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.
flatteries: (go green when you answer)

I

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-01-12 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo was so busy grabbing everything he needed and doing other preparation for the mission - especially one with such a vague, vague description as this one - that the sudden voice catches him by surprise. He turns his head, looking in the direction of its source.

And that's when he sees them. With all the food. It's oddly nostalgic. That's just the sort of thing the other Bucky would have done it he had still been here, huh? Didn't he always like to cook too? It was something he had picked up on the train - and perhaps Soldat had picked it up in that other place they were before. The one mentioned briefly, though Inigo can't recall the name in the middle of his surprise.

"T-thanks," he says, the surprise making him stammer as he accepts some of the goods. "Did you make all of this..?"
lucklessgege: (Default)

[personal profile] lucklessgege 2021-01-12 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
He looks over at her and smiles, that does seem to be likely. "I don't really have much experience with traveling worlds. This goes way beyond anything I've thought possible already. Have you been on one similar to this before?"
lucklessgege: (Surprsie)

[personal profile] lucklessgege 2021-01-12 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Xie Lian tenses slightly when the thing approaches but his uncertainty becomes surprise when the thing speaks. He looks over at Tidus when he appears beside him then back towards the talking creature.

"What are you called?" Xie Lian feels terribly unprepared to deal with something that isn't alive in the traditional sense of the word. But if he has something to call them then it might make it a little more comfortable to deal with.

hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, slightly smiling. (Semi-Smile)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-01-12 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe not by itself?"

Because they are cute, and Madoka looking uncomfortable makes him feel guilty in turn, and...

"We could always ask a Helpmate if it's okay. Or- maybe we'll get to play with them when the mission is over?"

If it was anything like previous missions, there'd be some time to stick around on this world after things had come to a head.
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-01-12 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think I saw something like that..!"

Not that she can be sure. Madoka hasn't exactly seen a whole lot of control panels for hologram robot beings in her life, but she can guess what they may look like from exposure to cartoons and movies..

"Hold on, I'll look at it!" So the girl turns, rushing away towards something in the distance where she apparently saw said panel.

Except that leaves the Klefki for a moment with Lea. And the Klefki seems very, very interested in him-- no, scratch that, in the giant key he's wielding. It's definitely hovering around it, looking at it with great interest.
nutkrusher: (Shadow Kick)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-12 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassie can't quite answer her to start with. She's rather too busy demonstrating the answer.

Emma collides with one of the helpmates, releasing a burst of electricity as she does. Then there's a blaze of green as Cassie's boot connects with the convulsing hardlight hologram.

"Lot of stuff."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking directly at the viewer, mouth slightly open, as if she's in the middle of an important or unamused expression. (Focused)

Prep-A This prompt hit me first. XD

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-12 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita's own frown is well in place.

"Maybe not for all of us..."

She hadn't talked about her vision this time around, though she'd still made her notes.

"We could probably make it a series of escort missions; just have a few people to handle the panels, everyone else keeps an eye on the surroundings?"

The repairs can't all be of circuitry, if it's an entire biosphere they're making...
10billionpercent: (Let Me Explain Something)

climbing

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-12 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Senku was not terribly agile, nor did he have stamina so having to climb over things was just an unnecessary pain.

He was already breathing pretty hard and struggling to pull himself up.

"Ugh!" He said by way of response.
10billionpercent: (Listen...)

Mission

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-12 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
He's beeing attacked by the strange humanoid-like robots or whatever they were and it's more annoying than truly damaging.

"Knock it off." Senku hissed as he took a blow to his shoulder, shoving at the thing. A blow or two wouldn't do much, but if it kept it up he was going to end up hurting.

"We need to do a proper patch job." He called back.
nutkrusher: (My Work Here Is Done)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-12 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I do know that," Cassie says, a slight smile returning to her face.

She leans in for another brief kiss.

"I'll try not to hog the comms talking to you too much."
flatteries: (i just started to deserve it)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-01-12 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Why would anyone live here?

[ That's the better question, Inigo thinks. Especially since they got so very little information about this mission and this place to begin with - other than the fact that it was some sort of 'biosphere' they were readying. For people to live in, presumably.

And if even Kitty is weirded out by this place, it has to be something that goes beyond Inigo's lack of understanding of modern technology. ]


Nothing here is real.
Edited 2021-01-12 20:11 (UTC)
10billionpercent: (Let Me Explain Something)

Exploring 2

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-12 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
To him, it appeared as though Eva were in her element, going through the obstacles with all the enjoyment in the world.

"You." He huffed and puffed. "Are way too happy about this."

What she would be getting from Senku was mild frustration and exhaustion as the obstaacles had to be traversed, but his body was not that cooperative in the endeavor.
blitzcheer: (i should've gone for lyrics)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-12 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Was this like a bad day in a congested Zanarkand, or like that one time they were trapped fiddling with the machina in Bevelle's aeon temple?

Whatever, the comparisons didn't matter. What did was the path he's apparently been led on, which went nowhere one way, and who the heck knew if his feet were taking him anywhere forward? His shouts out of his mouth and more ready if they need to be (seriously, he was just with someone, just five seconds ago!) except there- a red of hair that puzzles him the second he sees it. Reno talking, and Tidus looks over his shoulder, as if expecting someone else to appear.

But no, it was just them, for now. He lets out a scoff, frustrated. Walking over to Reno, since where else was he meant to go?

"So is this part of whatever problem we got called in for, or just a shoddy half-finished job we got to put up with 'til the real trouble starts?"

So far, Tidus can't decide. It was annoying, and so were those 'Helpmate' things, but everything was so... small-scale.

(Ugh. Please don't be fiends that attack at night again.)
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

Exploring

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-12 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Senku was a lot less unsure about what he needed to do and more mildly irritable about the strange paths and manners of needed to traverse them. What was it about missions that were giving him a host of physically based challenges?

He reached a particularly narrow path, but there's a shortcut if he walks on the pipe, from what he can see and he huffed. Well there was one way to deal with that. He removed his hiking boots and shoved them into his bag and climbed up onto the pipe using his bare feet to grip it much more comfortably.

Senku moved slowly, and he did wobble once or twice, but with any luck he wouldn't fall. Was that Trunks flying above him? He couldn't help but stop a moment and look upward.

"That's cheating!" He informed him. Although technically, so was he, they probably meant him to take the longer, winding, annoying path.
worthallthis: (friendly)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-12 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
The sound of the dreaming is familiar, and kind of sad; Soldat debates more than once trying to wake him up out of the dream, but they're not sure whether it's safe, welcome, or even a good idea.

Before they can decide, Otoha wakes himself up instead. Soldat has both hands up by the time sense comes into his eyes, showing them empty, sitting close by with their coat draped over their knees like a blanket. They're not great at tone, but they manage something mostly gentle-sounding when they say, "Hey. Hey, it's okay. Just a dream, buddy. You're okay."
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

Re: Exploring

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-12 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Sure do! And I'm always surprised other people don't.

[ She offers a little smile that says 'nice to meet you, kiddo.' ]
sciencegirl: (025)

Entrapta | Orange

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-12 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Exploring

"This is amazing!" Entrapta is completely overwhelmed as she looks at the huge air scrubbers. This beautiful, gorgeous technological marvel. So much of this place is fascinating! She can barely contain herself, and her heart is pounding in a way that makes her think this could be love. Who is the magnificent mind that came up with all of this!?

She easily navigates over railings and up ducts, wielding her hair as nimbly as spider legs to move her short frame around over obstacles. This part feels right at home. It even makes her a little homesick for Dryl and the Fright Zone.

She sees someone having trouble getting around and extends down a long lock of hair towards them, the end of it forming into something like fingers. "Here! Let me help."



Help or Hindrance

"Oh, I remember when the robots in my castle went crazy! What happened to you?"

It's such a casual question, deeply conversational as Entrapta is literally running in a circle to avoid the helpmate trying to attack her. And even as she's doing this, her hair is trying to reach for the patch kit.

"It's for your own good! Believe me, you'll feel better after we get all of this fixed."

Then she makes an uneasy, loud noise that's not quite a shriek but not a shout either. It's just loud and nasal and a bit concerned because there's an angry hard light bot who is very, very darling mind you, but it needs fixing and it's putting her in a position where she also might need rescuing. No, no. Now it has armed itself with a drill of some kind. She definitely needs rescuing.

She's good at multitasking but it is hard to deal with a patch kit and catch a wiggly robot and try to avoid getting hit, okay!
Edited 2021-01-12 20:29 (UTC)
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (some exotic booze)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-12 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ After rubbing her sore beak, she takes the offered hand to stand up. ]

Yeah, I've had worse... how long is the wall? Can we get around?
flatteries: (if you've ever heard a beating heart)

4

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-01-12 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus, never fear! Your bro is here!

.. Though his usefulness in this situation is another matter entirely. Sure, his attention is immediately drawn in Tidus's direction when he hears the other yelp and fall, a frown on his face. But when he's stepping over to where Tidus was messing with the panel, Inigo spots the Helpmate. And considering they don't exactly wander around in this part of the biosphere the way they do in the other ones, it's the first one of them that Inigo has seen.

And just imagine the kind of impact that has on a medieval guy. He's used to robots, but not weird.. holographic things moving around!

"Tidus, w-what is that thing?!"

He'll help Tidus in a second, okay.

Probably.

He's just having a culture shock crisis over here.
worthallthis: (doubtful)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-12 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Or getting stuck on the other side of one of those climate fluctuations," Soldat agrees, and after a little hesitation, gives Allen a little pat on the shoulder. "Come on, let's get back closer to the others. I don't wanna be stuck, either." They've only run into a heat one, so far, and that had been bad enough.
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (and he'll toot his flute for you)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-12 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
What's wrong with eggshells?

[ After all, ducks come out of eggs.

... But she may just be trolling him. ]
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (we'll just glide starry-eyed)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-01-12 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Della whistles, impressed as she watches him continuously phasing.

"Man, it's like you unlocked the cheat code for this place."
worthallthis: (smile)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-12 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah." They look fairly pleased with the turn-out of food. It's not enough, they're sure it's not enough for a whole week-long mission, but they also know they weren't the only person prepping meals. "I did some experimenting yesterday. To work out the bars. Figured they'd keep better than anything else. Glad I did." They hadn't been sure when the mission would start, and they only just barely got it right in time.
10billionpercent: (Side Glance)

Patch Job

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-12 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, sure." Senku responded easily enough, having finished up one of his own and moved closer to Rich, leaned against something and kept a lookout. Some of the malfunctioning ones were a real pain in the ass, and he found them to be little to no help when trying to do repairs.

"Getting whacked too?"
bakegarasu: (brooding like a demon)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-01-12 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
He tries to calm his breathing, lifting a hand to check his pulse to see how much stress his body is feeling. Hm. A little bit fast, but the breathing is kind of a sign of that. He sheathes his sword and bows his head. He hasn’t had a nightmare like that in a long time.

As his breath slows he focuses on Soldat. “... Yeah. He would... never say stuff like that... even though he’d be right to...”