voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-11-13 04:28 am
Entry tags:

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!
achickenformylove: (mdzs 56)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-15 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi couldn't help a small smile at how easily the pandas looked over at him with the whistle. Yes, everything that was new warranted their attention. WangJi could certainly understand all of these people would be new to them.

"I think shelters might be good and setting more of an environment for them further away. It is also true that there is nothing to prevent them from going back to them after we leave."

But he had said something interesting. "Some farmers back home put plants behind a fence to protect them from the animals. Would something like that be possible here?"
blitzcheer: (:O)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-15 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
A fence... Tidus's brow furrows, but then he looks at all of the...well, trees they have. Especially the bamboo.

"What if we knocked them down--" pointing a thumb back at the bamboo "--and stabbed them in the ground around the power boxes? Cut them down in size, slice the thicker ones in half?"

Was that possible?
achickenformylove: (mdzs 62)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-16 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmm..." WangJi looked at the trees and plants as Tidus pointed to the nearby plants, holding onto the pandas fairly well despite one of them squirming a bit. He was a strong person so as long as he didn't grip too tightly, the chance of animal wiggling out was nearly impossible. And indeed, it settled again after a moment.

"That might work. We can always try it to see if it provides some amount of protection for the devices."

Since the animals seem to be the major threat here.
blitzcheer: (blah blah bluh wuh weh)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-16 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
He thinks about it a second, before calling out his sword from his arms band, aquatic and water-like in design.

"I'll give it a go," he decides, "but if we're hammering it in-- we'll need something better than my sword!"

But as for that sword- Tidus decides to go to nearby bamboo, but also keeping some distance; not wanting to be close so as to attract the pandas' attention, or to accidentally harm them. He also needed to focus, work on that training he's been doing. Bring some small amount of energy into the blade he holds, aiming as low as he can. He swings it, and takes a slash into either side to bring it down, knocking it into the neighbouring bamboos.

....


.... but then before he can do anything more, Tidus realises he needs to come back and ask-

"How long do we want these things?" ugh he should have figured out how high long to make the pieces before he walked off!
achickenformylove: (mdzs 2)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-17 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi watched as Tidus called forth his sword, admiring it subtly. He did appreciate hidden weapons. He had his Bichen with him, just in his qiankun pouch so that no one knew it was there. It was more efficient to carry it that way and have it when he needed it.

"Yes, we will certainly need something to help get it into the ground, but for the moment, we can start getting an idea of what we will need."

WangJi followed him over to nearby bamboo, standing a bit back to keep from being in his way and to try and keep curious pandas away from sharp objects. All of them watch curiously, but none of them make a move, not even the one that is simply sitting on WangJi's shoulder watching all of this going on. Good panda. That was a very good panda to not go towards the sharp pointy thing.

WangJi debated that. "I do not think jumping is their skill, but a longer pole would make it more difficult for them to scale from the bottom and might deter them just based on height. I think that-" He shifted one of the pandas to his other shoulder so he could point to a spot on the bamboo. "Would be a good point to start with to see if they are able to scale them."
blitzcheer: (take in a breath...)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-17 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Look at how well-behaved all these pandas are around WangJi...must inwardly debate if he has a secret affinity for animals. Will that knowledge ever be useful? Probably not.

But the creatures keeping with the man now is useful. Tidus follows where WangJi points and puts his hand to it on the bamboo itself; looking back at the creatures and tilting his head, humming thoughtfully. No, that should be about right. So he lifts the blade, a trail of bubbles coming off from it as he brings it down, making a clean sweep in that gets a small 'aha!' out of him, proud. Look, he wasn't always doing this when he first started...

From there though, awkward as it may be, Tidus drags the longer piece of the bamboo to it level with what's chopped, repeats the process until he comes to an end. Not bothering with the leaves sticking out this way and that. Now they just had to carry the pieces back.

...which, considering the state of WangJi with his panda entourage, it's a good thing that he can make them disappear from sight, along with his sword. Glance at the pandas and remark with a small grin-

"If you're not careful, they'll follow you onto the train!"
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-18 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
It was certainly true that he did an affinity for animals. Rabbits liked him and animals seemed to know when they encountered a person who would care about them.

WangJi watched as he cut the bamboo, again assigning the length as he did it. Yes, that should be good. From what he had witnessed, jumping wasn't a strong ability, but climbing was. Narrow bamboo would make it harder for them to grip in order to climb, increasing the chance of the devices being left alone. He was impressed by how the blade did the cutting. That was certainly not something he had seen before and he was curious about it. But he would have to ask about it later. There was work to be done now.

WangJi smiled faintly at that comment. "Yes, I fear they might try. I have already been warned by my husband that I am not allowed to bring one back."
blitzcheer: (ummmooo)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-18 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus laughs. "Really? But what if you and the pandas think differently, huh? Ohhh," Tidus goes, making a sly realisation.

"He's afraid of getting jealous!"

Aha! Right?
achickenformylove: (mdzs 4)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-19 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
"It is possible that they might. I do not know if they think the same way that my rabbits do. It is possible that they may have no interest in following when we leave."

A faint smile crossed his face. "I'm sure he is afraid I will spend more time with the animal than I will with him." So yes, jealous of the panda.
blitzcheer: (you've never had it like this)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-19 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That gets a laugh out of Tidus. "I bet! How'd the two of you meet anyway? You been married for long?"

Not to be nosy, but-- also, yes, he's just nosy! A friendly kind of nosy anyway.
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-20 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
"We met when we were teenagers. I did not realize I liked him at the time and he liked to tease me. It took a long time before I was able to let him know how I felt." Years. Many many years. "We have been married for a few months for me. When he was here before, we had been married for sometime back home."

Yes, weird time things going on here. But he was at least willing to answer nosy comments.
blitzcheer: (so i said to becky)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-20 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ohhh, so you're from different times," Tidus says out loud. "That didn't make anything weird for the two of you, did it? Or was everything okay between the two of you?"

He's had experience with that, but he didn't have a marriage involved in that time discrepancy.
achickenformylove: (mdzs 56)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-20 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, very slightly from different times. When I arrived, there was sometime after our wedding, and when Wei Ying arrived though I had not experienced our wedding yet. It was not too strange. It was an excuse for Wei Ying to plan another wedding which we had here on the train, though he is from a different time now from before our wedding."

Timelines on this train are very confusing.
blitzcheer: (oh it's a dweeb)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-21 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wait...he went from one time to another?" Wow. "So your husband planned a second wedding on the train because you didn't get to experience it, but now he doesn't remember it."

What a... huh. Tidus pauses.

"...did you have a second train wedding?"
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-22 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes. He is now from an earlier time. It is very strange. Like how I am from an earlier time than I was before."

He shook his head.

"There has only been one wedding on the train."
blitzcheer: (heyy you want some???)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-22 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"You can both catch up on the wedding then, hey?"

He grins at that guy. Second train wedding, second train wedding...!
achickenformylove: (mdzs 4)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-23 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi considered that for a moment. Well, it was true that if WuXian didn't remember having been married then it was only fair that he give WuXian a wedding as well. He still had everything from before, including their wedding robes and the golden flower that Glorfindel had given them as a wedding present.

"Yes, that is possible. I will have to ask him and see if he would want to do that."
blitzcheer: (who asked you!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-23 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Heyyy, nice!" There's a lilt to the way says it, pleasantly surprised that the idea was taken seriously. But does Tidus mind? Absolutely not!

"Even a small ceremony isn't bad, yeah? Alright! Sorry guys," Tidus says, looking to their panda companions, "I don't think we can invite you. But keep being good and don't give WangJi or us a hard time."

Tidus picks up the sliced bamboo cut smaller, tucking what he can under his arm.

"Just don't let it slip to Minako unless you want a wedding planner."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 62)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-23 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Any reason to show WuXian he loved him was a good reason for WangJi. This included a second wedding. WangJi loved his husband so much that it was something he was willing to consider seriously.

"No, that would not be bad," WangJi agreed before glancing down at the pandas. "No, unfortunately, I don't think that an invitation can go to them. It is for the best as this is their home. The train is not." As cute as they were, they had the chance to be free on this planet. They'd have to follow the train indefinitely.

"Oh? Would she want to assist with it?"
blitzcheer: (know what that means?)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-11-23 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Self-proclaimed expert of love herself? I'd be surprise if she wouldn't! She's been working on getting a quiet room all done up for the couples, you know?"

You know.

"But you should do for it whatever you want. Whatever suits the two of you! And whatever the husband thinks about it too."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-11-24 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, that is true. She did tell me about that." Of course, he had talismans that worked as good as a wall so he and WuXian could be together and not have their bunkmates see or hear them so he didn't have much interest in the quiet room beyond knowing it was there.

"I would have to ask Wei Ying his preference. I have not even found out if he would want to marry again." Obviously.