The Secenario Game

Scenario game 5: Switching boats

Scenario game 5: Switching boats

“Welcome aboard… the Gigantic!” The captain announces as you board the ship.

The Gigantic is considered the sister of the Titanic and was built at around the same time. Of course – the ship also has the same reputation of being unsinkable.

Walking aboard the ship, you take in the rich atmosphere – the scent of salt in the air, the sounds of party around and the mingling of human bodies.

“Hey, over here!” A voice shouts.

You look over to see your long time friend – Victor – waving to you.

“Hey, Victor! Long time no see!” You say as you walk towards him.

“True that. Here.” He says as he hands you a drink. “A toast to our everlasting friendship.”

“Cheers.” You say as you clink glasses and drink the liquid.

**********

“Captain, visibility has dropped to an all time low.” One crewmember says.

“We have reports of an incoming thunderstorm. Should we slow down?” Another crewmember asks.

“Are the both of you daft?” The captain exclaims. “Of course not! We have a schedule to keep, boys, and I have a reputation to uphold.”

“But captain-”

“No buts, youngster. Full steam ahead!”

The young crewmate gulps and replies, “Aye aye, captain.”

The ship continues its course northwards – towards their destination. However, unknown to them, the ship is headed straight for an oil tanker… and a certain disaster.

**********

‘Boooooooom!’ A loud noise echoes the halls of the ship.

Most people do not even notice it. Many are stuck in the partying mood and quite a few have already passed out – wasted.

You, on the other hand, feel the impact immediately. “Victor, did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Victor asks. “Come on, the party’s just getting started.”

“No! Come on, we have to go!” You shout as you grad your friend’s hand and drags him out of the ballroom.

As you exit to the exterior of the ship, you find that it has started raining. The ominous clouds in the sky signal a dark storm approaching.

“What the hell? Why did you drag me here?” Victor exclaims.

“Victor, can’t you feel it?” You say. “The ship is in trouble!”

“Trouble? I don’t see any-”

Just then, the entire ship decides to shudder vigorously and lurch to the right.

“Arrgh!” Victor exclaims as he is thrown off balance and falls to the ground.

“What’s going on?” You wonder.

An announcement soon comes on. “Dear passengers, our ship has just hit an oil tanker. Rest assured that the Gigantic is unsinkable, so there is nothing to be afraid about!”

“Nothing, my foot!” You exclaim as you quickly search the sides of the ship for lifeboats.

For such a big boat, the Gigantic sure has an awful lack of lifeboats. After searching for some time, you determine that there are only twenty – each with a seating capacity of ten people. By a rough estimate, the Gigantic is probably carrying over a thousand people. Things are looking grim.

The boat lurches to the right again. The floor is now tilted at an angle, causing your footing to be unstable.

From within the ship, people are starting to pour out. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Gigantic was about to sink.

“Abandon ship!” Some people shout as they rush for the lifeboats.

‘Splosh… Splosh… Splosh…’ The lifeboats were slowly being taken up by the people.

“Victor! Over here!” You cry out for your friend. He is nowhere in sight.

“Hey, kid.” An old man shouts. “Outta the way! I’m going to need this boat!”

You quickly look back and see in dismay that the lifeboat which you had reserved for you and your friend has already been filled up. There is only one slot left.

“No!” You shout angrily. “I was here first!”

“I was here before you were even born!” The old man exclaims as he tries to shove past you.

You try to block him, but behind, there are more survivors. Each of them is fighting for the last slot.

“Hey! Get in or we’re leaving!” The people in the lifeboat say.

“Okay, I-” Just then, a pair of large hands pushes you and you stumble back… right into the lifeboat.

“No, get them!” Someone shouts and the crowd tries to grab the last boat.

A man quickly pushes the release trigger and the lifeboat drops from the Gigantic. ‘Splosh…’

“Whoo… We’re safe now.” You say.

“Oh no!” Someone shouts. “There’s a hole in our boat!”

Everyone quickly turns. The person was right – in the middle of the ship, there was a gaping hole the size of a human palm. Mould must have eaten through the wood and created a hole, making seawater rush in quickly.

“Bail the water now!” A man exclaims.

The entire crew starts using their hands to scoop the water out of their ship. Things did not look good, however. The entire boat has been compromised structurally and the hole was getting bigger and bigger.

As a master Mathematician, you quickly calculate how long it would take before the entire boat is destroyed. Since there is not bucket or container on the ship, the crew has to use their bare hands to bail the water out. At this rate, the boat would last maybe a day or two if they were lucky. Was that enough time for rescue to come?

“Hey! Over here!” You hear a familiar voice calling out to you.

It was Victor! He was in another lifeboat!

He sees that your ship is in trouble and gestures that his lifeboat has an extra slot. None of your crewmates seem to have noticed him yet.

You quickly do another quick calculation. Without you, the ship would not last more than two hours. You could jump in and swim to Victor’s boat in less than 5 minutes, due to your powerful swimming capabilities. However, the boat was drifting away quickly and you cannot steer your boat as the hole is affecting the buoyancy of the boat.

**********

Task:

It’s decision time. Do you leave your crew behind and join your friend, or remain loyal till the end and wait for rescue?

If you jump now, there is a guaranteed chance of survival, but your crew’s time would be severely cut short. However if you stay, you risk dying for nothing. Knowing the captain of the Gigantic, he probably would not radio for help, so is help even coming?

The boat is drifting further and further away – your chance of changing your mind is slipping. Only thirty more seconds…

Closing your mind, you have made your decision. You will…