A structure.
Not human.
We took stock. It’s what I do. I’m the mission’s logistician — not an engineer, not a pilot. I count things. Stranded In Space Days 1-19 Complete Elysium
Engineer Sanjay thinks he can jury-rig a thruster from the auxiliary maneuvering pods. He gave it a 14% chance.
We were supposed to test the technology for a future mission to another star. A structure
A signal. Not from the crystal. From outside . From the Elysium .
The shuttle has enough delta-v for one trip. One way. To the dwarf planet. No return. It’s what I do
I sat in the airlock for an hour, suit on, helmet in my lap. Staring at the main airlock door like it was a mouth that might decide to open.
Valdez argued. Sanjay cursed. Mira held my hand.
Oxygen recyclers dropped to 51%. The algae bay is maxed. We’re buying time, but the store is closing.
First casualty: not a person. The external comms array. A secondary shard from the asteroid strike must have clipped the dish hours ago; it finally sheared off completely during the night cycle.