Voice log number 35.

Status update: I've finally built the Neptune rocket. Days of searching every part of this ocean, and now I'm sat in the cockpit. It's a weird feeling, to know that I'll finally be heading home. I've got enough nutrient blocks, cured fish and purified water to last me at least a year. The navigation system's locked onto the nearest Alterra station. The protective energy field is stable, should protect me from any space debris.

I entered the Precursor quarantine enforcement platform the other day. Finally tried messing with that pedestal in the heart of the building. When I pressed this button, an energy field got enabled and locked my arm into place. Then this metal tendril slithered out and extended a spike from the tip. Thing jabbed me in the arm before retracting, probably testing to see if I was clean of the Kharaa. The building hummed for a second before finally shutting down. Gotta admit, that is definitely up there as one of the most satisfying moments in this little adventure for me.

I've spent the last two days just scanning and observing every species of animal in these waters while the drones constructed the rocket. I have to admit, I never really stopped to appreciate this place. I mean, I've never heard of any aquatic lifeforms that can literally hypnotize its prey by reflecting light to interfere with the optic nerve and cause hallucinations, or of an animal that spits molten rock, or a giant, telepathic kraken. Strange as it is to say, I'm actually going to miss this place.

I've gone down to visit Empress a few times over the past few days. Her condition has only worsened. Her breathing's gotten more laboured and she can barely move now. I went down earlier today to say a final goodbye and let her know how the hatchlings are doing. If she heard me, she didn't give any indication.

Sea Emperor hatchling update: The Emperors mature extremely fast. When they hatched, they were about as big as me, now a few days have passed and they already dwarf me. Nowhere near the size of their mother, but still well on their way to Leviathan class. They don't seem to have any natural predators as nothing appears to want to harm them, even in the early stages of their lives. I suspect they may be using their telepathy to keep predators at bay. They also regurgitate that Kharaa killing enzyme fairly frequently.

Health update: All symptoms of the Kharaa infection have disappeared. The Local fauna has also shown reduced signs of being infected since the Sea Emperors were released. I've seen many of the smaller fish species come over and feed from the enzyme. Presumably, the cure will spread by having these immunized fish get eaten by predators, thus getting the enzyme to the whole population of the planet.

Levi update: The little guy seemed sad when I swam over to tell him I was going to go. Honestly, his little face just killed me. I spent the better part of a day working on a tank that could support Levi for the whole journey while being small enough to fit into the Neptune's current shape, not to mention not adding enough weight to cause an issue in the flight and ensuring its placement wouldn't make the water's insulation heighten the risk of overheating. I think I figured it out though and now he's happily swimming about the ship, getting a feel for the temporary home.

Personal notes: I honestly struggle to believe all this. Not just finally getting ready to launch, the whole time on this planet has been unreal. I mean, even Craig McGill can't say that he'd befriended a semi-sentient alien lifeform, fought off Leviathan class predators with a Prawn suit's drill, met a telepathic, ancient, fully sentient Leviathan and cured a planet wide plague, all while building bases from scrap and escaping in a homemade rocket. Maybe I'll write a book on the whole experience. We'll see when I get back, I guess. If I do, you can be damned sure I'm putting everyone that was on the Aurora in. I'm not letting this, admittedly pretty awesome, experience of mine get them forgotten.

I decided to leave a little time capsule behind when I launch. I've got it set near my seat so I can be sure it goes down right. I made my way into the Aurora wreckage one last time and downloaded an image. I remember a few days before the crash, the Captain had us all, literally everyone on the ship, gather in the canteen and get a photo taken to commemorate his final flight as captain. Figured that picture would be a nice thing to leave behind, in addition to a few little nick nacks I picked up from everyone's rooms as I was looking for supplies.

I feel like there's going to be a weird adjustment period when I get back. I won't have to make sure I have my oxygen mas and tank every time I plan to go for a walk, I won't have to worry about the next Leviathan predator coming for me, I won't have to go from walking to swimming every time I leave my house. It's going to be a while before I shake some of these habits, I think.

I know that, when I get back, Alterra's going to move in and start stripping this planet down for resources, but hopefully they'll keep up their streak of being careful with how they go about it, and to study as much as they harvest. I'd hate to have saved this world only to then doom it when Alterra rolls up.

No use in stalling any further. Levi's hunkered down at the base of his tank, and all I have to do to initiate launch is push one more button. For the last time, voice log 35, ended. Time to go home.