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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"I don't think bears are typically poisonous." Senku quipped and bent down to examine one. It was very soft, but that was kind of strange in its own way. He definitely wasn't petting it, he was just looking for injuries.

"I suppose you have a point."

This wasn’t a belly rub that the panda was mugging for - this was checking him over for wounds. Gen smirked at Senku over his shoulder.

“Alien bears, darling! I don’t know what we can assume about them based on what we know from Earth, after all,” Gen told him.

Wow. There were a lot of pandas begging him for attention now. At least they seemed less nervous and afraid?

"Don't you start with that, what makes you think I can make an alien antitode then?"

Senku knew Gen was teasing him and oh no, more pandas were coming up to him for attention and wait, was one climbing up his back.

"Gah! I'm not some kind of...cat tower!"

“Of course you could!” Gen said with complete, actually genuine confidence. “You’re a genius, my darling. You can figure out just about anything.”

But he had to start giggling as the pandas started climbing on Senku for attention. Was he going to help? Maybe. At the moment? Giggling.

"Fat lot of help you are, look, this bear's trying to kill me and you're just laughing!" It was an exaggeration, he knew the bear was not attacking him, apparently it was trying to paw at his hair which did not make him less miffed.

"Terribly sorry, I'm an awful boyfriend, watching you get mauled to death by some vicious pandas," Gen smirked at him and kept giggling a little, but. He finally decided to take mercy on Senku.

Coming up to him, he gently lifted up the little guy and cradled it for a moment in his arms. Idly, he remembered, "Aren't pandas technically not bears? I thought that was a misnomer, like calling a koala a bear."

"That's a matter of debate." Senku answered easily enough now that he wasn't under attack, he could crouch down again to check the belly of this panda that was close to him.

Another was nosing at his hip, if he remained low like that there was the potential to be swarmed by the things.

"Giant pandas have DNA much closer to bears while red pandas are closer to racoons." He explained. "But the scientists have determined it to be inconclusive."

Gen figured that if Senku got swarmed by adorable pandas, that was kind of on him. He'd learn, or he'd get cuddled by a lot of little alien possibly-bears.

"Why make it a debate at all?" Gen asked, a little curious. "Is there a particular practical reason to know what they're closer to, or is it really only something that zoologists would geek out over?"

"It's the latter, it's all about how animals are classed in latin, and how the families are meant to relate to one another so that's why things sometimes get reclassified - hey!"

Senku squeaked, there were paws in his hair again and when he turned back a little, looking over his shoulder he stumbled slightly.

This was it.

It was the end.

Baby alien pandas took the opportunity to climb all over him.

"Gah! They got me!"

Sorry, Senku, but the heartless boyfriend Gen was losing himself to giggling and laughter all over again. He doubled over a little, as Senku became covered in very affectionate friendly alien panda bears.

"Farewell, Senku-chan," Gen tried to say as he also tried to breathe, "I barely knew thee -"

They're just very friendly and adorable, and Gen once more was of no help.

"You are the worst boyfriend!" Senku squeaked. "Hey, not my hair, not my hair!"

One of the pandas was licking his hair and he waved his hand.

"How do I even know if we're accomplishing our goal?"

"Okay, okay," Gen was snickering a lot, but bent down to try and wade through the pandas cuddling Senku to pull him up. "I'll rescue you. My poor dearest damsel, mauled by space pandas."

He giggled and tried to focus on the question, but. As previous mentioned. Too busy laughing at the whole thing. "Mm. I have no idea. What spooked them in the first place, anyway?"

Edited 2020-12-02 05:22 (UTC)

"Space pandas licked my hair." Senku complained, but he appreciated the help all the same.

"Aside from being overly affectionate, they don't seem to be upset anymore. Maybe we should figure out what scared them." Senku admitted, reaching down to pat a lingering panda that was already grabbing his leg.

"It's quite all right, Senku-chan, I don't believe anyone will be able to tell," Gen told him cheerfully, squeezing his hand before letting go.

He hummed, and stuck his hands in his sleeves, looking around. "Probably a good idea. But, I vote, if it's something like a giant robot that's shooting things, we call for backup. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah, seems like we should avoid giant shooting robots."

Senku nudged him lightly, playfully and stepped around the pandas.

"They're probably a lot less cuddly than the pandas!" Gen followed him, being very careful to try not to trip over some of the affectionate creatures, that seemed reluctant to let them leave. "Now. Hm. We can see where they've trampled down the brush, look. All these bears, they made a path."

"I doubt they've run very far, they don't seem like quick moving animals." Senku observed wryly as he walked in that direction, stretching his arms above his head.

"Who knows! Maybe when they're really motivated, they swarm. They got the jump on you when they wanted a cuddle," Gen teased, but then, paused.

Touched Senku's arm gently. "Senku-chan ... do you smell smoke?"

He dropped the teasing too in that moment. "Yep."

Senku started walking faster. A fire? "It's way too wet in this place to start a fire easily, what the hell caused it?"

"Endless possibilities, really," Gen said, tone light, though his expression and the actual words weren't. "Giant robots, malfunctioning solar stations this place didn't send us to fix, giant robots that fire guns ..."

Gen would keep pace with him easily, eyes sharp and on the lookout for a sign of smoke. "I'm not really certain how we're going to be able to stop a forest fire between the two of us, but we could call for backup."

"We'll do what we can." Senku answered, because that was just how it was going to be.

They arrived at the clearing and it was...not as bad as it could have been. There were some flames, and a small crator, but they weren't really spreading, like Senku said, it was wet.

"This isn't so bad, we can get this under control."

Gen had been picturing worse. Maybe because of all the robots firing their weapons and making him antsy. Maybe with his recent brush with a dinosaur that tried to eat him. Getting to cuddle with pandas just seemed too big a lucky break.

“Yeah, you’re right as always, my dearest. It’s too wet for a real blaze to get going. But, what on earth hit the ground to make that?” Gen asked. Cautiously, he tried to go in to get a closer look.

"I have no idea. Nothing, should be the right answer, except obviously not. There should be a breach somewhere maybe." He looked up at the sky but could see nothing.

"We might need to check the nearest station."

"Well, at least we don't need to worry about putting out this fire, it's kind of petering out on it's own," Gen said, hopping closer between mud and upturned soil toward the crater.

"Ah, Senku-chan, take a look at this. I think ... what is that?" Gen asked, looking at the still-slightly-smoldering bit of debris.

Senku crouched down to take a look, but he knew better than to just reach for something that presumably burned up in the atmosphere, he didn't need a burn on his fingers.

"Can't tell you. Could be a remnant of a robot could be a satellite. I mean. They get signals don't they?"

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fun_thementalist - 2020-12-13 02:32 (UTC) - Expand

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10billionpercent - 2020-12-13 15:10 (UTC) - Expand

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