First, survive. Then, understand.
Snow crunched beneath my boots as I took another step. The cold bit at me despite the PIPS Mark IV suit regulating my body temperature. A pale sun hung in the sky, casting long shadows across the frozen landscape. The wind howled softly, whispering through the trees.
I turned back toward the Vanguard Capsule.
It sat there—scarred, battered, but intact. Charring and scratching marred the once-pristine white shell, making the United Nations emblem barely distinguishable. It looked more like a relic than the peak of modern engineering.
Despite its rough shape, it wasn’t completely dead.
I crouched beside the capsule, running a diagnostic through my visor interface. As I expected, the damage fried most systems. But to my surprise…
The mobility system is operational.
Both legs and tracks survived reentry.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. That was a game-changer. The Vanguard wasn’t just a glorified shelter—it was a mobile outpost. If I could repair and refuel it, I wouldn’t have to be stuck in one place.
"Claire, confirm the status of the mobility system."
[ "Legs and tracks are intact. Minor repairs required, but movement is possible." ]
I exhaled. "Good. That means we have options."
My voice came out steadier than I felt. Having the capsule mobile was reassuring, but where would I even go? I shook the thought away for now. First, I needed to secure the area.
I turned toward the vast, snowy forest. Tall conifer-like trees surrounded the crash site, their trunks covered in thick, blackish bark instead of the familiar brown. The needles had an odd blue hue—not artificial, but subtly different from anything I’d seen on Earth.
I ran a gloved hand over the rough surface of the nearest tree. The PIPS suit performed a quick material analysis.
[Composition: 70% cellulose, 15% unknown organic compound, 5% anomalous trace elements.]
I frowned. "Unknown organic compound?" That wasn’t something I wanted to see in a survival situation.
Claire, ever efficient, seemed to sense my concern.
[ "Preliminary analysis suggests biological similarity to Earth-based conifers. However, molecular structure contains foreign elements. Further study recommended." ]
"Yeah, no kidding."
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I moved to the ground, scooping up a handful of snow. It looked normal enough, but when I activated the chemical scanner, the results were… puzzling.
[H?O detected. Additional trace elements present: Non-toxic. Anomalous matter density: 3x standard.]
Three times the usual mana concentration in something as simple as snow.
I let the snow trickle through my fingers, watching the way it caught the light.
Was I really still on Earth?
I dismissed the thought. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help me.
Instead, I focused on fortifying my position.
I retrieved my tactical shovel and began digging a trench around the Vanguard. The frozen soil made it a slow, exhausting process, but I welcomed the effort. It kept my mind occupied.
After a while, I gathered branches from the alien conifers to construct makeshift barricades. Using the PIPS suit’s built-in nanomachines, I reinforced them with a hardened layer of material extracted from the trees. The result wasn’t pretty, but it would serve as a basic deterrent.
The more I worked, the more I noticed subtle differences in the environment.
The trees, the snow, even the air—everything was just slightly wrong.
Unfamiliar.
And that realization unsettled me.
[ "Perimeter fortifications: 35% complete. Initiating scouting protocol. ]
Claire’s drone proxy whirred to life, its sleek metal frame hovering above me. The other three drones followed, dispersing outward in a synchronized sweep.
I watched them disappear into the tree line.
"Claire, focus on mapping resources—food, water, anything useful. Also, look for signs of life. If we’re in some isolated part of the world, we should at least find evidence of local wildlife."
[ "Understood. Sweep radius: 5 kilometers." ]
With Claire gone, silence returned.
I sat against the Vanguard’s hull, running my fingers over the UN emblem. The once-bold letters faded, scratched beyond recognition. It reminded me of how quickly things could fall apart.
I sighed, pressing my visor against my knee.
Alone.
I wasn't the sentimental type, but having Claire around helped.
Even if she was just a voice in my head.
An hour passed before Claire’s voice crackled back to life.
[ "Recon sweep complete. Compiling report." ]
I sat up. "Let’s hear it."
[ "Detected multiple potential resource sites. Summary as follows: ]
- Water source: 2.4 kilometers north. Possible freshwater stream.
- Edible flora: Unknown plant species resembling berries. Further analysis required.
- Animal life: Unidentified fauna detected. No visual match to Earth-based species.
- Additional anomaly: Evidence of human activity.
I straightened. "Human activity?"
[ "Remnants of a controlled fire. Estimated time of last use: 3-5 days ago." ]
A cold chill ran down my spine, and for once, it wasn't the wind.
I processed the information carefully.
If someone made a fire here, that meant at least one other person was out there. But the fact that someone had abandoned the fire suggested... what? That they had moved on? That they didn’t want to be found?
Or that something had happened to them?
I rubbed my temples, exhaling sharply. First real sign of civilization, and it’s a damn campfire.
I looked at the sky—the flare was still burning. If anyone was nearby, they would have seen it.
Claire, can you determine whether Earth-native materials were used to make the fire?
[ "Analysis inconclusive. Fire remnants suggest combustion from organic material similar to Earth’s, but trace elements are inconsistent with standard wood ash." ]
More unknowns.
I wanted to believe I was still on Earth. That I had just crashed in some uncharted wilderness.
But the trees, the sky, the lack of satellites, and now… this?
I clenched my fists.
"Alright," I muttered. "New plan."
I opened my HUD, setting new objectives.
- Secure a water source.
- Investigate edible plant life.
- Analyze local wildlife.
- Decide whether to approach the abandoned campfire.
I shut off the HUD and stood up, stretching my arms.
"Claire," I said. "Looks like we’ve got work to do."
[ "Affirmative." ]
I exhaled, staring toward the forest.
For now, survival came first.
The answers would come later.