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.
bakegarasu: (brooding like a demon)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-01-16 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
"It sounds like a complicated situation." Probably too complicated for him to really understand. "At least it sounds like it's mostly resolved?" Hopefully.
subcircuits: (reproving)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
"If I see him, I'll say hi," Devero says with a sardonic lift of a brow. More seriously, he says, "I hope that's the case, Trunks. You deserve to have a proper family about you, your prickly father included. And if he's lucky enough to have a family, he should damn well cherish every member."

He may be getting better about not assuming that everyone's family is a treasure, but that doesn't mean it's not still the ideal by which he measures the concept. That probably won't ever change.

Distracted by thinking about families, Devero's head jerks up when Trunks makes him that offer. "What-- really?"
subcircuits: (so satisfying)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
His grin turns into a flustered smile and he has to look away. "Koumyou!" he protests.
soldier_blade: (MKX_general)

Arrival

[personal profile] soldier_blade 2021-01-16 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
Sonya comes off the train next to the woman. Her own gear being more fitted and streamlined. From what she's learned on the mission brief, their objective was more technical than combative, so she only came with her power gauntlet and soldering kit.

Out of mere habit, she studied the other team member close by, noting the metal bar in place of an arm. Missing limbs, especially in her line of work, was hardly uncommon, but she wondered how conditions were that the woman had to make due with a metal bar instead of something more practical.

"Least they gave us something in way of a map." So far, the entire place reminded her of some Russian industrial nightmare.
Or as some older relatives would've put it; just roll the sleeve up and be done with it.


bakegarasu: (and it is ten)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-01-16 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
"I... soul gem?" He pulls out his amulet, clutching it tightly. "Wait... is your soul in there?" He's never heard of anyone but a Karas having that kind of situation.

... Then again he's only known souls exist for about two weeks.
its_dad_sanzo: (<3)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-01-16 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
"What?!" Koumyou laughs, and goes up on his toes to try to smooch his cheek, next. "You are, you are!"
subcircuits: (250 pounds of adorable)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
He leans down a little for the smooch, somehow getting even more flustered. "You-- you flatterer!" he accuses.
its_dad_sanzo: (head tilt)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-01-16 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
"I've only ever told you the truth," Koumyou says cheerfully, moving to resume walking without letting go of Devero's hand for more than the half a second or so it takes to adjust the grip. By now, this must be natural to them both. "Do you know how most people react when I try to play with them? Not by playing back just as hard, that's for sure!"
subcircuits: (the gentle man)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
It absolutely is. Devero hardly even has to adjust his stride to match Koumyou's, swinging their linked hands a little between them. "I like playing with you," he says, quiet but happy. "You made me remember how to have fun."

That could be hyperbolic, symbolic, melancholic, but... it's not. It just is. And Devero means it.
its_dad_sanzo: (happiness never decreases by sharing)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-01-16 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Here comes that smile. You know the one.

"I'm really glad to hear that."
subcircuits: (250 pounds of adorable)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
Devero disentangles their hands, but only so he can throw his arm around Koumyou's shoulders and pull him in close. He plants a big, squeaky kiss on Koumyou's temple. "I'm really glad to be here." With blue team, on the mission? Here off the train, with open space around them? Here, away from Valdana and her poison? Here with Koumyou?

Yes.
worthallthis: (skid)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
Soldat has learned by now that punching these things straight on with the metal arm is... a bad idea. So instead they use the flesh one to try and squeeze the round head off of the round shoulders, and jab some more with the knife.

It continues to flail right until the hard light making up whatever passes for a neck finally collapses, and then the whole thing disappears, leaving Soldat to land heavily on the seat of the machine, perched hands and feet with the metal arm splayed out for balance. "You okay?"
worthallthis: (distance)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Good thing Soldat is really good at that, huh. Their eyes rove around, watching the remaining helpmates, looking for any moving away from their stations. For now... nothing incoming yet.

"Soldat," they answer without looking back. If her version of Earth has Russian, she might recognize that the word literally means "soldier"... but it is at least meant as a name. Sort of. "Yours?"
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-16 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, really." Trunks responded with an eyebrow raise in amusement. "...Part of how he changed apparently. He gifted me with an upgraded set."
its_dad_sanzo: Burial-era (talkin' shit)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-01-16 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
Gasp! He's been caught! Koumyou laughs, and throws his arm around Devero's waist in turn.

What a pair of dorks.

"I'm glad you are, too."

All of the above!
worthallthis: (rifle)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
"All else fails. I'll give it a good punch." They can short that out, instead of shorting out their own goddamn arm. They're sort of joking. Sort of. They back up, grabbing another of the rifles and keeping it trained on the hostile holograms, covering Mami. "Get the panel open, yeah? I'll have a look."

Soldat's pretty sure they know a little more about circuitry than Mami, but... maybe not that much more. They can repair their own arm, but not do anything really more complex than that.
worthallthis: (lookup-sarge)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
They can't swing up, but they can jab the metal hand into the concrete to make handholds, and then pull themselves up. There are plenty of pipes and ridges to make for additional handholds.

"Fine," they grunt, climbing much more slowly than she can leap, but still climbing. The metal fingers are going to need a good cleaning, and maybe a few gears tightened and a wire or two straightened, but the thing is meant to be pretty indestructible.
subcircuits: (tired and triumphant)

Devero | Open to blue and blue guests - Camping trip!

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ PATCHWORK FOREST ]
This really is going to be a multi-day hike as they follow their SCAs deep into the Spring sector, isn't it? And with a group like this-- with so many kids-- breaks are absolutely mandatory. So as the artificial lights above them start to dim down in a simulation of twilight at the end of each day, Devero will start looking around for somewhere to make camp.

If someone else beats him to it, he will definitely pitch in to get everyone (who wants to be) rounded up and settled in for the night.

If not, Devero will suggest that they camp in an empty plot surrounded on all four sides by those plantation-even trees. Every night he'll try to find one with one of those ruler-straight irrigation trenches full of clean water burbling away between the pines nearby, and where the ground is clear and even and empty of tender young plants.

In the early evening, he wrangles anyone he can into helping, by the sheer expedient of assuming they want to help and assigning them tasks. "Can you find some wood for us to burn?" "Here's a pot, will you bring some water from the stream?" "Would you dig out a little pit for the fire?" "If you want to setting up your sleeping bag, over there would be good." Do you pitch in, or tell him where to stick his bossiness?

Later on, when the night has drawn in, a rather large fire pops and crackles cheerily in the shallow pit in the middle of the clearing. (It turns out the Helpmates clear deadfall from these forests on the regular, so they're burning fresh green branches. That would probably be more of a problem if they were all regular human folks like Dev, but they're not.) Food has been shared out, whatever it is folks brought with them, and there's plenty of hot water for anyone who wants to make a drink.

Devero might lean over to you with the foil packet of a freeze-dried field ration in his hand. "This is supposedly some kind of custard apple crunch. Think it's any good?"

Or he might thank you for helping set up the camp, or invite you to sit even if you didn't help. Or maybe he's just giving in to the weariness of a long day on his feet and enjoying the warmth before he turns in for the night.

What do you do, here in Camp Blue Team?


[ DESTRUCTION ]
Unfortunately for Camp Blue Team, the Helpmates who work this agricultural sector do not labor only during the day. Are those crashes out in the trees, beyond the fire's light, normal Helpmate activity...? Or are there haywire units coming down on the somnolent group?

Do you spring awake to sound the alarm and fend off the attackers? Or are you the sound sleeper who wakes up in the middle of chaos?


[I... I hope this is okay! Feel free to use this TL like a mingle post, complete with threadjacks and stumbling in on other characters' interactions (respecting OOC preferences, of course)! Obviously no one will force your character to be here-- but if your character is A Child you can expect a certain amount of shepherding from Dev that might need to be fended off. Sorry, he's a big dumb dad.

Have fun and don't wait up for Devero!]
subcircuits: (taken aback)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
That knowledge makes Devero nod, looking absurdly satisfied for a man with only the barest acquaintance with the situation. Still, it's his turn to clap Trunks on the shoulder. "Good. Good for him."

He turns his eyes to the armor, and-- yeah, they go a little hungry. "I'd love to borrow it." --Wait. "Will it fit me? We're--" He gestures with a hand, indicating the significant height difference between them.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-16 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
"It'll fit you. Saiyan armor is designed to stretch. The design it was made from had to fit a variety of body types." Trunks reassured him, with a confident smile.
worthallthis: (lookdown-mask)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-16 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
(Shit, man. I know, Sarge.)

Soldat doesn't look over at him, but they do collect the notebook and gently pull the pages for Otoha's dream out and offer them back to him. "I spent almost a year after I was free looking for people to give me orders. Still do, sometimes, now. It's easier, ain't it. Trying to manage your own orders is exhausting."
bakegarasu: (determination of the strong)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-01-16 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
He blinks in surprise and shakes his head, taking the page gingerly and folding it up, tucking it into his jacket. "... It is. I had... some freedom, but it wasn't like it was... permanent. School and stuff... I'd hang around the city a while, but then come home and get sent out to kill. Always something to do."

Otoha gestures around them. "This stuff... no one's telling me what to do, and most of what's here to do isn't killing. So... kind of hard to deal."
subcircuits: (definitely like what i'm seeing)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-01-16 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Well isn't that the shit," Devero says with truly impressive eloquence. But he does also sound truly impressed. He leans back a little, because if he doesn't he might reach right into Trunks' locker to grab it and that would be rude. Instead, very politely and not at all with restrained impatience, he says, "Let me try it on, then?"
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-16 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
Trunks chuckles, pulling out his 'old' set. Honestly he probably would hold onto it for sentimental reasons. For now though, he had a friend to help protect.

Passing Devero the various pieces to the set, Trunks pulled his own set out too.
its_dad_sanzo: (moonlight)

kinda all of the above

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-01-16 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Koumyou... Koumyou doesn't really do much to help set up camp with whoever else had decided to stick with Devero's plan.

Not because he doesn't know how, of course; he camped by himself for the entire Nion mission in the jungle, and made his own shelter from scratch each time to boot.

No, really, Koumyou doesn't help because he periodically slips out into the trees, checking the area. Maybe drawing the occasional barrier talisman onto the bark of a young tree.

Invariably at different points through-out the early evening, Koumyou would wander back into camp and right back to Devero. He may as well have been tethered. Maybe it was partially to give the guy access to Koumyou's arms band, but really, it was to check in. Maybe not explicitly stated as such, but a check-in nonetheless.

This time when Koumyou wanders in out of the dark, and on up to Devero, he actually sits down finally.
Edited 2021-01-16 07:05 (UTC)