The following are transcripts of entries received as the final transmissions from the Pytheas I, the first manned mission to study the Great Red Spot of Jupiter.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1324 / C-TILDE

We’re more than halfway through our fourth year.  The crew is finally beginning to act like a family.  We knew from the start that this mission would take six years, but the first three were rocky to say the least.  Deck Officer Ramirez has updated the course today.  She’s predicted we should be reaching the Giant Red Spot by year’s end.  After that it’s six months of observation then we head back.  At that point we will be back on the close side of the Jupiter to the Hub Station.  It should take less time to get back, but who knows that the next set back will be.

I hate being so far from home.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1335 / J-RAMIREZ

I hate being the bearer of bad news.  Every morning meeting I need to present the newest calculations to the team.  The look on Crewman Huang’s face when I gave the new simulation results broke my heart.  How are you supposed to tell someone that they committed to missing the first twelve years of their child’s life, but now it’s going to be fifteen?

Meanwhile, Logistics Officer Dowd is having a mental breakdown because we need to extend our rations.

What a mess.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1401 / G-DOWD

I swear it was only two months ago that Jessica was telling us that we need to ration better.  Nothing is making sense.  The planet is orbiting in our direction.  The storm is traveling in our direction.  Why is this trip taking longer?  I’m just going to be a good little soldier, but there’s something else going on here.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1460 / H-HUANG

Happy Four Years.  It would be Shen-Li’s thirteenth birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Shen-Li.  I feel like maybe God can’t hear my prayers out here.  All I want is to spend more time with my family.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1528 / J-RAMIREZ

We are now four years over estimate.  Four years!  What was supposed to be six years is now a decade.  I’ve sent the calculations back to the Hub.  Everything has been confirmed correct.  Why can’t anyone explain this?  I’m being asked by everyone.  I can’t answer.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1655 / C-TILDE

My crew is losing hope.  I had a long conversation with Deck Officer Ramirez, again.  I feel like we are having these monthly.  She keeps giving me worse and worse news.  The ship is still traveling at the same speed, yet, we aren’t making any progress.  What kind of a leader can’t explain the mission status to his crew?

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1700 / X-CAMPBELL

Hyun and Jessica got into a fist fight today.  Jessica told us again that the simulations are coming up late.  We’re now rationing at our extreme.  As chief engineer, I’m having a harder time rationing the oxygen supply.  During our sleeping hours, the oxygen is so low we are just able to breathe.  The tensions are growing.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1843 / C-TILDE

I made the executive decision today to cancel the mission.  Five years gone to waste, but we need to turn back while we can.  The low oxygen at night is causing me to hallucinate.  Maybe I shouldn’t mention that.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 1988 / H-HUANG

We spent years making no progress getting to the Spot, now we’re not getting anywhere going back.  Shen-Li, Jiao, I love you.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2012 / J-RAMIREZ

Hyun needs to keep back.  I’m being very unsuccessful in getting any validation from our course based on the simulations, but I’m still dealing with Hyun’s outburst.  There’s something in his eyes; some crazy look in his eyes.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2054 / G-DOWD

Well, it happened, we had our first mental breakdown.  Hyun was never built for this mission, he’s a family man.  He ate about a three-weeks-worth of rations.  He’s been locked in the sick bay.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2063 / X-CAMPBELL

He’s gone.  Hyun Huang has disappeared.  I had him under observation for two nights, now he’s missing.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2073 / J-RAMIREZ

I heard him last night.  I haven’t slept in who knows how many days.  He’s out there.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2093 / C-TILDE

The ship is pandemonium.  How did this happen? God save us.

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2113 / J-RAMIREZ

I saw him.  Oh god…

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2114 / G-DOWD

It’s all gone.  Where? Where is our food?!

PYTHEAS LOG / DAY 2126 / H-HUANG

<Inaudible>  We have arrived.

End of all transmissions.

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J.P. Polewczak

Broadcasting in text from the exotic lands of New Jersey. The absolute worst when it comes to self-deprecating humor. Analyst by day and in bed by night.

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