.

Sadly such a discovery would also explain why the programme was liquidated. Although their leader is only slightly aware that life exists outside of his own head, is certainly not security cleared for any information about the programme and would not understand it if he was, there are other johnsonites who, while far from intelligent, are perhaps a little less dim. And some of them know, and have long known, of the programme. Their horror at the idea that a place they regard only as a small, poor, northerly province inhabited by stunted, slightly fractious, people with strange accents had achieved something that mighty England had not dreamt of attempting, and had achieved it on a budget smaller than their expenses claims and backhanders, can only be imagined. Union flags would have been waved furiously, rousing military music played, cocaine snorted, concubines acquired, used, and disposed of. No, this could not be allowed: the programme must end, must never have been.

But it seems the programme did not end. And, perhaps the programme indeed still continues, under the guidance of those strange, small, slender, dark people who you may find there, if they wish to be found.

The programme will rise again.

Wide field camera: sixth frame [22nd May, 2022]

This is the least interesting image from the wide field camera. Now facing almost horizontally having risen and panned from its original, downwards-facing position, it has begun but not yet completed its pan away from its original angle. This image, however, is again sharp, which indicates intervention in the operation of the camera. If the shutter had simply been triggered by the automated timer, which was not synchronised with the arm motion, there would certainly be some motion blur.

It seems certain therefore that the camera was being manually operated and the motion of the arm manually controlled. What is less clear is who performed this manual control: had one or more of the crew survived the landing, perhaps injured? Or was the camera being operated by someone – or something – else? Probably we will never know the answer to this question.

It seems, alarmingly, as if some of my articles here have come to the attention of the johnsonists. I have had a number of unspecific yet curiously threatening messages left on my phone. When I answered a call from a withheld number I heard only silence, and in the distance a strange sound: like laughter or, perhaps, screams, along with an unpleasant sound like the slow motion of some bloated, yellow horror dragging itself away from its incessant, disgusting, fleshly delights to address some nagging irritant.

Last night there was scratching on the door. This morning I found vile graffiti sprayed across it: I have painted it over but I am sure it will reappear.

I will continue as long as I am able.

Wide field camera: seventh frame [23rd May, 2022]

The camera has now completed its horizontal pan: this image therefore could have been automated, although we must assume it was not.

This image is, quite clearly, one of the most extraordinary results of the programme. As before much of the colouring appears to be iron oxide; as before this image originated on a planet illuminated by two stars: one extremely red – probably a red giant – and one much bluer and fainter – presumably a white dwarf.

But that is not what makes this image extraordinary. Notice first the multiple, mostly dark, linear markings running in many directions over the surface? What made these? They cannot be natural. Also notice the many small disturbances to the surface which also cannot be natural.

Then observe the four parallel, lighter markings, with part of a fifth visible at the top left. It is not clear what these may be, but there is no chance that they are natural. Nor is there any chance that these are merely the very obvious traces of life previously observed: these markings can only have been placed here intentionally, by some intelligent being, for purposes which are unclear.

Finally, study of the image leads to the conclusion that the surface is rather flat. Although this is compatible with, for instance, dried up lake beds, when combined with the linear markings an obvious conclusion might be drawn: this is a landing or take-off area for spacecraft.

There were more phone calls from withheld numbers today: I could hear only, perhaps, breathing, and in the background the curious and haunting sounds made either by some animal or perhaps a human tortured beyond sanity. And the horrible soft sounds as some vast unspeakable thing slowly rouses itself from its diseased dreams and endless consumption, to eat, to drag itself slowly but inevitably ... where? I know not what it may be, but fear it may be the johnson itself in all its terrible, stinking, frightfulness. And it is now aware of me: of that I am sure.

Wide field camera: eighth and final frame [25th May, 2022]

This image is anomalous. By comparison with the seventh image it is clear that the light-coloured markings and small stone on the broad linear marking at the top-centre of this image are visible at the top right of the previous image. Considering the geometry shows at once that the camera has moved: it has not merely panned, its location has changed. Yet the camera was attached to the vehicle, which has a mass of more than 10,000kg. It is very hard to see a situation where the vehicle could have moved like this. The two possibilities are: something moved the vehicle, or the camera has been detached from the vehicle by someone or something.

As before there are many other linear markings and scuff marks, which cannot be natural. The broad linear feature – one of the four or five visible in the previous frame also are clearly artifical

Finally note the faint markings crossing the broad linear marking in the lower and central part of the image. These must almost certainly be the tracks of the excursion vehicle: the tread pattern matches and the dimensions are correct. The excursion vehicle could not be deployed automatically: to do so was a two-person job. So this would seem to indicate, again, that not only did at least two of the crew survive the landing, but they were able to deploy and use the excursion vehicle. Or, and given what we know we must not rule out this possibility, that someone or something else deployed the excursion vehicle.

The course of events thus seems to be this: either at least two members of the crew survived and were in good condition, deployed the excursion vehicle, and removed the wide-field camera from its mounting; or someone or something else deployed the excursion vehicle and removed the wide-field camera from its mounting. It is possible that some mixture of these scenarios happened: perhaps some or all of the crew survived and were assisted by someone or something else. Probably we shall never know.

Overnight there was much noise outside. The graffiti reappeared this morning and again I have painted over it. I have disconnected the phone as the anonymous calls are now incessant. During my brief explorations today I found ... something: a bloody mess of bone and gristle, covered in flies. Clearly it was left as a message. I do not know what it is, or was before it was so horribly mutilated. Was it a human? I do not think so. Perhaps it was one of the current occupants of the site: they appear human, albeit strangely small, dark and slender, but I think that they are not.

I think the johnsonites are coming for me, for all of us who now inhabit the site. They are coming to finally erase the memory of what was done here. It will not be long now, I am sure. I will fight them to the last, along with those occupants who I now call my friends.

Science camera: only surviving frame [26h May, 2022]

This is the final image that survives. This was almost certainly the first image on the roll: the remainder of the film appears to be unexposed. As my readers will know, the science camera was stowed with the excursion vehicle but was hand-held. It was equipped with a film using high-speed, fine-grain bespoke B/W emulsion closely related to, if not identical, to the original Ilford FP4. Processing in standard B/W chemistry was conventional.

This image is remarkable in at least two respects.

Firstly that it exists at all confirms that the excursion vehicle was successfully deployed, and that someone, or something, was able to use the camera stowed with it, together with its light meter, to make this well-exposed image.

Secondly the traces of organic matter – apparently mostly the remains of vegetation – in this image are incontrovertible. Note particularly the large fragments of what seems to be woody material in the lower left, but also the very many smaller fragments which litter the surface. The planet where this image was made clearly harboured – or, dare I say – harbours, life.

Indeed, based on the previous two images it must be clear that the planet has, or had in the geologically recent past, intelligent life: creatures capable of constructing what we must construe as a landing site for spacecraft.

This final image from the programme shows that it succeeded beyond the wildest hopes of those who worked on it. A small, northerly nation has achieved what great England, wallowing in its sloth and conceit, did not even attempt. We do not know what if anything was discovered by the Americans, and will probably never know what was done by the Soviet Union, but we do know what was done here. And what may still be done here, if the johnsonites can be held out.

But there seems little hope of that. There was considerable disturbance last night, culminating in a confused skirmish in the dark. Those who I now know as my friends, or at least allies, struggled against mostly unseen opponents. In the brief flashes from my service revolver I saw little: figures in camouflage clothing, wearing, I think night-vision equipment, and armed with weapons that looked like AK-47s. More through luck than skill or weaponry we managed to deter them: by about 03:00 they were gone.

This morning there were bodies: I do not know how many of us died as my friends have removed the remains of their fallen for, I suppose, burial or whatever is their custom. But there were ten of the attackers: clearly mercenaries I think. I wish I could say we treated them with respect, but we stripped them of weapons, ammunition and night-vision equipment and tipped them over the cliff. One was still living: I am sure that he expected something worse than the bullet bullet in the head, but it was the kindest way. Afterwards he too went over the cliff.

Today has been ominously quiet. I cannot be certain they will return tonight, although I am sure they, or their replacements, will, and in force. We have distributed the weapons – AK-47s as I suspected, but modified to fire what seem to be depleted uranium rounds – amongst us. I have two, and my revolver for which I still have some little ammunition. I am not sure: if it comes to the end should I use it on myself? Better that, perhaps, than to fall into the hands of the johnsonists.

We shared a meal in the strange silence that surrounds these small people: they are excellent cooks. I fear it will be our last on this Earth, and I no longer hope to reach that distant other Earth from which these images come. The future is lost.