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: (the questionnaire never changes)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-01-20 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"We could've seen if we could ride them..."

Is this mission related? Not at all.

But look, when they're given such a vague objective and not much to do, can you blame a teenage boy for wanting to do something that doesn't involve getting boxed in nearly every hour or so. Or how much time is passing by here anyway in this weird, weird place.

But he exhales, trying to shake off his sulkiness. He doesn't like it. If he just whines, then they're never going to get anywhere.

"Ugh, the mission objective told us to look for that.. that Great Autumn or something like it, right? Let's see if we can find that and get this over with."
sciencegirl: (035)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-20 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's really interesting. Most corruptions I've come across spread pretty evenly. It must have to do with the operating system."

Which, sadly, they know nothing about. Until they have a chance to talk to the overseers, anyway.

"Lets keep an eye out. Surely we'll find a clean area by the time we're done. If there's not..." She trails off, because that means there's a lot more problems than they can handle out here.
lucklessgege: (Default)

[personal profile] lucklessgege 2021-01-20 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright. Then we can be the ones who draw them in and try to stop them before things go badly." It wouldn't be the first time he has been the one to draw all the bad things in to keep others safe. He can handle a lot and he is immortal so even if the creatures do succeed in hurting him, he won't die.
soldier_blade: (30-break free)

[personal profile] soldier_blade 2021-01-20 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was," She conceded. "But I also remember being so fucked up from the process that I don't really remember being hungry."

Actually, she couldn't recall much of how she felt during the entire course. Sure, she knew what happened, and of course she knew what went into vetting and training those in Q course, but her own experience, beyond her own passing and excelling-that she must've blocked out or something.

She did recall herself and another one of her squad-mates scarfing down an entire pizza between the two of them soon after it was over. So, perhaps there was something to what Cassie said.

"In any case, I'd rather we have something on hand, just to be safe." One of the few moments the parent and officer side of her were in agreement.
Edited 2021-01-20 20:28 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (prbly huffin' 'bout dad)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-01-20 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"I guess," says one other teen in the most resigned, wishing-he-wasn't agreeing-to-go-along-with-it-way. He's so bringing up the idea again later though, if this goes on any longer. The train's just got to be confused about anything being here and just assigning them a sector to try and find something!

But those arguments can be saved for when the boredom really starts kicking in. There's one suggestion Tidus is sure Inigo will be down with.

"Let's find Taiki too. It'll be easier if we don't keep getting split up like this - it's boring if it's just the two of us in a nothing place like this!"
gentle_jim: (squint)

or strangle someone, whatever

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-01-20 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
He starts to argue that he doesn't know anything about Rich's ejaculation habits, when the kid just casually informs him he doesn't have a dick. It takes him a second or two to process that. Oh.

"Whatever. Like I care what you're packing," he grumbles, feeling stupid.

"And wait for me, unless you want to get brained by one of those little dudes with a wrench!"
achickenformylove: (mdzs 4)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2021-01-20 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see. I would have thought they'd be on walls, but there are none here."

He nodded his head once. "Take as much time as you need. I will assist the animals. Any of them that are disabled is a good thing."
stardustofdawn: (02)

[personal profile] stardustofdawn 2021-01-20 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
With the plan set in motion. "I'll go search while you distract." It takes two to get things done.

Xingchen went to search the panels to shut down the robots. He preferred this method as opposed to using his sword to dismantle them and destroy them. It took a while, but once he finds the panels, he recognized it. They're low-leveled in this area. He pushed the button and the robots in Wangji's area shut-down.

He waves to him from a distance, "The robots, are they shut-off?"
worthallthis: (skeptical)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-20 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh-huh." Soldat doesn't trust anybody who says they never have a hard time. But. (Right before a mission is really not the time to get into that kinda things, is it? Yeah, no. But I'm not going to forget it, either.) They've got no desire to upset anyone before they're about to go into action.

So they just offer him a little smile, for now. "I'll try not to worry, then. You sure you got enough rations?" Hefting their bags of trail mixes, soup cups, and such, offering him a final chance to load up.
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-20 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Gears in the metal arm whine as they slow down, Soldat waiting warily for the holograms to start moving again. When they don't, they back up a step, towards Sonya. "Thanks."

The holograms shudder a little, glitching out, before turning back towards their stations and once again ignoring the two intruders. "Don't suppose you've got some wires you can cross. To turn them off," Soldat asks, watching them. They're mostly not serious. Mostly.
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-20 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
That's one nice thing about having a floating vampire person around. Well, one of probably many things, to be honest. He certainly hasn't been anything but friendly and helpful, so far.

"It's probably a programming thing," Soldat guesses. "Or maybe some mechanical damage somewhere deeper in. I can maybe do something about mechanical damage. Don't know a damn thing about programming."
nutkrusher: (Let's Get Down to Business)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-20 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassie's eyes narrow and she exhales softly.

"Where is the Great Autumn?"
nutkrusher: (Listening Intently)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-20 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"No objections here," Cassie says.
worthallthis: (origami-crane)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-20 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
They've done more than their fair share of crying, don't worry about that, Buttercup. For now, though, they're just getting back to equilibrium. Nothing to cry about, just maybe be vaguely embarrassed about.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Even without me freaking out. Electricity like that's no joke." They keep folding. It's hard to tell what it is until it's done, at which point Soldat offers her a little paper bird. "Here. For you. Don't have to keep it, but. If you want to."
stillnewatthis: (focus)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2021-01-21 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Almost certainly. It is difficult to process the numbers, but this space requires more resources than any single planet can supply."
worthallthis: (frowny face)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-01-21 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
They give the icy path a wary look, then start to turn back they way they came. "Had to climb over a building once, earlier, to get around an. Electricity field. Hope we don't have to do more of that."

(Hope to not run into more fuckin' electricity. That, too.)
schrodingersghost: (pic#6326421)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-01-21 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Danny has to pause a moment at that.

"You sure? I have it on good authority that most people find it a kind of creepy experience. With three e's."
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, one eyebrow perked. (Eyebrow-raise)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-01-21 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Alfredo, if anything, looks more attentive when Devero mentions the language mix-up.

"That does make sense; all languages change over time, right? The Italian that I speak isn't the same as Italian spoken two centuries ago, or even one."

That Alfredo is Italian may seem irrelevant, but it's one way of talking about this he knows he can speak to.

"And - I've met him, I think. His name was Prisoner, right?"
hisblueskies: Blond boy with candle, smiling (Candle)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-01-21 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
Huh. Now that is useful.

"Thank you for telling us," Alfredo says, tamping down on the urge to bow on top of that.

"And we'll remember that, though I don't know when we'll get to visit the... Autumn sector."
hisblueskies: Blond boy with candle, smiling (Hope)

Mmm, wrap sound fair?

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-01-21 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
"That's true enough," Alfredo agrees, righting himself fully and making his way over.

"Let us get back to the others, first; we can regroup before finding the next panel."
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Dark)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-21 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Nita isn't in any hurry to get complacent.

"Any time now, Conan!" she calls, bracing her muscles against another spasm of pain.

At least it's not continuous...
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking directly at the viewer, mouth slightly open, as if she's in the middle of an important or unamused expression. (Focused)

o7

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-21 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Kind of glad we never have to fill out resumes here."

... Team surveys aside, and all.

"And that's true enough, Perse... Wait, is that a good nickname?"

Watch the gears in Nita's head get stuck!
gundamofthedesert: (pouting)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-01-21 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it probably will. It's almost like there is a computer malfunction, but...

[He glanced around]

Aside from the panels on the building, I haven't seen anything remotely like a computer here.
gundamofthedesert: (contemplative)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-01-21 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
I'd probably have better luck with it if we found it. I'm pretty good with computers. But the trick seems to be where would they put it.
melodiouspacifist: (Nort AW YEAH)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-01-21 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
"At least this much, I can understand." Demyx grinned and jumped in place a bit, enthusiastic enough as he prepared to fight further helpmates. It was combat, still, but not so bad.