Death At The Hatch
14 Aug 2019Ansymo67
Incoming transmission...........................Date: Aug 13th, 3305
Time: 04:35 GT
Location: Smojue MM-L c21-0, 2nd Planet
This is Commander Dutch Mitchell heading towards Attenborough's Watch in the Lagoon Sector FW-W d1-122. This evening at 22:30 I landed on Smojue MM-L c21-0 2 looking to mine some raw materials. I left Dave, my Jack Russel aboard my ship, got into the SRV and then dismissed the ship into orbit. Dave has always been good by himself while I'm down on the surface of some planet.
I was rolling around doing pretty good mining, next thing I knew, it was about 02:45. Surface was pitch black with out the SRV's lights or Night Vision on. I was pretty tire and decided to spend a few hours sleeping. Done it many times on many other planets.....no biggy. Around 04:00 I was awoken by a noise. I didn't think much of it at first. The SRV makes noises when it's been sitting awhile. But....it just kept making three slow knocks.
Knock....knock.....knock....
This was a dead planet...no life! Not even microscopic. But that knock...knock...knock would just not stop. I lit the control panel and run a diagnostic.....Nothing. All systems checked out. 100% on all systems and the hull was at 100% as well. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I....just needed more sleep. So I turned of the control panel and was back asleep. Probably 10 minutes later the SRV was rocked, I was totally awake. Flipped the control panel checked everything....again NOTHING!
I switched the exterior lights on and checked all cameras. Nothing..... There was nothing around the SRV. Was it a planet quake? Or my imagination screwing with my head.....
I was looking out the right side of the SRV when I noticed it....
Human footprints... Bare footprints of a human being.... No boots, just footprints in the soil of a dead planet. Was I still asleep? Dreaming? Or going crazy? Now.....I'm just not sure which.
As I was looking out the right side....there were three knocks on the left side of the cockpit. I quickly turned my head and what I saw will forever haunt me. Standing there was a human being that looked as dead as the planet it was standing on. It was wearing a flight suit, and a helmet with a smashed face shield. The eyes were pitch black and the mouth was slowly opening and closing. I stared at it for what felt like eternity. Chills going up my spine. then it banged on the cockpit door three time....knock...knock...knock. I was petrified, I couldn't move. All I could do was just set there. Then....it started turning the cockpit door handle. I grabbed the handle so it couldn't open the door. With the other hand I flipped on the cockpit power. The SRV was fully powered within 10 long agonizing seconds. I pushed to the SRV power to the max leaving IT behind me.... My heart was beating harder then it ever had. Even when I was serving the the Allied military flying combat missions, I never felt that much fear.
I hauled ass over the planet surface kicking up dust trying to put distance between my and.....IT.....whatever IT was.
I traveled a good 10 miles, stopped, checked all cameras. Nothing! My heart was still beating a mile a minute. I looked down to recall my ship... Computer showed no option for recalling a ship. Fear escalating. I run another diagnostic...... "Communications offline" SHIT! I started running system repairs. 20%......30%.....55%.....
KNOCK...KNOCK...KNOCK. It was trying to open the hatch again. Pushing to controls to max again, dust flying up behind the SRV.
72%.....86%.....94%......100%. FINALLY! Communications Online.......................
I pushed Recall ship........
In the distance I seen it coming in to land. I headed fast as could to the ship, weaving around rocks trying to not crash. Rolling under neath my ship to re-board. I was home. Slowing the SRV loaded into the ship. I climbed out of the SRV and climbed to the ships cockpit seat. Launched into space and left that god forsakened planet behind me........
It's now 04:27......
The knocking started about 20 minutes ago. At first Dave was growling at the hatch, now he's setting by me whining. I've done four jumps. I've done a fuel scoop at low level hoping....maybe the heat would destroy....IT. It had no effect.
I've got over 700 light years to go before I'm at the next station. The hatch door is locked, but IT keeps causing damage. I'm having the repair limpets constantly fix the hutch.
I'm putting Dave into a one person life pod, if the hatch blows open, Dave and this recording is ready to be launched.
Whoever finds Dave..... Please take good care of him. He's been a good friend during the five years we've been exploring.
I only have one repair limpet left....
It's been a pleasure Dave. I hope you find a good person and are able to live the rest of your days in comfor..........................................
Ship diagnostics report.......
Hatch breached.........
Life support failure.............
Life pod launched with Dave (K9)
Commander Dutch Mitchell (Human).........Death
Unknown Entity......................@$%#^$*&%..............#$*#$&............................
Knock...knock...knock........................
End of transmission..............................................................................................