“This system’s not on any starmap,” the pilot of the Dauntless says as he pulls his damaged starfreighter out of hyperspace. “We’re on the fringe now.”
The co-pilot stares at the sea of stars through the cockpit windows. “Why stop here?”
“No choice.” Punching a series of commands on the control panel, the pilot nods grimly. “Yup. The life support system needs some serious care. The emergency power generator is demolished, and that blast to the rear shields toasted the power converter and subspace-hyperdrive. We’re lucky we made it as far as we did.”
“Damn.”
The pilot turns to face his landing crew crowding the cockpit door. “Ladies and gentlemen. We need to put the Dauntless down. Gently, of course—but now.”
The landing crew eyes the pilot warily. A voice pipes up. “Where, exactly?”
“Right…there,” the pilot replies, pointing at a blue sphere embedded among the glittering stars. Three moons of various hues drift in its orbit like gems.
“DRX-31880,” the pilot says. “Otherwise known as Fontus. It’s a water planet…well, water and ice. But it’s atmosphere is favorable. Oxygen, nitrogen, 1.05 gravitational ratio. The works. Besides, if our pals are still on our tail, they’ll search those moons first, which will buy us time.”
He smiles grimly at his audience. “So–any objections?”
The crew stares at the distant planet silently.
“That’s what I thought. The nameless water planet it is, then. Strap in! It’s about to get bumpy.”
The copilot turns to the pilot. “Ah…a question about landing on a water planet–”
“Yes, the Dauntless can float. Assuming it doesn’t break into pieces first. Here we go!”
Welcome to a remote star system!
You–a member of the crew of the Dauntless–survive a harrowing plunge from the stars, and find yourself pitching about in the turbulent waves of a dark sea on a remote planet.
The Dauntless is in dire need of repairs. At the very least, the power converter and subspace-hyperdrive need minor repairs. But minor repairs on a water planet, which does not seem to have any repair waystations (at least at first glance), may be a major endeavor. Also, it would be prudent to reestablish the emergency power generator and shore up the life support system. In all of these repair cases, parts are needed.
And danger in another form lurks just out of sight–the pursuers of the Dauntless, who will stop at nothing to retrieve the stolen hyperon-crystal stolen from them.
Not a great day for the crew of the Dauntless.
Who will your crew member be? What can she or he do to help get the Dauntless back in operation before the sea tears it apart, the pursuers find it and blow it to smithereens, or some other dark fate befalls it?
Hosted and narrated by:
Mysteries Abound (Kayne)
Completed 05/24/17.
Scenes played: 6
License: Community License
