Among the husks of the derelict starships orbiting <planet name> we have discovered an almost intact alien research vessel. The ship's logs reveal that it suffered a critical hardware malfunction and was stuck in limbo for 142 days before the crew perished from malnutrition.
The body of the Captain was found on his cot clutching a small metal cube, each side a different colour and split into nine equal rotatable squares. Science Officer <name> is convinced that when rotated in the correct pattern the cube will open to reveal a hidden treasure.
...
The crew on the <science vessel> has subjected the metal cube to every code breaking algorithm known to us and it has responded with nothing but silence.
"Is it a cipher? A container for valuable items?" "If there is no meaning behind this cube, what then is the meaning of anything?" were some of the thoughts that scurried through the overworked mind of Science Officer <name> when they finally brought out the laser and sliced first the cube, then their right hand in half. The cube was empty.
The body of the Captain was found on his cot clutching a small metal cube, each side a different colour and split into nine equal rotatable squares. Science Officer <name> is convinced that when rotated in the correct pattern the cube will open to reveal a hidden treasure.
...
The crew on the <science vessel> has subjected the metal cube to every code breaking algorithm known to us and it has responded with nothing but silence.
"Is it a cipher? A container for valuable items?" "If there is no meaning behind this cube, what then is the meaning of anything?" were some of the thoughts that scurried through the overworked mind of Science Officer <name> when they finally brought out the laser and sliced first the cube, then their right hand in half. The cube was empty.
— Stellaris, "The Cube" anomaly
