“Outside temperature is seventy-nine degrees, which is within normal parameters for this time of year. Humidity is thirty-four percent; sun position matches up with the date and time the computers are displaying. Radiation is still present, currently sitting at about seventy-five roentgens. Not great, but just within our safety limits. Looking back over the past fifty years of data, there are no signs of significant climatic changes. Radiation levels apparently peaked around twenty-five hundred roentgens, which is fifty percent more than anticipated. That happened roughly six months after the comet passed, and they've been slowly, but steadily decreasing ever since,” Nick reported.

“Sixty percent of the external cameras are operational, but there's a large blind spot along the northern perimeter where five cameras are down. It looks like the external buildings are in fairly good shape; they need some work, but they're not too bad considering how much time has passed.” Abby added. “Also, Miss Anderson, all radio frequencies are a negative. We're continuing to scan the entire spectrum, but there's nothing out there. We aren't transmitting currently, just listening. Oh, and I've sent the wake-up code to the satellites repeatedly, and so far I'm not getting much. Number Four sent the expected response, but it was weak and since then we've had nothing else.”

“Okay, keep monitoring and working on those satellites. Start transmitting our pre-planned message first thing in the morning,” RJ instructed.

“One other thing; I was reviewing computer logs from during the sleep period. Things were very quiet for the first twenty-five years, which is to be expected, and then there was a sudden increase in activity. It seems Mr. Carter made heavy use of the computers for many years. I don't have all the details yet, but he used them to learn how to repair everything from the facilities computers, to the air conditioning system. It also seems as if he taught himself the basics of medicine and he studied six foreign languages. During the past six years or so his computer usage significantly declined, and he hasn't touched them at all in the last year.”

“Good, that helps. Please get me a complete breakdown of what he worked on during those years,” RJ instructed.

Brad entered the command center again, pulling up a chair and dropping into it. “All I did was take a leisurely walk around this place, and I feel like I ran ten miles. I hope this clears up soon.”

RJ smiled and wheeled her chair across to him. “Find anything interesting?”