PSA: Supplies Low

[Sniblet]

Hello, everyone. I hope this message finds you well.

My name is Perrine d'Garmeaux, and I'm a member of your bridge staff. I'd forgive you for not recognizing my name, as I've been here only a year and change, and I've been strictly assigned to deadshifts for much of that time. There's no need to cry for me, I'm quite used to it: I come from Celestial Cruises, where my role was to run whatever no one else was available to. I've had to adapt to many new things working on SCCV Horizon, but my schedule is not one.

Something I have had to adapt to, comes from the fact that a Celestial Cruiser is not an exploratory vessel - and SCCV Horizon is. This means that we spend much time away from welcoming ports and hospitable territories. This means that maintaining supply is different, higher-stakes, and consumable goods are best counted carefully and used well.

On a cruise, running out of supply meant at worst that one of our patrons was about to be told that we were out of their favored wine.

On an exploratory vessel, running out of supply means no breakfasts. It means that a breached room is left airless. It means that parts of the crew are forced into long-term cryogenic storage to reduce stress on life support.

 

At time of writing (21 September 2467), Horizon is expected back in port in four days. Due to emergency FTL maneuvers taken on 30 August, we will not be making this date. Related, and particularly pressing - one of our shipbound intelligences, Virgil, has informed the bridge staff that at our current rate of usage, we will run out of supply very soon (I am not at liberty to provide a precise estimate).

I'm not clear on what supply means exactly. Oxygen may hold. Food may remain available. We may yet have our wines. But I am led to understand that supply refers to something that SCCV Horizon non-negotiably requires to maintain full operational capacity. Oxygen may hold. Food may remain available. I am betting against the wines.

To be blunt: it's time to get serious about rationing. If our next FTL jump does not provide for us (and why should it?), and we fail to be conscientious with what we still have, grim times lie ahead.

I am only a member of bridge staff, and cannot personally describe what rationing had best look like for all members of the crew. To this end, I have conducted and curated a series of interviews from other hands, for your consideration. Readers are welcome to add their own advice and personal commitments to conserve.

 

ICSU-Chensha, Bartender: "I'll offer people watered-down drinks: 'would you like that coffee diluted with water, sir?' - that sort of thing. I'm not thinking of being too precious about the liquor stocks, because when we're out of it, we're just out of liquor. The best we can do is enjoy it while it's here. Just, you know - if you're getting smashed, you're wasting it, so I'll be cutting people off faster than usual."

Z.I. Monogram, Scientist: "As my services are non-essential, I will be moving to long-term storage to save on maintenance and charging costs for the duration of the shortage."

Hazel #H-S14.27, Cook: "I'll be growing some produce myself, and preferentially using what I've grown to cook! That means simpler meals."

Za'Akaix'Osthi C'thur, Paramedic: "I have already been assigned to fewer shifts. My nutritional needs at high activity are greater than most vaurcae, so I will spend much of my time at rest. I hope that Hydroponics will begin to grow k'ois at scale."

Ka'Akaix'Qyv C'thur, Xenobiologist: "I'll be in the Aether. They'll wake me whenever there's something to do again."

Ra'Viax'Nahi K'lax, Shaft Miner: "Cull order pending deep scan of next beacon." | (I understand this to mean that the drone will be destroyed by a Breeder if new supply is not found)

Thrill of Momentous Realization, Xenoarchaeologist: "We're letting them turn out lights in our dormitory, and spending our time in public spaces instead. If the lights dim in public spaces, we'll see about feeding from starlight."

Iphigenia Konstantinou, Lab Assistant: "I guess I should encourage the scientists to be more frugal?"

Karen Stahl, Pharmacist: "Make sure you're taking your medications as much as the label recommends. Too little and they're wasted, too much and they'll run out. If they run out, they run out - at least they got you this far."

Nekhii Sansryn, Hydroponicist: "Behold, the kindest thing that one misplaced jump can do to a vessel. I've always said we needed a bigger hydroponics bay for exactly this. My siblings and cousins know these unhappy times well. Tujmansaal escapes us yet again, aiseheer. San-Khöl is ready to do her part for you, and we'll pull through yet."

Edited 3 hours ago by Sniblet