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.
happyends: (i can hold on tight to nothing)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-04 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't mind her over here. While he's taking a moment to open up the door, Madoka is definitely going to use this opportunity to pet the alpaca. It's sitting there all cutely, after all! And apparently it's eager enough about the idea of food that it's not just running away.. especially since Madoka is making absolutely sure to be very soft and gentle about these pets. Just some soft brushes through its wool.

And once she spots the door being open, she pulls her hand out of its fur, instead heading into the shed first.

It makes her momentarily disappear into the darkness inside, but Madoka emerges a moment later - and rather triumphantly, since she smiles up at Devero with some of the alpaca food now in her arms.

"Look, sir, I found it..! Now we can feed our new alpaca friend!"
strawberryprotector: (smile)

Re: Prep

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-02-05 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Hearing that made Ichigo smile, though it was a little on the sad side. Just around the edges. "I just hope no one is hurt too badly if things do go sideways."
strawberryprotector: (laidback)

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-02-05 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
The last two times he'd been anywhere even close to such an empty place that felt so off had been the Soul King's palace and Las Noches. "I don't know where that is, but the last two times I've been places this creepy, I was in very 'kill or be killed' situations. And technically speaking, I did die at the first one."
azrthmtrnznthos: (unsure)

[personal profile] azrthmtrnznthos 2021-02-05 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
Raven was quiet for a bit, before speaking softly. "...I appreciate that you don't find it....creepy." Danny also didn't seem to find Raven creepy at all, and it was one of the things she appreciated about their friendship.
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-02-05 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you not got screens like that in your world, mister Devero?" He peered over his shoulder at the menu, it looked a little bit complicated, hopefully Devero would find what he was looking for.

strawberryprotector: (Badass)

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-02-05 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
Ichigo drew both halves of Zangetsu, flashing a feral grin as he charged to meet Grimmjow half way. It had been forever since he'd been able to really let loose, and he wasn't going to hold back now.
paopuofyourlife: (14)

[personal profile] paopuofyourlife 2021-02-05 09:31 am (UTC)(link)
If we come across any more malfunctioning machines we now know how to handle them. So at least until we find the problems it will be a little easier, right?

[She was at least being as positive as she could be.]

But do you think we should go our separate ways?
paopuofyourlife: (08)

[personal profile] paopuofyourlife 2021-02-05 09:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Gotten lost?" She soon looked around and realised that while they had been walking and talking she hadn't paid much attention to where they had been heading so now... she had no clue where they were or where anyone was actually.

"We're now both lost"
paopuofyourlife: (ALokN)

[personal profile] paopuofyourlife 2021-02-05 09:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Will you tell me about each of the types you mentioned. What mission was fun and what ones were nightmares?" She was honestly curious about that. What types of missions would one consider as so bad they were nightmares.
paopuofyourlife: (15)

Re: Prep

[personal profile] paopuofyourlife 2021-02-05 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean it's always possible things will go wrong, but it's what one does after that determines just how bad it is."
its_dad_sanzo: Ibun-era (flex)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-05 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not a normal thing, but that's what makes it fun now!"

Koumyou's always been good at finding fun for himself. Case in point--

"I'm going to encourage!" Clap! "All!" Clap! "Of!" Clap! "You!"
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480612)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-02-05 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
That's an interesting request, and Alley glances back at him over her shoulder. "You can't feel the temperature shifts?"

Or does he just mean because she's in front? The air's not likely to be much different between them.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480649)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-02-05 12:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm just not used to working with... uh."

You know what? Fuck it, she points at the minions with her mace.

"That much... cheerful chaos."

There, that's one way to describe it. Cheerful stupid chaos. "I'll tank whatever, but you're a weird lot even by my standards and that's saying something. Where do these guys even come from?"
inquisitor_lavellan: I used to (hiding underneath the smoke in the room)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-02-05 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Why would you throw a shield?"

Alleyana is baffled by the idea enough for the remaining helpmate to manage to get to its feet for a whole second-- before she just bashes it back to the ground with one slam of her shield arm.

"Though I guess this one's probably chuck-able if it wasn't bolted on. And if throwing a shield made any fucking sense."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486533)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-02-05 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I mean, from what I've seen of the train's... crew, we're all pretty different."

Even if most of them at least seemed to be human.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480649)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-02-05 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll leave the piece of mind giving to you," Alleyana offers tiredly, "I'm getting too old to keep telling idiots what they're doing wrong every time I fall into a new situation."

Alice seems to have the energy for it. She can have at it!
shadowslipping: (pic#13321640)

[personal profile] shadowslipping 2021-02-05 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you saying this because you really have it, or because you like the trouble...

[She can't help but snark about that, honestly.]
shadowslipping: (pic#13321640)

[personal profile] shadowslipping 2021-02-05 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's very much the same one every time, I assure you- it's created in reflection to my literal soul after all...it would take a significant change for it to be anything else..."

Ah- She lowers the mask though. "If you're worried about protective gear in situations where we'll need it however, it tends to naturally account for temperature and pressure... ...If I were to need a breathing device, it would be troublesome, but ultimately if I'm careful about pulling it on or off, I would be able to manage in the worst case."

Really, it's mostly a 'basic coverage' deal at this point. If they were to end up floating through space on one of these missions, she'd certainly put an effort in to not sabotage the space suit with her armor.
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-02-05 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Eh, it was edible." Even worse!

But hey- "Sweet, more f'r me then!" He'll be digging right on in. "Once y' get over th' mouth feel, 's pr'tty good!"

Best to take him on his word for that.
blitzcheer: (name the game)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-05 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
The rock music is in their souls, baby.

"Well, I'll think about that one." --but he's not going to pass up on the joke, just as Roland predicts, his right hand making a so-so gesture for the fun of it before Tidus curls into a fist. Brought in towards him, his eyes closing as the water begins to form from underneath his feet.

And it's with the water becoming visible that Hibber-Gibbers uses his newfound perch more as a jumping board. And, with a salute - down he goes. Disappearing into the water that then expands, raises; the flow a continuous circulation within a disk-shaped platform. Tidus opens his eyes, relaxing some of the tension of his shoulders, if slowly so. Looking over to Roland, nodding his head.

"Get on!"

Time to get this thing flying...!
knifewithnoname: (yeah I'm not buying that)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2021-02-05 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, this place do be being too weird."

She'd rather live on Terra... And that place had been stupid too. She sighed and looked around. "We should be keeping going, be seeing what we can be finding."
flatteries: (and call it consequence)

i can't believe you keyworded an icon that, omg

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-05 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Inigo hardly even realises what's happening. He feels so dizzy and drained after that wild, wild ride, that he's so out of it for a moment. The boy is totally dazed as he's helped back down to the ground by the higgledies, and even once he's safely on said ground he's still kind of out of it.

The first thing he does register, in fact, is that hand on his face. It's warm and familiar enough to slowly make Inigo snap back to reality with a drawn out groan. ]


Yeah. [ Even though his voice is still a little weak, he's still quick to speak up. Of course he wants to reassure Roland that he's fine - isn't that always the first thing Inigo does in every single situation? He manages to raise a hand enough to wave it a little, as if to wave off the man's concern. ] 'm fine.. Just a bit dizzy.

[ Aka: Inigo is experiencing his first true post-rollercoaster feeling. And he didn't even have to go on a rollercoaster to have it!

He moves. It's a bit haphazardly, but thankfully the close proximity between the two of them makes it very easy to just wrap his arms around Roland's neck, clinging to the other.

There we go. So much more comfortable like this. ]
flatteries: (i could spill my guts out)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-05 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
There doesn't seem to be much time necessary for Inigo to think about the answer before it's already leaving his mouth.

"That it was annoying and dumb."

Okay, maybe that's not entirely in the Spirit of Olivia. But Inigo, even while trying to be eternally optimistic, is just a tad bit too much of a teenager to not admit that truth. What else is he supposed to say about having been dumped into a barren place like this and forced to walk around and avoid walls without much purpose or sense of direction?

He really doesn't like this place. Not one bit. But his hands don't still, gently weaving the flowers across Roland's arm and hand even now.

"But that I was certainly glad to have my father by my side." An eternal truth. Not to mention-- "And even Tidus came along with us. Just that is worth a celebration."

Not that Inigo doesn't admire his bro for always going where his help would be necessary the most, but he knows he misses Tidus when he's not around. He likes being with just Tidus, or just Roland.. but things feel more complete with the three of them.

"And Taiki too."

Look at all these people important to him gathering together.
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-05 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, there has to be some way to get in!"

After all, how could the Helpmates grab the food otherwise? They look a bit odd, sure, but Madoka is pretty sure even they can't just straight up move through walls..

She glances from Yugi back over towards the dome-like structure. The girl moves closer towards it, starting to knock on it gently with her hands, as if that may open a door. So far it doesn't seem to be doing much of anything though.

"Um.. Can you maybe look around over there? Maybe there's a panel somewhere, just like the ones you can use to call the Helpmates.." Maybe there's a panel to open some door too! Everything here does seem to be very technological, after all.
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (we'll just glide starry-eyed)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-02-05 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Why can't it be both?