The first thing on today’s agenda was finally listening to the radio message I had completely forgotten about during the last entry. The signal came from Lifepod 7. The message itself was not exactly precise, but it did give me something useful to work with: approximately one kilometre from the stern of the Aurora, around 200 metres deep.

Valentino could reach that depth without too much trouble. The bigger issue was everything beyond it. If I wanted to keep pushing deeper into the ocean, I was going to need to improve the Seamoth’s depth capabilities properly.

Which meant another trip to the Jellyshroom Caves.

Back Into the Caves

By this point I know the route into the caves well enough that it no longer feels completely alien, although I still would not describe the place as welcoming. Giant glowing mushrooms, abandoned Degassi structures, and the general sense that the entire biome wants to swallow you whole does tend to ruin the atmosphere slightly.

While collecting Magnetite, I noticed a PDA I had somehow missed previously. The logs mentioned another Degassi base deeper within the caves, roughly 250 metres down.

Conveniently, that depth was perfect for Valentino.

Naturally, I went looking for it immediately.

The base itself was partially abandoned, partially destroyed, and still somehow more organised than anything Alterra has left me with so far. I moved through the structure scanning and looting whatever I could find. Amongst the debris were fragments for a Nuclear Reactor, which is potentially useful later, but the real discovery was something else entirely:

A Water Filtration Machine.

That is a massive upgrade for long-term survival. The idea of having a permanent source of clean drinking water inside the base changes things considerably.

Unfortunately, the universe immediately balanced this optimism by informing me the machine requires Aerogel to construct. I still have absolutely no idea how to make that.

So for now, the Water Filtration plans have been pushed onto the increasingly large “future problems” list.

The Stalker Tooth Problem

Returning to base, I turned my attention toward upgrading Valentino properly. The MK2 Depth Module required Enameled Glass, which meant gathering Glass and Stalker Teeth.

Quartz was easy enough to collect. Stalker Teeth were another matter entirely.

At first the Scanner Room refused to cooperate, so I switched the scan to Metal Salvage instead, figuring I could track the Stalkers themselves and wait for a tooth to drop naturally while they played with the scrap.

This approach did not work.

I tried patience. I tried following them around. I even tried encouraging the process slightly more aggressively by ramming them with Valentino and stabbing them with a knife.

Still nothing.

At this point I briefly convinced myself I probably needed a Stasis Rifle for the whole process and headed back toward the Scanner Room in defeat.

Then I noticed it.

The Scanner Room could scan directly for Stalker Teeth.

Suddenly the entire situation became significantly easier.

I switched the scan immediately, headed back outside, and found a tooth almost instantly. Apparently the solution to my problems was simply reading the Scanner Room properly instead of behaving like an underwater caveman for twenty minutes.

Valentino Goes Deeper

With the final materials gathered, the MK2 Depth Module was finally completed and installed into Valentino.

Maximum operating depth: 500 metres.

That is a very significant improvement over the previous 300 metre limit. The deeper parts of the planet suddenly feel far more accessible now, which is either excellent news or a terrible idea.

Probably both.

Lifepod 7

With Valentino upgraded, it was finally time to investigate Lifepod 7 properly. I checked the coordinates again and began making my way toward the stern of the Aurora.

The closer I moved toward the wreck, the more careful I became. I wanted to search thoroughly without drifting too far into open water, particularly considering what lives around the Aurora.

Unfortunately, the local Reaper Leviathan decided to introduce itself anyway.

The thing appeared out of nowhere and chased Valentino for a short distance before somehow losing interest. I still do not entirely understand how we escaped that encounter intact, but I was not about to question my good fortune.

And then, almost immediately afterwards, I saw something far more important resting on the seabed.

The final Cyclops engine fragment.

After all this time, the Cyclops blueprint was finally complete.

Which means I now have another vehicle to eventually construct. More importantly, I now have another vehicle that will eventually require a name.

The Lifepod and the Doll

Eventually I found Lifepod 7 itself, carefully matching the surrounding terrain against the photograph I had been given. Valentino had taken a beating during the earlier encounter, so I stopped briefly to repair the damage before entering the pod itself.

Truthfully, there was not much left inside worth salvaging.

There was, however, one unusual discovery.

A strange doll sitting quietly within the wreckage.

I could not pick it up directly, but I was able to scan it. After checking my blueprints later, it appears I can now build my own version of it.

Something about the doll felt strangely familiar though. It reminded me of someone from another underwater disaster involving another submarine.

If memory serves correctly, things did not end particularly well for them either.

New Base Location

Before heading home, I spent some time surveying the surrounding area carefully. The more I explored near the stern of the Aurora, the more obvious something became.

I need a second base.

The original Mushroom Forest base is still serving me well, but operations are slowly moving further and further away from it. The deeper I push into the planet, the more useful a forward outpost becomes.

Eventually I found the spot I was looking for.

Close enough to the Aurora to support further expeditions. Far enough from the deeper drop-offs to remain manageable. Dangerous enough to feel like a terrible idea.

Perfect.

I dropped a beacon into the seabed and gave it a name:

New Base Location.

That is right.

I am building a new base.

Continue the Journey

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