1 Kanalau 2022/05/19(Thu)20:06 No. 1032916 ID: eca1bd
File 165301597663.png - (150.06KB , 700x700 , land.png )

Three orbits later, I began the descent to the Marius Hills with Shen.

Recollection is hazy.

Everything was so much faster than expected.

The lights flaring up.

The muffled noise of a series of impacts along the LEM's hull.

A burst of rifle shots tearing through the wall.

Darkness.




Another light through the window brings me back to my senses. To my relief, this one is only the sun, which had just crested the lip of the... The crater? No.
Sea Hawk had landed in the lava tube opening.

The lights in the LEM are out, only the master alarm button blinking, though with no sound by which to hear the klaxon.

Shen is still sat next to me, something vaporizing in the vacuum beside him. Something red. I sit back in my seat in the silence.

>>1032916
I suggest acquiring tape. preferably fast.

Damage report!

Remind Shen not to sip juiceboxes in the lander module.

>>1032915
Huh, text in the image. Not sure if it's important or not, can't read half of it.

>>1032916
Is Shen alive?

Erhannis 2022/05/21(Sat)00:22 No. 1033061 ID: 7a2420
File 165311774363.png - (5.83MB , 2000x2000 , 165301590447_enhanced.png )

>>1032929
The text looks like a description in a report, maybe the previous report of the phenomenon they're investigating now. Slightly enhanced image attached.

2 Kanalau 2022/05/29(Sun)23:50 No. 1033997 ID: 7ef185
File 165389340133.png - (168.08KB , 700x700 , he.png )

>>1032929
> Is Shen alive?

Shen is slumped with his back against the main panel.

The realization that the vaporizing fluid is blood snaps me back to my senses in no time; I put pressure to the wound and flip the sun visor of his helmet up, as the inertia had knocked it down.

His face is pressed to the polycarbonate, some fogging under his nostrils signifying that he is in fact alive.

But unresponsive.

Taking another glance out of the window, the gravity of the situation begins to dawn on me.

Earth is there in the sky, seemingly so close, though unreachable.



A moving shadow on the crater rim pulls my eyes from the beauty of home.

A human sized shadow.

3 Kanalau 2022/05/29(Sun)23:52 No. 1033998 ID: 7ef185
File 165389353881.png - (115.32KB , 700x700 , gun.png )

>>1032925
>Damage report!

The back half of the LEM interior is partially warped inwards; the hatch itself will take some forcing open.

As for the matters at hand, I have two choices for armament. Both is possible, though, probably not worth it.

The LEM is stocked with an AA12 and an M17, each with four magazines.

I don't really know the difference between these two weapons. Take the top one.
How likely is it that the shadow is friendly?

>>1033998
Grab the m17 and shen amd leave as fast as you can, how much air do you have?

>>1033998
aa12 is an automatic shotgun that has some pretty spectacular reliability on top of being a pretty versatile weapon. my vote goes there.

>how much air do you have?

Five hours. Technically five and a half counting the emergency reserve. Shen's is even lower, at three. I find the suit patch in his shoulder pocket, peeling the backing off with a struggle in my gloves, and sticking it over the puncture, sealing the air and vaporizing blood. I can feel a lump beneath my hands, likely blood expansion from vacuum exposure.

Despite the seal, I can do little to stop the bleeding itself. Not without a pressurized environment, and even then, the internal damage is untold. I'm not sure what to do.

I can feel my heart beginning to pound with the building stress.

>How likely is it that the shadow is friendly?

Difficult to identify from the distance to the crater rim. Unlikely American.
More likely Chinese or British.

And I'm in deep shit if it's the later.

Just in case, I pull the M17 rifle off of its rack and load one in the chamber.

Finding a way out may be in order. But how?

What is the layout of the craft, how many people came down with you, and where are the emergency medical supplies?

>>1034455
Where is the nearest guaranteed source of air, preferable a pressurized environment?

Sit there silently and do not move. Keep the rifle hidden and be ready to broadcast on all frequencies should they see you. Ask for peace. If they're friendly, good. If not, you would've been dead anyways.

>>1034455
Try to identify the silhouette, let it approach closer, look for any insignia or flags, see if he's armed. Keep it low profile. Do surrender if the odds turn against you, at least maybe that will save your life.

5 Kanalau 2022/06/26(Sun)17:42 No. 1036047 ID: 01364c
File 165629056540.png - (83.81KB , 1000x1000 , h.png )

>1034456

The LEM is just this one room, the flight controls, windows, and the hatch and cabinets behind me.

>1034457

Well it would be the LEM, had it not been shot and crashed into the Lunar surface. Other than that, the nearest is hostile, being the British establishment.
One of China's bases is only a few miles further. I may have a chance if I could radio to them, but I would need something to boost it. Suit radio can't do it, and the LEM is in no fit state.

>1034528

They may think I'm dead already.

>1034529

It might save me. Or they may kill me.
Who knows what may be happening back on Earth.
If Mission Control knows that we were shot down, there's about to be one hell of a diplomatic incident.

I keep my M17 clutched tight, watching through the LEM's little triangular window.

More silhouettes appear on the crater rim. Four total.
Lining up my rifle's scope with the window, I use the magnification for a better view.
Two of them are setting up a rappelling line, the others standing by their sides with weapons in hand.

I can just barely make out the insignia on one of their shoulders.

A blue and red roundel with a white lightning bolt.

British. BFU. Hostile.

The blood in my veins feels cold. I hope to God that Finn can find us on the CSM's scopes and radio for help. But for now, I'm on my own. Rappelling the crater rim will take them a while, and if I have any time to act, it would be now.

>>1036047
Not being in the lander might be a good plan. Also whats the likely hood of being able to steal their air?.

Are there any caves in the crater? Any escape routes that take you father away from them? Or is there any equipment that may trigger some silent alarm, like a transponder or other wireless device within what's left of the LEM?

>>1036221

>Are there any caves in the crater? Any escape routes that take you father away from them? Or is there any equipment that may trigger some silent alarm, like a transponder or other wireless device within what's left of the LEM?

Looking around a little more with the rifle scope, I can just vaguely see that... Where the walls of the crater would meet its floor, it seems to slope down and away into darkness, rather than up towards the sky.

In fact, it seems that most of the crater edge is like this.

Sloping down.

Into a yawning abyss.

The LEM's small windows limit my field of view, but looking at the curve of the crater, I seem to have landed fairly close to the edge. From the hatch, it looks to be about 100 meters.

If I make a break for it as soon as possible, I may be able to make it and drag Shen with me, though it will make it difficult to return fire if I need to, and I'll be a lot slower. No good if I get both of us killed.

>>1036306
Id say take the dive, Its a better option then nothing.

Go for it. Tape shen up and try to drag him into a hiding spot, but don't try to take him all the way if you can't.