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Phycodurus-8

Dear Analis,

I have finally reached a point in the lab assembly where I feel comfortable to sit for a few moments and write you a letter.  It has already been four days since I was transported to the Phycodurus-8 and I wanted to write to you while my first impressions are fresh in my mind. Although it has been a slow start to the lab work, I am now making better progress. I have found a sanctuary from the distracting and  sterile atmosphere of the lab in one of the stations three atriums for hydroponics and oxygen generation.  The soothing sounds of water dripping from the moisture generators in the glass paneled structure has a calming effect on me and also allows me to concentrate on my letter to you. The medical staff on the Derringer-8 fully cleared me two days after our arrival here, but I still have the slight tremor in my right hand.  It has diminished significantly in the last three days and I feel confident by the time the lab is operational I can resume my artistic endeavors.  I have said that the atrium is a refuge from the atmosphere of the lab, but I find it nearly impossible to leave it most days as the view of the anomaly is all encompassing.  From my very first site upon arriving it is everything I ever dreamed it would be.  The viewing area on the Derringer-8 was near empty  except for a few crew members and I was able to spent most of my two days of recuperation there.  My hand has been itching to begin the first sketch since that moment and I have been drawing in my imagination almost constantly. Unfortunately as soon as I pick up the charcoal the tremor brings me back to reality. I will have to be patient a little bit longer.  For the first time in my long association with the array I am doubting my ability to capture the true essence of the phenomenon.  It is impossible to put into words the beauty of seeing it´s form suspended in the blackness of space.  LIke a feathered aberration in the deep oceans, spreading its leafy appendices over an unimaginable area of the universe. .  The color variations are indescribable and I will have to use all my ability to mix the color pigments to capture them.  All the images we have captured from Earth do not even come close to the actual view from here. The outlook  from the lab is by far the purest.  The large viewing window uses the true spectrum material we requested and it make all the difference in keeping any type of shape or color distortion to a minimum.  I have also used the main viewing area of the station and as they use the same normal vacuum glass as the Derringer-8 it definitely alters the coloring of the anomaly and also blocks out many of it’s features. I wish it was possible to get a view without any type of interference.  I will have to think on that possibility.

I am currently about fifty percent completed with the instrument set up in the lab.  I am trying to get the essential equipment set up and recording as fast as possible.  Then I can set up the peripheral equipment next as they are not needed to start collecting data from the anomaly. As I predicted the growth of the anomaly near the Flynn foundation is not evident at this time.  The Flynn satellite was just completed six months ago and their research only began within the last few weeks.  It feels strange to be experiencing things now that I know have already happened.  I am tempted to contact them and share what we know from our observation from Earth over the last two years, but as you have let me know they are not willing to discuss their research with us. I know from a news release I read before the journey that they have over three hundred children housed on the artificial satellite.  Most have a degenerating disease or a birth defect that affects their quality of life.  I may try to contact the director of the facility once I am established on New London.  They have a small corporate complex that is near where my studio is planned.  Hopefully I can convince them in person that sharing information can be a benefit to both sides. If it would help with the research to prolong or improve on the life of a child, I am willing to grovel.  

Sadly my friend NIcolas was still under sedation when I left the Derringer-8 and I was unable to see him.  Hopefully when I return to the ship for transfer to New London he will be up and about.   I see from your ship’s itinerary that you should now be beginning your second year of stasis. Right on schedule.  That is encouraging. I enjoyed reading through all the letters you sent during my stasis.  I am still sifting through the data you included but I have started using some of it to set up the correct settings for the monitors installed outside the outer ring of the station. The remote unit is working as expected and I am able to make very delicate adjustments to the positioning arm.

I am a bit disappointed that the committee has not given a designation to the anomaly yet.  If they do not do it soon I will make one for myself as I tire of calling it the anomaly/phenomenon/array. I also want to thank you for the great picture of your new appendage.  Now if you could stop biting your nails long enough to get a nice manicure that would be ideal.

I will continue to write so you will have a running diary of the next year of  activities to read when you are retrieved from stasis.  I considered starting a personal diary to record my activities but it seemed more intimate to continue to write you letters.  I have started a lab notebook with all relevant findings and I will leave this in the lab when I leave and start a new one for the studio on New London.  I hope the lab will be as you expect when you arrive.  

Love always

Victoria