Cold
Bright points of light burned down out of a cloudless sky. The stars were only faintly obscured by the light of two small moons. Beneath them a small huddle of structures stood stoutly against the spreading frost. Between the starlight reflecting off of the ice and the giant silver satellite dish standing noble guard over the buildings an artist might have called it beautiful, idyllic even.
The screaming started around whatever the local equilivant of three am was. The human inhabitants of the pseudo-military instillation woke instantly and grabbed for whatever weapons were at hand. The situation was ripe with tension. Which, due to the rapid situational analysis natural selection bred into people who survived, almost immediately gave way to irritation, confusion, and the random burst of profanity.
"Get it off! Get it off! My back! Cold!" The frantic screams were first joined by shouts of warning and then rough laughter.
A string of profanity laced comments marched heavily through the cold, dense air. Followed by a shriek.
"I don't care! Get. It. Off!"
There was a stern mumble that from the tone could only have come from a sergeant.
"Okay, okay!" A faint squealing of discomfort interrupted the proper words. "Cold! Cold! Get him off then!"
There was a bit more indistinguishable murmuring and as no further disturbance was forthcoming the weapons were returned to their sheaths and the camp returned to sleep.
Memo to All Rough End Base Personnel:
Re: Acceptable Behavior in Life Threatening Situations and Social Duties to Fellow Sentients in Life Threatening Situations
The command staff asks all personnel to remember that not all species inhabiting Rough End Base have the same tolerance levels for physical contact. Furthermore some species that indulge in full body organism rest (ie sleep), humans specifically, have different rules for acceptable physical contact when in the sleep state than while awake. Please remember that a human in sleep state is incapable of differentiating between a native predator and a friendly ally. It is suggested that a sleeping human be woken up from no less that {three feet} away by throwing hard objects at them and vocalizing a non-threatening greeting.
The humans of Rough End Base do recognize that the increasingly harsh conditions can be life threatening to their smaller and less endothermic allies. They are also aware that their large mammalian bodies generate plentiful excess heat. They, as a rule, are perfectly willing to offer any aid to their fellow sentients that they are capable of. However please remember to obtain permission from the selected human before utilizing this benefit of their presence.
A human who is woken from the sleep state by "a gazillion tiny freezing pseudopods crawling up my bare back" is prone to make loud disruptive noises, attempt to remove the unidentified object from his/her back, and leap wildly around the sleeping space without care for who or what they might step on. This can lead to disruption of sleep for other is sleep state, injuries to both the human and whomever is attached to their back, and significant mental trauma for all participants.
If one finds that one must obtain warmth immediately to sustain one's continued existence and the proper permission cannot be obtained, it is suggested that one holds on tight.
Bright points of light burned down out of a cloudless sky. The stars were only faintly obscured by the light of two small moons. Beneath them a small huddle of structures stood stoutly against the spreading frost. Between the starlight reflecting off of the ice and the giant silver satellite dish standing noble guard over the buildings an artist might have called it beautiful, idyllic even.
The screaming started around whatever the local equilivant of three am was. The human inhabitants of the pseudo-military instillation woke instantly and grabbed for whatever weapons were at hand. The situation was ripe with tension. Which, due to the rapid situational analysis natural selection bred into people who survived, almost immediately gave way to irritation, confusion, and the random burst of profanity.
"Get it off! Get it off! My back! Cold!" The frantic screams were first joined by shouts of warning and then rough laughter.
A string of profanity laced comments marched heavily through the cold, dense air. Followed by a shriek.
"I don't care! Get. It. Off!"
There was a stern mumble that from the tone could only have come from a sergeant.
"Okay, okay!" A faint squealing of discomfort interrupted the proper words. "Cold! Cold! Get him off then!"
There was a bit more indistinguishable murmuring and as no further disturbance was forthcoming the weapons were returned to their sheaths and the camp returned to sleep.
Memo to All Rough End Base Personnel:
Re: Acceptable Behavior in Life Threatening Situations and Social Duties to Fellow Sentients in Life Threatening Situations
The command staff asks all personnel to remember that not all species inhabiting Rough End Base have the same tolerance levels for physical contact. Furthermore some species that indulge in full body organism rest (ie sleep), humans specifically, have different rules for acceptable physical contact when in the sleep state than while awake. Please remember that a human in sleep state is incapable of differentiating between a native predator and a friendly ally. It is suggested that a sleeping human be woken up from no less that {three feet} away by throwing hard objects at them and vocalizing a non-threatening greeting.
The humans of Rough End Base do recognize that the increasingly harsh conditions can be life threatening to their smaller and less endothermic allies. They are also aware that their large mammalian bodies generate plentiful excess heat. They, as a rule, are perfectly willing to offer any aid to their fellow sentients that they are capable of. However please remember to obtain permission from the selected human before utilizing this benefit of their presence.
A human who is woken from the sleep state by "a gazillion tiny freezing pseudopods crawling up my bare back" is prone to make loud disruptive noises, attempt to remove the unidentified object from his/her back, and leap wildly around the sleeping space without care for who or what they might step on. This can lead to disruption of sleep for other is sleep state, injuries to both the human and whomever is attached to their back, and significant mental trauma for all participants.
If one finds that one must obtain warmth immediately to sustain one's continued existence and the proper permission cannot be obtained, it is suggested that one holds on tight.
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