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)
enthunder: (hmph ☇ you're right BUT)

departure

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-09 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Stage fright?"

Lightning has, grudgingly, thrown on one of the suits, covered by a wool shawl, and she's already looking like she regrets it as the hot, dusty air fills the train. She taps him on the shoulder, in case he doesn't realise it's him she's addressing, and then jerks her chin towards the doors. "You're with me... unless you've made other plans."

It wasn't like she'd avoided him after he'd woken up, but honestly, she'd just not seen the point in approaching him beyond an acknowledgement now and then as she moved around Medical. Probably should've, now she thinks about it, but. Too late now. She raises an eyebrow in challenge, and then hops down onto the Terran soil.
xue_yang: (Default)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-09 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Apparently at least one would notice. Of course he knows that Lightning is one of the ones that first assisted with recovery. And so perhaps he shouldn't be surprised that she is making sure he goes along with her. Is this a way to keep an eye on him? But he doesn't think about it too much as he exits the train after her.

He was useful during the last mission and perhaps she is recognizing that fact beyond just wanting to make sure he can handle himself after his ordeal.

"I've made no plans. Even now I prefer to do things as the will strikes me." Not that his will is particularly strong right now.
enthunder: (dismissive ☇ this plan)

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-11 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Personal responsibility is a terrible thing, really. Both of his assumptions are correct, and she nods approval without much thinking about it when he hops down beside her.

"Hope your will's ready to investigate some weird shit," she murmurs, squinting out into the desert to where the orbs hang, glinting in the sunlight. "I don't have a weapon for you this time. Piccolo vaporised 'em all."
xue_yang: (Oh Really?)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-11 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not surprised. Apologies for the loss of your sword." Not that he regrets what he did with it..but that is besides the point. "I'll find a way to make due without. I figured out how to deal with the crabs when I was unarmed." And that was just fun.

He looks towards the orbs, not thinking those are going to be nearly as enjoyable as blinding crabs had been. "I think weird shit is the only kind of stuff the train really knows."
enthunder: (hngh ☇ what am I looking at)

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-11 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Losing 'em all is a real pain." It's a frequent gripe. Does she blame him for it? Partially. Is that gonna spontaneously generate a pile of swords for them? Not a chance. The whole thing's a mess and she's staying clear of it. "Guess we find some tools, or break apart some of these machines."

The brief has them on 'investigation', but. Yeah right. She'll believe that when she gets back on the train in a week after a boring holiday in this wasteland. She huffs grudging agreement at his comment. "Ten points says we don't make it to the third day before something freaky attacks us."
xue_yang: (Listening to you)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-12 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
"I doubt we make it a day." He has a feeling this world isn't going to be kind to them. And that's almost what he is hoping for. If he expects to get back any part of what he used to know about himself, he needs a fight. A way to prove to himself he is still alive.

"we wouldn't be here if the fix was easy."
enthunder: (think ☇ or ignore)

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-12 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"... That's the Red Team spirit."

Has she made that quip before? Well, whatever.

There's a pile of the red tents stacked on the small station platform; she kicks one up so she can grab it and throw it to him. The bags are made to be carried, but probably not lobbed at another human being... but she figures if the guy can disembowel a jellyfish, he can catch a bag. "You got any other tricks? Apart from using a sword."

Normally she's got at least some idea, because people love talking about themselves. Or something. Enough that they've responded to at least one of her Q+As. But not him.
xue_yang: (Default)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-13 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
He easily catches it. His reflexes are still sharp even if he has been scrubbed clean emotionally. "I know how to use the dead but I'm not sure how many of those we will be encountering here." He hasn't had a chance to use the dark arts since being on the train. He wonders if he even still can given the circumstances.
enthunder: (consider ☇ danger)

earns us ten points with this tag, which she will pay him later.

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-13 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Use the dead, huh. Sounds vague."

Not having any real concept of necromancy back home, she has to rely on what people have described to her on the Voidtrecker. People like Wei Wuxian. People who have openly admitted to avoiding using their skills, because of how they harm the user. "Something like Wuxian's necromancy? Controlling ghosts, raising the dead... Has some kind of backlash..?"

She narrows her eyes at him, not in condemnation, but in an irritable kind of concern. Like she can't believe he's found another thing that might mess him up.
xue_yang: (Super Serious)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-14 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Exactly the same. You could say he was my senior in the field. I don't have to deal with as much of a nasty backlash though." His golden core is intact and able to help him combat some of the negative aspects of the job. Of course with the way his body is right now, resentful energy will probably be a touch harder to deal with. Those negative parts of the dark cultivation a little more dangerous.

It makes him curious to test the theory but also not entirely convinced the spirits of this place will be much use against whatever those orbs are.
enthunder: (huff ☇ okay fine we can sleep)

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-07-15 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Lucky you."

Apparently that's the extent of her curiosity about his field, because she picks up her own tent bundle and props it against her shoulder. Ah, wait. No, she has one last thing. "If you undo all that work we did on you by raising some alien as a zombie, I'll..." A pause, as she tilts her head, considering. "... Huh. Guess I'll just do it again."

Not very threatening. Oh well. She's got bigger things to worry about, like what they're meant to do out here for a week. "You coming?"
xue_yang: (Default)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2020-07-16 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't intend to undo all the hard work." He has no plans to fall back into that pit and if he feels himself losing control then he just needs to stop. Or find someone that can keep him on track.

But he nods as he is ready to go, collecting one of the tents since he doesn't figure anyone will want to have him in theirs and not entirely sure how big they are. "let's go."