Driftmark Blind Courier Beacon

Driftmark’s beacon is a palm-sized brass puck with one button, no display, and a lid glued over the antenna screws. Press it and the unit waits a random interval before sending a short encrypted location burst through passing ship traffic. It never acknowledges receipt. The courier walks away not knowing whether anyone heard, which is the whole point. Inside are surplus navigation parts, a hand-soldered timer, and enough resin to frustrate inspection. The burst can be found by a patient spectrum watch, but it does not linger like an ordinary tracker. Batteries last for twelve calls or three years on a shelf. Nobody knows which happens first because sellers refuse returns and couriers rarely get retirement parties.