Deadheads

The Deadheads had never been particularly lucky with spacecraft. Their first mission had ended in a catastrophic engine failure, leaving them stranded in deep space for weeks. This time, their vessel wasn’t much better. A mix of outdated tech and questionable repairs made it more of a floating deathtrap than a reliable cruiser. As they descended onto the strange planet, the hull groaned and shuddered, sending a ripple of anxiety through the crew.

"Brace for impact," Matt's voice crackled over the intercom, though even he didn’t sound convinced they’d survive this one. Outside, a thick, greyish atmosphere swirled ominously around them, and the planet’s gravity pulled harder than anticipated.

"God, we're gonna burn up on entry!" M shouted, their hands flying over the console as sparks danced from the control panel. The ship’s sensors were scrambled, and the navigation system flickered in and out like a dying light. Below, the surface of the planet was a patchwork of molten rivers and jagged rock formations—the kind of place no one in their right mind would land. But the Deadheads weren’t in their right minds. They were used to desperation.

As the descent steepened, alarms blared. Across the bridge, screens erupted in red warning lights and flashing messages—"SYSTEM ERROR," "NO STABLE TRAJECTORY," "LIFE SUPPORT COMPROMISED." Code streamed past too fast to read, and a low, mechanical voice repeated, “Impact imminent. Structural integrity at twenty percent.”
The ship’s once-pristine exterior began to disintegrate, shards of metal peeling away into the atmosphere.
With a final, gut-wrenching screech, the ship crashed into the planet's surface, sending up a plume of dust and debris. The crew stumbled from their seats, disoriented but alive—barely. They gathered themselves amidst the wreckage, the vessel a charred ruin around them.

"Well," M said, brushing dirt off their suit with a grimace, "at least the air's breathable." Matt looked out over the vast, hostile landscape and cracked a grin. "Right. Let’s hope our luck’s better with the planet than it is with ships."

With that, the Deadheads gathered their gear and began their trek into the unknown, the remains of their spacecraft slowly sinking into the planet’s unstable soil