voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-07-09 04:39 am

Deep Dweller: Start

After the dreams some of the voidtreckers report on day Four of Grasshopper those that have been on the train for a little while will be expecting what comes the next day. Their SCA's glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparations and Arrival

As promised the dressing carriage is opened for optional extras. There are flight suits, similar to those they wore into space but without the helmets. There are instead hard hats and some basic climbing gear as well as bags to put supplies in. There are even a few red tents if any of those planning on tackling red's mission want to grab one, they hold six people in two inner compartments and are relatively easy to put up and take down.

They have a few hours of preparation before the announcement comes. Soon approaching system #789327772. Planet Terra. Drop order: Orange, Red, Blue, Purple. Orange to doors. Leaving the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. A sharp jerk, a judder and the view from the window changes from the void to dark cloudy skies and very red sand.

They land smoothly, and indeed it seems they have landed on train tracks. A few moments later they pull up outside a huge metal and glass building.

Orange Team

Arrival

Jumping down from the train they will find themselves outside large metal gates. Noticable is the spotlights that shine even in the day time, reflecting oddly off the red sand. It is hot and dry outside, a slight breeze sending red dust rolling around their feet.

The gates aren't locked. There is no lock though they will notice devices that are probably security cameras. The doors are glass and inside is light and airy. They enter into a large lobby, a large circular desk in the centre and a glass walled waiting room to the side.

It is empty. No people at all. All the lights are on. Time to explore.

Exploration

Going up two floors and down five the lab is large and full of all manner of interesting things. Scientific equipment, monitoring stations measuring chemical levels in the air, temperature, water levels. Where to even start is a good question. The lights remain on, which might be annoying at night.

Red Team

Arrivals

Red team to doors. The train continues travelling along the train tracks, looking out the windows they will see endless rolling red sand. Factories rising up from the ground, dotted across the landscape. As the train gets close the air outside seems hazier, through the fumes. They may even see in the distance, strange silver floating orbs.

Eventually it pulls up at a station. Just a raised block really, but easy enough for red team to disembark.

The land stretches out around them. Train tracks criss cross the surface but apart from that there don't seem to be any boundaries. No fences, roads or sign posts.

It won't take them long to find the first orbs, strange silvery spheres and seem almost liquid, until they are not.

Night Time

It grows dark quickly after sunset here, which might take them by surprise. Taking them more by surprise however may be the scraping, scuttling noises in the dark. Skittering close. There is no light out here on the surface, they are far away from the research facility that Orange found themselves in.

If anyone manages to catch a glimpse they will see grey, long limmbed creatures. They shy away from light but anyone in the dark is likely to be attacked. They fight with claws and teeth.

When the sun rises they are gone.

Blue Team

Arrival

Blue team to doors. The train continues across the landscape, passing more orbs, just floating there silently. It stops at the entrance of a cave.

The cave slopes downwards into darkness and soon turns into small tunnels. They don't need to go far when they meet the first ground of Gry. A group of young Gry, practising with spears in an wider section of cave.

Despite being very surprised at the sudden visitors no weapons are pointed at the voidtreckers, instead they are met with curiosity. They are soon led further into the tunnels and soon come to the living areas.

The Gry lead simple lives but they are all pretty fascinated to see their visitors and will allow them to look around their home and answer any questions they have.

Night Time

Most of the Gry sleep in a large communal sleeping area and the Voidtreckers are welcome to join them, though the Gry won't be insulted if they choose to seek out a more private area.

If the Voidtreckers awake in fear in the night, after strange dreams they will find they are not alone. Many of the Gry have awoken too and will reassure the Voidtreckers, tell them it is an honour to communicate with The Burrower.

Purple

Arrival

Purple team to doors. The train continues on the tracks and soon enters a tunnel itself. It's a bit of a bumpy trip, this train was clearly not made for warren systems but after some uneasy twists and turns they pull to a stop.

They are at a train station, not that it's easy to see because it is pitch black. But it is clear there are people around, some looking very confused at the very odd train.

Once the last of those going on the mission leave the train it speeds off into the darkness.

The Terran's are large and tower over most of the voidtreckers but they are friendly enough, if a little confused, once it is explained that they are here to help. They will be led over towards the collapsed section of city.

There is a lot of activity. People digging at rubble, others using their sheer size and strength to hold up beams. There is an array of rescue equipment and a group of official-looking Terran's holding large devices that are comparable to a tablet-computer and discussing solutions.

There is plenty to do to help, smaller rubble to clear, injured people to tend to. Worried Terran's to calm and reassure. Those brave enough can volunteer to use their smaller size to help get supplies through to those trapped and those with any scientific know how, great strength or magic can put their skills to good use.

Rest Time

Throughout the day people are rescued and other parts of the tunnels stabilised. There is more work to be done but the Terran's seem to be working in shifts and they will encourage their surprise allies to rest as well. They will offer to host them.

They live in large groups and will happily invite the voidtreckers into their homes. They will be curious about the voidtreckers but will also answer questions. Telling them about the strange storm and the collapse of the tunnels. They are urged to sleep early and the next day it will be back to work.

(OOC: Information is here)
sobothersome: (pic#13910934)

[personal profile] sobothersome 2020-07-27 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's right." Maru nodded. "Contract... She's my Eve and I am her Servamp. I fight on her behalf." Though he also gave her a weapon in return. Though that was something he'd never understood. If he was supposed to fight for his Eve why then did Servamps give their Eve;s Leads to wield and fight themselves?
sobothersome: (pic#13910913)

[personal profile] sobothersome 2020-07-27 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Maru stopped what he was doing and looked up at Spiky Hair. Then he looked at his pack. He thought about it a few seconds longer and then nodded. "Yeah. If it's okay?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (if you could use)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-27 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can show you the ropes!" Della said, jazzed about teaching someone else anything. "I've been in plenty of caves! Looking for ancient buried treasure, fighting off monsters, dodging the wrath of the Multi-Bear..."
sobothersome: (pic#13910958)

[personal profile] sobothersome 2020-07-27 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'd like that." He was really interested to see what they looked like, and might well have asked if the other hadn't mentioned after the mission. Maru would just have to wait.

He stood himself up and nodded, hands shoving into his pockets. "... Maybe you could show me more later?"
wyvernmaster: (pic#14131178)

[personal profile] wyvernmaster 2020-07-27 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"..."

Gerome needed to say something. He knew that. Call him an idiot. Kick him off the bed. Turn and tell him to go to sleep and stop being so foolish. But none of that came out of his mouth.

In the dark of the room, where he could only just see Inigo in the dim glow of the small light someone had left in the corner of the room, it felt almost like he had his mask on. It was somehow easier, and harder, to speak... Which is why, instead of calling Inigo an idiot, something else entirely left his lips.

"... I just... I don't see how." He finally uttered, still not looking at Inigo but looking straight up instead. Straight into the dark above him. He was talking to that darkness, not the man beside him. It made it so much easier that way.
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (some exotic booze)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-27 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She winces, but she has to admit that was deserved. ]

I know, and I'm trying to do better, honest. But... if you feel a good need to smack me upside the head after doing a big Dumb-Dumb, don't hesitate, okay?
les_magique: (Shut up I'm concentrating)

[personal profile] les_magique 2020-07-27 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Let me just finish this up real quick..."

She finish the sigil with a big loop that encircled the whole thing, then stood up and stretched until her back popped. "I think that should do it for this floor."
tinkerheart: (atta)

[personal profile] tinkerheart 2020-07-27 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Their suits may look flimsy but - a bit against his better judgement - Fëanor got used to trusting the train provided tech. He's hardly ever happy about what they get but what they do, has never failed to protect them from whatever conditions they encounter. All hope that it never will.

"Do so," Fëanor says but he doesn't follow, preferring to stay closer to the entrance just in case. "I'll keep an eye on the door and make sure you're not interrupted."

Granted, all signs indicate this place is truly deserted so there should be no need for such caution. Yet, he's hardly a trusting person. It might be empty but it's far from safe.
irrationally: (but come and join the dance)

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-07-27 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At least Della's reaction is pretty good. Alice admires it when people can actually own up to past mistakes, or bad character traits. A whole lot of people out there don't even bother. ]

I trust you to be better if you say you're trying.

[ .. well, mostly, anyway. Alice's full trust doesn't come easily. ]

Besides, I'm fairly sure you don't want me to be the one to smack you.
flatteries: (a rhythm for the songs)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-07-27 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo quietly stares at him for a moment. He's tempted to just say that it's not something Gerome has to see - just something he has to trust the other person to feel about him.

But he knows that'd be hypocritical when Inigo has such a hard time coming to terms with anyone having an even vaguely positive opinion of him too, despite all his bravado.

So instead he slowly lets go of Gerome's arm, but only so he can lie on his back and stare up as well.

"You don't remember what things were like when we were little?"

It'd be too embarrassing to talk about with anyone else around. It's still kind of embarrassing to talk about with Gerome, since he'd rather not have the other see him as that tiny crybaby that he used to be.. But it makes illustrating his point here so much easier, so he'll bear it.
happyends: (no matter what happens)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-07-27 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
.. Madoka frowns a little. Like she has to think reaaally hard to imagine that..

"I think I would probably look really strange if I had your kind of muscles, mister Gladio.."

Gaze upon the wonders of Madoka's mind right now.

She quickly shakes her head though, trying to get rid of the mental imagine in favour of something better.

"You used to train with your dad though..? Is he just as strong as you are?" She may be imagining a whole buff Gladio family now.
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (we'll just glide starry-eyed)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Why? Because it'll hurt extra hard?

[ Not said in a doubtful way, but amused. The smack is supposed to hurt, after all. ]
tactlesstantei: (thinking)

[personal profile] tactlesstantei 2020-07-27 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"I haven't seen any myself yet, but the info we got said that they took samples back to the labs, so it's likely there's orbs here somewhere."

[Or, since the info said they were liquid, parts of the orbs, but the point was that there should be something here. In any case, this room didn't seem to have much on the orbs or what happened to the people who worked here, so maybe it was time to move on.]

"This room doesn't seem to have much besides the medical equipment, so we should probably look elsewhere."
only_one_wei: (What)

[personal profile] only_one_wei 2020-07-28 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
"...he was here?" Wei Wuxian was surprised to hear that. He'd heard about himself, he saw Wen Ning before he left, but Sizhui? He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Sad he missed him, or happy that he was back where he belonged...

"Perhaps we will get to work on that together, sometime," he said with a smile. "It is good to have friends along when doing the impossible." As opposed to doing it alone, or dragging your reluctant brother along.
blue_ice: (defective water bottle)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2020-07-28 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Looks good. It's just downstairs."
Kaiba sets off to show her the way, urged on by the call of caffeine. "Willing to take a gamble today?"
blue_ice: (Default)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2020-07-28 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Equipment for high-tech experiments tends to be big," he offered, poking his nose further against the glass and trying to make sense of it all.

"I see a lot of tracking. I wonder if it's related to the atmosphere."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 9)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-07-28 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"It depends on the situation. When we were trying to find a junior who had disappeared, we were asking questions like if he had been there and where was he now. When we asked about the spirit responding to us, we found out it was the junior himself near death. His spirit was able to lead us to the exact spot where he was with the qin language."

"Thank you. It is naturally an extension of what I do back home." So it didn't seem at all strange to him.
gundamofthedesert: (I'm on the phone here)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2020-07-28 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I hope so too. They will know what they were looking for better than we will."

He nodded. "I'm sure they all do. It could take quite some time to map each floor. And even if we aren't the only ones doing it, maybe someone else will spot something we miss or vice versa."

He walked over to look over Curufin's shoulder as he quickly sketched out the floor plan. "Sure, we can take turns."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 23)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-07-28 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Our sect is known for music and we use our spiritual energy and the notes from the tunes to work for us." He thought about it for a moment. "It should not disturb anyone who is not already awake. The guqin is not so loud an instrument and the melody shouldn't be jarring enough to disrupt."

But just to be sure... "We can make the rounds of trying to calm those awakened and any who cannot settle, I can try to play it for all of them at once so we don't risk prolonged music awakening anyone."
nobodys_puppet: (Hooded Startlement)

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2020-07-28 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Learn? From me?" What could anyone learn from her? She didn't even fully understand what she was herself. She was always asking questions, because she didn't know anything. So how could she teach others?
so_dark_a_road: (they came in the dead of winter)

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2020-07-28 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
"That was timely! The young man was not dead, though almost, and his spirit was able to respond to questions. Saved his life! I expect he was grateful."

Curufin thought that would have been terrible useful to the mortals of his world during the Wars of Beleriand. People were driven out of their territories and fled as refugees. Everybody seemed always to be looking for somebody else, a friend, a family member, a clan leader. Often these lost ones were dead, but not always.

"What exactly does a cultivator do? Besides talk to the dead or the nearly-dead."
so_dark_a_road: (these are my brass knuckles)

Want to wrap this thread and just assume they mapped all the floors?

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2020-07-28 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
"That's for sure! Not only are they scientists, but they live here and know their planet. Even if they knew nothing about the strange weather and the spheres, they would still have a fix on how their world works and how their specific science technology works."

He nods, too. "Good thought! If ten people are making maps, we'll probably have all the information."

After he made the sketch, he handed the clipboard to Quatre. "Does it look like everything's there?"
pleple: (Taking over)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-07-28 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Ple Two squeezes Madoka's hand a little. It's hard to describe just what's going on in her head, and in her chest. She likes it.

"...we are... in the same room... after all."
madcuriosity: (A curious riddle)

[personal profile] madcuriosity 2020-07-28 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmm..." no one knew or no one had asked about? Those were quite different things, she was rather sure. Maybe she could ask about. But that seemed so strange, to assume all the adults wouldn't have already asked.

"I suppose that is a good thing, I can't fight in the slightest."
madcuriosity: (I don't know where I am)

[personal profile] madcuriosity 2020-07-28 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure, I don't feel like it is, but in stories you always hear about the brave knight or prince or king going out and rescuing everyone or protecting everyone, putting themselves in danger... I don't know what I'm able to do or not do... though... I know I'm not able to... to hurt someone," the very idea made her queasy.