Pick your gear, Stranded on an alien planet

[vegasguy]

modeled this after a similar post I saw on AR15.com. So if the OP from that thread sees this, I'm giving you the credit for the idea, don't sue me.

I also posted this on www.whenshtf.com - some of you may have seen it there.


The Scenario

A group of aliens abducts you and takes you to an earth-like planet. They explain that you will be dropped off in an environment roughly the size of the continental United States. Terrain varies from rolling grassy plains to steep mountains, dense jungle, and vast old growth forests. None of the plants are toxic (I.e. none will kill you) but only a few are what we would consider edible, as most have thorns or taste bitter.

Animals come in all the variety that they do on earth, but you don't recognize any of them; some look like prehistoric creatures, some look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Some of them are dangerous (toxic venom, or predators), but these are easily recognizable (same way we can identify dangerous animals here).

The seasons and climate is roughly the same in the entire planet. Summers are relatively cool with lots of rain showers but few heavy storms; winters are cold, but not particularly so. It doesn't snow in this region. Water is readily available in the form of springs, creeks, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Since you are an alien you are immune to all viruses and bacteria on this planet. Therefore cuts/wounds cannot become infected, and there is no need to filter/boil/purify water.

There are other human beings on this planet, including some species of now extinct human. most are stone age hunter-gatherers; most dont speak any earth language, and many of them are hostile. They are armed with flint knives, spears, atlatls, slings, and in some cases primitive bows and arrows. All tribes know how to use fire. some are other humans brought from differnet times,some of mauser bolt action rifles some for flintlocks some have M4s and a claim they took out Osama

You will be dropped on this planet with the following equipment:

- One pair of shoes/boots of your choice.
- One set of BDUs (pants and shirt/jacket) in the camo pattern of your choice.
- One hat in the same camo pattern as your BDUs, your choice of style.
- One waterproof poncho of your choice in the same camo pattern as your BDUs.
- One good hooded parka/coat of your choice in the same camo pattern as your BDUs.
- You will also receive 2 OD green undershirts and 3 changes of socks/underwear.

what weapons would you chose?


You get one piece of equipment that isn't a tool, such as binoculars, compass, rope, etc. You also get a small first aid kit. With basic bandages, pain killers, creams and ointments.

You get a single book to read for entertainment and a single book for practical purposes (to help you survive). Any knowledge in a survival or camping book from earth is applicable to this region of this planet, except for anything about specific plants or animals.

You get a one-man pup tent, sleeping bag with pad, a large ALICE pack to carry everything in, and a chest rig and belt pouches to carry spare magazines for your long arm and sidearm in (if they use magazines; if you picked a tube-fed shotgun and a revolver, for example, you would just get a holster, cartridge belt and bandoleer.).



addition every year on the anniversary of your abduction the aliens will drop a sealed tin containing an ammo load out as outlined above in a clearing near your current location and mark it with a smoke grenade. (So you had better keep track of the time and hope any hostile natives don‘t investigate the strange smoke.)



Once you have chosen your gear, you will be dropped off in the middle of an open field without being able to see the terrain from above. The aliens have implanted a locator chip somewhere in your body (you don't know where, and even if you did the chip is packed with a high grade plastic explosive and would detonate when you tampered with it) and will return to pick you up and take you back to earth in five years if you're still alive. You don't get any choice in whether or not you get dropped off on this planet, but if you survive long enough to get picked up then the aliens will return you to Earth, with some alien tech as a from of compensation

So... how do you prepare yourselves within these guidelines?

[jor-el]

Carefully note Sol's and several key star's locations prior to a ship going FTL or a gate access. Upon arrival, make a note of the new planet's location. Allow the aliens to depart, but at a discreet distance pursue them to their homeworld. Announce my presence, declare Earth a protectorate of Krypton. Warn the aliens they are already in hot water with me. All recent abductees are to be repatriated to Earth. Descendants of abductees are to be educated to current technologies if they so choose and provided for if not. The aliens are to present themselves to the UN and establish diplomatic relations. They will provide transport or the scientific principles of FTL travel to the new colony world.

Failure to agree to my reasonable demands and I dropkick their planet into their sun. Any escaping vessels will have their drives disabled. I will hand pick the least hospitable worlds I can find and crash their ships planetside and see how THEY like getting stranded on an alien world.
If my son can catch and throw a planet the size of Saturn moving at half the speed of light, I should be able to handle a more terrestrial sized world. I am getting on in years these days.

[ei8htx]

Well, Hollywood has taught me two things:

1. This is largely influenced from Predators
2. War of the Worlds (or this) shows that alien environments would make us even more susceptible to alien bacteria, as we have yet to (cue Morgan Freeman narrator voice) "...have suffered billions of lives to earn the right to live with these tiny creatures."

But lemme get my WWYD on!

I'm bringing an Arsenal SGL-21 (chrome lined AK-47) and a Springfield 1911-A1. If I can have a 3rd, I'd bring a Ruger 10-22.

My one piece of equipment? An Applegate-Fairbairn fixed blade knife.

Book? My old copy of HG Wells' War of the Worlds (it seems appropriate) and Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine, 3rd Edition by Paul S. Auerbach

[vegasguy]

Carefully note Sol's and several key star's locations prior to a ship going FTL or a gate access. Upon arrival, make a note of the new planet's location. Allow the aliens to depart, but at a discreet distance pursue them to their homeworld. Announce my presence, declare Earth a protectorate of Krypton. Warn the aliens they are already in hot water with me. All recent abductees are to be repatriated to Earth. Descendants of abductees are to be educated to current technologies if they so choose and provided for if not. The aliens are to present themselves to the UN and establish diplomatic relations. They will provide transport or the scientific principles of FTL travel to the new colony world.

Failure to agree to my reasonable demands and I dropkick their planet into their sun. Any escaping vessels will have their drives disabled. I will hand pick the least hospitable worlds I can find and crash their ships planetside and see how THEY like getting stranded on an alien world.
If my son can catch and throw a planet the size of Saturn moving at half the speed of light, I should be able to handle a more terrestrial sized world. I am getting on in years these days.

how? you dont have a ship or would you take over the ship you are on, or would you wait after the 5 years?

[jrswanson1]

Why would I choose to take a varmint rifle to a planet with big predators? Now that that's off my chest,

A .375 H&H bolt gun with quick detach scopes and iron sights, various solid and soft point rounds, a good sling.
B. 10mm 1911, lots of 180gr JHPs, a good holster
C. A good tomahawk, with holster

Non-weapons: 2000' of parachute cord

Book: The entire works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Jim

[KentsOkay]

1: Laugh, Pinch myself

...???...

PROFIT!!

[Regular Guy]

I'd declare the planet "FAPlandia." That is all.

[Unassigned]

A.) Springfield M1A SOCOM II.
- Enough power and range to tackle anything I have the balls to take on.

B.) STI "Perfect 10" 10mm Custom 1911.
- Expensive, but hey, we're talking alien planet. I'm not going to skimp.

C.) RMJ Shrike Tomahawk.
- Hands down, the best tomahawk I've ever handled.

D.) A 10x10 Tarp with 1000 ft of 550 paracord.
- Dual purpose... trap and shelter.

E.) The King James Bible.
- "I hope your conscience is clear, Irishman."

[raptor]

The aliens have implanted a locator chip somewhere in your body (you don't know where, and even if you did the chip is packed with a high grade plastic explosive and would detonate when you tampered with it)

I don't...I tamper with the chip inside their ship preferable as close to as many of them as possible and cause a detonation within the ship thus killing me as well as many as possible of them. With the intent of driving home a lesson of "don't tread on me".

There are fates worse than death. Being abducted and used as a lab rat strikes me as unacceptable. Beside the technology that these guys are likely to "give" you is the locator chip already implanted in you ...assuming they keep their word at all.

I do not parley with thugs...these aliens are thugs.

[TerryGecko]

A.) FN SCAR w/ FN40GL, ACOG, and Suppressor
B.) FN FiveseveN USG w/ Trijicon RMR and Suppressor
C.) SOG Fasthawk tomahawk
D.) 7" Acer ICONIA Tab A100 running Honeycomb w/ solar charger, capacitive stylus, a few 32 gig SD cards, and water/shockproof Otterbox
Obviously there will be no wifi or cellular signals to pick up on but I could video document my experience, have a tremendous amount of books and videos saved, create and edit my own maps, keep track of time/dates, and keep my sanity.

Also, are we to assume that since we are given an ALICE pack, it will provide all the contents of my own personal BOB? Same with the chest rig?

[jor-el]

Carefully note Sol's and several key star's locations prior to a ship going FTL or a gate access. Upon arrival, make a note of the new planet's location. Allow the aliens to depart, but at a discreet distance pursue them to their homeworld. Announce my presence, declare Earth a protectorate of Krypton. Warn the aliens they are already in hot water with me. All recent abductees are to be repatriated to Earth. Descendants of abductees are to be educated to current technologies if they so choose and provided for if not. The aliens are to present themselves to the UN and establish diplomatic relations. They will provide transport or the scientific principles of FTL travel to the new colony world.

Failure to agree to my reasonable demands and I dropkick their planet into their sun. Any escaping vessels will have their drives disabled. I will hand pick the least hospitable worlds I can find and crash their ships planetside and see how THEY like getting stranded on an alien world.
If my son can catch and throw a planet the size of Saturn moving at half the speed of light, I should be able to handle a more terrestrial sized world. I am getting on in years these days.

how? you dont have a ship or would you take over the ship you are on, or would you wait after the 5 years?

No, all I have is this little crystal. Just add water...

I do not accept the conditions of the scenario.

I refuse to allow abductions of fellow humans for either scientific or entertainment purposes as no consent was made. You are describing a crime. Just because it is carried out by anonymous aliens does not make the scenario kosher.

I would resist with all the power the yellow sun affords me. To do otherwise would be neither true, just nor The American Way.

[TerryGecko]

Carefully note Sol's and several key star's locations prior to a ship going FTL or a gate access. Upon arrival, make a note of the new planet's location. Allow the aliens to depart, but at a discreet distance pursue them to their homeworld. Announce my presence, declare Earth a protectorate of Krypton. Warn the aliens they are already in hot water with me. All recent abductees are to be repatriated to Earth. Descendants of abductees are to be educated to current technologies if they so choose and provided for if not. The aliens are to present themselves to the UN and establish diplomatic relations. They will provide transport or the scientific principles of FTL travel to the new colony world.

Failure to agree to my reasonable demands and I dropkick their planet into their sun. Any escaping vessels will have their drives disabled. I will hand pick the least hospitable worlds I can find and crash their ships planetside and see how THEY like getting stranded on an alien world.
If my son can catch and throw a planet the size of Saturn moving at half the speed of light, I should be able to handle a more terrestrial sized world. I am getting on in years these days.

how? you dont have a ship or would you take over the ship you are on, or would you wait after the 5 years?

No, all I have is this little crystal. Just add water...

I do not accept the conditions of the scenario.

I refuse to allow abductions of fellow humans for either scientific or entertainment purposes as no consent was made. You are describing a crime. Just because it is carried out by anonymous aliens does not make the scenario kosher.

I would resist with all the power the yellow sun affords me. To do otherwise would be neither true, just nor The American Way.

I look at this scenario completely different. I love learning about space, life in other parts of the universe, planets, solar systems, higgs boson particle, etc... To be dropped off on an alien planet and get to study their species/environment/habits/etc... would be the perfect vacation for me. 5 years is a little long but as long as I could be somehow guaranteed to return, I'd love it. No abduction necessary.

[KentsOkay]

A new Macbook Pro, specifically the one Imma buy. Why? If one from 15 years ago can hack and put viruses in motherships, with a new one I can blow their ships up remotely.

[wamba]

I'm kind of stuck between Raptor & TerryGecko on how I feel about the situation. Guess it depends on their process for picking us.

Going along with the WWYD scenario.
For my clothing I'll just go with earth tones, they'll pick up enough stains in a short time to become a sort of custom camo. Not knowing what terrain I'll be getting dropped into makes it pretty hard to pick a pattern. If I have to pick a standard camo pattern then I guess I'll go with Multicam, doesn't seem to match any one terrain real well but looks like it could do a half-assed job with a wide variety.
My weapons would probably be,
FAL equipped with 18" barrel, a simple but rugged 3x scope, & tritium sights.
Govt. model 1911 running high quality aftermarket 8rd mags, & tritium sights.
My Grayman Defender (knife)
My non tool piece of equipment would be a field notebook (along with the longest lasting writing implement I can find).
For entertainment reading I'll go with the collected works of Burroughs John Carter of Mars. For serious reading I'm kind of stumped since anything on edible & medicinal plants is going to be useless, guess I'd go with a book on primitive tools & tech.
Like TerryGecko I'm going to assume that I'll have the basic contents of a BOB with me, you know things like fire steel, matches, honing stone, cleaning kit, multi-tool, light,, & a couple day's of food & water.

You say that we'll be dropped off in the middle of a open field, is this cultivated land (what I think of when seeing the word field) or just a meadow/grassland? Either way I'm going to assume that natives have taken note of the drop & may very well be on the way to relieve me of my possessions. If cultivated land then I'll take up a defensive position (hunker down behind my pack) in the middle of the field, & wait a while to see who shows up & how things go (chances are that even if I know what direction to run they'd run me to ground fairly quick). If I'm dropped into open grassland then I'll take a quick 360 scan & start moving towards the nearest treeline or other promising feature. Once out of the open I'd start looking for a high vantage point from which I could get a look at the lay of the land. My main tactic (at least for the first couple of months) would be to go slow & study everything before making a move if I could. I don't have to conquer this alien world, I just have to learn enough to survive for 5 years.

Edited because like a idiot I forgot about a light & night sights.

[mk_ultra]

why not ?

- M4A1 in full on SOCOM Block II configuration . Elcan Spectre DR , Surefire Scout Light , AN-PEQ15 , Suppressor etc.
- Glock 17/19/34 , Don't care really which . Surefire light and Warren night sites .
-Probably take a big knife from Busse in some flavor .
-Other tool would be night vision , Not sure if I would go head or weapon mounted though .

As far as a book , I suppose I would finally have the time and patience to read Ulysses by James Joyce .

[KentsOkay]

Agaaainnn Macbook Pro with a solar charger, maybe an iPad, with many useful things on both, map tools, books etc. I would want a hard copy of 7 Pillars of Wisdom by TE Lawrence, hopefully the copy I already own

A SOCOM M1A, with ACOG 5 mags and as much ammo as they can drop with me, im fine leaving and hauling it about to wherever I camp

Glock 20 5 mags

BOB, with highlights on some wilderness tools over urban, being hatchet with hammer poll from Estwing, a full bush set by Stormcrow, and a shortsword. Cuz why the hell not.

[ei8htx]

I guess if you're gonna be stranded on an alien planet it wouldn't hurt to have a computer that isn't compatible with most everything since there's no other computers there anyway.

[deMaccusweil]

Just for fun,

I would take British army boots. Standard issue with a good supply of boot polish.
BDUs, bushhat, Poncho, custom SAS smock (since it is in the same camo-scheme and price is no issue ) in Flecktarn, since I think it works well in just about all undergrowth.

An AK-108 with SUSAT on a weaver adaptor and ris mounted fore-grip and torch. Flash hider with front sight block and detachable silencer. Obviously I would have a cleaning kit and quick release sling.

1911 Predator with tritium night sights and fluted 5" bull barrel. Again obviously a cleaning kit and holstered with a lanyard.

Army issue Golok or custom Khukri with utility knives.

The kit would have to be about 20m of paracord.

[vegasguy]

A.) FN SCAR w/ FN40GL, ACOG, and Suppressor
B.) FN FiveseveN USG w/ Trijicon RMR and Suppressor
C.) SOG Fasthawk tomahawk
D.) 7" Acer ICONIA Tab A100 running Honeycomb w/ solar charger, capacitive stylus, a few 32 gig SD cards, and water/shockproof Otterbox
Obviously there will be no wifi or cellular signals to pick up on but I could video document my experience, have a tremendous amount of books and videos saved, create and edit my own maps, keep track of time/dates, and keep my sanity.

Also, are we to assume that since we are given an ALICE pack, it will provide all the contents of my own personal BOB? Same with the chest rig?

what no Iphone? no tunage?

[vegasguy]

The aliens have implanted a locator chip somewhere in your body (you don't know where, and even if you did the chip is packed with a high grade plastic explosive and would detonate when you tampered with it)

I don't...I tamper with the chip inside their ship preferable as close to as many of them as possible and cause a detonation within the ship thus killing me as well as many as possible of them. With the intent of driving home a lesson of "don't tread on me".

There are fates worse than death. Being abducted and used as a lab rat strikes me as unacceptable. Beside the technology that these guys are likely to "give" you is the locator chip already implanted in you ...assuming they keep their word at all.

I do not parley with thugs...these aliens are thugs.

cant blame you...i watched altared last night....god damn there are worst things then death....even worst then living in a liberal state!

[bae]

I'd read this book carefully before deciding

[Sckitzo]

First, I'd feel like a giant asshole since the bacteria and shit on my body will most likely kill a ton of living things on that planet.

But, we'll assume that what ever is creeping around on me doesn't affect the other aliens and such.

what weapons would you chose?
Going to go with a 9mm pistol of some sorts for a side arm, I figure that should be enough for the pre-firearm guys.
Then some sort of AR-15 variant set up for mediumish range hunting, .308 or higher.
I'd sort of want a shotgun, but at this point it may be a lot of unneeded weight.


You get one piece of equipment that isn't a tool, such as binoculars, compass, rope, etc. You also get a small first aid kit. With basic bandages, pain killers, creams and ointments.
Rope

You get a single book to read for entertainment and a single book for practical purposes (to help you survive). Any knowledge in a survival or camping book from earth is applicable to this region of this planet, except for anything about specific plants or animals.

I'd go for a generic survival book that covers a lot of subjects in minor detail as opposed to a book specific on hunting or fishing or what have you.


From there, just try to find a dry, safe spot near water and set up camp, once I'm situated guess maybe go explore.

Really don't see me making it 5 years by my self in this environment, hopefully maybe hook up with one of the groups that isn't going to think I'm so crazy black magic practitioner because of the firearms assuming their in the same boat as me.

[TDW586]

I'm going to participate in this, because it is a cool question and I am a geek. I agree with the whole "fuck abductions" argument, so I've taken the liberty of changing the scenario. I was not abducted, I volunteered. All else remains the same. In my scenario, this is some sort of volunteer research work or perhaps alien reality show.

Question though, do I get a knife, a metal container, basic survival gear like that? I only saw first aid, a shelter, and sleeping gear listed, that ain't gonna cut it. If necessary, I'd ditch the tent in favor of a good knife and a metal pot of some kind. I'd want the following items in addition to the non-firearm and non-clothing items mentioned in the OP:

Knife - RAT RC-4 or RC-6, or a good scandi, my Jarvenpaa or Ahti Leukus would work for me as well, or a scandi-grind Koster Nessmuk.

Hatchet/Camp Axe - The usual, Wetterlings, Snow and Nealy, or Gansford Bruks

Cooking vessel - A steel or aluminum billy can would do it

Multitool - Leatherman Kick, for preference

Firesteel AND matches or lighters

If I don't get at least those things, I ain't playing.

That being said, firearms. I assume money and civilian legality is no object for these aliens, so I'm going all out.

FN SCAR-17 7.62x51mm, with FN 40G 40mm grenade launcher. Equipped with a Leupold Mark 8 CQBSS scope and Troy backup irons, plenty of spare magazines (20 should do it) and a good load of 40mm HEDP (at least 50, if I'm going to be out there alone for a damn year). This would be a bitch to carry around, but I wouldn't plan on moving around constantly. Is there a limit on how much ammo I can bring? Or as much as I can realistically carry out of the ship? Because I'd load myself down with as much as I could haul and stash it as soon as I got to the treeline.

As for ammo, I'd prefer to have about half and half two types. A 180-grain load suitable for dangerous game like the Nosler partition, and a good LE load like the 150-grain Speer Gold Dot, Scirroco bonded, or Remington Core-Lokt. Of course, I'd like to have a chance to zero the rifle and figure out a dope card for each.

Glock 20, 10mm equipped with Warren Tactical night sights and a Surefire X300. Plenty of spare magazines again, at least 10. I'd want two types of ammo for this; Buffalo Bore or Double Tap hardcast heavy 200/220/230-grain loads as well as a quality, lighter loaded HP.

If I'm going to be able to survive, I figure that will do it. Are these alien life forms going to be edible? Because if not I'm kinda fucked no matter what.

[We'reWolf]

Oh my turn my turn!
Primary I would go with a m14 with a flip to side scope and night sight on the iron sights and bayonet. ( with as much ammo as i could carry)
Secondary I would go with a Winchester defender with side saddle, m4 stock with shell holders on the side and the sling be a shell holder as well and a bayonet .( assortment of shells from 00buck, game, or slug/sabot rounds
and does the planet we are going to have the same type of magnetic poles as earth?(if so a compos)
if not than pens ( so i can map out the location)
for books with empty pages( a large book with 1000+PAGES)
and for a survival book the worst case scenario hand guide