middleofsomewhere | Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

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Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day seven of the month of Imagination." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preperation

They have about an hour to prepare, a little less than usual but perhaps expected, given the urgency of the task.

The cupboards in the dressing room are open to reveal rows of tents, in all four team colours as well as some basic camp cooking equipment. They are in bags that should be easy enough to carry.

"Shortly arriving on System #6416. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world 6416. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." The train rocks and lurches, bright colours of the void filling the space and then fading as they fly downwards towards a very green landscape.

Arrival and Initial Task

The train lands in a clearing, curving round in an attempt to fit. Once everyone who wishes to disembark has done it flies back into the air, vanishing from sight.

The air is heavy and humid, though it is not currently raining. The clearing is open to the sky and looking up will reveal a worrying sight. The sky is an angry red colour, colours shifting as if the clouds themselves were on fire. It's an unnerving sight.

Their SCA's show three points, one Orange, One purple and one that is half blue and half red. The three control centres. Each are a few hours treck through the jungle and it certainly feels like there is no time to waste.

Those that don't want to treck through the forest can start setting up camp, though the darkening sky might be a little distracting. As time goes on flecks of fire drift down, though they extinguish before hitting the forest floor.

Orange are to travel to the north, Purple to the south and Blue and Red must travel together to the west. Each route takes them through thick and unrelenting jungle. Flying is difficult here unless you can get up past the canopy layer, which means vision of the ground is severely hampered.

The control stations themselves are half buried in vines and require cutting into. If voidtreckers are unlucky they will meet their first security robots here, firing on the intruders. They might even meet their first giant Armadillos, the creatures are curious and may wish to investigate. They are not helpful or constructive to trying to power up the stations and prevent the destruction of the planet.

The control stations are simple enough to operate, but there's quite a lot that needs to be done in way of repairs and clearing. It will take a team effort to get it in working enough order to activate the shield.

The shield itself, when it is activated, is mostly invisible but there is a loud humming sound. The meteor, which has gotten more visible throughout the five hours, hits the shield and splinters, fire enveloping the whole sky. It is visibly terrifying, but no fire falls to earth, no rocks get through, the planet is safe.

Ongoing

Once the planet is safe the voidtreckers deserve a rest. But once the next morning dawns it is time to start with their next tasks, to make sure that this planet stays safe from future threats.

Red

The robots at the control stations are not the only malfunctioning security robots around. They roam the jungle, or are more often stranded in the jungle, powering up only when faced with a new threat.

Some are benign, terraforming machines whose only crime is using up precious power. These need to be dismantled so that power can be saved for the shield system. Others are security robots that will attack the intruders to the planet.

Though the machines are scattered they are often obvious, emitting warning alarms or flashing lights. Their SCA's will show some areas where there are larger clusters but machines can be found anywhere.

Purple

Their SCA's are filled with hundreds of purple dots, each a solar stations that needs cleared and brought back online. It's not the most glamourous job, the stations are deep in the jungle, the treck is difficult and most of the work needed is weed clearing.

But once the weeds have been cut away they will need to patch up the station, doing basic maintenance to get it back online. In some cases wires need to be patched back together but it shouldn't take any great feats of engineering to get the stations up and running.

They may run into some of the security automatons, needing to fight their way into the stations before they can begin the clean up operations.

Orange

Like the red team their SCA will show areas where there are clusters of the small insectoid automatons that need to be rescued and restored. However they can be found anywhere throughout the jungle, they are not too suited for the terrain outside of the stations and so they have gotten tangled in vines. They can be found powered down, stranded and in dire need of maintenance.

Tools and spare parts can be found in many of the solar stations that purple team have been locating. Actually repairing the robots takes some engineering knowledge but once they are restored they will go about their tasks in the stations. They will need help getting to the further flung stations as well as the main control centres.

They are very basic in design and follow pre programmed instructions rather than being able to hear and listen to orders. But once in the correct place they are very effective at their job.

Blue

Once the shield is up there is a faint humming that can be heard throughout the jungle if they listen closely and find it among the sound of rain and insects. But once they hear it, it is obvious where it is louder and more prominent.

Their SCA will pin point some of the larger control boxes but there are truthfully too many to show on a map. Not all of them have attracted Violet Pandas, but many of them have.

They are curious creatures, both of the power boxes and the voidtreckers. They are protective of each other but not so much of territory and therefore it is not difficult to move them on. Keeping them away is another matter, the power humming is interesting and they will unearth wires and chew through them. It doesn't seem to do them much harm, there is clearly safety stops in the system for such eventualities. It does however cut power off to entire solar stations and require a lot of patch work.

Good luck voidtreckers!

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It was, his body was just disagreeable like that, but he was going to ignore it. Senku was incredibly stubborn about that.

"Fixing the station and fixing robots." He grinned. "Robots are fascinating and I'm interested in seeing what these ones can do, ah, but repairing them should be pretty simple provided their machinery is a lot like what I'm used to. Most mechanical stuff is typically easy to repair at least, the hardware is."

Curufin could respect a stubborn man, being one himself!

He nodded. "I'm pretty good at fixing hardware, provided it's the kind of machinery I learned about in my engineering textbooks. Robots are more complicated, and I'm glad you have experience with them. You can give me advice if I get stuck on some problem with one of them. And I guess you'd better set up the workbenches and start defining the robotic problems, as soon as we get there."

Edited 2020-11-14 22:48 (UTC)

"Yeah, a little bit, but the machinery part is typically about the same as many other mechanical things, what makes robots complicated is the programming." Senku pointed out with a bit of a hum.

"I'm not sure that's the kind of repairing we'll be doing. If it's just basic repairs, shouldn't be too difficult. I just like to tinker though."

"Oh, I see. Robots are devices with a hardware component and a software component. Hardware is fairly predictable, since it relies on simple principles, and when something goes wrong, it's easy to fix if you understand the principles and have skill with tools."

He nods. "I will be focusing on the hardware, and I do expect we'll be doing a lot of that. These shield stations are basically big electrical generators, and that's electrician work. I can do that. But if you like tinkering, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities on this mission." He smiles. "You have an interesting resumé, Senku. You're a doctor of the human body and a doctor of devices. Nice!"

He chuckled at that. "A doctor of devices. I like that." He offered a bit of a grin.

"I'd typically call myself a scientist, we just happened to meet when I was worrying about the medical situation. That's because my world is completely undeveloped at the moment because humanity has been petrified for the most part, for 3700 years or so, give or take." Senku explained.

"All that work I put in studying all the various branches of hard science have really come in handy. Breaking and fixing things were hobbies for me when I was a kid, I've built at least one robot and three rockets. Last one made it up into orbit." He was just rambling now, to pass the time.

Curufin listened with interest. "Your world has been at a stand-still, technologically speaking, for 3700 years? No wonder you studied so hard."

He laughed a little, along with Senku. "You and I are not so different with respect to childhood hobbies. I liked to break and fix things too. Of course, my older brothers would have liked to break me at times, depending on what I broke. But that's impressive, that you've built robots and rockets. Did that rocket that made it into orbit just keep orbiting around your world, or did it take off for other planets?" Grin. Senku could ramble as much as he liked, so far as Curufin was concerned.

"Yeah, but it wasn't like that when I was studying. When I was sixteen, something caused every human on the planet to be petrified to stone, including me of course. It's just 3700 years later I was finally able to break free, but what was left was next to nothing." Senku explained. "So it was a good thing I studied so hard."

He was older than he looked, both physically, probably, and chronologically.

"Ah, yeah I've been there. When I set the wall on fire messing with the TV I can't say my dad was too thrilled." Many lessons were learned through childhood.

"Unfortunately not. It was just a small rocket, compared to the kinds the space program had. I got a few signals before it burnt up, but getting into orbit was impressive enough, even if it was the lowest level. My other two blew up on the way up. It's imprecise materials that was causing the problems. There was a limit to what I could get, sort of." He had his ways.

"You were petrified? Jeez, what a strange fate! I'm glad you were able to break free! Did anybody else manage to do that, or was it just you?"

Curufin got it that Senku was older than he looked, and that made sense to Curufin. There was just something about him that suggested more more knowledge than could be expected from a youngish man.

He laughed. "You set things on fire too? Isn't that fun? Despite the reactions of displeased relatives."

He nodded. "So, your private space program was a success, if you consider that it was experimental, and it's by experiment that anything worth while is learned."

Edited 2020-11-20 03:16 (UTC)

"Yeah, mostly I spent it counting. I thought, but I counted so I would know the date. It's very important to know the date when you're on what is now an empty planet." Senku hummed. "At least, devoid of humans. Taiju woke up on his own six months after me. Everyone else was courtesy of the revival fluid I managed to perfect another half a year later."

All parts of science were his thing, that included chemistry.

"I have set many things on fire. That wasn't really the goal though." He snickered. "But as long as I did it outside with safety equipment, dad complained a lot less. Byakuya just didn't want me to burn the apartment down." He grinned.

"It was very successful. I'd have sent a fourth one up, but you know how that ended. I got excellent data from my third rocket though. I learned a great deal about the entire process. Learning is what I have always spent my life doing. Now I do a lot of teaching." Senku admitted. "My old man would laugh. A lot. But it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Sometimes, I still get to learn new things, so it's not terrible. I learned a lot about how to fix my cooking skills from Francois."

"Ah, so it was you who found a way to wake up the other people. I might have guessed. You're so dedicated to your sciences."

He snickered along with Senku. "Of course, setting things on fire is not the goal. I blew up the forge a number of times when I was learning the trade, because I could never resist attempting new techniques or working with new materials. Luckily, my dad never got very mad. He blew up the forge himself, more often than I did. But I can see the point of working outside, and also protecting yourself. Fewer accidents and fewer injuries, which is all to the good! Also, not burning down the house." Another laugh.

"Those rockets sound intriguing. So now you know a lot about rocketry. Learning is so important. I can't even fathom how a person lives a life without giving that goal primary importance. Your father must have been proud of you, even if he laughed. You're interested in cooking, too? I guess that could be considered a branch of chemistry. Edible chemistry." Grin.

"There wasn't anyone else to do it. I love a good mystery." Senku hummed. "What caused the petrification isn't magic, it's scientific. It's really fascinating, actually." He would say that. "It just takes a long time to make scientific breakthroughs. There's a lot of trial and error involved."

Senku really appreciated the distraction, and even though his body wasn't appreciating the walk, it was better than just feeling it and dragging his feet.

He paused to think. "No, I don't think I've ever blown up the forge, which is good because rebuilding it would be a pain. It helps though, that there was an expert in the village. It really helps to avoid the trial and error part. I had a lot of book information on these skills, but without the practice I was an amateur at best. Kaseki, he's been making things his whole life, and that's his passion, so he's a lot better than I am at it, but I've definitely learned a lot from him."

He sighed. "You'd be surprised. My best friend is kind of like that, or maybe he just doesn't understand complex concepts, but he has a good memory." He grinned. "So if you break it down, he'll get it. He doesn't really seek out learning though."

Senku nodded. "Yeah. He'd be proud of me. He always was. He's that dad."

"Cooking is interesting because it's chemistry. The fact it's useful is just a bonus. I've been cooking all week, actually. I helped Tidus break down some bears and make the lunch boxes. We're in a primarily hunting and gathering society so breaking down animals is an old skill now. I made some other things for Gen and I, and I guess anyone else who needs them." He was more than willing to share his food if it was necessary. "Some jerky with the wolf meat, and some stollen with mango compote." He paused. "I don't have a lab." He said by way of explanation.

"If the petrification was not magic, then it must have been caused by some effect that doesn't exist in my world. I wonder what that could have been? In Middle-earth, the only organic things that turn into stone are big hill trolls who have forgotten the sun is about to rise. The first rays of the sun transform them into stone. But I think that's a magical effect, not a natural one."

Curufin smiled. "I can believe those scientific breakthroughs take time. I hear there's a whole long process above and beyond what a simple craftsman such as myself would use."

"And speaking of craftsmen, you've done some forging, too? I'm not surprised. You seem to have much curiosity and many skills."

He nodded. "Your best friend may have another major goal in life, though I don't know what that would be. I know people who don't have a passion for learning new things, but they mostly do have a passion of some sort."

"It's nice, isn't it? To have a father who values your talents and lets you know he is proud of you. Mine is like that, and I've always loved him for it." Fëanor is gone from the train now, but Curufin was not sorry to have spent those months with him before he left. "Was your father a scientist too?"

He grinned at Senku's ideas about cooking. "Breaking down animals, yes. I also am from a hunting and gathering society, though we had some amenities that such societies don't always have. Magic, for instance. I think it's very kind of you to use your skills to make food for other passengers. You may not have a lab, but the kitchen is not a bad place to experiment!"

"We know it's a light emitted from a piece of tech that we don't yet understand." Senku explained. "It follows scientific principles. We need to do some research, and get some answers, but I can't do that from here."

"Yeah, that's right." Senku hummed. "My first attempts were pretty abysmal, like everyone else, but actually my village has a master craftsman in it, and I usually help him with some of his projects." They were projects he decided on, but that was neither here nor there. "I've learned enough to be adequate, if nothing else. I knew the concepts already, but you can't really be good at a skill if you don't practice."

He smiled a bit. "I am someone who can't leave well enough alone and I have to learn everything. The fact my world is primitive means I had the opportunity to learn to apply my skills in a variety of new ways. It was nice."

"Byakuya was a professor first, then an astronaut. Then I guess a survivor." Senku explained. "Since they weren't on the planet, that's where the tribe comes in, they're the decendants of the six astronauts. Naturally over all that time, he lived out his life thousands of years ago." He did look down a bit, that fact bothered him, but there was nothing to be done about it. The grief got better over time, but typically he did his best to ignore it.

"Magic is endlessly fascinating to me because we don't have it. I could really use some theory to sink my teeth into." He grinned. "I don't mind. Cooking is part of the things I do at home anyway. A lot of things we wind up testing with food. It's a surprisingly versatile substitute for a lot of scientific experiments, but it's just chemistry. Not everyone knows how to break down animals, and it's a big job but one that's kind of relaxing in its own way." He had strange hobbies maybe. "As a reward I got the parts they didn't want."

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Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

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