Not a prose-form story, but a song. Hope this counts:
“He Ain’t Gonna Fly No More!”
(Inspired by “Blood on the Risers”, sung to the same tune)
He was just a rookie pilot and he surely shook with fright,
He was trusted to land on Eve, his prospect’s looking bright;
And so the thought have never crossed his mind,
That he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]:
Lonely, lonely, what a horrible way to die, (3x)
He ain't gonna fly no more.
In that tiny capsule alone Player sealed him up,
Two-stage, right delta-Vs to land and get him up;
With just two clicks his craft come undocked,
But he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
One deft maneuver and the craft was pointing back,
Ready for retrograde and for the lengthy drop,
Player hit staging twice and realized his mistake,
And he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
Panic sets in as the lander drifts into space,
With no quicksave, he thought hard on what he could save;
Perhaps he’ll land and then some science could be gained,
But he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
Like a bright comet he streaks across the sky,
Thrusters at maximum, his tanks are running dry;
Chutes deployed, he splashed down onto a lake,
And he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
Going out in his suit, many samples he collect,
Temperature, gravity, and pressure he also log;
With remaining power, he sends all back to base,
But he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
The science did came in, enough for next unlock,
“But rescue’s too costly,” thus Player wisely judged;
So to be terminated there was his fate,
And he ain't gonna fly no more.
[Chorus]
[Solemn, at half tempo]:
At the Tracking Station his flight they terminate,
The Player finally says as he leans back and smiles,
“With this sacrifice, I hope the Kraken’s satisfied!”
And he ain’t gonna fly no more!
[Chorus, still at half tempo]
