[ WP ] [ X-Post from /r/futurewhatif ] We send a small group of diverse people with supplies to a planet similar enough to Earth to allow them to colonize it . Soon after they land , Solar flares ( or whatever ) stop us from contacting them for 100+ years . After that time we are able to speak with them again .

The command team popped champagne as soon as the satellite started broadcasting the `` all clear'' signal. It had taken an entire century to diagnose the problem with B78, fix it, and then position the new beacon just outside the Oort Cloud. Almost a century of work, but communication could finally be re-established with the colony. They'd had the food and the equipment to survive out there and the planet should be terraformed now, so we'd hoped that they were all thriving. 
 
 With my superiors watching my shoulders, I typed in the first message. Only a small amount of information could be transferred at a time 
 
 Message send: 
 
 Proxima Centauri colony, please report on status. 
 Communications relay B78 had to be replaced. 
 Your messages have not been received for 98 years. 
 Please update on terraforming progrss and health of colony 
 
 Message end 
 
 I clicked send, and the blue `` Outgoing'' light flashed. 
 
 `` How long will it take?'' the Defense Secretary asked. 
 
 `` Should n't be too long,'' I replied. `` It works with quantum entanglement, allowing us to use chains of connected atomic components to communicate almost simultaneously. In principle, it is a lot like a telegraph. 
 
 As if on cue, the green `` Receiving'' light began to flash. 
 
 We were concerned to never hear from our home planet 
 Thank you for informing us of the error 
 The colony is strong and healthy; there are many new childs 
 More colonists should be sent to populate the planet. 
 
 The generals breathed a sigh of relief. `` Thank God,'' one said. The absolute worse case scenario was that nobody would answer. At least we knew they were alive, and it sounded like everyone was healthy. 
 
 `` Childs?'' asked the Defense Secretary. 
 
 I shrugged. `` Language changes, sir. It's been a hundred years since they've had any contact, and isolation can cause things to change rapidly. Maybe'childs' is just a part of their dialect now.'' 
 
 `` Ask if there were any unknown issues with the planet, and ask about the status of the atmospheric production factories.'' 
 
 Message Send: 
 
 Proxima Colony, any issues with G2578 planet? 
 How are the atmosphereic production factories holding up? 
 Have there been any severe equipment malfunctions? 
 
 Message end 
 
 The blue light flashed briefly, and we waited silently for the green light to come on. The reply was swift. 
 
 All equipment normal; planet reform is almost complete. 
 No serious malfunctions or errors. 
 The colony only needs more citizens; we do not have enough workers. 
 
 The generals were overjoyed; this was better than anticipated. The defense minister, however, was n't so sure. He bit his lip as he read the message again. `` Why are n't they using the normal call signs?'' 
 
 I shrugged. `` A hundred years of silence? That's two or three generations. They've just forgotten protocol now.'' 
 
 The Secretary was n't convinced. `` Ask them how the tiger herds are managing and whether they have had enough water for irrigation.'' 
 
 `` *Tigers*, sir?'' They had been extinct for at least a century, and the colonists certainly did n't bring any. 
 
 `` Just *write it*,'' he said tersely. 
 
 I typed out the message as requested. 
 
 Message send: 
 
 Please report on status of tiger herds. 
 Has the colony had sufficient water for irrigation? 
 
 Message end 
 
 The generals looked confused, but the Defense Secretary did n't explain. 
 
 The green light flashed. 
 
 Tigers are healthy and numerous. 
 Water is plentiful 
 Planet can support large population. 
 
 There was a hushed silence in the room as everyone realized what was happening. The Defense Secretary nodded and picked up his phone. 
 
 `` Mr. President?'' he said. Everyone else in the room caught their breath, as if afraid to be heard in the background. 
 
 `` It's me,'' he continued. `` Colony lost. Code Red.''
