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)
adregem: (did you just use a twig?)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-07-11 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
...

"Ma'am, you're quite the something," Roland manages to answer, with an amused huff under his breath. He's pretty stunned at the enthusiasm, something he definitely didn't think he'd find in someone else given that they had such a gargantuan task ahead. But hey, that kind of energy could uplift spirits, especially of the Terrans stuck on ground zero.

So Roland immediately dives into it, talking to a couple of Terrans grouped together and welcoming them to the tunnels. He pauses from time to time, letting Della take charge of any questions she may have, but at the end of it all, both of them were finally led to the deeper underground tunnels that resembled highways and train tracks. An advanced system of transportation that would confuse anyone, had they not received a Terran guide.

Roland walks slowly, marveling at the spaces carved out with intricate detail. It was still dark and claustrophobic, but this was a civilization that made a home underground. He was in awe. He speaks to Della with his eyes still glued to the dark.

"So, Della. With that level of excitement, I'm pretty sure you've had some adventures like this before. Got any wisdom to share?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (i'll be holding you so near)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-11 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Roland was right about one thing - Della was definitely trying to keep people's spirits up. Any Terrans who seemed downtrodden and sad, she immediately went to work perking them back up. Everything would be okay! Just power through, and rely on us!

"Well, every adventure is different, but some things are universal." Della admitted. "With these kinds of settings, for example, you can't rely on the lights forever, even if they are dim like this. If you find yourself lost in the darkness, keep your hand on the wall at all times as you move."
adregem: (tell me something.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-07-12 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's some great advice if I ever heard one." He mimics the action, one hand against the wall to his right, even though the structures erected underground were already giving them a little bit more light, however slight. "How do you map out an escape route, then?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (i'll be holding you so near)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-13 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Silence will be your best bet." Della replied, gesturing around them. "Even try to quiet down your breathing, if you can. That way you can try to hear the wind blow... if you can hear that, small as it could be, you gotta follow that."
adregem: (i'm staying here with you evan.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-07-13 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
He hums in thoughtful agreement. "That's true. It's a tactic that's saved me once already. I guess some survival tactics just remain universal, no matter what world you're on." He followed the wind during his very first escape from Ding Dong Dell. Another thing to look out for, he surmised, could be -

" - Water." Roland pauses where he sees a series of looping tubes that led to inside the walls. Pressing his ear against it revealed a soft sound he couldn't mistake for anything but a flow of water underground. "No wonder they could make a civilization work in such a tight space. If you've got water, you've got life. Still...this just means we have to be even more careful with where we excavate survivors. We don't want to breach a leak." He smiles at Della with a little bit more pep in his step, happy to engage in shop talk with someone who obviously had experience with adventure.

"Looks like we've arrived. Sorry to disappoint, Della. It's just some regular Terran folk trying to get by, it seems. No Minotaurs here."
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (if you could use)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-13 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Della nods in agreement, smiling. She was pretty pleased to hear someone know what he was doing!

"There's always next time." She replies with a teasing grin. "But I guess this'll do for now."
adregem: (look let me apologize.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-07-14 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Before they mobilize the Purple Team to help with evac and rescue, Roland pauses, a thought tugging at him before he decides to just act upon it. He carefully maneuvers his way so that he's facing Della, and his face once again turns just a bit more serious.

"Hey, you'll let me know if you do meet any monsters or minotaurs, right?" Della could probably hold her own in a fight, Roland has little reason to believe otherwise, but just in case her instincts found something unusual...At least it'll help knowing someone's got her back.
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (if you could use)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-07-14 01:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course!" Della said, still amazingly pleasant. "Why, if I do, everyone within a ten feet radius will hear me cheering!"

But that hadn't been why he mentioned it, and she knew it. "Really, though, I know when to call for help. And I will. Thanks, Roland."