Consider Phlebas

Horza talks to Xoxarle, the Idiran prisoner, who describes the Idirans landing on Schar’s World. The task force, initially numbering 44, endured a grueling journey across an icy wasteland. Battling relentless blizzards, freezing temperatures, and intense hunger, their numbers dwindled to just eight. The survivors faced severe conditions, including the deaths of comrades due to the cold, crevasses, and a treacherous oil marsh. Driven to the brink of cannibalism by starvation, the group’s struggle was both physical and moral.

As the survivors explore a damaged station and a malfunctioning train, the tension between Horza’s crew and the Idiran intensifies. Xoxarle attempts to escape by feigning an injury and attacking his captors, but the drone, Unaha-Closp, subdues him. The crew’s exploration reveals that their mass sensor is broken, and they cannot accurately detect approaching threats. Meanwhile, Xoxarle convinces Horza to loosen his restraints a little, allowing the Idiran room to loosen his restraints further.

Parallel to these events, Quayanorl, another Idiran, is revealed to be alive despite severe injuries. He struggles through the damaged train at station six, fighting pain and attempting to get the train moving toward station seven. The narrative shifts between Horza’s team’s bickering and exploration, Xoxarle’s scheming, and Quayanorl’s frantic struggle.