CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE - EYES IN THE DARK

A murmur ran through the group, a mix of fear and anticipation. "First," the Captain continued, "the bad news. Our radio is damaged, and we haven't been able to get a distress signal out. The good news is that we were able to activate the emergency locator transmitter before the crash. With any luck, search and rescue teams will be looking for us." "How long will that take?" someone called out. The Captain's face was grim. "I won't lie to you. Given our location and the weather conditions, it could be days. Maybe longer. Which is why what we've accomplished here today is so crucial. This shelter gives us a fighting chance." He turned to Mara. "Miss Aniston, I think it's fair to say you've become our de facto camp manager. What's our next priority?" Mara felt all eyes turn to her. She took a deep breath, pushing down her own fears and uncertainties. "Food and water," she said firmly. "We need to take stock of our supplies and come up with a rationing plan. We should also look into