Packet 02 — The Last Outpost Archives

Packet 02 (Transmissions 05-08)

The following transmissions were recovered from Relay Station 47, Vela NR-2 (yes, that one).

Recovery note: Transmissions are published in the order they were received. They have not yet been altered.

Transmission 5 // Category: System Logs

Cycle 2.185

Single Operator Status: Active

Equipment check complete. Double check complete. Array in excellent condition. Relay window opens tomorrow morning.

Consumables at 74%. Power systems stable.

The secondary regulator will be fine because it has to be. It doesn’t have the option to fall apart.

Station otherwise operational.

No anomalies to report.

Notes: Triple check complete. Replaced one transmitter because it looked a little funny. It’s okay though, I have a bunch.

Transmission 6 // Category: Spherics Report

Cycle 2.186

Array: 2 elements functional

Monitoring period: 22:26–06:27 local

Conditions: Hazy. Low ionic interference.

Dawn chorus of whistlers around 05:13. Didn’t wake me, but the recorder caught it.

Relay back online tomorrow

Array performance: perfect.

Transmission 7 // Category: Relay Traffic

Cycle 2.186

Relay Window: CLOSED

Monitoring Status: Active

Traffic Received: None

Traffic Expected: None

Notes: Window opens tomorrow. In 19 hours.

Transmission 8 // Category: Personal Log

Day 559

I’ve checked the array twice. Maybe more than twice. All equipment in proper working order. I know it’s in proper working order because I checked it. Also because I need it to be in proper working order.

I recognize that’s not how equipment works. It doesn’t care that I need it to work. It’s probably not worried about me at all. But I’m sure it’s in proper working order.

I’m not expecting anything in particular. Traffic is traffic. This is a relay.

Shaved and prepped the last of the good coffee for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow warrants it. There’s still coffee, just not good coffee.

I think I’m getting sick.