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.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair speaking)

Splash.

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Handsome Jack may consider it lucky, or unlucky, as he's hauled out of the water tank. Not onto the ground though, he's being supported in the air, one hand looped under his robotic shoulder. Not quite glaring at him, is a purple haired man, wearing an orange coat.

Jack may or may not have caught a glimpse of this same person turning the ICP off.

"I'm not entirely sure why I'm bothering with saving you." He didn't sound happy about it. Nor did he seem to be having any trouble holding Jack, in the air, with him.
dreamtamer: (pic#14420692)

[personal profile] dreamtamer 2021-01-13 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course!" Takato comes up beside Guilmon and looks over at his friend. "What do you think, boy. Should we be guards now?"

The digimon nods. "Guilmon is sure we can do that!"
pleple: (Kids with guns)

Ple Two | Ple Blue

[personal profile] pleple 2021-01-13 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Forest

"You know, this sort of artificial nature feels a little more familiar to me." For the moment, just making small talk. "Not on this incredible scale, but the better laid out colonies could have very stark divides between types of terrain." Mostly, she watches - and waits for something to happen or for more information to arrive - while the complex systems function and the strange sort-of-alpacas go about their day.

Probably, there will be chaos in short order...

Destruction

Yep. A few of these 'Helpmates' aren't helping at all, and so Ple Two simple avoids and lures them towards those bigger and stronger until she finds out about the control panels. Then it's just a matter of using her small size and reaction time to make her way to those...

"Cover me for a moment, right?" she asks whoever's available to keep some heat off of her.
hisblueskies: Blond boy smiles, hand in fist over heart. (Default)

Destruction

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-01-13 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
"On it!"

Alfredo's thankful, right now, that the mana drives are simpler to master than ki abilities.

He can't wield it like a pro, not after so few lessons with it - but he doesn't need to in order to be a distraction.

"Shell!" he calls, as he throws his left arm in the Helpmate's direction.
magicurls: (with a wink)

arrival

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-13 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
"You don't have to worry about me anymore, Madoka," Mami promises her, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She's sporting two armbands over her purple uniform---one red, and one white.

After a moment she gestures to the small green hedgehog curled on her shoulder, currently squeaking happily. Time to say hello!

"This is Rosetta. She can clear my soul gem, so running out of mana shouldn't be an issue anymore as long as I'm careful."
magicurls: (magic musket)

iv

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-13 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
"...not just creepy, but dangerous," agrees a young girl dressed in white and yellow. She's apparently beaten one away from her by using an old-fashioned rifle as a blunt instrument. The range is too close to shoot right now.

"I can do more damage if we can---put them at a distance!"

Still easier said than done. She's whacked on the side before she can drive the sharp end into the next one, but doesn't seem to suffer too badly for it.
sciencegirl: (090)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-13 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
"I can help!" she promises, and the hair reforms into a snake-like tendril, python long and thick, and wraps around Senku's waist to pull him the rest of the way up and over the railing.

She sets him down.

"Luckily-" she shows him the area she's mapped out so far "-one of the air conduit hubs is a relatively straight shot from here. Just a little more climbing on and off.

And like a true not-at-all creepy person she crawls along a pipe on all fours, hair keeping her balanced as she practically skitters. "All of this is so neat! In need of maintanance but what isn't. No wonder this requires the Helpmates. This would take centuries of work with limited flesh and blood bodies." She should probably slow down and notice his state. The ring of enthusiasm is just too loud.
blue_ice: (brooding)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-13 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Thanks again," Seto nods to both of them before resuming his work. It takes a few minutes of analysis, but he's trying to hurry up for their sake.

"How's it looking on your end?"
firewalled: (I'm unable to go back)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-13 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
Rich whirls around at the sound of Jack's voice and nearly crumples the patch in his hands.

"Who the fuck gave you a gun?" Sorry, Jack, but his is going to be hard, especially when someone he's freaked out about is hanging around and making him feel even more nervous.
sciencegirl: (084)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-13 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Right!"

She may not have any Princesses around but it's great to see some people around that can do the job. She hefts herself up with her hair, hovering over the pinned Helpmate being held as she draws over the patch kid.

"Now that's a good boy. Don't worry, you're just going to take a nap until someone can fix you!" She sounds like a vet trying to talk to a sick dog. She deals with the panel.

"I wish we could figure out what was causing this. As far as I can tell it's some sort of programming degredation. To me, it looks like they've used the Helpmates to maintain the life support but didn't do enough to maintain the Helpmates."
magicurls: (magic musket)

mami (guesting on red)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-01-13 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
healers' camp

Mami is quite concerned about what they'll find here. As one of the group's healers, she considers it her duty to be prepared for the worst. She takes a section of one of the buildings, lining it with makeshift beds and piles of supplies...and a few extra magic touches, to make the aura a little more comforting. She hopes she doesn't have to use this room, but she knows she likely will.

When that's all done, she curls up with a single blanket in a barren corner, her small green hedgehog friend in her lap.

helpmate battle

It all started with a polite conversation. She'd almost believed it would be okay...and then she found herself slammed with a wrench.

"Hey!" Her leg shot up to kick herself some space. Help?

wild weather

After that encounter, she decides to stay in magical girl mode at all times. With Rosetta's help, that won't be a problem. She's more agile in this form, slinging from building to building with her ribbons, at least until---

"Ack!" Time to swing away from an electric current. Hopefully she tumbled to the ground instead of onto a teammate.
sciencegirl: (025)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-13 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
It is lucky, then, that Entrapta is good with mistakes and has infinite patience.

"Maybe we can tweak the target acquisition later for high motion situations!" She's yelling this even as she's running for the patch kit. Panel! She can turn off the Helpmate with the panel. This is gonna take her a minute though.

"I don't want to destroy all of them because after we leave, they're still going to have the entire life support system to maintain. And climbing this for normal people seems pretty tough. If we turn them off, they can figure out how to fix them. Besides, they're pretty cute when they're not insane and trying to attack you."
blue_ice: (could it be)

patch job

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-01-13 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
On my way.

[ Kaiba is careful to position himself exactly opposite of her, so together they can watch out for helpmates. He glances at the spread and tries to puzzle out what she's thinking, gesturing up. ]

These wires?
sciencegirl: (030)

Re: Help or Hindrance

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-01-13 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
Ever seen a confused helper bot? It's one that happens when its weapon goes stationary in the air. And it even bangs it trying to 'dislodge' whatever's happened.

"Oh, hey! Neat. That's a pretty useful thing. I bet it'd be great to keep someone from dying if they fell off a cliff."

This is a very specific scenario that is uncomfortably brought up close to the edge of a cliff. Luckily, Entrapta isn't too worried about going over an edge. Her hair can catch her. And she has just enough time with the Helpmate's confusing to use her hair and get into the panel meant to shut it down.

"Stop being a brat!" she scolds it. "I want to fix you!"
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean, considering the lack of people? I wonder if there even is anybody to maintain the helpmates. Or were." Trunks speculated, holding steady and keeping that drill away from her.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Alright, well do you guys just want a lift over it, or do you want help climbing?" Because Trunks was ready and willing to offer either.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Better to be prepared. 's why I usually have a laser rifle in the ARMS band on missions, specifically for an emergency if someone needs it. It gets checked back in after missions." Then again, Cassie knew what Trunks carried, given that she was purple's quartermaster.
nutkrusher: (Cassie Wins)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-13 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Kinda figured you didn't need it for yourself," Cassie says.

"There's a special satisfaction to pointing at something you don't like and making it so it isn't there anymore."
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe I'm trying to keep my ki suppressed for some reason, in which case I'd use it if needed too." Or if, somehow, he didn't have access to his ki. But no, Trunks had it as something for emergencies if someone else found themselves without a weapon. It's why he also kept the Irisvar sword in his ARMS Band too. "I do actually know how to use basic firearms, y'know."
nutkrusher: (Confidence)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-13 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it," Cassie says.

"Dad usually said that about money, but I think it applies to guns, too."
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I think you'd have it apply to any weapons, and probably a ton else, Cassie." Trunks teased her lightly. "Anyway, I should get back to my prep. I'm planning on taking some extra blankets this mission, and raiding the dressing car for a coat. Just in case. Orange is going to a place named for Winter, after all."
crimson_rain: shipping @ dw (15)

wildcard

[personal profile] crimson_rain 2021-01-13 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
It's their first mission, but even they don't know what to expect. There are preparations made and Hua Cheng listens carefully as to what is expected on the mission. The dangers and high-risk, which he isn't concerned about, but aware of. Normally, he never takes orders from those in charge, but for once he listens with great interests and take note of the plan.

The planet is quite big and he has never seen the likes of robots before. It's a lot of science that even Hua Cheng isn't familiar with. Who knew even stars has a semblance of civilization? This is new to him. He decides that the higher chance of success for those involved is to split up, and Hua Cheng goes with the red team for the more dangerous tasks at the factories.

"Let's meet at a rendezvous." He trusts Xie Lian can handle on his own with team purple until he's away with the others on team red.

With his promise, he'll meet his beloved at the end of the day at a certain meeting point until he returns from the factories with the others.
nutkrusher: (I Heart You)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-01-13 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Makes sense. You go get ready," Cassie says. "I'll take care of Team Purple."

She leans in to kiss him quickly.

"Love you."
light_of_willpower: (long-hair looking down blush)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-01-13 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
"I know you will." Trunks wraps his arms around her once more, pulling her in for a hug. And another quick kiss. "Love you. Be safe alright?"
strawberryprotector: (smile)

Re: Prep

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-01-13 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
The voice had Ichigo turning around and looking at the girl with a smile. "Well, for starters you'll want to take plenty of food and water. What team are you planning to go with for this mission? Since the areas sound pretty different, what you need will change."