Warmer

The sunlight shone through the windows, starkly, but no longer leaked around the freshly sealed hole in the cabin. John had located the epoxy foam designed to seal leaks caused by micrometeorites and sealed the patch against the weather. Using the cabin as a shelter seemed likes smart idea. The emergency escape hatch at the side had become their egress after he manually rotated the latching pins by shorting the wires in the control box.

They had light, heat, food, water and shelter from the elements, for the time being. John performed his daily check of the batteries and was pleased to find the meter unchanged at 79 percent. Their use of the heat and microwave wasn't stressing the huge power system designed to keep them alive in the freezing vacuum of space.

For the first time he noticed a dense fog outside forming like a London 'Pea Soup'. the mountains surrounding the crash site were completely obscured and most of the sunlight was swallowed up by a pseudo twilight. He hadn't given much thought to atmospheric composition and at this point he didn't see much use in worrying about it, either they would be able to breathe it or they would die.

The current problem was keeping them fed and hydrated, he inventoried the food, as it stood they had about six months of provisions, 7 days of rations for 50 people. 350 portions of shelf stable provisions. That is not to say they would be comfortable but this was his estimation, providing they could keep hydrated. There was tea, coffee, drink powders including electrolyte drinks, and a little alcohol in the party supply cabinet.

The cistern contained distilled water, he estimated about 500. gallons. Later he would devise a distillation apparatus. For now the two of them would have to settle for sponge bathing. They both needed it! He presented a bucket of warm water and sponge to Julia, who giggled and said "You need this worse than I do!" He grinned sheepishly, "I'll take mine last"

He didn't know where she found the soap but he appreciated it.

After the much needed bathing they found new outfits among the crew lockers and Julia prepared some chicken stew and hot tea. It was quite delicious despite being prepared for consumption in space, where flavors were muted. He hoped the tea supply would last as it was his mainstay, he relished his daily pot of Earl Grey although this seemed a bit more like a breakfast tea, beggars couldn't be choosers.

They tucked in for the night under the piles of blankets on the contour couches. "I wish I had a good book to read" said Julia. " Tomorrow we will find you a tablet and download some for you from the satellite " said John. He had noticed a few that had been repurposed as movie screens on some of the contour couches. The night began peacefully. They were both jarred out of slumber by a violent jolt as the cabin was rocked by the wind. Outside a gale raged.

For the first time thunder rolled and lightening flashed, yet the wind carried snow so thick that nothing outside was viable. The sheet of metal John had epoxied on the hole. bowed threateningly. Julia bolted out of her couch with a started shriek. She dashed to John burying herself deep under the covers and clung to him trembling.

He felt her warmth and did his best to comfort her. "We'll be okay" he lied soothingly, he didn't really believe it himself, she began to weep softly as the pent up sadness and loneliness began to escape her.

The clung to each other through the long storm and finally slept as it abated. The only light was that from the internal lights. Nothing showed through the snow covered ports. They had been buried during the night. The wind had taken away the crates furthest away. Neither wanted t venture out as the hadn't the clothing to protect themselves. John was thankful that he hadn't deployed the solar panels yet as they would have been damaged or even taken away. He would be sure to anchor them well , the weather had changed so rapidly.

John decided to keep his promise and using the toolbox liberated one of the tablets from the seat backs, plugging it in using the Go pros micro USB cable. He removed its micro SD card placing it in the port on the SATCOM unit. The battery unit still read 79 percent, he was pleased at the huge battery capacity, he didn't remember the the rating but it made sense that a system designed for life support was very powerful. He toggled on the complex device, seeking...was displayed on the LCD. After several minutes he rebooted the unit and manually changed the search vectors from the maintenance sub menus. Locked displayed and he began searching for transponders, changing polarization from vertical to horizontal randomly he found the internet!

First he tried to establish contact with NASA, the website was a mess... Who on earth would believe him? He logged into his free email account but couldn't think of anyone, wait, he emailed his boss. Mr Musk, we have survived. The ship has broken up in a mountainous area, the only survivor's are myself and Julia Bowman. Please advise. John,

He included his employee number and birthday and social as well as the Satellite information and ships clock time, and the code that represented the dish direction for the initial lock on from the SATCOM unit. Would his boss believe it. He hoped so.

He called Julia and showed her the internet terminal, she was overjoyed! He left her there after showing her the location of the micro SD card directory. He was thankful she was so computer literate and tutoring wasn't necessary. He left her to her own devices. Two hours later she reported they had lost the satellite. He noted the time, they would have communicate before the middle of the daylight hours had past.

They spent the next few days inside the cabin. John endeavored to construct a distillery, while Julia performed inventory tasks and organized the quarters. She also read and wrote what seemed to be a journal. At least someone would know what became of them he day he sighed to himself. He also assented that what she was doing was very necessary, for those who don't know history were doomed to repeat it.

The wind was rising again, and the snow was blown away from the ports. Bright light shone in the cabin and oddly enough John thought he could hear the sound of dripping water outside. Also the cabin heater was cycling less. John checked the battery, 78 percent, son they would have to set up the panels. The tank holding wastes would need tending soon, he really didn't look forward to that chore.

The daily communication session started, John was shocked to find a reply to his emails. It was from Mr Musks secretary and was a harshly worded letter accusing him of being the worse kind of internet troll. He was exasperated! How could he prove beyond a shadow f doubt his identity using just words. He tried to think of a way but came up empty. He didn't know this person but he had to think of something.

The water distillation apparatus worked well, it wasn't pretty, a scavenged hairdryer copper tubing, foam epoxied to a tank, since he couldn't locate anything to use as flux. He used the hot wire from the door lock circuit since it was high current and surprised himself when it didn't trip any breaker. The battery showed a 60 ampere draw this was manageable since they needed a water source, when the solar panels were installed it wouldn't be a problem.

Food however would be. They had less than six months.

John found his way into the storage area, the items there had miraculously survived. The solar panels were attached to the power supply, he just had to figure out how to extend them. The boom was supposed to deploy in space and couldn't support any sort of weight. He would have to make a frame or teepee to aim the cells at the sun. Perhaps the metal he required could be found elsewhere in the wreckage.

The temperature was noticeably warmer as the snow began melting in the midday sun. The wind became steady and fresh, the pretty green sand and greenish white stones showed through the snow. It wasn't freezing cold now, but the chilly damp air seemed to cut to the bone. Several blankets were sacrificed as robes, they seemed adequate for short jaunts outside the ship but weren't enough for travel. It was the end of their satellite day and John was frustrated.

He cussed aloud "Dammit" , "What's wrong ?" she asked. "Our boss thinks I'm an internet troll, I can't figure out a way to...." He trailed off, she was watching the files on the GoPro! He grinned so widely it frightened her. "We can prove were alive!" she thought he was mad, "we can use the camera built into your tablet and show we're alive" They began work on their CRT for help. They recorded a video of the ship, the crash site and themselves, it wasn't an emmy winner but it showed their situation. Just in case they posted it to YouTube, and sent a link to their boss. Uploading it took an entire communication cycle. They could do nothing now but wait.