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!
flatteries: (for breakfast in the heartbreak hotel)

preparation

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-15 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cue Inigo approaching. Innocently. Not having any idea just yet.

Which is why he smiles widely as he greets Della, trying to remain cheerful despite the visions and mission description. ]


Della! It's so good to see..

[ His gaze drops. And so does his jaw. ]

S-- Sweet Naga, Della! You have a hole! There's a hole in you!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (so kiss me)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-15 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Well yeah, how else would I eat?

[ Rimshot. ]

Ah, I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I know about the leg.
flatteries: (on the noose around your neck)

1/2

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-15 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ For a moment Inigo freezes up, looking well and truly confused by the joke. Give him a second for it to land..

...

.....

Wait, does she mean her mouth?

The joke timing has long passed by the time Inigo realises it though, especially since his worry immediately slides back into focus at that last thing Della says. ]
flatteries: (you look like you've been)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-15 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Wait, if you know about it, then why are you so casual about it! We have to fix it!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (so kiss me)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-16 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Relax, it's a small hole! I can always hammer it out when we're done with the mission!
flatteries: (you gotta pull it together)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-17 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ You say 'relax' as if Inigo is physically capable of that, Della.

Especially when people he cares about are involved! ]


Even if you think it's small now, do you have any idea how much bigger it can get during the mission? You could get so many problems with it! And I mean, doesn't it.. hurt..?

[ Someone may not entirely realise just yet how prosthetics work. ]
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (waiting on the wings)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-17 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Eyebrow raise? ]

Uh... you know this isn't my real leg, right? It's made out of rocket ship parts. Lost it in the crash. See?

[ To demonstrate, she reaches down, and POP! Off it comes. ]
flatteries: (you hold up your hands)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-18 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...

Inigo stares. And the moment that leg comes off, Inigo just screams.

You'd think he'd be more used to this, considering the things he's seen in battle back home, and yet. And yet. He still looks like he's about to pass out. ]


Della! Della!! Della, put it back on!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (i've been dreaming by the rhythm)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-18 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
But - Inigo! Hey! Sheesh, all right!

[ With a sigh, she POPs it back on, flexing it back and forth. ]

It's really okay, I promise!
flatteries: (you gotta pull it together)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-19 09:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ He may have put his hands in front of his face, only peeking out from behind slightly moved fingers at Della. ]

Are you sure? [ Because that didn't look 'really okay' to him, alright! ] I mean, without that.. you-- you don't have a leg!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (till the end)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-19 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, depending on your definition, I still don't have a leg.

Remember the whole... awful joyride thing I told you about during my big melt-down? Well, the end result of it was that a big, heavy, sharp part of the ship landed on me and...

[ She makes a chopping motion with her hand. ]

... Anyway, long story short, I used other parts of the ship to make me a new leg. But it doesn't hurt, and worse comes to worse, I can always make myself a new one.
flatteries: (and i'll find strength in pain)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-20 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
.. oh, Della..

[ Despite her reassurances that it doesn't hurt, or that she easily could replace it, the look in Inigo's eyes still turns all sad. Because it's not fun to hear. Of course it isn't. Even though Inigo has seen worse, has caused worse in some cases..

It still hurts, knowing that happened to someone he cares about. ]


I'm so sorry. It must have hurt so much.. You really are amazing to have pulled through the way you did.
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (my darling baby boys)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-20 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
... I'd tell you not to worry about it, but let's face it, that'd be telling you to stop breathing. But it is nice to have someone concerned about me now and again.

[ A little chuckle, touching his arm. ]
flatteries: (and if you close your eyes)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-21 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ What a call out. But a valid one, and one that ends in sweetness that's enough to make Inigo's cheeks grow pink, his gaze lowering a little bit. ]

I don't think I'm the only person here concerned about you. [ Even though he's a particular baby worrywart. But Inigo can only imagine a lot of other people here must like Della a lot too, and certainly they'd be just as concerned about this because of that. ]

But.. that's why you have to take good care of yourself, you know? You wouldn't want to upset all the people who care about you, right?
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (and i'll do it all again)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-21 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm hearing you. I'll try and be more careful with this leg of mine, I promise.

[ One hand to heart, other hand up, trying to show that she means it! ]
Edited 2020-11-21 20:05 (UTC)
flatteries: (there's no logic in your sadness)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-22 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
Della.. thank you.

[ There's that momentary pause in the middle since he's touched! It means a lot to him to see her take it so seriously, okay. ]

Should we see if we can do anything about that hole for now then? You know.. just to make sure it doesn't get bigger or otherwise worse during the mission!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (with eyes clear and true)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-22 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure what we can do... besides, they need us out there, pronto! I'm sure it'll be fine for just one mission, and once we get back, I'll have it looked at. Promise.

[ please please pleeeeeease? ]
flatteries: (she said i know what you're scared of)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-22 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Why is he the one getting pleaded with here. Della is the older one! Della is the duck mum!

But Inigo is so weak. So very weak to this - and it's visible in his eyes that he's slowly giving in as he looks at her. ]


.. you're really sure you'll get it looked at? The moment we're back? You have to promise me!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (he's blowing his horn)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-22 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I promise. Cross my heart -

[ Er. Maybe "hope to die" wouldn't reassure him here. ]

And... I super duper promise?
flatteries: (and i'll find strength in pain)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-22 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
...

[ There's a pause. It doesn't feel right, letting her go on the mission while she's-- maybe not injured if that leg isn't real, but it feels like she's injured!

But Della is asking him so nicely. And Inigo's heart is so soft. ]


Alright.. [ He looks a bit reluctant about it, but he gives in. ] But please be really careful. If anything at all happens to you, I will cry!

[ Is this a threat. ]
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (before i move)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-23 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She's certainly taking it as a threat!!! ]

I am not letting that happen, not on my watch!
flatteries: (i've memorized that phrase by heart)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-11-24 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Is that all it takes for this determination to kick in. The threat of tears.

Inigo isn't thinking much about that though, instead just glad Della is agreeing. Which is why he gently takes her hand into his own, giving her a small, though very emotional smile. ]


.. Thanks, Della. I'll be counting on you, okay? If we don't see each other much during the mission, I want to see you right when it's over!
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (my darling baby boys)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2020-11-25 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
Sure thing, Inigo. I'll keep my eye out for you!

[ She squeezes his hand tight! Have some faith in her! ]