Recon craft Theta beacon

 

This radio signal, transmitted from a fallen UFO, is an unintelligible language interrupted by bursts of static. The signal is on a loop, like an automated distress beacon. When reversed and slowed down, it says "The Alien is never alive"(Also near the end you can hear it says help me, help me) which is a reference to the fact that the concept of humanity making first contact through a dead alien is often found in works of fiction. Because of its limited range, a player can easily track the signal to its source. See the article on the Alien Crash Site for much more information.

When the source of the signal is found, the player will encounter a downed alien spacecraft with an alien corpse. The corpse cannot be searched. However, an Alien Blaster weighing 2 pounds with 120 rounds of ammunition should be scattered nearby. This ammo is incredibly rare and should be saved.

Notes

• If you use the noclip feature on the console and travel under the alien craft you will find a ham radio labeled Recon Craft Theta Becon. If you interact with it, text saying "See you later" will pop on-screen, similar to the Chinese Radios.
• In the Mothership Zeta add-on, the distress beacon is answered by an Alien Mothership. The Aliens have returned, and they are not very pleased, or "pissed" in Bethesda's words. This may suggest that the aliens onboard the Mothership Zeta believe that humanity shot down the craft, and are coming to get their revenge.
• When the player downloads Mothership Zeta, the radio signal's range is greatly expanded, this author being able to hear the signal as far as Point Lookout. This can be a problem for those who don't already know the location of Recon Craft Theta. (Confirmed PC version; also confirmed 360 but nothing can be heard from that distance; Confirmed PS3)
• In the Mothership Zeta add-on, the craft is collected by the Mothership, a process which can be seen underway in Zeta's hangar shortly after the player boards the vessel.
• Upon completing Mothership Zeta, the radio signal will vanish. This most likely happens when Recon Craft Theta is collected by Mothership Zeta.
• The signal can be heard in the Anchorage Reclamation simulation.

• You can still hear the distress signal aboard the Mothership Zeta, maybe because the ship is located in the hangar. (Confirmed 360)
• If the signal is reversed and slowed down it sounds like it might say: 'The Alien was never alive'

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