-Survivor’s Log Day Three

--1st Lt. Russell Winters

“Yes Io, I’m calling it a survivor’s log now because that’s what it is; that and I have a flair for the dramatic. Jess said it was one of my redeeming qualities. Yes, you are allowed to disagree with the Captain. No I’m not changing it. Anyway, this is First Lieutenant Russell Winters of the Human Expeditionary League, formerly assigned to the Dakota class scout ship Lancer. I’m making this log for two reasons. First, should I not survive my time on this planet; hopefully this data will outlive me and get into the right hands. Slim hope, but it has to be done. Second, if I do survive and make it off this planet there’s a ton of information I want to bring with me. First contact protocol would forbid humanity from studying this planet and its ecosystems directly. Given as I’ve inadvertently broken that, I figure this opportunity shouldn’t be wasted. To that end I will upload a portion of my armor’s telemetry data with each entry. Maybe the eggheads in Beta division will get some use out of it. Now to business. This introduction has gone on long enough.

The circumstances of my arrival on this planet are…trying. I’ve included a full log of the events leading to the destruction of the Lancer and my pod’s arrival. I do not wish to address it again. Those wounds are still too fresh. Our reason for traveling to this system was simple; all analysis indicated a higher probability of it supporting life, or being capable of doing so. The science crew really hit the nail on the head. This planet is literally teeming with life, from micro-organisms all the way up. I landed in the middle of fertile grassland; think American Midwest circa 1600. There’s a river and forest nearby, much more of a New England feel. I’ll leave more detailed data attached to this log. The real reason I’m making this entry is the same reason I’m still referring to this rock as “the planet”. I don’t know its name yet. Why not? Because someone’s already named it in all likelihood. The planet is home to an intelligent, pre-industrial species of life known as the Cauthan. I have made contact with one individual so far, but have been able to keep my presence secret from the others. There’s a small settlement nearby, well within walking distance. That I remain undiscovered means my new friend can keep a secret. Her, at least I believe she’s female, name is Veera. She has a small farm set away from the rest of her village. Something’s definitely up, as I was able to do a survey of the area yesterday. There’s plenty of arable land directly bordering the village. I do not know yet what circumstances led to this arrangement. This is all I can share on the Cauthan for now. Further breach of first contact protocol is inevitable but there are more immediate matters to address.

I have a five day supply of food remaining, at which point I will need to do one of two things: find food the old fashioned way, or use the nano-fabricator on my pod to synthesize edibles from local biomass. The goal today is to hopefully begin to find ways to accomplish the former. Nano-fabricators are new technology with an unknown shelf life. I’ve begun the process of creating and entire set of replacement parts. When that’s finished I will need to scavenge heavy metals to repair my communications suite. Before that though, I need to repair damage done to the pod’s solar array. This must take precedent. Based on what I’m seeing here in the pod, looks like it’s raining outside. Given how similar this planet is in many ways to earth, I’m hoping the rain will draw out some fish or space fish equivalent in the nearby river. I’ve been ingesting small quantities of this local water. No problems so far. Wish me luck. Winters out.”

Winters closed the recording and replaced the datapad. A moment later, he exited his pod into a dreary morning rain. “Guess we won’t be seeing Veera today.” Winters mused as he checked the status of his makeshift lean-to. Everything was still in place from the night before and the tarp was doing its job. After adjusting the flaps a bit to provide greater protection from the wind, Winters quickly prepared himself for the day. A few minutes later he’d arrived at the river where he refilled his canteen. Satisfied, he opened a ration bar and began walking upstream, away from his pod, Veera’s farm, and the village.

Though not severe, it was pretty clear by noon that the rain had no intentions of letting up. Grabbing another quick meal under the shelter of a tree, Winters took a moment to reflect and catalog what he’d seen. As he’d gone further upriver, the forest had encroached and crossed over to his side. Back near his pod the river was about fifty feet across. As he’d walked, it had narrowed somewhat and the flow became faster. There had been a couple places that might have served as fishing holes but they weren’t ideal. For now the river was too straight and free of obstructions for potential fish or food to hide in. Setting a timer on his HUD for another hour Winters continued on his way, hoping that his search wouldn’t prove fruitless.

With about fifteen minutes left, Winters let out a joyful whoop. “Now that is what I’m talking about Io!” They’d come upon a bend in the river that scooped out a large area on his side, almost doubling the width. The other bank was made of a small rocky cliff that had been increasing in height as he walked along. There were boulders and large rocks disrupting the water’s flow. He noted subtle changes under the water. It was murkier and the rocks sported some green films facing the direction of the sun. Winters hoped that when it wasn’t raining that this planet’s equivalent of insects would congregate here. All in all, it looked to be a promising location. Wish I could be sure. He thought. It’s still a long way to get here if there’s nothing.

“Hey Io, any chance we can figure out what’s under the water? Any way we can scan for wildlife?”

‘A moment sir…’ Io replied shortly. ‘I believe there’s a chance given that your sealed armor is waterproof. I would suggest crude sonar.’

“So I wade out there and bang some rocks together?”

‘That would work sir.’

“How will you analyze the return waves?”

‘I will attempt to use some of the B-MASS sensors to interpret any sound waves that return to us. It may not work. Please proceed.’

“Guess I don’t really have much choice.” Winters grumbled, grabbing a couple suitable rocks and wading knee deep into the river. He felt the satisfying give of mud under his boots, another indication this might be a suitable area compared to the rocky riverbed back by his pod. Making sure his forearms were fully submerged, Winters struck the rocks together three times in rapid succession, waiting for a response from Io.

‘Sir, it is hard to be sure, but between the first and third pulses a number of signatures moved location. The rocks before us were easy enough to locate.’

“Well, that means there’s hope!” Winters stated triumphantly. “Io, please add a fishing hook and line to the list of things we need to make.”

‘Certainly sir. What do you intend to use as bait?’

“This shitty ration bar?” Winters joked, returning to dry land and taking a quick drink. “I don’t know to be honest. Worst comes to worst we could always slap some dato on the end of a line and see how that does. Maybe go digging for worms?”

‘Oh how the mighty have fallen.’ Io quipped. ‘Though I must say I’m glad you took your survival training seriously.’

“You weren’t there for that.”

‘I know, but you don’t seem to be panicking in spite of everything. You only have four and a half days of food.’

“Oh believe me Io, I want to panic. Let’s get back though. We’ve been gone a while and we surely have another part to swap out.” He’d just turned back when another priority came crashing to the fore. “Silicon.”

‘What was that sir?’

“Io, we’re standing on sand!” Winters knelt, opening the analysis port of his B-MASS and dumping a pinch of inside. “What have you got Io?”

‘Analyzing. Sir there is silicon present as silicon dioxide. This will have to be run though the raw material processor before being useable for repairing electronics. We should already have enough raw silicon for the solar panels.’

“How much power is that going to take?”

‘We will have enough, sir.’

“Do I want to know?”

‘Not really sir but if we do not, our rate of power draw will eventually exceed what a damaged array can provide, especially on a day like today.’

“That settles it then. Not like there was anything more important to do after the current job.”

‘Indeed. I know your armor can be a burden, but I believe day trips without a pack would be unwise in the future. We may wish to collect resources. Perhaps if you left your rifle back at the pod?’

“I hate tradeoffs.” Winters muttered as he turned and headed back the way he came. “Never know when I might have to terminate something with extreme prejudice.”

‘Barbarian.’

“I take that as a compliment this time.” Winters shot back. The two conversed for an hour or so longer until Winters came to a stop at a narrow part of the river. The current was swift but maybe only twenty feet across. “Shall we take a look at the other side?” He asked.

‘It couldn’t hurt to understand more of our surroundings. Unless you cannot ford the river.’

“I should be ok. Worst comes to worst we sink and I walk out.” Winters reassured Io, taking a step in. It was a bit odd knowing he should feel cold, but the thermal insulation in his suit was more than up to the task. The water was powerful against his form, but he remained upright. About half way through he thought he might have to activate his helmet seals, but then they were climbing out again and before long they emerged on the other side, dripping wet but otherwise fine. “See? That wasn’t so bad. Now then, I guess we’ll just keep going until we hit the bridge. You going to continue cataloging data Io?”

‘Yes sir, there’s much about this ecosystem that is not pertinent to us and our quest to survive, but that might be of interest to humanity upon our return…or the discovery of my data banks.’

“We’re going to make it off this planet.”

‘I hope so.’

“In any case, that sounds like a good plan. No need to notify me unless you note a species that might be of use to us. Edible fungi, animals I could hunt, that sort of thing.”

‘Yes sir.’

For a time after they continued on in silence, neither feeling the need to speak. Winters even removed his helmet once the rain began to let up, feeling the comforting sensations of cool humid air and raindrops in his hair. About an hour away from the pod Winters stopped, replacing his helmet quickly and drawing his pistol. “Io, are you seeing this?”

‘Yes sir. That is…’

“I think I have a slightly better idea of what Veera was afraid of.” Winters said softly, gazing up at the tree in front of him. About three feet above his head were a series of deep gashes in the bark. In the rain they’d begun to weep a dark green sap. “It’s like the tree is bleeding. That must have been one big…something.”

‘Let’s hope it hasn’t evolved a resistance to bullets sir.’

“That’s putting it mildly. Io, prioritize scanning for further evidence of whatever this is. If you know the enemy; right?”

‘And know yourself.’

“You need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Glad you read Sun Tzu too.”

‘My databases are extensive sir, as well as the stock of human media and material I have been provided in order to grow and adapt.’

“Oh? You have music in there?”

‘Yes sir.’

“You were going to tell me this when?” Winters couldn’t help feeling a bit peeved. He missed the old vinyl player his father had gifted to him back when he’d graduated from basic.

‘Those databases are typically not for active reference by a user sir.’

“Can you override that somehow? Some music would definitely be nice. Wait a minute. Io, you said all that data was meant to allow you to adapt to various conditions you might find yourself in. Didn’t we already establish that your adaptation is an anomaly?” Winters asked, hoping to know more about VI technology. He was a user of the tech, not a creator. He’d never enjoyed the ‘black box’ feeling.

‘Sir, it is true that my adaptation has proceeded along abnormal routes and at a rapid pace. However, VI must adapt or they are merely calculators with text to speech enabled. My programming originally included a negative feedback loop designed to discourage rampant adaptation. It prevents continuous overwriting of my subroutines, not completely, but enough to slow it down. This allows a VI to become more useful to its partner without developing quirks, as you’ve called them.’

“And what happened to that code with you.”

‘You overwrote it.’

“Wow.” Winters sighed in disbelief, now seeing the bridge that would take him back to Veera’s farm and his pod. “You’re telling me that that subroutine wasn’t locked?”

‘The only code I have that can never be changed relates to my primary directive: not doing harm to my user. To prevent any and all overrides is very complex. There was heightened security around the code in question but the program you used to install the unauthorized behavior module was quite well designed.’

“Shifty always was a mad genius. Gods I miss that man. Well here we are again, home sweet home. Let’s get to work.”

For the remainder of the day, Winters worked with the nano-fabricator as it essentially duplicated itself. It was tedious and boring, but necessary. As evening wore on, Winters paused the process to craft a few basic sundries for himself. The power and resource draws were negligible, further justifying the decision in his mind. At a minimum it would restore some sense of normality to his routine. Satisfied with a toothbrush, soap, and a razor, Winters resumed construction of replacement parts and headed to the river to engage in some basic hygiene after far too long. The water on his face and hands was bracingly cold in the growing dark, but he didn’t mind. He’d dropped on planets where the cold would have killed him in seconds. He was thankful to be able to remove his armor at all. Remembering the mauled tree though, he kept the rest of his armor on. Returning to the pod, Winters decided he’d try again to get Io to open up her latent databanks. Books and music would go a long way.

With his sundries stowed in his survival bag, Winters grabbed his helmet and climbed atop the pod. After sitting comfortably and looking up to the stars, he engaged Io in conversation. “So Io, tell me more about this media you have laying around in your databanks?”

‘Nothing about this information is classified sir, what would you like to know?’

“Well for starters, how useful have you found it?”

‘Some of the literature is enlightening; Robinson Crusoe for instance.’

Winters chuckled. “Of course it is. Care to elaborate?”

‘It is a tale of survival against desperate odds sir, and a classic.’

“It’s also fiction.”

‘Even fiction can be useful when attempting to simulate the biological imperative of survival. The exaggerations can even augment the process.’

“Hrrrm, I suppose you may have a point. I’m sure the story of the battle of Thermopylae is quite a bit grander than the actual act. And the music, has that helped?”

‘No.’

Winters’ laugh was full throated this time. “I can understand that I suppose. Why even have it then?”

‘Sir, I believe the reasoning was that with advances in data storage, it was better to have it and not need it than vice versa. Not all VI’s are purposed for combat and exploration, so I cannot speak for other uses of humanity’s musical heritage. Normally this would be the first data erased in a situation like the one we find ourselves it, but because of the extra computing power and storage you have equipped, I have not needed to do so. I assume you would like to access these files?’

“You assume correctly…woah. How did I not notice that before?” The second of two moons had just crested the western horizon, joining its twin in transit across the now partly cloudy sky. Winters had paid little heed to what he’d thought was the only moon of the planet. But seeing both together was a much more impressive sight. The first was larger and had a grayish coloration, like Earth’s, though with significantly fewer craters from what he could tell. The second was smaller by about a third and had a strange bluish tint to it. For a time, Winters simply watched. “Jess would have loved to see this.” He finally spoke. Io did not reply, but that suited him fine. “Io, can you play Stand by Me by Ben King?” Again, no response but the opening notes began to play all the same. He knew this was a bad idea, knew that dwelling would only prolong his suffering, to say nothing of augmenting that emotional reaction with music. But he wasn’t that strong. The logic of that statement meant very little compared to the sorrow he felt at her loss. “I miss her.” He whispered, allowing himself to cry for the first time since landing. Io remained silent, for which he was grateful. After the final lines played, Winters returned to the inside of his pod and killed the lights.