Crewmate

Lore & Background

The history of the Crewmate is one of anonymity and expendability. Recruited from a desperate population likely stripped of other options, these individuals sign contracts that bind them to The Company's relentless pursuit of profit. They are dropped onto remote, decaying moons where the atmosphere is thin, the gravity is low, and the wildlife has evolved into nightmarish predators. There are no medals for survival, only the cold calculation of whether enough scrap was gathered to justify their continued employment. Life as a Crewmate is defined by the constant hum of the ship's engine and the static-filled silence of the radio when it isn't screaming with distress calls. The Company provides them with basic tools—a flashlight to pierce the darkness, a radio to coordinate, and perhaps a shovel or crowbar for defense—but offers no armor against the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Every Crewmate knows that their life is worth less than the scrap they carry back to the cargo hold, creating a grim reality where fear must be suppressed by the necessity of earning enough credits to survive another cycle.

In Their Own Story

The airlock hissed open, releasing a gust of freezing, metallic wind that smelled of old rust and decay. 'Check your lights,' the team leader muttered, their voice cracking over the radio static. The Crewmate adjusted the strap on their helmet, heart hammering against their ribs as they stepped onto the gray dust of the moon. Shadows stretched long between the twisted metal ruins ahead. A sudden screech echoed from a nearby vent, causing everyone to freeze. In that silence, the only sound was the rhythmic beep of the oxygen monitor and the heavy breathing of four people trying not to die for a paycheck.

Reader's Guide

The Crewmate's primary responsibility is resource acquisition. They must navigate hazardous terrain to locate scrap metal, using tools like the shovel to clear debris or the crowbar to pry open containers. Efficiency is key, as time spent scavenging is time away from safety. Survival hinges entirely on crew coordination. No single Crewmate can survive alone against the moon's fauna; players must use radios to call out dangers, share flashlight beams in dark corridors, and physically assist one another if a teammate is incapacitated or grabbed by a monster. Abandoning a fallen comrade guarantees their death but may save the rest of the team. Hierarchy within The Company is strictly economic rather than military. While players often self-assign roles like 'Leader' or 'Scout,' there is no official rank structure. Authority is dictated by who holds the quota responsibility and who possesses the most critical equipment, such as the ship's controls or the cargo manifest.

Did You Know?

• Crewmates are often referred to as 'assets' in Company communications, highlighting their disposable nature.
• The standard-issue jumpsuit is designed for utility rather than protection, offering no defense against environmental hazards or monster attacks.
• If a Crewmate dies, their body remains on the moon unless retrieved and brought back to the ship, which counts as scrap but yields no credits.
• Radio communication is limited by distance and interference, making coordination difficult during high-stress encounters.