Deep Dweller: Start

[voidtreckermods]

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)

Comments

47 / Tobias Rieper | Red Team | OTA

[rieper]

I. Prep and Arrival

Another mission, another hour of preparation. 47 did the usual and grabbed whatever gear the train saw fit to equip them with. In his cabin he grabbed his own gear--always his own Black Lily pistol with extra ammo stuffed in its holster and hidden beneath a jacket, and for this he decided to bring the blaster rifle as well as a couple knives, and some other gear hidden various places in his clothing and some inside the backpack given for their use.

Then it was simply time to wait. He usually went to an open carriage with an exit to wait, easier to disembark from one of the larger spaces.

The disembark was simple and as usual 47 stepped out further than the rest to get a good look around at their surroundings. He didn't stop anyone from following him but he clearly didn't need anyone near him if no one set their sights on his movements.

II. Orbs

Scientific research wasn't really 47's forte. Unless given instruction and guidance on what he was looking for exactly he typically only did this in the field by grabbing someone else's work and running with it (literally or figuratively depending on the job). He was good with his hands though and anyone who wanted to ask for him to help with...whatever, he was good at that. He knew how to use most equipment even if he didn't usually do this sort of thing. Lifetime of blending into any environment but not actually doing the jobs he pretended to do.

However, he's a little hesitant to touch the orbs for various reasons. To him it was a hazard not worth taking, especially since his true field of operation (especially since coming onto the train) was combat and keeping away from potentially hazardous, poisonous, or otherwise dangerous material seemed like a no-brainer to him. He needed to be able to fight when the chance came and if there were effects from those silvery orbs he wanted nothing to do with them. The team needed at least one or two capable fighters clear headed and unaltered by foreign substances.

III. Night Time

Night fell much more quickly here than it did on Earth and 47 found that meant half of them still didn't have tents set up before dark set. He barely managed it himself once his instincts buzzed at him that dark was quickly setting and he needed to hurry. As he began to move towards another team member to help them finish setting up their own tent 47 paused.

He heard something in the dark. Instead of using his flashlight to pinpoint the thing making the noise 47 closed his eyes and listened. He could hear the sounds of his teammates shuffling around with their gear, talking amongst themselves, and stumbling about in the dark. But he also heard something else out there in the dark.

"Listen." He told the others in a calm voice. He didn't yell but his voice carried an urgency that made it travel easily through most of the camp. "There's something out there."

He brought out his rifle even as he finished his sentence, prepared to fight whatever predator was out there. How did he know it was a predator? It took one to know one.

Night Time

[adropofsunlight]

Rapunzel had stopped what she was doing, pausing for a moment. They had said they heard something so Rapunzel herself was soon trying her best to see if she could hear anything herself.

She was a little nervous, but she knew the people in this team knew what they were doing and Rapunzel had the frying pan she grabbed from the kitchen.

"What do you think is out there? Something bad? Do you think a light might help?"

[rieper]

"Depends," 47 replied to her last question. He was perfectly aware that most people needed light to see in the dark--and quite frankly it wasn't as if he could actually see in the dark either. But he had a highly gifted intuition from altered generics and a lifetime of experience that gave him the edge in the dark. It wouldn't be the first time he'd fought a battle blind. "Do you plan on fighting?"

It was a legitimate question though it might have sounded harsh coming from the unemotional man. Not that he knew whether the threat out there was too much for the girl or not as of yet, but she was better kept in a defensive position behind an offensive point then he didn't want the light to mess with his night vision. Especially if she was untrained in guidance. In other words, he didn't want her to accidentally shine a light in his eyes as they searched the dark for their opponent.

[adropofsunlight]

"I plan on staying back and moving people if they get too much into a dangerous situation. I'm also providing healing for those who might not have anything that can help." If she has to fight she has at least a frying pan, but for the most part, she has really thought about how she will be dealing with fights should they happen.

"I am not planning on going onto the front lines since I lack the experience."

[rieper]

"Good," he replied and though he didn't take the time to explain it he was grateful for her intelligence and strategic thinking. Plus, if she could actually do the things she said she would it was a big help while on the battlefield. Perhaps later he would go back and encourage her efforts with a proper compliment and gratitude as he was beginning to learn the effectiveness of such interactions on normal people.

"I would prefer no lights in my field of vision. It will kill anyone's night vision." The adjustment time for human eyes was too slow. A beat of silence went by before he added, "Unless a large amount of coverage can be produced so we can see around the entire encampment at once."

[adropofsunlight]

"So... either light has to be further back or learn to adapt?" That was what she was thinking here. Light further back shouldn't be too distracting, but probably needed for those who don't have night vision. But at the same time one could maybe with time adapt to see better in the dark maybe?

She didn't actually know.

"I will keep that in mind at least. Unless there is something I am mission?"

[rieper]

47 tilted his head one way and then the other, almost as if he were working out the kinks in his neck. It was a weighing sort of motion in this instance. "Something like that. Your eyes can adjust to the lack of light and see relatively well in the dark. It would help if there wasn't so much smog in the air and stars were out."

Starlight was brighter than most people realized at first. Moonlight from a full moon was even better.

"If the light is behind me it will kill my vision further out. If we had a large amount of lighting it might be worth it to see the monsters coming, but unless someone here has an ability to produce large amount of light that I do not know about, small lights will only hamper the skilled fighters used to dark conditions." He tried to explain it to her more concisely while they had the chance, since she asked.

[adropofsunlight]

"Being able to see the stars would be nice. I wonder about their constellations too." Would they be the same, or are they vastly different? It was now something that she was curious about.

She found herself taking a few more steps before pausing for a moment.

"How much light would be considered large?"

[rieper]

"Enough to illuminate an area out in front that would allow for quick reaction times." A beat of mental calculation and then, "At least roughly ten yards. More would be better."

And even that low number might not be good enough for reaction times of some people. Depending on their opponents, it might not even be enough for him. He was guessing in the literal dark here.

Night

[stillnewatthis]

The night lit up briefly -- not because of any trouble, but simply due to Orisa's fusion driver. As the vents on the side popped open, the intakes drew in ambient water vapor with a green light.

"Stay behind my shield. I will keep you safe."

[rieper]

Well. Not that 47 needed protecting but when a shield presented itself he tended to duck behind it if open combat was in due course. He didn't know yet if the enemy would have long range attacks but a barrier was a barrier and 47 could use it to keep out of an easy attack position while still firing his own ranged weapon.

In other words, the assassin had no qualms in ducking behind Orisa and the shield. He readied his rifle on his shoulder and kept an eye out on the darkness. Not that he could see much but it didn't matter. He would hear an approach and focus there when an attack came.

[stillnewatthis]

If the creatures did not have long range attacks, they had an advantage, in that they did -- and any creature who closed, Orisa could either hold at range or punch straight in the face.

Orisa, courtesy of enhanced visual sensors, acted first -- the triple pistons of her fusion driver clattered in sequence, packaging energized particles into self-contained spheres to expel them in a veritable firehouse of ordnance. The first few particles struck the hide of a creature in the dark, doing no damage but offering brief illumination before it darted to the side and Orisa had to walk her shots.

[rieper]

The illumination was both a blessing and a distraction. 47, however, did his best to put it to good use. He had a target that he could see visually now and he took aim with his rifle. His shot rang out and hit the target in the head--but similar to Orisa's barrage it did no noticeable damage.

47 frowned. He was uncertain if it did no actual damage or that he missed it as the creature scampered away from the bright attacks. Either way though it hadn't done what he expected considering headshots were usually a lot more effective than that.

He was fairly certain he hadn't missed. But perhaps--

"Can you confirm the damage, or lack thereof, of the creature just hit?" he asked, assuming the robot could see in the dark.

[stillnewatthis]

"They appear unhindered," Orisa said, her voice lifted slightly to carry over the rhythmic pistoning of her fusion driver. "They do not appear armored. I suspect their hides are in some way augmented or enhanced."

[rieper]

47 nodded his agreement. The problem was not knowing how they were augmented or enhanced or whatever it was they had. The assassin didn't like it. There was never enough information on these missions.

No time for that now. 47 brought his rifle up again and aimed into the dark. He waited for one of the creatures to stop running about but they seemed to like to keep on the move whenever they weren't attacking directly. The hurried movements were easy to track but harder to hit under the circumstances.

"What else do you have?" the hitman asked his robotic companion.

[stillnewatthis]

"Tobelstein reactor, online," Orisa recited. "Force shield projector launch, online. Defensive augmentation systems, online. Supercharger energizing."

[rieper]

Quick, precise, accurate to a T. What he would expect from an AI. At least he didn't have to sabotage this one to get to a target.

Of course the real deal was he was unfamiliar with this robot's systems and what they did. So the recitation was, unfortunately, rather useless to him.

"Which weapon haven't you hit them with yet?" They needed something different to try, or else find their weak spot if they had one.

Night time

[knifewithnoname]

She has mostly stayed out of his way. She still isn't sure what to make about him leaving her the day they couldn't understand each other. He might have just forgotten her, she was sure he had many more important things to think about after all. It might have been a test, but if so had she passed? Or it might have been a message, that despite his earlier words about her being efficient, she has not someone he found useful to have around.

She has no idea. But when he speaks she listens, she closes her eyes herself and enters the emptiness. She usually uses it for keeping out emotions and continuing through fights. But it is useful for blocking out distractions as well. She can hear. She grips her knife, moving from her relaxed position to a crouch. Ready.

[rieper]

47's head turned towards the sound of a creature skittering on the outskirts of the small encampment and though he could not see his prey per se he lifted his rifle and took a shot anyway. The laser pierced the darkness and struck at a fleeting grey monster that whine-growled in response to the shot but then cackled as it shrugged off the hit and moved away from the light again.

47 frowned slightly. The target had been hit but little to no damage had been dealt. And yet for a moment the creature had almost appeared to panic. Perhaps it had thick skin and the blaster shot had startled it into thinking it would be painful but instead hit armor that didn't penetrate. So maybe the creature had a weak point that the laser could damage. Or maybe he was fishing.

Either way, there wasn't much 47 could do except wait for the next shot to present itself.

[knifewithnoname]

The shot had the other advantage of lighting the area, giving her a glimpse of just how many monsters there were assaulting the camp. Where had they even come from?

She dived out of the way on a monster claw, it's dark but she hopes her eyes adjust quickly. She contemplates her flashlight but it won't light up much and is more likely to destroy her night vision than actually be helpful.

So she will have to fight by sound. She stabs out at the creature. Without seeing it she can't fell where is best to stab it and has to hope she hurts it enough.

Apparently she doesn't, because it keeps coming, claws swiping at her.

[rieper]

47 took two steps back as he adjusted his stance to swing around towards the little girl. For a moment he was still as a statue as he held his breath and concentrated. In his mind's eye he could see the struggle between monster and girl. He waited. Then he shot.

His aim was true enough to hit the creature in the back and distract it. As it turned to look at 47 the assassin made a second attack. This one hit it in the face and it shrieked as it was blinded by the bright light. That sounded like it had hurt but 47 was surprised the creature was still actually alive. He aimed and fired again at the creature's head, hoping that multiple shots to the same area would finally pierce it's apparently thick skin.

The second shot had the same affect and 47 grit his teeth. He made a quick gesture with the rifle to the little girl 'get out of the way' and then opened open on fully automatic fire with the rifle before the creature could truly react and try to flee. Multiple blasts of laser fire hit the beast and eventually one of them struck directly into the eyes of the creature.

47 stopped firing once it exploded into a pile of debris.

[knifewithnoname]

She's focussed enough that she doesn't startle at the shot. But she is disappointed when it is just as ineffectual as her knives. She stayed still, still in a defensive stance but trying not to be in the way.

When he gestured she moved, out of his way, keeping alert for any other monsters that might try and sneak up at them. He fired and fired and fired and still it kept coming.

She's not frightened, that would be stupid. But she is suddenly aware that she is a very small girl with a dagger in a field of enemies that don't seem to be hurt by anything.

But then something he did worked, because it exploded and the monster was no more. She just looked at him with wide eyes, deciding to stick by him.

[rieper]

47 frowned as he considered the pile of shattered monster pieces in front of him. It had taken entirely too many shots to finally destroy the creature and in conclusion it wasn't really very clear what had finally taken it down, either. Was it the amount of damage? It hadn't seemed to do much physical damage so had there been something else in the attack? Or...?

There wasn't much time to contemplate such things. 47 turned suddenly as he heard the approach of another creature. He made a hard chop motion with one hand moving behind him, an indication to move back as he began to walk backwards away from the attacking creature. As he did so he opened fire on his new target.

[knifewithnoname]

She followed his hand gestures, moving backwards, keeping her knife high. She might not be able to actually hurt anything but she could at least fend them off.

Like the one coming in from the side, lunging at him. She trusted he would hear it, but he already had one monster. She she flung herself at it, at it's legs specifically. If she can't damage it she could at least try and knock it over. It had legs, hopefully it's knees worked like a persons, because they were what she aimed for, to knock it off balance.

[rieper]

It wasn't often that 47 cursed but a four letter word crossed his mind as the second creature made its move from the side. It also wasn't like him to rely on another person but his concentration was focused and he heard the little girl moving to intercept even as he continued to fire at the first creature. She was capable of fighting but there was no known way to kill these creatures effectively yet. He needed to get rid of one or the other, quickly.

Once again 47 released a salvo of laser fire at the monster in front of him while full auto was engaged. It was a rapid way to run out of ammo and usually 47 didn't do full automatic fire if he could help it but he needed speed and firepower. The plus side was the laser rifle held more ammo than a more traditional ballistic gun.

He aimed for the head again as well. It did more damage, or at least made the monster hesitate in fear more, and 47 moved to close the gap between himself and the creature as it screeched in annoyance and tried to get away from the bright laser shots. The idea was to appear intimidating and unafraid as well as give him an easier target as it grew all too large as he approached it.

It hissed at him as he got close enough to touch and threw up an arm to protect itself from the point blank blasts. The gunfire stopped briefly as 47 suddenly lunged at the creature with his rifle raised. He brought the butt of the rifle down on the monster hard, stunning it, and snapped the gun back into shooting position. He fired more shots point blank into the face. It was impossible to miss the eyes at this range and with this many shots fired.

He turned his back on the crumbling monster and back towards the little girl with her opponent to quickly gauge the action.