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.
soldier_blade: (MKx_observing)

[personal profile] soldier_blade 2021-01-13 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"This came with me from home." She answered, getting on her knees to check out the paneling. If they could find out how these things ticked, they might be able to take them out without frying their circuits.

They were only here for a few days after all; the people would still have to deal with them if they malfunctioned. "But if you save enough points you might be able to buy one in the void shop."
adregem: (Default)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
We're sitting targets. I meant, uhh, targets.

[ HAVE MERCY ]

S-Sorry. Come on, then. Before we get boxed in.
Edited 2021-01-13 14:39 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (never trust a squirtle)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, what the--"

Tidus is less jumpy over the fact, other than the literal jump back he takes at a sudden wall appearing out of nowhere (though, not directly in front of their faces--still, you can't be too careful). You gotta be alert!

...except being alert doesn't stop the two walls blocking them in from either the direction they were taking or the way they came. He grunts, searching around them, spotting another path accessible. Well, he can't see anything other than a another wall at the end, but...

"This place is messed up," is Tidus's helpful grumblings. Nudging his arm to get Inigo to pay attention towards the way he wants them to go.

"Let's see if that goes anywhere. Just watch out if you think one's appearing right where you are, alright? You want to move fast," he warns. "I don't wanna think about it happening, but the way this place is behaving..."
sciencegirl: (073)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-13 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've only come across one or two malfunctions with each panel. Some of the Helpmates are still working, so I don't know if they're connected or-"

She wishes she had more answers. There's not time for more answers.

She hears a clanging up higher. One of the Helpmates is trying to tear out some mystery mechanism to the air scrubbers. Poor baby probably thinks it's helping!

She uses her hair to grapple to some machinery and uses it to climb up. "We need to get to that one!" She probably should slow down considering she's not really combat ready, but she really doesn't want this wonderous facility ruined by a digital temper tantrum. It's stumping her logic.
adregem: (look forward to tomorrow.)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
He's glad that Inigo chose to seek him out for a place as frosty as this. Roland is similarly in a heightened state of awareness, with only the barest hints of recognition despite already lived in the modern world.

Though the Great Autumn harbors a certain spirit of utopia, where Roland can see mindful placements and a clear effort to mimic green habitation, there's just so little actual warmth that it all seems rather distant. How could anyone build a home in a place this downright creepy?

Roland stops for a second to give Inigo time to slowly catch up before he moves again, walking a bit more languidly so as not to separate the two of them. He'll keep up his dry sense of humor as the perfect distraction for the both of them.

"Well, if it helps any, the good guys win in the end." Roland answers, with only a hint of a smirk on his face, his delivery otherwise far too neutral. "Or...do they? Heh. Wanna watch the movie when we get back? The alien is only made of prosthetics anyway. Fake stuff. It's quite fascinating, really."

See!! Harmless off-brand Sigourney Weaver alien franchise talk! Don't mind him as he stops to the side again, peering into a set of pods with way too much interest gleaming in his eye.
adregem: (don't ask questions.)

wow maybe YOU are beautiful!!!

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo!

[ The boy's instincts are definitely honed. For all they know, the walls themselves were just as machine-operated as every other piece of tech that Roland likes to assume is familiar enough to be unafraid of. But this is where he stops underestimating the Great Autumn and all its little twists and turns. Trapping Inigo with a wall suddenly in place is a dirty, dirty move, and he could grow claustrophobic sooner rather than later. His grimace is deep as he walks long strides around the corner, attempting to find one end of the wall, the small opening that he can use to reach for Inigo. There's no waiting around if a wall will fall down or not, at this rate.

But they do have one very distinct advantage. ]


Pup, I'm here. Don't panic and don't move. Breathe deep for me, all right? I'm coming to get you.

[ Roland stops and follows his own advice, a wash of calm taking over his senses. A glow emerges from his chest and out comes his strongest secret buddy to date - one who looks up at him with total cheer despite the circumstances. He draws a spirit of purpose from it, and looks ahead where he thinks he might have found the way into the new alley created by the surprise wall. His next words are directed to him, this higgledy that's not quite the firestarter... ]

Can you sense him? Can you lead him back here?

[ Don't worry Inigo, that silence from Roland's end won't be for long! ]
adregem: (improbable but not impossible.)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's what I'm hoping won't happen, more like."

Glancing upon the newest member of Purple, one Roland hadn't had the chance to introduce himself to, he settles into a more casual pace as they roam and observe. He hums thoughtfully, before speaking.

"This entire place is strange. For starters, we were told to dispatch and protect this biosphere from a threat." Roland crosses his arms over his chest. "Where is it, then? This place looks more abandoned than unfinished."
sos_pilot: (there's a bar in far bombay)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-13 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"Just myself a few times." She admitted. "And at this rate, it's bound to happen again."
adregem: (look let me apologize.)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm. And not in a good way. I'm getting a weird feeling again. Can't shake off that there's more to this than meets the eye."

Roland welcomes Tidus's presence naturally, without missing a beat into his own musings, a heated and worried gaze still glued to the door that he takes his time with. There's no going back as soon as he steps foot into the threshold, after all. He shakes his head, angling himself to walk closer to Tidus though refusing to break the stare-down with a mostly, harmless gateway.

"Then again, when are missions ever simple? There's always something." Sounds like someone's gotten so used to it, that's all he can offer despite his laundry list of questions! Anyway. He finally faces Tidus, his hand in gesture.

"So, where you headed?" He asks smoothly. "It'd be good to know, in case of emergencies. Maybe I can send you off with some extra food or supplies too. I'm not too sure how easy it'll be to hop around later..." Roland starts rummaging through his pockets, or the duffel that he still brings, slung against one shoulder, Arms Band inventory aside.
Edited 2021-01-13 15:12 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (bluh bluh dad sucks)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Fixing up machines, getting them going again, probably getting shot at too? That was the last mission anyway," Tidus shares delightfully unamused.

"Except even a planet about to get blown up had more than this for us." He taps at his SCA strap near to the blow-out objective page.
adregem: (mister president.)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Roland watches with quiet intrigue as black envelops the space on the wall that pops up before him, brows high, suddenly hidden behind bangs. A portal? Magic truly moves in mysterious ways. Color him impressed. ]

Well now. That's awfully useful for a place like this. [ There's a level of trust he grants Raven, with no questions about how she's able to do it or how safe it might passing through his lips. Instead, Roland crosses and slowly reaches out a hand first, then a leg, before finally half his body phases through the portal. ] Thanks, Raven. Let's hope it's clear on the other side.

[ And off he goes into the portal! Just like that! Magic!! ]
theturksway: (106.)

:3

[personal profile] theturksway 2021-01-13 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, yeah!" He called out to Roland without looking. He hated being rushed. Not that he didn't understand the need for a quick job during desperate times.

He settled in at one of the panels as he finally got to them and glanced quickly at the set-up. It was definitely foreign but he was fairly certain the SCA was doing it's thing because though he couldn't quite read it he sort of felt like he instinctively knew which buttons to press to achieve what he wanted based on his own knowledge of electronics back home. He started typing out a sequence.

The Turk was fairly certain he'd managed to set an emergency shut down for the surrounding machinery. He half turned to watch Roland running around like a loon and suppressed the urge to giggle. That was no way to treat his current partner while on the job.

"Here goes nothing," he said loudly enough to be heard above the commotion and pressed the final button.
blitzcheer: (hand onnnn HIP!!!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey now, you're not about to go for your personal snack load, are you?" Tidus can't guess what he's rummaging for in his pockets after a reminder like that, but he puts up his hands in a stopping motion, just in case it's anything to do with that. "I grabbed a load of the leftover lunches from the supplies before we came here. Always do! They're no good sitting back on the train."

None of the supplies were. "You wanna take some? I got two suitcases on me - don't know what Cassie has with her, but you can pass them over later if you want." Though, saying that, Tidus raises a hand of his own in conversational gesturing.

"But I was going to come with you guys anyway, just to begin with. If Red or Blue need people, I'll swap over soon as I can."

That was why leads had the bands for from Spider. Or maybe he could even get a lift from one of the flying guys!
adregem: (a chance opportunity has come.)

3

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"No arguments there, pro. And if that isn't the question of the day. Who indeed..." Roland's own curiosity is piqued as he approaches a pod just beside the one in Tidus's study - or periphery of disgust. There's something about this entire grid that reminds him of pure dystopia, and the silence feels suffocating. If he dropped half a pin, he feels like he could still hear it ring loud in his ears.

The said threat from the SCA briefing is also very much absent. Not the most reassuring thing to note for paranoid minds.

The pod by his side is so incomplete, it's lacking even the glass that encases the rest. For the most part, he grows silent until he realizes, or maybe tries to say as a dry joke -

"Are we sleeping in these tonight?" Roland goes, a finger to his chin. "Calling dibs on pods when night falls? Comfy."
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (we'll just glide starry-eyed)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-13 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
... Or, we could try to do something a bit more challenging and fun.

[ She cups her beak, leaning back to try and see how tall the wall is. ]
irrationally: (i don't know what is real)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-01-13 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Grabbing his hand is just about the only movement she can manage right now. It's just reaching out a little bit, after all. And with him being able to feel her hand into his own, it's pretty obvious how rapidly the cold is making Alice's body temperature drop.

"W-Where?"

Usually she'd try to be a little more helpful, but the cold is making it so hard to even do as much as think. Her teeth chatter.
adregem: (an inkling of a plan.)

5

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You can't miss that voice, even if you wanted to. Roland looks around, alone at the moment, but Tidus is already shouting for aid and it's easy to figure out that the grid shifted again. Checking his SCA is the first instinct he falls back on, but of course, it's giving him nothing useful. The wall that separates Tidus from the party lies precisely where there should be open road. Roland frowns and starts walking towards the booming sound.

His own voice can't match that volume, and he's not accustomed to shouting either. However, for the sake of reaching Tidus faster, he tries his best, feeling the strain in his cords. If all else fails, higgledies will map out where they are from one another, the ultimate in directional cheat codes.

"Say Marco! I'll say Polo! I need to know how near or far you are from me!" Roland bellows, attempting to navigate with quick steps. Ready for a game of Marco Polo, twin teen?
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (until i become)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-13 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you sure about that?

[ Eyebrow raise.

She did lay three eggs and come out of an egg... BUT she could also be enjoying Tidus' panic. ]
blitzcheer: (whatcha gonna do about iiitt)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's how it normally goes! We read about the problem, and it's either there or coming. But this place-"

And this objective. Tidus is keeping his eyes peeled, but it's difficult to be staying on complete alert when the sector was nothing but incomplete pods and blank walls that separated the streets. It wasn't so much alarming as it was...puzzling.

"It just said fixing up issues and dealing with anything bad. That's not a lot." A pause, and he asks, "Were you around for the last mission?"
adregem: (the hard work begins.)

Exploring

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Being built...or abandoned halfway?

[ Perception is a funny thing, really. And maybe the distinct lack of answers - or even the presence of the said threat to which the Voidtreckers were dispatched for - is enough to get him wary, moreso than usual. ]

Keep your guard up like never before, okay Kitty? [ He doesn't mean to remind so sternly, but look at this place. It's weird. ]

unfavorableinstigation: Foresty background (Forest)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-13 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"You'd think it'd be a feature..." Nita trails off, because that clanging is distinctive.

"Let me handle the Helpmates out here; see what you can do with that panel!"

She jumps up in the air - and doesn't fall, instead landing on a 'step' of air.

Despite what she's saying, Entrapta is welcome to follow the wizard up; the stairs will hold.
adregem: (guess i landed on my feet.)

Malfunctions

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She looks nuts, but is this strategy working? Actually yes. So who is Roland to tell her to stop when it's so effective? The poor things aren't reacting well to the in and out strategy, so they're stuck trying to figure out Della. Which means Roland has time to disable from the panel where his fingers work to rewire, type, and whatever else seems feasible to try to reset the damned things.

Thankfully, as outside of his wheelhouse as it may seem, Roland's actually got some basic tech skills up his sleeves. Forgive the smile of amusement on his face, this is a very weird mission and a creepy biosphere - ]


Keep that up, Della! Make 'em see stars!

[ He's trying to work faster, but she's gonna need more tricks up her sleeves if Roland's gonna succeed on this end...! ]
blitzcheer: (huffy duffy puffy)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I know your game! You ain't getting me!

[ No, nope nope no way! Folding his arms! ]

Try it on someone else. I won't fall for your ducky ways that easy!
adregem: (listen up.)

Preparation

[personal profile] adregem 2021-01-13 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Roland nods gravely, fixing his own coat over his clothes though flashes of purple underneath still give away where he's off to in true dutiful fashion.

"More or less. You stocked up with healing items? Food and water?"

He knows Senku's probably stocked to the nines, but it doesn't hurt to ask a friend anyway.
blitzcheer: (bluh bluh dad sucks)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-13 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus looks around, waiting to see if the walls won't just...descend. No? Not feeling it? Ugh.

"I guess!" he resigns with his hands going up - more in misery than anything else, but Tidus guesses he can keep one up.

"I know no one's getting shot at here, but this is getting annoying quick."