Chapter 23 – One Year Down

Mk23 -IRJ Droplet – Class 7 – Carpe Victoria (Wrecked)

Sector - Unknown

Planet - Unknown

1st May 2342 (BSST)

“It has now been one whole year stuck on this planet, surviving in spite of all the odds. You know, it feels both good and bad.” I say beginning the log.

“It’s strange, how I feel. I’m proud of having come this far, of having survived in this place. Yet it still grates that I’m stuck here. I don’t know.” I say before moving on to the actual update.

“The planet is actually cold now. When I first arrived, it was around 335K now though, it had cooled to about 275K, just above freezing. In the cold mornings I’ve been able to see my breath condensing in the air in front of me. The fire that I keep burning has become more important, though my body ware could handle the cold I’ve found it quite hard to do the same. I still feel it even if it’s not really affecting me.”

“As the planet cools down, things are beginning to get far, far more dangerous. During the hot summer months, the only dangers were the lethargic humanoids and the big cats that I only saw that first night. Granted that might be because I’ve purposely avoided that area, but regardless they were always a thought at the back of my mind.”

“Other than that, the only real dangers were starving, running out of water and taking an injury from which, I couldn’t recover. With the increased gravity I’ve had to be more careful with everyday tasks. Things like hopping down from a ledge and turning an ankle could prove fatal here. There’s other things you just wouldn’t think of as well. Like when I’m collecting firewood, because felling a tree means the timber will fall faster because of the gravity. So, there’s less time to get out the way. Its caught me off guard a few times and I’ve been lucky to avoid injury. Things like that; they just take you by surprise.”

Pausing for breath I continue…

“Now though, as the planet cools further it has passed a crossover point where everything was out and about, and things were peaceful if slightly noisy with the sounds of life. It lasted for about 6 months and things were great. But as we cool further, the larger animals are beginning to disappear and that is very, very bad. With less large prey the humanoids are far more active, hunting for anything they can. It means I’m a far more attractive target and perhaps it signifies my end. I must be far more vigilant. Thank God they can’t recognise what my small mud hut signifies.”

“I’m sitting in it right now, making this log. Huddled around a small fire I’ve got going in the floor. I’m lucky the charcoal doesn’t really make too much smoke. Thank God for small things ay! It’s remarkable how much warmth stays inside now that I’ve blocked up the window with more mud and fitted a door.”

“There’s snow outside now, it’s made the collection of fresh water much easier though, which I’m thankful for. Now I just leave the clean pots out and wait for them to fill up with snow before putting them in the fire to melt into drinkable water. It takes a while but it’s much less hassle than getting the fire going outside.”

“The downside to the snow, and there are a few beyond the obvious ones about slipping being cold and wet are the tracks. Not only do the ever-encroaching tracks of the humanoids creep me out as they stray closer and closer to camp. But I’m worried that they will be able to track me. So far it has not been the case, but you never know. The spring is now also too cold for me to swim and wash in. Nor do I have any clothes with me beyond the military dress to dry myself with. It seems I will be going without washing for a long time. I’ve heard you can wash clothes in snow and wait for the water to freeze before beating it out of the clothes as ice, maybe I’ll have to resort to that though I’m not exactly keen. On the upside is the fact I’m reminded of home and the water I’ve already mentioned.”

“The fire will have to do for now though, just have to make sure not to set the house on fire. Especially the bedding, the dry fluffy plant material and moss that provides comfort and warmth is such a luxury, one I’m very unwilling to part with. What I really need is a sheep wool or furry pelt to wrap myself in. If it gets any colder I may have to go hunting for the skins.”

“On a slightly frivolous note, I’ve been eager to see if I can find a maple tree. In the old days they used to make a kind candy by pouring boiling maple syrup in fresh snow. The snow then stops the cooking and rapidly cools the maple syrup to a sticky viscous candy. Though it would require making maple syrup first I would like to make some at some point. Maple syrup is fairly easy to make, you just have to boil off the water and then voila it’s done.”

“Tomorrow I’m going to start trying to make metal properly and hopefully by the months end I’ll be making basic tools. It will be tough and I’m still not sure how I’ll achieve it. I’ve vague ideas but it’s still just ideas. I think I’ll first need to construct a way of containing the melting metal and then a cast to cool the metal into a billet. Then, and only then can I start to forge the metal into a tool. A sword is my first priority. Perhaps two. One for the suit and one for myself.”

“There is definitely something off about this place. Even more staircases keep cropping up. I’ve tried to head inland more, and they just keep coming. The ditches to, I’ve already encountered 3. The first one was when I went to explore the crash site, the second was where the first staircase was and now I’ve found another in the last few weeks. They don’t look like they belong here and when it warms up slightly I’m going to go exploring.”

“But first I’ve got to get cracking on the metal making, I mean how hard can it be?” I think ironically to myself. “Tomorrow will be a very hard day indeed” I conclude, sighing.