Pods Still Have No Legroom!

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Nariis

Pods Still Have No Legroom!

Post by Nariis »

Back at the request of someone.


Nariis kicked out the hatch of the escape pod, swearing under her breath. As if her injuries weren't enough, the hyperspace engines and autoplot both malfunctioned, crashlanding her who knows where. She licked her lips and swallowed, wincing at the metallic taste of her blood. At least the small computer inside the pod was functioning enough to tell her a bit of information about her surroundings. Whatever planet she landed on had a decent atmosphere. She leaned back in the seat, inhaling the rich scented air. willing the dizziness to pass. She closed her eyes and thought back to what had occurred.

Nariis had been on a routine patrol on a route she'd taken before, looking for any signs of incursions by a rival alliance. She found patrolling to be boring, which might explain why she didn't have her guard completely up. One moment she was idly reading some alliance messages, the next, her alarms were going off as three ships appeared suddenly off her port. "Damned jumpers!" Nariis dropped her message pad and dove for tactical, cursing again as the ship IDs registered. "Computer! Evasive maneuvers, get us out of here!" She strapped herself into the command chair, bracing as all three ships began firing on her. Her ship took heavy fire and sparks flew from one of the engineering boards. Nariis didn't need to look at it to know that she'd just lost part of her engines. Hesitating long enough to launch her distress probe will all her ship files, she unstrapped and dove headlong for the escape pod, commanding the ship to fire all banks. Another volley from them sent her crashing against the wall, dislocating her shoulder. Wincing, she pulled herself into the escape pod and sealed herself in, hitting the eject switch only moments before her shields and armor failed.

Debris struck the pod as it started its hyperspace jump, she remembered that now. That must have caused the misjump, sending her hurtling for the planet she was now on. She must have left quite a furrow in the ground as she had maneuvered the thrusters enough to brake her freefall and change the angle of approach. The webbing in the pod kept her from bouncing all over the place, but gave her bruises in return, and a bloody lip from where she bit it. She opened her eyes and stared out the hatch, resting a bit more as the throbbing in her shoulder subsided. First order of business would be wrapping her arm to her chest to keep it as still as possible once she got it popped back into place. Gritting her teeth she reached up and firmly grasped her injured arm. With a sharp movement she popped it back into place, nearly fainting as pain washed over her. When she could move again, she gingerly tied her arm against her chest, groaning in the process.

She checked to make sure her homing signal was working properly then pulled herself to the pod's hatch. Her eyes scanned the landscape, searching for any sign of inhabitation, or shelter. The pod itself was rather exposed, and in the midday sun was starting to get stifling hot. Off in the distance there appeared to be a substantial growth of trees. It looked promising in way of shelter. Nariis turned back into the pod and began pulling items into a carryall. Her stunner was fully charged and in its holster against her hip...who knew what creatures lived here...

Too be continued......
Nariis

Post by Nariis »

Nariis stepped out of the pod, taking care not to jar her injured shoulder in the process. Looking behind the pod revealed the long furrow she thought was there. "At least they'll be able to find me by that alone. That mark has got to stand out." Nariis scanned the horizon. "And if the homing beacon is working, then that will mean that whomever was firing on me can follow it as well." Nariis grumbled and cursed under her breath as she realized that she would be better off finding somewhere nearby to hole up in. She scanned the immediate area and moved off towards a stand of trees, if there was water nearby then that would be a good place to stay. The dense underbrush would hide her from sight, and the trees had enough branches that she should be able to pull herself up onto a branch to watch the pod.

Nariis got lucky, she had thought she had heard water and she was right. A small stream meandered its way through the stand of trees before plunging underground. A little sample of the water proved it to be clear of all known contaminants so Nariis knelt down and drank thirstily. Thirst quenched for the time being, Nariis examined the trees around her. Only one had branches low enough to the ground that she felt able to climb. Thirty minutes later, Nariis was perched on a branch ten feet from the ground. Gritting her teeth, she readjusted the makeshift sling on her injured arm, trying to ignore the shafts of pain radiating from the dislocation. Hopefully her beacon would be picked up soon and help would arrive, though she didn't want to try her luck wishing that it would be someone friendly.

more later
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