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

Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[sendiintheclown]

Prep: Having heard what was expected of each team, Trowa had opted to join the blue team instead of purple for this mission. He had opted out of the fight suits, but did grab a bag to keep supplies in. Amira was secure in the greenhouse, and he'd left food and water for her to have while he was gone.

Arrival: The caves were dark, so Trowa turned on the lamp function in his SCA to show the way. He didn't want to trip on any rocks. While they'd been told these caves are closer to the surface, there was still no light coming through the ceiling to see by. He saw the Gry that were training and admired their spears. "Hello."

[voidtreckernpcs]

There's a slight startled chirp from the nearest Gry, who very quickly turns his head, darkening slightly, probably in embarrassment. But he recovers a moment later, curiosity taking over surprise.

"Hello." He echoes, getting closer and looking Trowa up and down, squinting in the light. "Where did you come from?"

[sendiintheclown]

"We came from the void train." Trowa answered honestly. dimming the light from his SCA. "Some of our people get visions and were told to come to your people."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Void train?" He echoed. "Visions? From the Burrower?"

He sounded surprised, but curious.

[sendiintheclown]

"I don't know the source of the visions, I'm not one of the ones who has them. I came for protection, in case something dangerous comes." Trowa held his hands out to show he wasn't a threat as he stepped closer to the Gry. "The train told us we were needed here."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Ah" He nodded, drawing himself up, not that he came much past up Trowa's elbow. "You came to the right place, we shall protect you." He gripped his spear with a proud smile.

"Come, I will take you to the home cavern."

[sendiintheclown]

"Lead the way." Trowa smiled at the young Gry. "We can help you fight as well, many of us have weapons of our own."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"That is good, though I ask that you keep them low. Fighting is now allowed in the Gry coves, unless we are under threat."

He began to lead the way.

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa nodded and kept his knives hidden in their sheaths. "I understand." He followed the young Gry deeper into the cavern with the rest of the blue team.

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[only_one_wei]

"You think they'll be able to understand us?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[sendiintheclown]

"We understand each other, even though I'm sure in our own worlds we speak wildly different languages." Trowa shrugged as he looked at Wei WuXian.

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[only_one_wei]

"Well, yes, but isn't that because of these?" Wei Wuxian held up the wrist with the SCA on it, making the light dance in front of him. "Do they have one too?"

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[sendiintheclown]

The question gave Trowa pause. "I...don't know. Perhaps there is a field effect?"

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[only_one_wei]

"I will believe you," Wei Wuxian said with a grin. "This is my first time, after all. Oh, name is Wei Wuxian. I don't believe we've met?"

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[sendiintheclown]

"It's nice to meet you, Wei Wuxian. I'm Trowa Barton." Trowa thought about extending a hand to the man, but didn't. If he was anything like Lan WangJi, a handshake would be foreign to him, and this didn't seem the best time to be introducing new customs to someone.

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian bowed at the introduction. "How long have you been here? You give off the air of someone with some experience." Considering how young he was doing night-hunts, Trowa's age did not bother him in that regard.

Re: Trowa Barton | Blue Team | OTA

[sendiintheclown]

"Just over a month and a half so far. The first mission I was part of was off the train as well. It's where I got all my knives from." Trowa almost felt guilty about Duo having stolen so many things for him. Almost.

Prep

[callmegladio]

"Willing to risk your own clothes, huh?" Gladio asked in a teasing tone, nodding to Trowa's clothes and his lack of jump suit.

Re: Prep

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa chuckled a little at that. "Eh, a bit of dirt is far from the worst I've ever had on my clothing. It washes out much easier than grease and oil."

[callmegladio]

"It's cute that you think that's all that's gonna happen to it." He laughed and gave Trowa a friendly pat on his back. "I hope you're right though!" But given how these missions tended to go, he was expecting at least a few bruises by the end of it.

[sendiintheclown]

Snorting softly, Trowa grinned up at the tall man. "Hey, it'll be a win if I come back with most of it intact and not completely soaked." With water, sweat, or blood, he didn't specify.

[callmegladio]

"You just be careful out there and you can come back in just rags for all I care, so long as the rest of you is in one piece." He moved his hand to the back of Trowa's head and have his hair a little ruffle. Gladio felt he was telling far too many people not to go and get themselves killed in a messy way today.

[sendiintheclown]

The hair ruffle was...unexpected. Not unwelcome by any means, but not something Trowa was used to. "I'll try. But if it comes to a choice between my life and that of someone else from the train or an innocent in the population we're meeting, I won't promise anything."

[callmegladio]

"There are ways to protect and keep yourself safe, Trowa." Gladio frowned at him. "Think if it this way. You give your life to save someone. You die. They're safe. But who protects them the next time? You're still dead. I don't know about you, but I wanna keep protecting these people. Every life is precious. So don't be so willing to throw it away. It doesn't make you a hero, no one has a use for a dead hero."

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa looked up at Gladio. "As was proven by Miss A-Qing, death is not permanent for residents of the train. I'll end up in the luggage car, with a heart next to my name. If I can kill even one monster, I've protected everyone that monster would have killed." His biggest regret would be having to explain to Duo and Quatre what he'd done and why he'd done it so willingly.