VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-01-11 05:58 am

Fierce New World- Mission Start!

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day six of the month of Jelly." 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.

Preparation and Arrival

They have a short time to prepare for their mission, enough time to read their briefs, make decisions, meet in their teams and gather anything they may need.

A few hours later there is another announcement. "Shortly arriving on System #2207385. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world #2207385. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train judders as it leaves the void, the colours from the windows turn into the blackness of space but quickly white as the train descends into the entrance of the biosphere.

The doors of the train open and passengers can enter the large white-walled holding bay. Currently, they are the only vehicle inside. There are four large doors around the bay each labelled with where they lead. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

The doors open easily, and their SCA’s show a basic route, though the non-linear nature of the sectors mean that obstacles will need to be navigated. While they are in a closed world, there is a day and night cycle: the panels far up above are designed to make it seem like there is a natural sky, brightening and dimming every ten hours.

Red/Summer

Empty Streets

Wide streets divide sealed-off factories and manufacturing pods that tower up towards the ‘sky’. It is hot here, though the fumes from the factories are vented out, leaving the air breathable if overly warm.

Sometimes the pods are not yet finished, empty shells that can be sheltered in. There are also stations for living, with plumbing and basic amenities scattered through the sector. Places to rest as they move towards the center and the Great-Summer that they seek.

Helpmates

Where factories are still being built they will find Helpmates, operating machinery or moving materials.

They will not pause in their tasks for long but are programmed to answer questions so can be drawn into a conversation. Or, if the Voidtreckers are unfortunate, they will find those that are malfunctioning turning on them as they approach.

They aren’t too difficult to fight, but can do some damage with the machinery if they manage to take a Voidtrecker by surprise. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down outright.

Wild Weather

Though warm, the corridors remain a constant temperature that is not too unpleasant for people. For the most part. Unfortunately, due to the malfunctioning state of things routes may become impassable. Boiling air, freezing blasts, electricity crackling across a pathway.

Their SCA’s do a good job of warning them, allowing them to change direction or shelter in nearby buildings.

Purple/Autumn

Exploring

The Autumn sector is the least complete of the sectors, with shells of habitation pods and not much else. No one is expected to live here until nearing the end of construction, and so the pods are unfurnished, many missing doors, some missing internal walls.

Outside the streets are wide and clearly made to be pleasant to walk on; it is airy, bright and spacious, if a bit eerie due to the quiet.

There are panels on the walls, to call Helpmates to appear. Here they are primarily for helping citizens, giving directions and offering aid.

Malfunctions

Since there are more helpmates there is more risk of them malfunctioning. They attack with or without weapons, using any tools they can pick up to attack. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down.

They won’t chase people into the houses, their privacy programming preventing them from doing so.

Turned Around

The roads seem simple, built in a grid pattern around the houses. However, whatever is going wrong here is affecting the very streets themselves. Sometimes there will be a wall where there wasn’t before or roads go in circles. Sometimes they find themselves at a dead end, trapped until structures shift again.

Their SCA’s do their best to keep up but it can take a while for them to reroute and by the time they do, that path might be blocked too!

Blue/Spring

Patchwork Forest

The Spring sector houses the hydroponics and pastoral sections. It alternates between grazing land and more heavily forested areas with rows of pine-like trees in a checkerboard pattern, with empty plots interspersed. Walkways divide each square, but all squares appear able to move about as required, as though on a conveyor system.

There are clear walkways to avoid stepping on any newly growing plants. In the grazing land live flocks of camelid creatures resembling alpacas with blueish wool, on average a metre and a half tall at the shoulders. Helpmates appear here as if on a timer to feed the animals and tend to plants.

Destruction


If the Helpmates here malfunction they attack anyone nearby, cause havoc to any farming equipment and frightening the animals.

They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down. The panels here are less obvious than they are in the more urban sectors, low to the ground, looking almost like energy panels. But once they know what to look for they will be able to use them to shut down the Helpmates.

Stampede

Frightened animals are likely to flee and unfortunately in this case it means rampaging across the grazing land to the newly growing trees.

They will need to be calmed, returned to their grazing lands and the plants restored. Or it might be that the Voidtreckers can stop the Helpmates before the creatures get too spooked.

Orange/Winter

Exploring

The Winter sector’s primary concern is life support. Huge banks of air scrubbers form artificial cliffs, while other sections are tanks filled with water in varying stages of processing or recycling.

The paths here are a lot narrower than they are in other areas, sometimes requiring moving between pipes or scrambling over layers of railing.

There doesn’t seem to be any easy or straightforward path through the sector, their SCA takes them on wild winding routes through the machinery.

Help or Hindrance

The fluctuating temperatures here are causing problems with many of the pipes, several sections are flooded, others are in danger of being so.

There are patch kits in easily opened panels, designed to be used by the helpmates and indeed there are many helpmates out.

But some are less helpful, those that are malfunctioning are more likely to cause more damage than they are there to fix. They will attack any one who tries to interfere with them. They can be fought with weapons or magic, or for those that think to use the panels they can be shut down.

Patch Job

Once the malfunctioning Helpmates are dealt with the pipes still need to be fixed. The patch kits do not have any instructions but are simple enough that anyone with a basic knowledge of how to fix things should be able to figure them out- though the more knowledge and expertise they have the better the fix!

For those that don’t, many of the jobs will need more than one person and so for those that don’t mind taking instructions they will find an extra pair of hands is always welcome.
stillnewatthis: (hello!)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2021-02-01 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Your fire support is remarkable!" Orisa almost felt like she didn't need to do anything, the way the girl was clearing out ahead of them. That wasn't a bad thing; Orisa's primary directive was to keep her safe, so if she didn't have to act, she was still fulfilling her purpose. "All enemies will be neutralized momentarily."
badassfreakingoverlord: (book is on fire!)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2021-02-01 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"What, you'd rather go alone?"

Zetta huffed, a low noise of irritation and frustration that had been building for years now.

"You know, I try to do this the way everyone insists, being a team player and all, but then as soon as I try..."
adregem: (how about an explanation first)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-01 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a party right now, with all this synchronized boogieing!

And it dawns on him that he's been feeding his new buddy all by his lonesome all this time, so there was never any chance to make proper introductions. That, or he's not in the mood to make excuses for his cool guy act okay! Roland glances over at the crowned-caped higgledy, a small little sword in his hand though it looks more like a twig than an actual weapon, before looking back at Tidus with a straight face.

"This is Rannygazoo the Resolute." Finally, his expression breaks with a small smile. "Another high higgledy. We saved him too, back home. He was hiding inside of me, of all places." Usually he'd stop there and get to the business of the experiment at hand, walls waiting for them to traverse, but...He hesitates before speaking, though its an earnest addition to the train of thought.

"If Gibbs is for hope, and Jumblie is for joy, this one is for determination." He looks away for a moment before settling back on the dancing little ones having a blast. "I guess I just needed to be reminded of what that felt like. To keep going, one step at a time."

Roland shakes his head, forcing the moment to pass. As it must. "So. Ready for our daring contribution to your plan?"
nutkrusher: (Cassie Wins)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-02-01 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright, let's go, then," Cassie says. "If you find trouble, holler at me and I'll fly over."
strawberryprotector: (smile)

Re: Prep

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-02-01 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey, that's pretty handy to have healing magic." Ichigo grinned at Kairi at that. "You can also use the SCA to talk to other people while you're on missions. We can't use that function here on the train, but it's helpful on missions to keep in touch."
myblueskies: (they really are delicious apples!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-02-01 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes it must be sad for them." He petted them gently again. "Come on mister Jonouchi! We got to make them all calm and get them back to where they belong!"

They had a job to do!

Luckily the job allowed for petting fluffy creatures!
myblueskies: (you have my loyalty!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-02-01 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
He nodded, standing taller at the shoulder pat. "I will sir."
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-02-01 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I hope so too! And they will be happy, because the creatures already know how nice it is to be petted, so the people won't need to convince them!"

He and Madoka had done a good deed this day!

He moved to the next one, running a hand through its fur. It was going to happen! They were going to be able to pet all of them!
myblueskies: (Alfredo is speaking!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-02-01 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Romeo sits across from him, watching him as he looked at it. "Don't you got to press it? I think it's like the ICPs sir."

No buttons, but a screen to press, a bit like the phones in the heavens.
gentle_jim: (don't talk to me im angy)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-01 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Seriously? Ugh, no- no forget it! Sheesh. Thanks for nothing," Jack sighs, shooing the unhelpful helpmate away.

He turns back to Persephone and just shakes his head. "Guess we're screwed, princess."
worthallthis: (lookup-sarge)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-02-01 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not if you get killed, you're not," Sarge growls, but he does lean back out of the way of her... fucking... grappling chain? Jesus Christ, he wants one of those.

He takes advantage of helpmate number two being distracted by shield to, as suggested, stab the shit out of it. Between the doubled onslaught, it shreds and disappears. Helpmate number three is struggling to roll to its feet, like an overturned turtle. "Even the big guns need support," Sarge adds. "At least you don't throw the damn shield."
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-02-01 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Siege stew," Soldat says, ducking their head, maybe a little shy. "Based in beef stock, potato, celery, and carrots, with pepper and garlic. I made the recipe in my last place. It keeps very well over long periods, for, you know. Sieges." Which would be when they developed it, needing to keep a pot of something warm going 24/7 for a week when it wasn't always possible to make a full meal between attacks.
10billionpercent: (This Is So Exciting)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-01 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Since we aren't sure about the messages being safe, it might not be wise to keep doing, but..." He mused thoughtfully.

"I don't think it will be any less safe than doing it on the world." It was still dangerous, and he knew that.

"I will be doing it too. I appreciate the help. Let's see if we can figure this out."
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-01 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not to worry, it's going to work." He grinned. He wasn't a ninja and at home other people hadled the cooking again, but he'd done his time.
springforth: (383)

[personal profile] springforth 2021-02-01 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not--I have a name you know, one I just told you!" She calls down from the pipe, legs uncrossing as she leans back to give the pipe a second look. Well it's not like she wasn't wet already.

"At least you fixed the helpmate." She steps off the pipe, floating down to the spray of water, "If you can't help, can you at least not be rude?"
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-02-01 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I guess, maybe. And yeah, orange. They all seem to be really smart." Demyx wouldn't classify himself as smart, so it was really weird choice.

"I don't know why I'm on that team."
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Yeah yeah I'm on it)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-02-01 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Consider it forgotten." Demyx chuckled. Not entirely, but it would be classified under 'unknown powers he didn't understand' in his mental file on Ichigo.
strawberryprotector: (smile)

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-02-01 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Ichigo held his hand out to Demyx, his smile still bright and warm. "I'm Ichigo, by the way. What's your name?"
melodiouspacifist: (pic#9960773)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-02-01 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Demyx returned him a bright grin and shook his hand. "Demyx. Nice to meet ya."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 3)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2021-02-01 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suppose it was 'would' as in a normal thing, but I suppose the other works as well."

Yes, it was an important distinction.
irrationally: (reverberating through my dreams)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-02-01 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's not that easy."

If only it was. There's a reason why it feels kind of weird to Alice that he's so readily willing to believe her. This easily. Just agreeing with her. It's something she's never experienced back home.

"Everyone knows that I've been in the asylum. They all think I'm literally insane. That I can't be trusted for it. They call me violent, or unstable, or they say I'll be back in the asylum before long." Alice has been pretty good at masking her hurt while talking about all of this - up to this point. Because she does stop for a moment, seeming like she really has to force herself to speak on. Like saying all of this is hard. It's hard, knowing what people think about you. Knowing no one cares, knowing no one bothers to see the real you.

She closes her eyes for a moment.

"Who would ever believe me then?"
flatteries: (in the city that we love)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-01 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, I'm sure I'll want to cry out of embarrassment," he mumbles, like a last protest, but one that is rapidly starting to melt like snow under the afternoon sun that is the giddy smile on Tidus's face.

He rubs his arm - probably more out of said embarrassment, rather than that knock against it really having hurt him in any way, and then shakes his head.

"You really get excited about the oddest things, don't you?" But it doesn't sound like an insult. Or a complaint. It's too warm for that, and a shy smile is starting to dawn on Inigo's face as well now.

Because it means Tidus is invested in him, and that's a hard feeling to not make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"I do want to see you wearing your sports uniform here too though one day." In return!!

And not just for horny particular reasons. Also just because it feels like such an important part of Tidus - a part of his friend that Inigo doesn't want to miss out on.
happyends: (through even darkness)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-01 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
That certainly makes it easier. If he's by her side, then she can't accidentally shoot an arrow right into him.

So, knowing she doesn't have to worry about that anymore, Madoka lets one of her arrows fly, making sure to hit the same Helpmate he was going for - so the two hits in quick succession are enough to make that one fade entirely for the moment.

.. not that it stops a second Helpmate from sneaking up behind them, stretching its holographic arms out towards them. Apparently outside of Madoka's notice, since she's still so focused on watching the one she just hit fade.
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-01 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, sir!"

Madoka is apparently more than eager to go along with whatever direction he deems a good start. Even though she's good at working hard, Madoka is less good at being the one to make the decisions - which is why she prefers to stick around responsible adults, like she's doing right now.

"Maybe we'll even be able to find more of those alpacas..!"

.. Look, she is focused on the mission, she swears! It's just.. there are some extremely cute distractions around here.
happyends: (i can hold on tight to nothing)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-01 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka jumps too, the moment the animal jumps. Not quite as big of a jump - instead she just instinctively jumps a step backwards. It's not even that the alpaca seems that threatening, but it's more just a startled reflex than anything else. Even as Devero puts himself between her and the alpaca just in case. Madoka can't help it.

And for a moment it really seems as if things may end up tense--

But then the laugh breaks absolutely every last bit of tension that may still have hung in the air.

Madoka stares at Devero with wide eyes, and then glances over at the alpaca, realising the guy is right.

"Then.. what are we waiting for?"

They can't make this poor creature wait for food any longer! Madoka is so determined about it that, despite shyness, she's reaching out to lightly tug on Devero's arm, as if to urge him on, little kid style.

"Please, let's open the door so we can feed it..!"