Survival by SF ’68

Summary

Relic Radio Sci-Fi: Episode Summary – "Survival" by SF ’68

Release Date: June 30, 2025
Podcast: Relic Radio Sci-Fi (Old Time Radio)
Episode: Survival by SF ’68

Overview

"Survival," an episode from the SF ’68 collection featured on Relic Radio Sci-Fi, delves into the harrowing experiences of a crew stranded aboard a malfunctioning spacecraft bound for Mars. This suspenseful narrative unpacks themes of isolation, moral dilemmas, and the instinctual drive to survive against insurmountable odds. Through intense dialogue and atmospheric soundscapes, listeners are transported into the claustrophobic confines of a spaceship where every decision could mean life or death.

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Setting and Background

The story unfolds aboard a spacecraft en route to Mars. The crew faces critical technical failures that jeopardize their mission and survival. The ship is depicted with meticulous attention to detail, highlighting the fragility of human life in the vastness of space.

• Introduction to the Crisis:
  At the onset, the crew detects significant deviations in their course. The dialogue immediately immerses listeners into the technical challenges:

  “The deviation, sir. 1.365 degrees. Not bad considering.” ([03:56])

Main Characters

• Captain Winter:
  The authoritative leader struggling to maintain order and morale among the crew.

• Alice Morgan:
  A determined female crew member, grappling with personal loss and the dire circumstances aboard.

• Mr. Carter:
  The navigating officer, depicted as experienced but facing immense pressure.

• Atkins:
  The chief engineer whose attempts to salvage the situation ultimately lead to his demise.

• Joan and Ray:
  Other crew members representing the collective psyche of those facing extinction.

Plot Development

As technical malfunctions escalate, Captain Winter outlines the dire situation:

“Our lateral tubes have failed. All of them. The port laterals are burnt out and are therefore useless and irreplaceable.” ([07:55])

This failure means the ship cannot adjust its trajectory or execute emergency landings, leaving the crew in a precarious position—continuing on their current course risks missing Mars entirely, while any attempt to correct the path may lead to further catastrophe.

Conflict and Tension

The scarcity of resources, particularly food, becomes the central conflict. Alice Morgan confronts the captain about insufficient rations, revealing a deeper, personal desperation:

“It's the rations. I'm not getting enough food.” ([14:34])

The situation deteriorates when a crew member, Atkins, dies, leading Alice to propose taking his rations for herself and her unborn child. This proposal sparks intense moral debates among the crew about survival ethics and fairness.

“Atkins. Death hasn't given us a windfall, hasn't given us a margin.” ([15:02])

Critical Decision

Faced with dwindling supplies, Captain Winter introduces a grim lottery system to decide who will be sacrificed for the survival of the majority. The method involves drawing lots to determine who will receive the remaining rations.

“Each of us will take a paper and hold it up unopened till I give the word.” ([18:10])

Alice's impassioned plea exposes the underlying tensions and personal stakes involved:

“My baby's got to live. He's got to.” ([20:15])

Her declaration challenges the crew to confront the value of individual lives versus collective survival.

Climax and Resolution

The lottery concludes with Alice being selected as the sacrificial individual, sealing her fate and highlighting the cold, calculative nature of the decisions made under duress.

“So you don't want to take a hand in our little game?” ([19:50])

As the gravity of the situation takes hold, the narrative shifts to a somber reflection on loss and the unyielding will to survive.

Conclusion and Themes

"Survival" encapsulates the essence of human resilience and the ethical quandaries faced in life-threatening scenarios. The episode poignantly explores how extreme circumstances can force individuals to confront their deepest fears and values. The haunting ending leaves listeners contemplating the thin line between humanity and desperation.

“We're like rats in a trap in here.” ([13:50])

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “The deviation, sir. 1.365 degrees. Not bad considering.” – Navigating Officer ([03:56])

• “It's the rations. I'm not getting enough food.” – Alice Morgan ([14:34])

• “Atkins. Death hasn't given us a windfall, hasn't given us a margin.” – Captain Winter ([15:02])

• “Each of us will take a paper and hold it up unopened till I give the word.” – Captain Winter ([18:10])

• “My baby's got to live. He's got to.” – Alice Morgan ([20:15])

• “We're like rats in a trap in here.” – Captain Winter ([13:50])

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Final Thoughts

"Survival" by SF ’68 is a compelling addition to Relic Radio Sci-Fi's collection, masterfully weaving tension and emotional depth into a sci-fi narrative. Through its portrayal of interstellar adversity, the episode invites listeners to ponder the moral complexities inherent in survival situations, making it a thought-provoking experience for fans of classic science fiction.

Transcript

[A]

Relic Radio. This is Relic Radio. Sci Fi, Old time Radio. Science fiction stories from relicradio.com biotechs the new soak and free wash powder brings you SF68. Stories which plunge vividly into other worlds, other dimensions, other times. SF 68, 60, 80.

[B]

But nobody would blame you. They wouldn't think a bit worse of you. Anybody knows Mars is no place. Stop it. You're not used to the kind of life you'll have to live there. Primitive. No kind of life for any woman. Alice, darling, it's only a five year appointment for David. I'm sure if he loves you, he'd rather know you're safe here than. No little voice. I'm not a child. I thought it all out and I've made up my mind. It'll be soon now. The warning. I'll have to leave. Go out to the ramp. If you had a child of your own, you. Well, you will have one one day. And then you'll understand. You'll understand. Then I better go. I know you. I know this can't be the kind of life for you. Perhaps you don't know me quite as well as you think you do. He's taken you right away from me. That's not true. I'm no longer a child. I'm a woman with my own life to live. I better go. Well, they haven't called yet. You needn't leave yet. Oh, there are the lights. I've got to go. I can't believe my mother. Other children used to call you Mouse. Why did you have to marry him? Mummy? I'm so.

[A]

Mouse.

[B]

If we were all mice as women, it'd be a poor lookout for our survival.

[A]

The deviation, sir. 1.365 degrees. Not bad considering. Southeast sector again? Where? Nearly all the deviations on the southeast sector. I wonder, Mr. Carter. Maybe they'll find out, sir, when we've been at the game a bit longer. Better correct it before it gets any bigger. How's she lying? Almost broadside with a very small roll, sir. All right, align her and stabilize.10 seconds on starboard laterals at Force 2. She should take 30 minutes to swing over, then neutralize with port laterals at Force 2. Okay? Yes, sir. All right. Better warn them. Maybe a bit of a jolt. Attention all. Attention all. We're about to correct course. There will be several impulses. None of them will be violent. But all fragile objects shall be secured. And you all should use safety belts. The operation will take approximately half an hour and begin in five minutes from now. Arsenal and therapy when it's been completed, that's all. Joan, some fool always thinks the ship's been hurled by a meteor. If you don't spoon it out, have the woman in hysterics or something. What does she think she's doing here anyway? Who? The woman, sir. Quiet little mousy thing like that. Ought to be sitting back home, knitting or something. She knits here, sir. I know. Think what that implies. What's the idea of that kind going to Mars? Well, I know what I'd say to my wife if she thought of coming along. It's always a long wait, sir, when we go. And so that's what women are for, to wait. She strikes me as the devoted type. Quiet, but with an awful lot of determination. When the right strings pulled, sort of. Well, you've heard of ewes facing lions in defense of their cubs, haven't you? Assuming you mean lamb, the answer's A, I've always doubted it, and B, she doesn't have any. Oh, well, they've had time to batten down the chamber pots. Now let's get busy. All set, Mr. Carter? All set, sir. Okay. Well, straighten her up. Get on with it, man. Perhaps when you've had your fun, Mr. Carter, you'll kindly straighten her up. Well? There's no response, sir. Mrs. Morgan and gentlemen, I've called you here together because it seems to me best that each of you should have a clear understanding of our present position. Our lateral tubes have failed. All of them. The port laterals are burnt out and are therefore useless and irreplaceable. Now, in case you don't understand what this implies, I should tell you that it's upon these laterals that the ship depends for its navigation. Main drive tubes give us the initial impetus for takeoff. After that, they are shut off, leaving us in free fall. Any deviations from the plotted course are corrected by using suitable bursts from the laterals. We're unable to land, too, or break. We can't steer. Is that what you mean, can't steer or land? That's exactly what I mean. Does that mean we might crash on Mars? No. If we go on traveling as we are at this moment, we shall miss Mars altogether. And so go on out to play tag with the asteroids. I've been in touch by radio with both home and Mars and have reported our state. I've also informed them I intend to attempt the one possible course open to me. And that is using the main drive in an attempt to throw the ship into orbit about Mars. I think we've a good chance of bringing that off. You think we've a good chance? I do. I also think it's our only chance. But I'm not going to pretend complete confidence. It's too serious for that. I'm afraid it's going to mean quite a weight. Can we hold out long enough, Captain? According to my calculations, we should be able to hold out for 17 or 18 weeks. Will that be long enough? It will have to be. Air to breathe. Well, there we're lucky. The regeneration plant and stock of spare cylinders will look after that for a long time. Water will be rationed. Two pints each every 24 hours for everything. Our most serious problems. Food.

[B]

Tough.

[A]

The prospect, Mr. Carter, is by no means good. No, Alice Morgan. There's the possible source of trouble. Some of those people out there will be weaker than others. The husband's going to have more strain on him on account of her. If it comes to the pinch, more strain and pure principles. Now she must be treated like any of them. Make allowances for her and we will be called upon to make allowances for others. Health crowns anything and then heaven knows what complications will follow. You're not very hopeful, are you, sir? No. No allowances for her. A fair chance with the rest, that's all. I hope she's not the first to go under. Better for morale if she's not the very first. She is still knitting. But, sir, the only way to locate and correct the trouble with the laterals is to affect an entry into the propellant section of the ship. Because of the tanks backed up against the bulkhead separating the sections. You can't achieve this from within the ship itself. Just what stupid scheme has Atkins got? Not a stupid scheme at all, sir. Atkins is the chief engineer. It's his responsibility, his duty, his privilege. He wants to go outside and try, sir. To cut away round the burnt out tubes from. From out there? Yes, sir. Sir, it's been three months. I know. Don't you think I know? We can't just. Anyway, Atkins wants to go, sir. He wants your permission. Even if he succeeds, the other laterals will still be unbalanced. Yes, sir. He'll use up oxygen to work his cutters too. Oh, well, very well. Let him try. We're like rats in a trap in here. Atkins will be pleased, sir. He feels as chief engineer and that he. Oh, get on with it. He's coming in a minute, sir. Working shift with Mannix. I can't tell what the blazes is happening. Well, hope was have to check. It's the counter, sir. Sir. What? Atkins has gone, sir. The ship jumping like that, it threw him off. Come in. What can I do for you, Mrs. Morgan?

[B]

It isn't very easy, I know.

[A]

What. What's troubling you?

[B]

It's the rations. I'm not getting enough food.

[A]

None of us, Mrs. Morgan, is getting enough food.

[B]

I know.

[A]

But. But what?

[B]

There's a man who died yesterday. Atkins. I thought if I could have his rations. I've got to have more food.

[A]

So you thought you'd snatch a dead man's share as well as your own? Atkins, death means this and nothing else. It means we can go on having the present ration for just a little longer. That is all, Mrs. Morgan.

[B]

I don't ask for privileges. Not. Not for me.

[A]

Atkins. Death hasn't given us a windfall, hasn't given us a margin. All it's done is extend by a day or two our chance of survival.

[B]

Captain, look at me. You see, I must have more food. If you don't let me have more, you'll be a murderer. My baby's got to live. He's got to.

[A]

No chance of being born. No chance at all. But if I told her that, she would have confided in her husband, because I'd have told her why there's no chance of it being born. And then everyone would have known. A gun. One way, a way, but not yet. Sooner or later, anyway, I'm going to need it. Either for them or for myself. Mr. Carter. Don't you dock anymore? Sorry, sir. You've got to come quickly. Sir. There's someone in the refrigeration plant. Who? Yes, sir. Lock's broken. When I checked, I made it fast by the bolts. Where was theirs? Still in there? No. This is the beginning. It's not going to work anymore. Bring your gun, sir. Food. Stealing on the ship's a capital offense. Careful. I'll pull the bolts right. Nowhere else they're wiping doom. Rocket woman spacewreck or deal Girl Captain living space go. Chip of man upon girl Girl wife trapped in space. Ordeal of girl lost in space Floating around the planet Mars. Young glamorous woman. Right, let's start. We're going on whether we like it or not. Whirling through space. We can only wait and hope that a ship from Earth reaches us one day soon. Rations. As you know, the position's critical. With one person aboard, well, the position would have hope. Two or three. A little less so, but still hope. Six people. Well, with six, you know, the bigger the passenger load on this trip, the chances of survival decrease. So we shall draw for it. Each of us will take a paper and hold it up unopened till I give the word. Unopened. Have you got that? Good. Well, the papers are in this. This helmet. One of them is marked with a cross. Ray, I want you to count the pieces of paper and make sure there are six.

[B]

Five.

[A]

Oh, well. So you don't want to take a hand in our little game?

[B]

No.

[A]

You've shared equally with us so far, but now we've reached this regrettable stage, you don't want to.

[B]

No.

[A]

You're appealing to our chivalry, perhaps?

[B]

No. I'm denying the equity of what you call your game. The one who draws the cross dies. Isn't that the plan? Die so that the others have a greater share of the rations.

[A]

Pro bono publico. Unfortunate, but necessary.

[B]

But if I draw the cross, two must die. Do you call that equitable? Well, isn't that so? My baby has a right to live.

[A]

We all have a right to live. We all want to live. Why should you be?

[B]

All right.

[A]

Very well, gentlemen. Let us be formal. Let's be democratic. We'll vote on the question. The question is put. Do you consider Mrs. Morgan's claim to be valid or should she take her chance with the rest of us?

[B]

Now, I'm a widow now as well, since my husband.

[A]

For or against Mrs. Morgan's claim. Those in favour?

[B]

Just a minute. Before you men start voting, you better just listen to me a minute. First of all, I'm a lot more important than any of you. Five. No, don't smile. I am.

[A]

Before the radio broke down. Before the captain wrecked it, you mean.

[B]

Before it became useless. Captain Winter was in regular touch with Holmes. He gave the news of us, and the news the press most wanted to hear was me. It was about me. He told me I was in the headlines. Girl wife in doom. Rocket girl in spacewreck. Ordeal in Britain and in America. Everywhere. Every country you can think of me. The whole world is interested in me. They're even more interested in my baby, which is going to be the first ever to be born in a spaceship. You've got a fine tale ready for them when they come. When we're rescued, Atkins, the captain, the navigating officer, died heroically trying to repair those. Those lateral things. An explosion. They were blown away into space. And the others, too. Stories you've got ready from what happened was murder. My husband was murder. But if there's no trace of me or my baby, you might get away with the others. But me and my baby you'll all be hanged. Or you'll. You'll fry. Or. That's if they don't lynch you first.

[A]

Madam. Your probably a great loss to the legal profession. We shall have to reconsider this matter before the next meeting. But the present. Ray. Five pieces of paper in the helmet. It's her. Of course it's her. What else do you expect to find whirling through space like a soft owl? Not a sign. Every port covered. How many months has it been? You think there's a chance, a chance of life aboard her son Tommy? Not a ghost of a chance. We're just the undertakers, I reckon. Okay. Better try and get a cable onto her. Project the magnet. If you have the cable on, we can play her like a big fish. Careful. Air test. Air's okay. The pressure is about six ounces. Done. That's all. Okay, we can get out of these fish tins. Place stinks. Let's get on with it. This is the part I never look forward to. Not a chance. Yes. Nobody here. Morphine. Do you think? What's the matter, Tommy? What? No, down there. That's a human thigh bone.

[B]

Down will come baby cradle and all Rock a by baby on the treetop when the wind blows the creek.

[A]

Miss. You watch it, Tommy. She's got a gun.

[B]

Miss. Look baby. Look there.

[A]

Food.

[B]

Lovely food.

[A]

Listen again. Next Friday night at half past nine to SF 68.