Not with a Bang: Side Missions

[voidtreckermods]

On day nine of the month of Imagination voidtreckers may notice a new symbol on the SCA map. Lime green exclamation marks hover above several sections of Nion’s jungle. Tapping these exclamation marks will bring up additional tasks that need to be undertaken.

These appear at different times over the course of day nine and ten and do not seem to be linked to any specific team, anyone who wishes may follow their SCA to the marker and help solve the problems.

Task 1

Shield integrity is below expected levels in sector R-37. Potential for sabotage. Please investigate at the location indicated.

R-37 is a mile-wide area of jungle with a single solar station. and a cursory investigation will show that station to be the cause of the issue. Sirens wail and indicators flash red, both light and sound spilling out into the surrounding jungle.

The structure doesn’t seem to have taken any physical damage, but something is certainly wrong. The shielding in the air above this sector is flickering on and off, and no attempts to stabilise it work.
It will require a hard reset to fix; the map icon will pinpoint two towers on the corner of the station grounds from which this may be done. It will require a mix of people to physically climb the towers and access the controls whilst others reboot the system from inside the solar station building. The SCA will indicate locations and required interactions.

Task 2

Impacts upon the array have caused seismic activity in sector E-10, blocking a major river. Repair damage to the environment caused by the tremors.

It will be obvious when the Voidtreckers arrive in sector E-10, because the area is completely flooded. Trees are submerged and water is in places deep enough for Voidtreckers to have to swim, though for the most part they will be able to wade through the muddy water to find the source of the problem.

A sizable landslide has completely dammed the river running through E-10 at two points, causing the waters to swell and flood its surroundings. Whilst most of the wildlife is able to swim or climb and is therefore unaffected, one resident of the jungle is faring even better - the large plesiosaur-like reptiles that call the river home can now range much further afield in search of prey.

Voidtreckers should clear the river of debris, whilst avoiding dangers both environmental and reptilian.

Task 3

A violet panda pack has been detected in northern sector B-19, moving rapidly westwards. Given the lack of nearby solar stations, this movement is uncharacteristic. Please investigate.

Once Voidtreckers get into sector B-19 they will find the panda pack stampeding through the jungle. Some may wish to help them out and calm them down, but for those investigating the trail they have made through the undergrowth is clear.

Following backwards they will discover a blackened, smoking area of jungle, raggedly felled trees and a small crater where something has impacted heavily against the earth. The surrounding trees are partially ablaze, though the dampness of the foliage mean that none of the fires have grown large enough that they can’t be put out with concerted effort. A small river runs through B-19, within walking distance of the impact site. 

Task 4

Solar Station 29 in sector Y-5 is taking fire  from unknown assailants. None of its security drones are responding. Defend the station and identify the aggressors.

Their SCA will direct them to the entrance of Station 29. It is under attack by two large terraforming robots, identical to any of those already seen on Nion. There is also a complement of security drones with them, all painted with 29 across their chassis, and all attacking the station.

They are no tougher than any of the other automatons encountered thus far, but their attack is more coordinated compared to the simple self-defense of the stray robots. Even though they are focused on attacking the station, they will turn and fight anyone who tries to stop them.

Comments

Task 2

[magicurls]

Mami is in full magical girl mode as the situation worsens...she can hear the rushing flood waters even before she sees them, and it's a bad sign. She decides to jump up to the trees to investigate the flood from a higher vantage point, swinging between them, but the flood water is so high! Fortunately it's not too fast at the moment.

When she sees someone, she calls. "Are you all right? Wow, it's worse than I expected out here!"

She's already swinging around her tree and shooting yellow ribbons from her hand, trying to find trees stable enough to build a network of rope bridges between them. It's...a lot of magic, but they have a huge task ahead and not all that much time to get it done.

[knifewithnoname]

"I do be being alright." She doesn't sound too sure honestly. Swimming is still a new skill and it turns out there is a difference between swimming in the shallows of an ocean and swimming in river flood water. But she is keeping up, clambering on trees and rocks when she can and keeping out of the water as much as she can.

"Something did be blocking the river up." Would it even be fixed if they unblocked it?

[magicurls]

"Good."

Mami is relieved that her partner is here, at least.

"That's what we're here to check out, I think...do you want a lift over there?"

Her magic can make this much easier, of course. She twirls a ribbon in her hand as she balances on the branch, waiting for the next move.

[knifewithnoname]

"That would be being good." She doesn't like admitting she can't do something on her own, but Mami already knows, she's slowing Mami down and it's frustrating.

But she can also feel the relief through the bond and she's not sure what to feel about that, that Mami is relieved to have her around.

[magicurls]

"All right. Grab on!"

Mami uses her ribbons to craft a sort of swing with a bench. It takes some maneuvering, but this way her partner can swing beside her without being too uncomfortable.

It's a quick trip over the water, and she creates a platform for them close to the blockage.

"All right...now we have to fish all this out. Should we dive in, or...hm..."

[knifewithnoname]

It's strange to hold onto the ribbons and be flown across the water but she does her best to not show her wariness. She won't fall, she has good balance.

She crouches on the platform to look into the blockage and then up to Mami at the suggestion.

"I do be thinking they do be wanting us to be jumping in..."

She pointed, creatures that might look like trees at first but were moving, she has no idea what they are. She has seen nothing like them before. But she was wary.

[magicurls]

Mami squints at them, then snaps her fingers again, replacing her magical girl uniform with a one piece swimsuit. She crouches low, then starts to ease herself off the platform.

"I'll approach first. Don't worry. Unless...do you want to come, or lookout?"

[knifewithnoname]

Mami's magic really was useful, she just blinked as Mami's clothes changed and then nodded.

"I will be coming with you, unless you do be wanting me to be being elsewhere."

She is aware Mami doesn't really need her protection all the time, so if Mami thinks she is more useful as a lookout she will do that.

[magicurls]

"Okay. Do you want a swimsuit too?"

She has to ask. But as she does, she starts to scan the area for the most effective blockage point to attack first.

[knifewithnoname]

"Yes please."

It would be better than trying not to drown in a hoodie and trousers. The less clothes the better, when it came to swimming.

[magicurls]

"All right. Here!"

Mami works her magic. The design is modest like hers---she chooses dark red and black. Simple, sleek.

"Ready to rock some rubble?"

[knifewithnoname]

Much better! She can swim in this without drowning and the quicker she can move through the water the more chance she has to protect Mami against whatever those shapes were.

Because they were unlikely to be anything good.

"I do be being ready." She nodded, that rubble was going down!