On $q$-series for principal characters of standard $A_2^{(2)}$-modules

We present sum-sides for principal characters of all standard (i.e., integrable and highest-weight) irreducible modules for the affine Lie algebra $A_2^{(2)}$. We use modifications of five known Bailey pairs; three of these are sufficient to obtain all the necessary principal characters. We then use the technique of Bailey lattice appropriately extended to include out-of-bounds values of one of the parameters, namely, $i$. We demonstrate how the sum-sides break into six families depending on the level of the modules modulo 6, confirming a conjecture of McLaughlin--Sills.