Voice log number 23. Status update: I've finally made it into the wreckage of the Aurora. Took a while to make the right tools to get through all the debris, but I did it. Found plenty of supplies in there; enough nutrient blocks to last a few months and a lot of filtered water, so I probably won't die of hunger or thirst. Also managed to scan a few things, small items to make this base more homely, but also a few proper tools to help me survive and explore the planet. Admittedly, I'm really excited to finally get my own Prawn Suit, even if it's only for this planet.
Unfortunately, the Seamoth suffered quite a bit of damage from one of those Leviathan Class eel predators. Side note, I've taken to calling them Reapers. It'll take a few days to fully repair it, but with the supplies from that expedition, I got time. One thing I've noticed is that the Reapers seem to have a hard time hunting me when I'm not moving. At first, I thought they relied on movement to see, but then I noticed something: they always seem to home in on me after they roar. They appear to hunt via some form of echolocation, like Earth's dolphins when they were around. In fact, that may explain why so many of them are near the Aurora now; when it crashed, the explosion likely lured them in from miles away. This has given me an interesting idea. I'm thinking that if I can find the right materials, I could jury-rig a few explosives, set them off away from wherever I intend to go and lure the Reapers to them. If I'm lucky, they'll be territorial and kill each other.
Long term plans aside, I've got two means of finally getting off this puddle. As I made my way through the Aurora, I found myself in the Captain's room, unfortunately with no sign of him anywhere. However, I did find a transmission from Alterra with blueprints for a Neptune rocket. Should be enough to get me home. If I'm lucky though, I won't need it. Got a transmission from a ship called Sunbeam that's nearby. Said they're coming to pick me up. If, for whatever reason, they can't get me, the rocket's a backup.
Health update: I've noticed that I've been coughing more than usual, and I've been weirdly itchy. At first, I thought I just had the flu. But, then these green lesions started appearing. At first, just on my hands, but now there's a few on my torso as well. Scans can't identify it, so I have no idea what the Hell this is. If Sunbeam can pick me up, I'm putting myself straight into quarantine. Last thing I need is to be known as the guy who killed a dozen people with a cough. Possibly related to this alien infection; when I got to the Aurora crash site, my head started to feel… how do I describe this? You know when someone ends radio communication and you get that static from trying to connect to nothing? If felt like I had a biological version of that in the center of my skull. I thought it may have just been a weird feeling so I ignored it, but a few minutes later I began hallucinating. Both visually and audibly. I saw this weird shape, maybe some kind of creature? And I heard a woman's voice. Something about 'I am what you seek'? I don't know. Either I'm going mad from isolation, this infection causes hallucinations or there's some kind of telepathic creature hiding on the planet. I'm inclined to believe the first two options.
Actually, that reminds me, I can't help but be reminded of this movie I saw. Friend of mine back in Alterra was obsessed with movies from centuries back, he showed me this one called Castaway. This guy got stranded on an island and went mad from isolation. Now, in that, he started talking to a ball he named Wilson to keep some shred of sanity. I'd rather not converse with sporting equipment, but I'm pretty sure my mental health would fare better if I had something to talk to. You know, I explored the old Degassi crew's bases a few days ago and found this egg. Seemed like it would be close to hatching. I have the scanned plans for an aquarium. Might do me some good to build a fish tank and get a pet. Although, I'm not sure if I'll have time for that. Sunbeam said they'll be here sometime in the next few days, so the egg likely won't have time to hatch.
Personal notes: I really can't wait to get off this planet. Sunbeam honestly can't come fast enough. They're having me meet them at some island a few miles away. Assuming I can get the Seamoth repaired in time and no Reapers are around, I shouldn't have any trouble reaching the rendezvous point. Though admittedly, I'm worried about them. The Aurora didn't crash because of human error, that's for damn certain, everything was going great in the gravity slingshot. Nothing malfunctioned, I was checking everything when it started to drop. No, something hit us. Hopefully it was just a stray asteroid and Sunbeam will be fine, but if this planet has some huge debris field that's going to tear the ship apart the second it comes close… I'm worrying too much. If that debris field is there, Sunbeam will know and tell me, then I just have to build the Neptune rocket. I suppose another cause of the Aurora crash could be a shot from a weapon, given not a single sensor detected an asteroid before the impact, but there aren't any ships in the area and Alterra hasn't found evidence of any lifeforms more intelligent than a dog for light years around, so I think I'm just letting those old movies get to me.
Anyway, I have to take stock of supplies and start packing for things to take to the Sunbeam rendezvous. Voice log number 23 ended.