Not with a Bang Start and Ongoing

[voidtreckermods]

"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!

Comments

[adregem]

Roland really doubts that, as he takes a look at the sky and the surrounding jungle. But he can't bring himself to be that candid with Xingchen, and instead thinks of ways he could probably reassure him that all will be well.

"I usually stick with purple, but there's nothing stopping anyone on the train from going around helping with other tasks. If you feel up to it later on, I'd be happy to herd the animals to safety alongside you."

[feixuehua]

The reality that a meteor is rushing forth to destroy the planet in a few hours. But hopefully, the teams on their missions are successful in that regard to get the shield up to save the planet. Even if Xingchen can't see, but he knows what might happen, he is optimistic that everyone will succeed in saving this world.

"You're welcome to help with herding the pandas. I think we shall be going in half an hour once there's a group going together."

[adregem]

"I can't say I've ever tried to herd pandas before, but I'll always welcome a challenge." Roland jokes. "All right. I'll come look for you later. We're on a timer anyway. No dilly-dallying to get these stations up."

And maybe he's a little happy that Xingchen doesn't get to exactly see the meteor come crashing down...He isn't looking forward to that impact at all.

"You know how to use the SCA now, right?" He asks, to make sure. "The device on your wrist."

[feixuehua]

"The SCA?" He holds up one of his wrists. "I got it. I'm learning how to use it, but I'm starting to get it. I have it set it up, so I can hear it clearly in audio mode and it will alert me also when it's time to go."

[adregem]

"Yeah. That's what it's called. Listen, if things start to go south for you, and there's no one around to help, please consider two options." Roland immediately sounds serious, moreso than he usually he is.

"First, try and call me. I'm part of a sub-unit that can teleport to different places in case of an emergency. I'll be able to do this in any mission, as long as I know where you are." A pause, then he touches Xingchen's shoulder in a firm grip of reassurance. "The second option is to press your SCA three times in succession. It will teleport you back to the train, though that means you won't get to go back down and join the rest of the mission. We don't know where the train parks after we disembark. But you'll be safe."

Hopefully. He's never had to evac, and hopefully he never will. But it's good to get this information out there, for anyone's use and discretion. Especially someone like Xingchen, who he has begun to look out for since meeting him.

[feixuehua]

He lowers his wrists and he listens to his instructions. In a way, Roland is one of the few people he met, with that confidence and leadership, but there is so few that commanded his respect and his reassurance.

"I..." He took a pause and thought about it. Back home, he was on his own, managing by himself. It was strange for him to ask for help, any help considering A-Qing and Xue Yang who took advantage of him in that home they shared and his kindness to the point, he was pushed to the brink and edge. Although A-Qing turned out for the better during her time on the train, and Xue Yang become quiet, atoned for his crimes, for him this is quite a change.

If he could, a part of him would have stayed on the planet and choose it and end it all. But a part of him doesn't felt that way right now, and he knew he would gladly joined the others on the train. Why the people on the train are so kind? So rational and driven with so much purpose?

He has much to think for himself and to deeply reflect on himself. So the words that is coming out of him is surprising even to himself. "I got it." He said. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll pressed it three times and I'll be on board." But he doesn't want to be seen as a burden due to his disability, people and family has been too kind to him.

Then a thought, "You have to worry about the others. I don't want anyone be left behind."