middleofsomewhere | Not with a Bang: Side Missions

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Not with a Bang: Side Missions

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.

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“But without taking care of whatever is upsetting them it might not last.” Galo says as he pats his pocket and taps his crystalline looking staff against his shoulder. “Gotta take care of both problems.” He looks up at the sky for a second.

“Maybe if we follow them for a bit so they burn some of this off. Then chill them out a bit before we follow their trail back?” He offers. “Works with getting cats out of trees. You let them wear themselves down a bit. Just have to be patient.”

Oh hey there Mister Firefighter Buff Arms, nice to have a Purple Crew Gang here.

"Oh, how about I get them to chase me? That's my specialty!" For a guy offering to turn himself into a potential slab of meat, he looks confident, hands on his sides. "I got the speed and the magic! They won't be able to take their eyes off me!"

Wow, Tidus beat Della to offering herself up as bait. She's not sure whether to be impressed or worried.

"I'm more concerned about them keeping their claws off you." She pointed out. "We can follow as back-up, but if we can't make it in time, you sure you'll be okay?"

"If they can't climb fast could gently knock the whole lot back with magic and scrabble for the top of the trees." There could be snakes and spiders and all that stuff in the trees. Details. Galo slides his weapon into the straps on his back.

"Either way, if the problem is some bot or so, we could use some more parts for fixing stations."

Worried about getting slow at your age, Della?!

"Climbing trees? Sure, I can do that- hey, if I deal with these pandas and wear them out, why don't you two see what was bugging them? I'll catch up! Here, take Gibbs with ya!"

There's a light at Tidus's chest as he gives it a thump, and out comes the blue higgledy, no bigger than a person's foot.

'Mysteries await!, he squeaks delightedly. Teleporting in the blink of a jump from the ground and onto Galo's shoulders (he's got bigger ones, sorry Della). 'Let us wash the truth to our shoes, travellers! Hiig!'

"I'll be fine!" he assures. "If I get in danger I'll call you. Gibbs will let you know! So you two find out what the big trouble is!"

No dissuading the guys, it seems. Well... she's sure it'll be fine. Probably.

She shrugs off her worries, smiling again.

"Well, guess we've got our roles." She nodded towards Galo. "It's one way to get to know a person, and if Tidus trusts you, then so do I. You all ready?"

Galo only grins in a feral almost wolfish way. "Ready when you are." Gibbs is clearly water and that settles that part of Galo that is always on edge around fire. Water he knows how to handle. "Hitting both sides of this is the best idea."

He adds as he checks his pocket. "I got quick freeze oil on me just in case we really hit some trouble." He pats his pocket then nods to Tidus. "On your call, Tidus."

He holds a fist in, the usual small burst of air and energy that happens as he's conjuring a spell surrounding him, before- "Here, before you- rush off!"

Golden rings circled by speedy arrows surround them all, making their bodies feel looser, faster. A hastega spell to hurry them on their way, while Tidus turns in the direction of the pandas.

"Don't have too much fun without me!" he jokes, but also gives the word with, "Get going!", before giving them a parting nod and heading for the terrorising fluffballs. He'll deal with them, totally!!, while for the the New Trio Squad, with Gibbs taking Tidus's place--

There is the smell of smoke, faint, but it'll grow stronger once they start making their way through the trees. The overgrowth has been somewhat torn by the rampaging violet pandas. But they may see a black smoke in due time, an opening in the jungle up ahead.

Della whistled when she got the power-up, mentally noting she'd have a lot to ask about that later. For now?

"Smoke rarely leads to good things." She noted, pointing up ahead. "I don't think there's been any lightning, or the weather's been hot enough to cause one naturally... so I'm betting we might be in for a bad time!" Wasn't that exciting?

The moment Galo smells smoke he pulls his staff from his back. He moves quickly, weaving through the foliage with the spear point held lower to the ground. He breathes in, "Probably an electrical fire or something hit the ground before we got the shield up."

Brush fires are not good news. Plants burn so damn fast. Galo picks up the pace, breaking into a distance eating lope. "We got Gibbs here to help put it out. Explains why they got upset. Any fire is pretty upsetting for locals!"

'A bad time, but only temporarily!' squeaks the tiny blue creature, with the voice of an older man. 'We shall persevere! Hiig! My young sojourner believes in us all!'

Gibbs is got hope and belief on his side, and embarrassing things to say behind Tidus's back. But as they make haste for the trouble, a clearing being made that was still more bush than an open plain, the heat hits them hard, the smell of burning foliage. The landscape is damp, but it doesn't stop the fires that have spread out from the focal point of activity. It burns deep like from a pit, a bonfire licking up flames into the air.

that's good, right.

Della almost jumps - she hadn't expected the tiny blue creature to talk! After nearly tripping from surprise, she keeps her eyes ahead.

"Phew, that heat's intense!" Della began to loosen the scarf around her neck. "We've got to get some of this down before we can find the source, or else we could all be in major trouble real soon!"

Galo comes to a stop and plants his staff against the ground. It looks like a standard with the trails of fabric rippling with the wind. "This isn't too bad of a fire. Definitely worth my expertise!"

He wishes for his gun. A few well placed shots could put it out. "We need a barrier around the parameter." He focuses on Gibbs. "Can you give us a wall of water around this area? We need to get this area as damp as possible so we can even see the source at the center."

He pulls off his fire fighter coat, offering it to Della. "Here, use it. I'll be fine." His left arm is covered in burn scars but they don't look like they were caused by normal fire. The burns wind around his arm like a serpent got a hold on him.

The creature squeaks, higgle!, and jumping from Galo's shoulder, it splits into a multiple of smaller blue creatures, all similar to one another, but about ten in all.

'Carry us!' squeaks a few of the higgledies, 'We will make a wall where you want us!', while another few squeak, 'We will water, piggle! Over yonder!'

A group of three higgledies are jumping and pointing. Whatever they do, carrying the higgledies might not be a bad idea - they have tiny legs!

Yeesh - compared to Galos "expertise" and the higgle-squad, Della's starting to feel a little useless. But she shakes it off. "Thanks, too bad it's not my color." She jokes, trying not to but absolutely staring at the scar. That definitely had a story.

"I can carry some of you guys, here we go!" She scooped an armful of hiddledies, heading to where they pointed - granted, she had to walk carefully, given how the coat was bigger than she was, being a duck compared to a human and all.

"You're fighting fires right now! It's the perfect color for you!" Galo calls out as he ducks down and scoops up some of the higgledies into his hands. "That's a coat designed to withstand all kinds of fire. Duck under it if you need to." He flashes wolfish smile at her as he moves to the right, away from her path.

Together they'll cover the whole area. He deposits them where they point and adds, "With this barrier we got a fire break. Thanks to you we're getting it up quick! Good work, Team Searing Soul!" Once the last small water friend is down he turns his attention inward. How much fire needs to be dealt with.

Edited 2020-11-29 21:05 (UTC)

The little higgledies clamber up onto Della, tiny 'thank you! Young adventurer, thank you!' and 'piggles!' a chaotic choir that joins her in her arms. Galo's too, their longer legs - even Della's ducky ones! - quicker to get them moving around the space than the creatures themselves. Once they're deposited, they waddle on their legs and then get into position, getting into place and bringing out a burst of water sent washing up into the air, arching in its fall. They're more akin to hoses than walls, but they can turn, left and right, fill in the gaps their neighbours leave as they switch sides.

As they get their job done, Tidus crackles over onto Della's SCA. Brng brng, wanna pick up? There's a breathless Tidus on the other side, and the faint cries of agitated animals...

"Yo, D! You all okay?"

Oooh, she likes that name~! She makes sure all higgledies go exactly where they need to be, and stands back once they're all in place. She whistles once the waterworks are on, impressed - but there's no time for compliments, they'd got a call!

Della holds up her SCA quickly. "We're all good this way, Tidus." But he... doesn't look all good. "What about you? Sounds like you've got a crashing party on your end."

While Della and Tidus check in with each other, Galo takes his staff back. He leans it against his free shoulder and studies what they’ve effectively cut off from the rest of the jungle.

There had been a core that needs dealt with. But is it still giving off heat or flame? Or both. Does a hint of what it is show just yet?

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Not with a Bang: Side Missions

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