Chapter 3

My choices for orbital insertion were very limited and with what I had to work with, I was making for the northern hemisphere of this giant land mass that was projected to be the best choice. I kept trying to scan as much as I could, to be able to get a good map projection and figure out where I was on the planet and see if any outpost or perhaps trading settlements existed. Thus far, no electronic signals were found, radio, communication, not even any power signatures for machinery or ships could be detected before I hit the upper atmosphere and the hull started to burn from the atmosphere slowing us down. Like a flaming star dropping through the sky and I had to start looking for a landing site that would work for me.

That's when my atmos control took a dive... literally... the ship took a nose dive and it took everything I had to correct and reestablish control but it was too late, what originally was going to be my landing spot, was now not possible and the only option I was forced to take was landing into a lake or two, it was hard to decide what they were. But I was forced to commit to a water landing. Perfect.

Niner was busy trying to repair the control electronics but before I knew it, we crashed straight into a lake and got slammed forward against my restraints.

I didn't lose conscientious this time thankfully, but I was a bit lightheaded and dizzy for the descent down into the lake. By the time my vision started to clear up and ringing in my ears settled the ship bounced as it hit and rested on the bottom of the lake.

"Niner, what's our status? Any damage from the impact? Where did we land?" I asked as my shoulders started to ache from the straps on them.

He started listing out a series of reports on the engine power core, drive status, shields and armor levels, weapons display and finally environmental controls tied with structural damage.. All in told, slight damage to outer hull, but nothing too big. The Engine Core was currently offline from emergency shut off to prevent any catastrophic damage. I ran a systems check on the core and it showed the power reserve currently at 73 percent.

"Okay Niner, let's start powering down non-essential systems and see what can be fixed and what are power levels will last for, just in case..."

Niner responded and started down a check list as he was plugged into the ships control panel and he and I started to power down what we could and soon, panel after panel started to power down and everything but essential Lift support and basic ship systems were left on and soon the ship was in a darkened state as I tried to see what I was left with.

Long story short, my engines were a problem. To the point, they suffered some sort of short on the way through the atmosphere and maybe there was some damage from the attack that combined with my rough landing came to fruit. Long story short, I was land bound for a while till something was sorted out. Good news was, based on Niner's report along with the ships system readout... at bare minimum power settings, the ship had around 8 months of energy to support me. But by the force, humor aside, I only had around 3 months of rations and consumables on board though. Yes there was the cargo I was carrying, but that was based for the planet I was set to deliver it too and it wasn't the most pleasant rations out there and not meant for my particular species.

"Okay Niner, so we have 8 months of life support for the systems but only 3 months of food and water...so big problem there, what can we do?" I asked him ironically.

Niner started talking back to me and I had to laugh a little at his audacity...

"Sure Niner, I'll just hold my breath the last 5 months... no problem at all least of all the time I will have been dead from no food as well...but wait.." I thought.

"What is the maximum amount we can squeeze out of the power supply, if I wasn't on board and life support was set to nothing and only emergency systems were at bare minimum..."

I waited for his answer and knew it would be a crazy response, but 15 seconds later I was answered with squeals and yells from him as he fully comprehended what I was asking.

Yelling back he answered with a report, that at bare ship system minimum with no heat and no oxygen regeneration, the current power levels would last 2 years and 7 months.

"Hmm, this might just work" I said out loud. "Okay Niner, after I get some sleep and one last good meal, I'm going to go to the surface and see if I can find some assistance or figure out a path for us to make it back to the Republic. You'll stay here, and with conserving power, repair and fix as many systems as you can, and remain on guard while I'm gone, with our current location, you should be able to power down for long periods to save power and still be able to maintain a watch. "He didn't like my orders but Niner said he would carry them out and await my return from the surface.

After Laying down and allowing myself into a meditative sleep, I maintained focus as I rested and after around 5 hours, I woke myself up and felt rejuvenated and ready to head to the surface after my last meal inside the ship. I had to decide what I would bring with me, rations obviously enough but I was hesitant on any technological devices that any normal mission would have. I had no way of knowing the status of this planet, wither it was inhabited or not and what their state of contact with the galaxy was. While not strictly followed by many, I held a belief that introducing technology and the grand mass of information that the Republic has built up, could be dangerous for primitive cultures that have not entered into the space fairing age on their planet. Countless worlds had destroyed themselves by using new weapons and concepts without the exact knowledge and wisdom to use it. I took a gamble and just decided to carry my lightsaber only. Everything else I carried could be mimed as primitive and except for my clothing, it wouldn't draw attention. Speaking of which I wasn't equipped with a wide range of clothing, just my basic Jedi attire and that would have to work for me know. But Knowing this I felt prepared and I would be able to overcome and adapt to anything that would surprise me, knowing this I stepped into the emergency airlock and took a deep breath and released the safeties on the outer door lock and as the ice cold water filled the vacant space, I calmed my nerves through the force and concentrated till the water was above my head. The Outer hatch opened and I floated up out the hatch and made sure to close it and taking a last look at my sunken ship, I starting swimming towards the surface while fighting the bitter cold and fought the urge to breath... it was a long swim to the surface it felt.

I broke the surface coughing and spurting up water and forced my dead limbs to flap and move to the end of the water. I finally swam enough to be able to stand on the bottom of the lake and barely walked myself to the shore line till I fell down and crawled the last bit. Even with my various experiences to exposures of harsh climates throughout the galaxy, this lake just seemed to kick my ass. It sucked all my energy and force out of me, but I fought to pull myself out of the water and crawl upon the beach and just collapsed on the sand and breathed heavily trying to stay awake but the cold called to me and I couldn't keep my eyes awake..