>Ewan,
>
>Question the Zeroth - in said distressingly planet-free system, WHAT
exactly is the lifeboat orbiting - the system primary?

Yes.

Our poor lost in space sophants misjump into said distressingly planet-free
system. They find they can't sustain life in their ship, they can't refuel
so they exit in the lifeboat set-up it up in orbit of the primary and hope
someone finds them before the solar panels malfunction.