“ | I don't know how much time passed since then. I was travelling in my Star Ship when I unexpectedly received a signal. Code name: "Baby's Cry." A common SOS with the urgency of a baby crying... The nickname comes from the fact that the purpose of the signal is to draw attention. The signal was coming from a remote part of space. I altered the course of my ship as if this detour had already been part of my flight plan. Baby's Cry... It was as though it was crying specifically for me... | „ |
—Samus Aran, Metroid: Other M manual |
Baby's Cry is the code name for a common type of distress signal in space, nicknamed for the urgency it implies.
In Metroid: Other M, the distress signal originated from a space station known as the BOTTLE SHIP, picked up by both Samus Aran and the Galactic Federation 07th Platoon. The signal reminds Samus of her own baby, who had died in the previous game in the timeline: Super Metroid. Samus assumes correctly that Dr. Madeline Bergman sent the signal.
Metroid Prime and Super Metroid began with Samus receiving distress signals, although neither were stated to be Baby's Cry signals. In Japanese commercials for the latter, the signal was referred to as an Emergency Order and Galactic Federation Police Emergency Order. This is also the title of Samus's mission orders in Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission, as seen in the attract modes of both games.
Metroid: Other M Art Folio[]
The Bottle Ship[]
"A distress signal known as a "Baby's Cry" drew me to this facility, which is listed as decommissioned. Its purpose is shrouded in mystery, although it's clear that its original design was to sustain and study life-forms in a variety of environments. Something has gone terribly wrong in this place."
Trivia[]
- The distress signal emanating from the derelict ship is likely inspired by a similar concept in the film Alien (which greatly inspired Metroid), where a distress signal attracts the Nostromo to The Derelict LV-426.
- The BOTTLE SHIP is, as the name implies, shaped like a bottle, such as a baby's bottle, and Nightmare, a specimen on board the ship, makes baby-like noises when its faceplate is destroyed. MB on the station also acts as a mother figure to the Metroids, and Dr. Madeline Bergman as a mother to her.