On the Rim, Ch 1: Sandra Simpson
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
Welcome to "On the Rim", a short story series based on a game I am playing called "Rim World". Rim World is a really cool indie game that accommodates an amazing array of mods that allow me to create a setting very similar to my story world in which several of my stories take place including "Fathom's Phantoms", "The Farlight Initiative", an "Paid in Kind".
This is Chapter 1, and reads as a report recorded by Sandra Simpson, the manager of a group that survived the destruction of a star ship in which they were traveling for the purpose of exploring and surveying a rim world (a solar system far beyond the main core systems within the galaxy). The story will continue from a different perspective, likely presented in a different format. So... whose perspective will we see for day 2?
a) Christopher Zimmerman's, with a focus on interpersonal communication involved with encountering hostility.
b) Captain Archie's, with a focus on the combat and resulting effects it has on the group.
c) Corporal Grizz's, with a focus on the combat, and the interpersonal disagreements that follow on how to handle prisoners.
d) Cole Nine's, with a focus on the next day's work load, and the disruption created by the sudden inclusion of a hostile element.
e) Carol Drann's, with a focus on the area around base camp and the discovery that the group isn't alone.
Voting won't be available long and no, the decision won't change the events of the story, just how they're presented along with who we get to learn more about via their point of view.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy "On the Rim"!
On the Rim, Ch 1: Sandra Simpson
2019 copyright comidacomida
Log Report, Sandra Simpson
Post Planet Fall, Day 1
The RCS Venture failed just inside the gravitational pull of Planet A and the escape shuttle had enough thrust to sling shot out of orbit and toward Planet B, but that was more of an unknown. Although I wasn't privy to the initial scans of the sector, I know that the data division was talking about finding signs of prior habitation on this planet. I am maintaining this log in the hopes that it will provide much needed firsthand observations about this location when we return to civilization.
As the senior representative of Relegra I have followed corporate protocols and set up a chain of command and management for the employees who have crash landed with me. Included in this report are Doctor Christopher Zimmerman of Medical Bay 4, Captain Archibald Tervuren of ship security, Corporal Holfield Marsfab, likewise of ship security, and Coal Nine, one of the shuttle teamsters from dock two. Also included in this report was a private passenger from deck two, Carol Drann, a Gen 2 Lynx who had booked passage from Rho.
I assigned two main tasks for the group within the first hour of landing. Our primary priority was to secure the area, which I delegated to the Captain; he took the Corporal and accepted the assistance of Ms. Drann in checking for any threats. That left Dr. Zimmerman and Coal to assist me with taking stock of our provisions. Although the shuttle only had emergency supplies, when we launched a small explosion in the shuttle bay release a large amount of cargo into the atmosphere and a portion of the supplies were in reentry crates, allowing them to survive to the ground.
Our first stock included the items we'd brought with us individually, which included some weaponry thanks to the foresight of Captain Archibald. Each of the security officers had a rifle, and they also brought several pistols, a larger two handed gun, and a pair of knives. Before they left, the Captain made certain that we were all armed; I had failed firearm certification so when he insisted I selected one of the knives. Dr. Zimmerman put up more of a fuss, stating that he was a healer and did not believe in causing harm. Still, Captain Archibald did not relent and gave him a knife as well.
Coal accepted a pistol and, despite my concerns about providing a civilian with a gun, Ms. Drann took what the Captain had called an smg. That left two more pistols to be maintained as extra equipment. After our three scouts left I made certain that the remaining guns were kept in one of the intact cargo containers we'd found. As our exploration continued we were able to add more food to our meager survival rations; I estimate about ten days total.
We also found a modest store of medical supplies, which doubled what had been available on the escape shuttle. Due to the low powered thrusters, the shuttle wouldn't help us any further, so I made one our immediate goals the disassembly of the hull for building material; there were several 3-D printers and manual building tools on board that meant we would be able to accomplish more with the raw material than the spent shuttle could do. Part of my decision to go that route was because we found other options for shelter.
Nearby our landing site was a broken down concrete structure. After we took stock of supplies I made it a priority to quickly investigate; Dr. Zimmerman joined me and together we did a quick inspection. It was a single room building, almost resembling a small warehouse and, although it wasn't exactly in pristine condition, it would work as a secure, dry, and sheltered location to store our supplies. When we returned to Coal I provided direction an the three of us began to transfer everything into the covered area. Once the heaviest of the items were moved, Coal began to collect some nearby fallen trees and used a hand-held planing device to fabricate wooden boards; I was surprised at how quickly he put together a serviceable door.
Once we had a basic shelter taken care of I knew we'd be able to make a more complete plan. There were some mineral-bearing hills a short walk to our East; we'd crash landed in something of a closed-ended valley; the scouting team left to the west and the hills to the East created a natural barrier. While Dr. Zimmerman completed the inventory work and Coal began working on reclaiming the shuttle components I checked out the hillside.
Although I do not have a background in geology the initial scans from my PCD revealed that there was a variety of metal deposits near the surface. In addition, the rock readings indicated a very stable formation. I did a basic survey and began planning out the plan completing base camp: we had shelter for our supplies and the obvious next step was shelter for us. By the time I'd completed a base mapping of the mountainside I was joined by Dr. Zimmerman. He expressed the importance of a positive mental attitude for the group and began installing a simple sand pit with a wooden stake in the center to be used as a game.
By the time afternoon arrived Coal had removed metal plating, circuitry, and several components that could be repurposed from the shuttle, along with the survival kit that included some useful survival tools, including a pneumatic pick. Under my direction, he began digging a small hole in the mountainside. He was still working on that, joined by Dr. Zimmerman when our scouts returned. The Captain and Corporal had secured the perimeter and verified we had no pressing threats while Ms. Drann took stock of local flora and fauna; she returned with a full pack of cotton, some healing herbs, and the knowledge of several usable trees for fabrication.
I sent the security team back out with her to collect timber while Coal and Dr. Zimmerman cut into the hill, hollowing out a serviceable cavernous opening to provide sufficient shelter for the group. By the time the sun was setting the foraging group returned with enough supplies to construct some basic furniture: beds for the six of us. We all contributed with the construction but it became difficult as the light faded; fortunately both the Captain and Ms. Drann have excellent night vision and they were able to finish everything up.
Dinner consisted of packaged survival meals, heated up thankfully to Ms. Drann, who had been able to start a fire using kindling and an interesting trick involving some steel wool, some cotton, and her PCD's power cell. As we gathered around the fire just outside our new man-made cave, we had our first hostile encounter: one of the planet's dog-sized, rodent-like creatures rushed out of the darkness right toward Dr. Zimmerman; if not for Ms. Drann's thinking it may have mauled him but, with a quick roar from her weapon, the thing fell in a rain of bullets.
With a simple "waste not, want not", she set about skinning it, and supplemented her own survival meal with some fresh meat. Both the Captain and the Corporal joined her for the extra food but none of the rest of us partook. While I admit to occasionally enjoying meat-based foods, the idea of eating a wild animal doesn't greatly appeal to me, especially not when we have other options available to us, and doubly-so when the meat comes from a rat.
As we got prepared for bed, something Dr. Zimmerman had told me earlier sank in; a good portion of survival was maintaining a positive mental attitude. Although I wouldn't normally consider joke-telling and simple songs without musical accompaniment a traditional 'party', I took the Doctor's advice to heart and focused on providing a positive atmosphere for my team. I know our resources are limited and there is no telling how long until we are able to leave Planet A, but I will do my best to make sure we all make it home safely.
Before going to bed, Coal fabricated a door for the front of our cave and I am thankful that we have something between us and the wilderness beyond. I am concluding my long here; there is still a lot of planning to consider before tomorrow and, at some point, I am going to have to find the ability to sleep. I can't ever remember it being so dark or so quiet; I cannot begin to imagine what will happen when I turn off my PCD, and perhaps that is why I am delaying it so long.
Still, keeping a clean vision and clear head is important, and sleep is a component of that. Everyone else already sounds like they've managed to and even Captain Archibald seems to have found some kind of balance in what he referred to as the 'zen of watch-keeping'; even if there's only two of them, I'm glad that there's a security team here. Now to figure out if I can find a way to get to sleep when there are five others sharing a room with me. Sandra Simpson, signing off.