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

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou damn near leaves them to it, for a split second, before he pulls on his backpack and chases after them at a jog. Why not, right? It has to be more entertaining than staying where he is.

"Has to be another dam, huh?" With the way the water is behaving... maybe just breaking the last one into big chunks hadn't been efficient enough. Might be time to fix that.

[ramengroupie]

"Right." If so, Ken's going to have to leave clearing it to Koumyou. Except it's going to be a neverending cycle if the river keeps picking up debris...

He gestures to the detritus in the water. "Can anything you do remove what's causing the blocks?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Hmm," Koumyou glances over at the water as they move along, noticing that the flow is indeed starting to slow. "You mean like I did to the rock? Just turn it all into dust?"

Certainly, that has to be better for the local ecosystem than what's currently happening. The dust would settle to the bottom eventually, or end up on the shore. Flowing water did, after all, eventually break everything down on its own -- he'd just be giving it a hell of a head start.

[ramengroupie]

Ken nods. "Floods are dangerous not only for the water, but for the objects they dislodge. If we remove those objects, the river might settle back to normal more quickly."

What a good plan. Minomon, safe in his carry, looks adoringly up at his boy. "Ken-chan, you're so smart!"

[its_dad_sanzo]

And there it is, an even bigger block than before, added to by all the debris from the one upriver. Downstream from this block, things seem to be flowing just fine, if smaller than ideal since there's less water feeding into the rest of the river.

But hey, that means this should be the last block as long as they don't create any new ones.

Koumyou ponders it for a moment, rubbing his chin. The sutra would murder all of this easily, but it's a bit dangerous to fire without good reason -- it can really attract all kinds of danger all on its own. No, better to stick to regular chi manipulation for this.

"--Right!" Koumyou claps his hands together once, decisively. "I think I've got it. But I'm going to need to use some of your energy too, if that's alright."

And he holds out a hand accordingly.

Look, he could probably fuel this sort of spell by himself, but then he might end up face down in the mud, and surely no one here wants that.

[ourtomorrow]

Ken doesn't hesitate or ask for clarification: none of that matters. Immediately, he takes that hand. "If you would."

"Take good care of Ken-chan," Minomon reminds Koumyou, but he trusts the nice and strong priest. Plus, he knows anything fueled by Ken-chan will be super powerful! Ken-chan's energy and feelings are what help him evolve, after all.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I won't take too much," Koumyou assures Minomon, "I could possibly do this on my own, but just barely -- I'd probably pass out!" Experience has taught him his limits! And Koumyou is a lot of things, but genuinely stupid isn't one of them. He's used an awful lot of chi today.

One hand taken, Koumyou starts the other off down near his thigh, two fingers extended and the rest curled. He sweeps it up and across in a slow arc from his elbow, up toward his opposite side.

The surface of the water visibly trembles, and Ken can surely feel the pull of power starting.

"Right, here goes!" Continuing the arc up past his other shoulder, and then his fingers are pointing straight up in front of his own face. In response, nearly a hundred spears of ice form, stabbing straight up out of the water. They float upwards a few feet, and then...

Koumyou flicks his wrist out, those two fingers pointed at the dam.

The spears attack in waves, a dozen at a time, each one shattering on impact but also shattering what it strikes. Wood, stone, other debris, one layer at a time until it's all just dust roaring downriver on the freed current.

Once the spears have all been used up, Koumyou breaks contact with Ken's hand, and stumbles backward a step. "Phew! Look at it go!"

[ourtomorrow]

This is - more intense than granting Wormmon the power to evolve. Ken can feel his vitality flowing down through his hand, into Koumyou; he doesn't let up or falter, however, willing more of it for the priest. If this is what he can do -!

He's out of breath himself, but in an accomplished way, by the time Koumyou's done changing the river from "full of dangerous detritus" to "really rather muddy". When Koumyou stumbles, he reaches to catch him on instinct, but he's also rather tired, so while a hand gets behind the priest they also bump shoulders.

Ken's exhausted, but he can't help it. This makes him laugh in surprise and relief.

The flood's been controlled....!

[its_dad_sanzo]

The attempt to catch him surprises a little laugh out of the priest, too, but he's far from offended at the resulting shoulder bump. "I suggest you two head back for camp, you're going to sleep soundly tonight."

For his part, Koumyou will probably be setting up his own little camp somewhere nearby. Close enough to make good use of the river once the mud clears up, but not so close as to get flooded out if something else goes wrong. Yes, that sounds ideal.

[ourtomorrow]

"Right." Ken catches his breath, gets himself steady now. (Minomon helps, by resting a tiny nub on Ken-chan's side. This is extremely effective assistance.) "Thank you again. I don't know how this would have happened without you."

"You'd have found a way, Ken-chan."

.....Ken decides the thought, more than its accuracy, counts. "We'll be off."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Don't sell yourself short," Koumyou agrees with the bug, "determination is key!"

And then he gives his usual finger-waggling wave, and wanders off into the jungle. Time to set up a spot for a well-deserved nap.

[ourtomorrow]

Priests are wise. Minomon feels more certain of this every time they interact with Koumyou.

He will continue to "support" Ken-chan all the way back to camp, at which point he will stand guard while Ken-chan changes clothes and rests. Everyone has contributed something today.