We are unsure if anyone is receiving our transmissions. We

have been stranded here for nearly 10 earth years and have

thus far adapted successfully to life on this planet.‎ The

environment is similar enough to that of human evolutionary

adaptation and it has actually been a relief after such a long

time in open space. Thus, all our transmissions from this

planet have not been of desperate urgency. But just recently

we have encountered a problem that we are not certain we can

overcome on our own.

We are in a period of time that was celebrated as a seasonal

holiday among a particular earth religion centuries ago. The

crew took it as a collective hobby several years back to study

the rituals and beliefs of that holiday, called Christmastide

or Yuletide. During every winter season on this planet, we

have used what resources we have to make festive meals, give

gifts, and re-enact what we have learned from the history logs

on the ship's computer. It has been a little silly, but a

relief nonetheless against the isolation we have felt while

stranded here. Until this year.

This season was the first that one of the children born here

has ‎become socially active. We suspect some of his behavior

may be the source of our problem. But as it seems so absurd,

none dare speak it other than in jest.

The child, just five earth years of age, has caused extra work

for the others, breaking or misplacing tools, ‎making loud

noises during rest hours, and tormenting the fauna we are

trying so hard to domesticate.

But the boy's behavior would be tolerable if that were the

only problem. The real problem is terrifyingly worse.‎ The real

problem is the appearance of a creature that seems intent on

attacking the boy.

It has come at dusk nearly every day for the past few weeks,

and the crew have taken great risks to chase it away. We've

posted extra guards at all points around our ship, and each

day we expect at least one of them will encounter it.

I have not seen it myself, but the others say it is a

four-legged creature, bent over and moving itself on its two

rear legs. It makes a horrible growling and hissing sound like

"grahh-pssss"‎.

We know it wants the boy because it has ‎kept close to the

uncut brush and foliage at the edge of our encampment until it

has seen him. The few times it saw him, it came forward,

screeching and clawing at him.

Luckily we've been able to fight him off thus far. But we've

sustained some injuries. And the labor we've had to expend on

defenses are causing shortfalls in meeting our other needs.

We need help. If anyone is receiving this transmission. We

need help!

--

When you perform the rituals of the past, you may awaken

something that can't be put back to sleep until forgotten. And

we can't forget now.

Can it be, that the gods and demons of our species follow us

wherever we travel in the universe?

Can it be, that we are experiencing one of those demons from

our Yuletide heritage? Is it possible that we are being

attacked by Krampus?