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.
10billionpercent: (This Is So Exciting)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-16 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess. Don't you want the pleasure of navigating a super fun obstacle course though?"

Senku might have been baiting him, a little bit.
reluctantjinrou: (Default)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-01-16 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
"My condolences." He was polite enough to offer that much.

"I was mostly angry when he was killed." He admitted. "And I let that drive my actions going forward. It probably paid off. He'd been put to rest, I saw that, before I met Tatsumi. He's not out there biting people against his will anymore."
reluctantjinrou: (Glancing Around Corners)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-01-16 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Natsuno was a little worried about her extreme reaction. "I'm not sure that's a way I can die." He commented glibly.

He opened his bag and rooted around a bit to pull out his red sleeping bag and unzipped it to open it up and then threw it overtop of her. "Here, this might help a little bit."
reluctantjinrou: (Determined To Win)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-01-16 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
"I hadn't considered that." Natsuno said with a bit of a huff.

"I don't know what I'd do without gravity." He paused. "Fly maybe, I suppose."
crimson_rain: shipping @ dw (01)

[personal profile] crimson_rain 2021-01-16 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
He takes his hands to lead him through the streets, following the SCA on his wrists as a guide.

With a nod, as he tries to find the path, leading him back. "Do you need a place to rest? I can take you back to the camp where the others are."
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-01-16 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
At the clang of hitting the ceiling, Demyx let out a delighted laugh.

"Whoa, did you see that?"

There was some benefit to teamwork, wasn't there?
melodiouspacifist: (Dance Water Dance!)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-01-16 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Got it." Demyx grinned and tipped two fingers in Xie Lian's direction.

"Dance, water, dance!" He cried out out of habit and began playing a melody on his sitar. The notes were sharp and quick and six geysers underneath the helpmates appeared suddenly, shooting them up into the air.

It was the kind of ride one gets wet on, but most likely they weren't going to get wet, he wasn't as inconsiderate as that.
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Dark)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-16 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
Nita grits her teeth against that pain. Does it have its own sensory system?

She'd assume not, and it's not like she wants to hurt this being - just prevent it from hurting her friend.

She's not stopping for now, though; the shield continues to hold.
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Tie ourselves together and try to cling to buildings." Soldat may have already considered this and made a contingency plan for it. They would very much not like to float off into the space outside this biodome, thanks. They're not sure if the train will retrieve people that far out, and it sounds like a really terrible way to die.

Maybe not worse than electricity. (Would you quit that! Think about somethin' else. Like what, suffocating and freezing to death out in space? How about a snack?)

Tuning out Pit and Sarge's bickering, Soldat does try not to think about food. They're rationing, since this is going to be a long mission. "Thank you. For distracting me, back there."
worthallthis: (thinkingsad)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Soldat hesitates for a long moment. They haven't told Otoha that much about their own past-- their own status as not-a-person(-anymore). Not being a person means not having responsibility for where you were pointed when your trigger is pulled. Even if they do feel... something about it. Definitely when it comes to being pointed at Steve.

They're not sure if it's appropriate to bring it up, now. "I don't know. Maybe. And you killed yours, so at least. They can't point you at anything or anyone again."
nutkrusher: (Cassie Wins)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-16 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Why take the job if you can't have fun, right?"
blue_ice: (looking down)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-16 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
Kaiba snorts and shakes his head. "The last time it did that, I ended up with an emotional bond. It wasn't the worst outcome, but it could get worse..."

All right, it's fixed enough. He sighs and leans on it for a moment before trudging toward the next mark on the map...out of the water, ready to freeze in the chilled air. He stubbornly grits his teeth and keeps walking.

"One more in this sector, I think...? Not that I'm thinking well at the moment."
subcircuits: (embarrassed)

patchwork forest - guesting on blue!

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Er..." Devero looks from the starry-eyed child to the animals standing so placidly out in the field. "They... look tame?"

Listen, he's really not an animals guy.
blue_ice: (actually shocked)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-16 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Right, that's what I meant. The injuries stacked up fast last time. And it's still early.

[ His gait's a little unsteady, but he's pushing on to the next panel. Time to take them all out before they can hurt anyone else. ]

But I'm serious...great shot. Mind if I stay with you a little longer?
azrthmtrnznthos: (cowl-up bored)

[personal profile] azrthmtrnznthos 2021-01-16 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Right." Raven let her dark-energy drop from the Helpmate. Moving swiftly over to the panel, she studied it for a moment. It was a bit more advanced than she was used to, but she should be able to deactivate the helpmate without summoning more.
blue_ice: (blinded)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-16 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
"It stings, but it'll fade. Nothing broken."

He checks out the card with some interest, nodding approval. What he wouldn't give for something like that.

"If you know any more about how it all works, I'd love to hear it when we have time. You're both impressive."
blue_ice: (locked heart)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-16 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
Kaiba snorts and backs up. " I miss my helicopter right about now..."

And he shouts up. "Clear! I see a good spot for camp from here."
azrthmtrnznthos: (casual conversation)

[personal profile] azrthmtrnznthos 2021-01-16 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll find a way. It just might take me a while." Raven affirmed, appreciating that Madoka was worried, but not wanting her to over worry. At least, not about this.
blue_ice: (could it be)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-16 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Too close. Seto senses an oncoming attack, grabs Nita, and ducks. Sorry about that---but with any luck, they're fizzling out at just the right moment. He's curled up protectively.

"I'll work on the speed."
subcircuits: (attendant)

Preparation

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Mx. Cage!" That's Devero approaching, looking very large and business-like. "Wanted to let you know I'm going with blue for this mission."

He nods at the go-kits she's got prepped, that possibly he's even been helping to load up with/for her in the preceding days. "Hoping I can still grab one of those, though?"
nutkrusher: (Let's Get Down to Business)

Re: Preparation

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-16 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Purple's pretty much always got people to spare for the other teams," Cassie says.

She nods at a kit set out before her.

"You can help yourself to that one."
magicurls: (to the future)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-16 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Hammer's easy enough to deal with for her new ally, fortunately. Mami concentrates her energy on transforming, and as she summons her line of rifles she asks:

"Does that field block both ways?"
magicurls: (despair)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-16 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
Mami shook her head in agreement. "I'm the same. The only thing I know how to build is an ancient rifle...that's not helping me much here."

She was able to beat them through blunt force if a bullet failed, at least. One got close again, and she whacked at it repeatedly.

"As long as we get through this alive. That's what matters."
subcircuits: (spoiler i'm actually a huge dork!)

Forest - guesting on blue!

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Colonies?" Devero steps up beside her, looking out over the next block of fields from the edge of one of the plantation-style forests. "It feels like an ag complex back where I'm from, just-- immense. So immense."
Edited 2021-01-16 02:38 (UTC)
magicurls: (tea time)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-16 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
Mami's gaze sweeps around the building. She sees enough outposts she can latch onto...and nods.

"I'll have to build momentum, but it's doable!"

She dashes back, calls the ribbon into her hand, and swings. It takes a few rotations, but she soon leaps up and up again.

"You're all right?"