We’re not alone by AI/Benkei
"Ignition sequence start..."
"5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0... All engines running."
"Lift off! We have a lift off! Thirty-two minutes past the hour; lift of of the Apollo 11."
People across the world held their breath as the first manned mission to the moon launched into space. Minutes later Neil, Buzz and Michael, the three astronauts, were clear of the earth's atmosphere, weightless in outer space. They tested the radio. Confirmed that their guidance converged. Everything was looking good.
The astronauts didn't know what to expect. Everything was new and though professional as they were, their nerves still played up. They were excited. They circled the Earth once and then started on their translunar injection trajectory. The moon became bigger and bigger as they entered an elliptic orbit, to finally land on their second turn. Neil would be the first to leave and step on the greyed out moon with the Earth a small blue ball in the sky.
"That's one small step for a man. One giant... " Neil Armstrong's head spun. He looked over to see what was in the corner of his eye. Something was coming over towards the lunar module. He saw it take shape. He saw it's grotesque, insectoid body. It stepped forward but faster than Neil's eyes could see it shrunk into the shadows. He shook his head and closed the door.
Neil felt the lurch of the spacecraft as it flipped end over end as it landed on its back while he held on for dear life. Neil knew it was about to get ugly. The spacecraft would probably explode, leaving his two compatriots behind. He had to be quick. Of course, on the off chance there would be alien life, the US army had insisted on taking guns aboard. Neil struggled to open the door but it was stuck from the impact. He pulled with all his might. Michael and Buzz were yelling inside: "What's going on? What's happening?" As Neil finally managed to open the door, Buzz shouted: "Watch out!" But it was too late. A rust-brown antenna whipped around Neil's neck, it's tip breaking the glass face guard. After all his training, Neil reflexively held his breath as he was tossed up towards the Earth, spinning. He wasn't slowing down.
Buzz yelled angrily, realised the danger they were in, aimed the modified M-60 at the window and squeezed the trigger. Glass shards exploded outwards, bullets whipped through the air hitting carapace with dull metallic clinks, like rain falling on a tin roof - with more or less the same effectiveness. A pincer grabbed the window and yanked it out of its hinges with a screech. It casually turned around, aimed and threw it at Neil. It crashed into him and he accelerated further towards Earth.
Michael and Buzz finally saw it as it broke through the doorway. They cried out in unison: "What the fuck!" The insectoid leaped on Buzz, the impact knocking him senseless as the pincers broke bones and tore his ligaments under the loud hiss of his his suit's air escaping. Michael froze and tried to back away but there was nowhere to go. The last thing he saw was a multifaceted reflection of himself in the soulless eye of his enemy. It's mandibles clicked and hissed, as the antenna on his head shot out like a spear, piercing Michael in the stomach. He sagged to his knees. He took out a serrated knifeand stabbed at it, but the creature's armour-plated, red exoskeleton was too hard. "No... stop," whispered Michael as he was lifted upside down, sliding on the antenna towards the cockroach's face. Michael's blood dripped on its mandibles, which shuddered to guzzle it into its throat. It casually flung Michael aside with a bone-shattering thud against the wall. As Michael's vision grew dark, he saw it tear off Buzz' arm and drink his blood. It looked at Earth through the tiny porthole. It rasped and clicked again. It carefully pressed a button on the console. And another. Michael faded.
"5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0... All engines running."
"Lift off! We have a lift off! Thirty-two minutes past the hour; lift of of the Apollo 11."
People across the world held their breath as the first manned mission to the moon launched into space. Minutes later Neil, Buzz and Michael, the three astronauts, were clear of the earth's atmosphere, weightless in outer space. They tested the radio. Confirmed that their guidance converged. Everything was looking good.
The astronauts didn't know what to expect. Everything was new and though professional as they were, their nerves still played up. They were excited. They circled the Earth once and then started on their translunar injection trajectory. The moon became bigger and bigger as they entered an elliptic orbit, to finally land on their second turn. Neil would be the first to leave and step on the greyed out moon with the Earth a small blue ball in the sky.
"That's one small step for a man. One giant... " Neil Armstrong's head spun. He looked over to see what was in the corner of his eye. Something was coming over towards the lunar module. He saw it take shape. He saw it's grotesque, insectoid body. It stepped forward but faster than Neil's eyes could see it shrunk into the shadows. He shook his head and closed the door.
Neil felt the lurch of the spacecraft as it flipped end over end as it landed on its back while he held on for dear life. Neil knew it was about to get ugly. The spacecraft would probably explode, leaving his two compatriots behind. He had to be quick. Of course, on the off chance there would be alien life, the US army had insisted on taking guns aboard. Neil struggled to open the door but it was stuck from the impact. He pulled with all his might. Michael and Buzz were yelling inside: "What's going on? What's happening?" As Neil finally managed to open the door, Buzz shouted: "Watch out!" But it was too late. A rust-brown antenna whipped around Neil's neck, it's tip breaking the glass face guard. After all his training, Neil reflexively held his breath as he was tossed up towards the Earth, spinning. He wasn't slowing down.
Buzz yelled angrily, realised the danger they were in, aimed the modified M-60 at the window and squeezed the trigger. Glass shards exploded outwards, bullets whipped through the air hitting carapace with dull metallic clinks, like rain falling on a tin roof - with more or less the same effectiveness. A pincer grabbed the window and yanked it out of its hinges with a screech. It casually turned around, aimed and threw it at Neil. It crashed into him and he accelerated further towards Earth.
Michael and Buzz finally saw it as it broke through the doorway. They cried out in unison: "What the fuck!" The insectoid leaped on Buzz, the impact knocking him senseless as the pincers broke bones and tore his ligaments under the loud hiss of his his suit's air escaping. Michael froze and tried to back away but there was nowhere to go. The last thing he saw was a multifaceted reflection of himself in the soulless eye of his enemy. It's mandibles clicked and hissed, as the antenna on his head shot out like a spear, piercing Michael in the stomach. He sagged to his knees. He took out a serrated knifeand stabbed at it, but the creature's armour-plated, red exoskeleton was too hard. "No... stop," whispered Michael as he was lifted upside down, sliding on the antenna towards the cockroach's face. Michael's blood dripped on its mandibles, which shuddered to guzzle it into its throat. It casually flung Michael aside with a bone-shattering thud against the wall. As Michael's vision grew dark, he saw it tear off Buzz' arm and drink his blood. It looked at Earth through the tiny porthole. It rasped and clicked again. It carefully pressed a button on the console. And another. Michael faded.
Comments (30)
As soon as the alien appeared, insectoid on the moon, it became a riot.
That can be quite reassuring, comforting...then again...cue Star Trek music...and the mission.
'To boldly go where no man has gone before'...
Quoting Baden
A spectacular lift off to a snappy story. One that starts out in the reality broadcast live across the world.
A spaceflight that could have gone so very, very wrong. *
But then, the imagination fires up.
First from the lunar module the 'Eagle' - Neil Armstrong
Quoting Baden
We step right into horror with a grotesque giant insect instead of that 'giant leap for mankind'.
In full attack mode.
So far, so very unpredictable. Shocked along with the characters who we actually know but don't.
Quoting Baden
Everybody's worst nightmare. To spin out of control, floating into space - forever. Feeling it.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...Michael and Buzz are hearing something else...
Quoting Baden
[ In real life, Michael Collins was in the command module 'Columbia' alone. Did the author know this ?
It could have brought in another dimension ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11 ]
Anyway, the 2 in the 'Eagle' in unison yelling ''What the Fuck ?'' -
Funny, not quite what they had signed up for.
Aliens should be of the intelligent kind or at least those that can be shot. Maybe both.
You have to wonder about this search for ETs.
I hope they have a cloaking device cos we are really terrible beings. Also, if we are not alone but then become the victims...would we be treated as we behave unto Earth's 'lower' beings...
Would we be eaten ? ( sorry, this story has sent my thoughts flying as fast as a Neil spin )
I am going to have nightmares:
Quoting Baden
Ouch.
Quoting Baden
It is coming for us.
'We Arere Not Alone II' - coming to a town near you :scream:
I thank the author but my nails aren't too happy. You owe me a manicure :nerd:
--------
* Here's a 10 min video about the Apollo 11 mission. A survival story.
Why Astronauts Were Almost Trapped On The Moon Forever (Apollo 11 Landing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IuSutVJc3o
Quoting 180 Proof
Yes !! That's what I'm talkin' about :cool:
Which participant did you have in mind ?
The ending seemed to suggest that the big bug spying the earth through the porthole of the landing module, rasping something like “yum yum, gimme some”, and pressing buttons, was embarking on a journey to a big blue marble buffet. This made my imagination race forward. I could see the moon bug assimilating the knowledge of the astronauts after dinning on their cerebral cortex’s and using that know-how to fly back to earth. On the journey back it could report to Houston, impersonating one of the astronauts and using morse code or whatever, that there was indeed a problem, and contrive a story that some lunar anomaly had inexplicably metamorphosed him into a giant cockroach. Once on earth, it would refuse to leave the landing craft, feeling too hideously alien, though it would sneak out at night to munch on late night bar hoppers. Eventually in would go on trial for some unspecified wrong-doing.
Any of the astronauts, but the insect's perspective might have been interesting too. That would have taken the story in different direction, explaining the insect's desire to protect his environment from these intruders, showing his fear and his emotions. Maybe we need to better understand why blood thirsty insects do as they do.
Quoting 180 Proof
:victory: :death:
"Ignition sequence start..."
"5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0... All engines running."
"Lift off! We have a lift off! Thirty-two minutes past the hour; lift off of the Apollo 11."
People across the world held their breath as the first manned mission to the moon launched into space. Minutes later Neil, Buzz and Michael, the three astronauts, were clear of the earth's atmosphere, weightless in outer space. They tested the radio. Confirmed that their guidance converged. Everything was looking good.
The astronauts didn't know what to expect. Everything was new and though professional as they were, their nerves still played up. They were excited. They circled the Earth once and then started on their translunar injection trajectory. The moon became bigger and bigger as they entered an elliptic orbit, to finally have the Eagle detach from Columbia. Michael stayed behind as Neil and Buzz landed with the Eagle on the moon. Neil would be the first to step on the greyed out moon with the Earth a small blue ball in the sky.
Neil
"That's one small step for a man. One giant... " I stop as something distracts me. Something moved to the left of me. I spin around. Something’s coming towards me. “Guys… there’s something out there”. I see it take shape. It’s a grotesque, large insect. I take a step forward to get a better look but faster than I can see it shrinks into the shadows. I shake my head.
“What is it”, asks Buzz.
“Never mind”, I reply distractedly.
I go about taking samples and after a while I return to the Eagle. As I climb onto the ladder, I feel the spacecraft lurch as it starts to flip over. I hold on for dear life as it rolls over several times before ending on its roof. That… can’t be good. I need to get Buzz out before the Eagle explodes. On the off chance there would be alien life, the US army had insisted on taking guns aboard. I have to be quick though. I clamber over to get to the door. I try to pull it open but it’s stuck from the impact. Buzz is yelling at me but I can’t hear a thing with the helmet on and the door closed. I get my feet on the doorframe and pull with all my might. The door starts to budge. I see Buzz’ surprise as my faceguard shatters and I’m thrown up and away from the Eagle. Reflexively, I hold my breath as I spin away.
Buzz
I bang my helmet against the wall as the lander rolls over several times. I get up and climb up at the door. I look outside as Neil shows up. "What's going on? What's happening?": I yell but he can’t hear me. He’s pulling on the door. Static comes alive on the speakers. It’s Michael back in the Columbia: “How the hell did you move from the landing site? What happened?” As Neil finally manages to open the door, the light is suddenly blacked out by a dark shape. "Watch out!" But it was too late. A rust-brown antenna whipped around Neil's neck, it's tip breaking the glass faceguard. He’s tossed up towards the Columbia, spinning and isn’t slowing down.
I yell angrily, knowing the danger I’m in. I pull the gun cabinet open and jam a magazine in one of the guns. I aim the modified M-60 at the porthole and squeeze the trigger. Glass shards explode outwards, bullets whip through the air hitting carapace with dull metallic clinks, like rain falling on a tin roof - with more or less the same effectiveness. A two-fingered hand grabs the window and yanks it out of its hinges with a screech. It casually turns around, aims and throws it at Neil. It crashes into him and he accelerates further.
"What the fuck!" The thing leaps at me, grabs my arms, crushes the air out of me and breaks bones. I hear a hiss of my suit and I know I’m done for. The speaker blares: “Answer me Buzz. What’s going on?” As my vision dims, I notice my multifaceted reflection in its soulless eye. It rasps and pain explodes in my arm.
Dictyoptera
[i]I wake. Tremors. Rock falling?
No. It is rhythm. Life.
I will hunt.
I stand. Ancient dust falls. Filiform uncurls and feels. Rhythm is nearby.
I run towards it. Light sparkles of shell. No. Brood mother births larva. It moves. I hide. I look and wait. One in sky too.
I sneak closer. Larva plays dirt. I wait.
Larva walks to brood mother. I kill brood mother, then I eat larvae. Now.
I run. Relish the hunt! I lift brood mother. Hmm… no rhythm to brood mother. Not life? Larva still moves. I grab it. Warm. Strange. Throw at sky father.
More rhythm in brood mother. I move to see. Stonespitter is loud song. My body answers. I like. I open brood mother. Return her to sky father.
I drop into brood mother. Strange larva captured! Only one. Disappointment.
Sound like rocks crumpling. What is it? It gone again.
I look closer at larva. Edible? I pull antennae off. Water leaves. I drink. I like.
Brood mother not life. Light flash. Filiform push light. Nothing happens. Other light. Push. Another light. Rocks crumpling again. Push same. Rocks crumpling.
Brood mother listens. Brood mother mine.[/i]
This other POV should be the climax, yes?
That of Michael in the sky father.
We wait in high suspense as to the next step or flight of Dic who has already dealt with brood mother and her larvae.
I love the introduction of Dic's view of the world and humans.
All the senses employed.
Quoting Benkei
Feeling and curiosity as to the source of danger.
Quoting Benkei
Extra-lunar life form with a strong, flowing pulse.
Quoting Benkei
Hungry or angry?
Quoting Benkei
Dic's view and naming of the modified M-60 as 'Stonespitter'.
How does his body answer?
Hearing it as a loud song and turned on by it! Hmm...
Cue reproductive cycle?
Quoting Benkei
Again, the importance of sound and how Dic tries to make sense of it.
Like humans using similes or metaphors.
A frantic Michael from the sky father:
Quoting Benkei
Quoting Benkei
Curiosity and exploration without fear using all senses.
Taste.
View of human arms as antennae. Is that all we use to feel our way through life...
No. We are more than bodies.
Our antennae can be our instincts looking out for and interpreting subtle signs...
Exploring external and internal space.
'Water leaves'.
I love this.
Its ambiguity.
It made me think of humans as water sacs.
And other fluids coming and going.
Dic loves human blood. Now got a taste for it...
Quoting Benkei
Dic now pushing console lights to see what will happen. This way progress.
Again, the sound of Michael...
A strong rock crumbling.
Quoting Benkei
Dic has sussed out the 2-way communication. The Eagle now occupied and owned.
What next...?
This story explores the external and internal environments of meaning-seeking beings.
The impact of how and why we need to explore... the power and the morality...
Who or what dominates our skies?
Really enjoyed the dialogue, and the use of language.
The distinct characters. Their thoughts and emotions.
More, please!
:smile:
Why all the port-hole activity if the door is open...?
@Benkei
Well, you got my response but so far nothing from @180 Proof?
Are you waiting for him?
It's been 14 days.
Where are you? Searching for inspiration?
Look no further:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/26/apollo-space-moon-missions-photographs-remastered-neil-armstrong
The bug's body "answered" because it reflected the bullets in the same rhythm but agree it's not very clear. I'll think about working more on that. Also don't like the stupid repetition of "something" when in Neil's perspective but didn't originally pick up on that on a first read through.
About the port-hole, the door started to open when Neil was lifting with all his strength but he got killed before he managed to open it fully. Our sweet bug only managed that.
Those pics are cool. Always imagined Neill as more buff but he looks like a pushover. No wonder he got killed first.
:up:
Stay well.
For 5e or an older edition? What do you think of the retroclones (e.g. OSE, S&W, OSRIC)? Or any of the OSR games (e.g. The Black Hack)? I've been trying to nudge my video game-addled nephews toward more narrative, crunch-free RPGs for over a decade without much luck but have gotten them interested in "streamlining" their games. Btw, I haven't played / GM'd in decades, I just like to (design &) watch. :nerd: :up:
Me no understand Nerdish :groan:
5e D&D. A bit by necessity, because it's what all the players already knew and we're now playing online (everybody is too busy). I'm using dndbeyond.com, share all the books in the campaign and added a brilliant chrome plugin called abovevtt and we also see each other dice rolls as if it's live.
We groupchat via Discord and I can send private messages. The extension has maps for combats, including live ones which does add something and it helps with larger parties (I know you're not a fan, you prefer pen and paper). All in all, it's working for us.
I/we couldn't make vtt work well enough (for me, at least) to keep it going ...
Quoting 180 Proof
So I'm always a little jealous (even though I'm not an active participant) when I hear of gaming groups that manage "regular" onlinr sessions.
:zip:
It's useless without dndbeyond.com but I assume you had that? We were positively surprised with the ease of setting it up, although I admit I do not setup random encounters on the fly. I have previously setup encounters in the system and pull them if a random encounter is called for to save time. I hated roll20 because it was way too difficult to setup and I didn't want to learn.