A whole weekend (plus one evening after work) later, a thing emerges!

https://k255.itch.io/the-death-line <-- play here
Did not get anywhere near everything done but there is SOMETHING playable at least. And I've re-learned Unity a bit. Much still to learn. Time for bed.
https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/the-death-line <-- rate here