The rhythmic thump-hiss of the Algae Deoxidizer was the only heartbeat the colony had, and today, it was skipping beats.
Stinky wiped a glob of lime-green slime from his visor. He was waist-deep in a pool of polluted water, frantically tightening a pipe segment while a nearby Morb made a sound like a wet accordion. Above him, the flickering overhead lights cast long, shaky shadows against the cold granite walls.
On the floor above, Mi-Ma was running on a manual generator until her legs turned to jelly. Every rotation of the wheel sent a tiny pulse of power to the Carbon Skimmer, which was currently the only thing keeping a rising tide of Carbon Dioxide from drowning them all in their sleep. Oxygen Not IncludedData edycji: Dzisiaj, 13:41P...
"Oxygen levels at twelve percent," the colony AI chimed with terrifying politeness.
They had come here for a new start, but the asteroid was a greedy host. It took their calories, it took their sleep, and now, it was taking their air. The rhythmic thump-hiss of the Algae Deoxidizer was
Just as the last light flickered toward darkness, a loud clunk echoed through the shafts. Stinky let out a muffled cheer through his mask. The new Electrolyzer hummed to life, venting a fresh, cool mist of oxygen into the main shaft. For now, the pressure was holding.
Stinky leaned against the damp tile, his chest heaving. He had five minutes before the next pipe burst, ten minutes before the Mush Bars ran out, and a lifetime of digging left to do. Above him, the flickering overhead lights cast long,
"Well," he wheezed, picking up his multitool. "Back to work."