Artifact

The inscription on the blade that NASA’s Mars rover accidentally uncovered was clearly in some sort of language. Fundamentalists saw it as a lie, a test of faith, much like dinosaur fossils on earth. Preppers stocked up further on canned goods and guns, with a strong whiff of "I told you so." There were multiple speculative cartoon spin-offs. Motivational speakers and personal trainers made sunny videos about bettering yourself to prepare for whatever was coming. Ultimately, scientists proved it was indeed alien (or maybe that it wasn't; the news reports conflicted), but it hardly mattered anyway—the war had already begun.