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.
ayao: (beg)

Meng Yao | Orange | Winter

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-11 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[On the Mission]

He has dressed himself well for this endeavor and yet he still finds himself shaking. As he follows their guide, winding his way through the various pipelines, he begins to wonder if there is a point to this. Perhaps no one was meant to live in such harsh conditions?

The pipes are in bad shape and he aids the helpmates - only to quickly discover that not all of them are doing their job. He uses his sword - a strange flexible blade - to put them out of commission when they turn on him or his teammates. Once he finds the weak points, it really isn't so hard.

"We can't risk these pipes flooding more." he raises his voice, "The water will turn to ice and the damage will be beyond our capabilities to fix."

[After]

He shivers for hours after returning to somewhere with heat. The blankets piled on top of him make him look a bit silly, but he doesn't care. He can't risk getting sick - and all for what? Pipes? Meng Yao laughs softly and brings a mug of hot cocoa to his lips.
Edited 2021-01-11 06:34 (UTC)
lanxichen: (Faceline)

After

[personal profile] lanxichen 2021-01-11 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
Xichen is checking on people once they are done for the moment, and he notices Meng Yao in such a state. Closes his eyes for a moment - of course, at that time his cultivation was much lower. He would be suffering more - and he came from Yunmeng, where it is very warm most of the time, as well.

He crouches done next to him, holding out his palm. "Come give me your hand. A bit of spiritual energy should help, hmm?"
ayao: (watch)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-11 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
Just the sight of Lan Xichen helps. Meng Yao can't take his eyes off of the man and when he has that attention he so desires, he flushes. Setting his mug down, he shakily takes hold of Xichen's hand, giving a little gasp as energy passes between them.

"We did good work." he feels the need to explain himself, "Much of the pipes were repaired."
lanxichen: (Soft look)

[personal profile] lanxichen 2021-01-11 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm." Xichen nods, not slowing down the energy transfer until Meng Yao's face starts recovering some color - so he might want to pick his mug back up again. "This place is truly vast, and the previous mission many things went wrong after we thought we had made things right, so I am sure there will be more work to be done. So it is important to rest and recover."
ayao: (genius)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-14 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
He has shared spiritual energy with others for a variety of reasons, but Lan Xichen's feels the best. Stability is returned to his body and his trembling muscles relax, finally able to retain heat.

"Are you going to rest?" he questions shyly, peering up at the other man from under long, dark lashes.
lanxichen: (Soft look)

[personal profile] lanxichen 2021-01-14 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Xichen settles his hands in his lap once Meng Yao is better, but doesn't try to bolt. Though he does shake his head slightly.

"I am not really tired, yet. I will meditate some when everyone seems all right and resting."

He doesn't sleep if he can avoid it, no.
ayao: (fright)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-19 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
Sleep is important and yet he too knows the horror of nightmares. His dreams are surely not nearly as graphic as poor Xichen's.

"I watched you for hours. I should have been tending to Huaisang, but I couldn't look away from you. I feel the same way now." he admits, glancing to the side, "I wish I could help you relax. I must have the opposite effect on you." and he has no idea how to repair that - or if it can be repaired.

Yet he dreams.
Edited 2021-01-19 09:18 (UTC)
lanxichen: (Faceline)

[personal profile] lanxichen 2021-01-19 10:49 am (UTC)(link)
Xichen shivers slightly, between the mention of Huaisang and Meng Yao's involvement in his nightmares. Then he takes a deep breath, focusing instead on the differences. Taking care of Huaisang...

Back then, when Meng Yao had been with da ge, Huaisang had been away at the barely recovering Cloud Recesses. They had come closer later, but then Huaisang had definitely not been

"It is all right. In the end, it was my own mistakes that upset me. The you I knew was responsible for his choices, and I for mine. As are you for yours - not more, not less. Do not try to take burdens of things you have not done, hmm?"

(no subject)

[personal profile] ayao - 2021-01-23 08:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lanxichen - 2021-01-23 11:59 (UTC) - Expand
mtsilver_conquor: (casual)

[On the Mission]

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2021-01-11 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
"You fix, I'll defend, ok?"

Judging from the fact both Princess and Lele are out and in Princess' case spoiling for a fight, she means that.

"Or, at least try and find the panels to turn them off, yeah?"

She offers a grin at the end, but it's fleeting, the pokemon trainer barely taking her eyes off the battlefield.
ayao: (long)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-11 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
"I trust your strength." Meng Yao speaks to all three, nodding at her suggestion. He climbs up and over several pipes before he finds a panel. Flipping it open, he determines which button to push and does so.

Then he returns to her. He isn't a warrior, but he isn't a coward either. If she's hurt, he can get her help.
mtsilver_conquor: (casual)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2021-01-11 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
While he does that, Eva lets the two pokemon go ham on the hardlight until it's deactivated, she herself hanging back - even flinging an arm out when she hears him return. Less to stop him and more the fact the trainer is making sure it's safe for her teammate -her cabinmate- to get closer.

Several long seconds pass until her arm drops and she turns to face him with an honest grin. If it's one thing he'd have learned just as her cabinmate, it's that Eva's honest and she cares for everyone. "Thanks. You're not hurt are you?"
ayao: (exclude)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-11 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Her protection is appreciated and Meng Yao obeys her silent command, keeping back until she speaks. Her Pokemon are exceptional creatures and he wants to reward them - with treats perhaps - if she allows. Of course those will have to wait until they return to the train.

Slipping off of the pipe, he returns her smile hesitantly, his cheeks pink from the harsh wind.

"No. I was more concerned for you." he looks over her inquisitively, searching for any wounds, "What of your Pokemon? They fought a good battle."
mtsilver_conquor: (Default)

Sorry for the delay. Feel free to drop this if it's too old.

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2021-01-29 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course she'd allow it, and, even if she didn't allow it, long experience with the fairy-type has taught her that Princess would find a way to con him into providing treats.

There's no wounds on any of them, unless a bit more dusty counts, and Eva grins. "They did; it's been a while since they could go all out, and they enjoyed it. Well, I know someone did."

Her eyes flick to Princess, who's strutting around like he's The Most Important Thing In The Room and Clearly, He's The Best As Well. Well, right up until he flops down at Meng Yao's feet with a sad chitter. The one that means 'please give me attentions, for I am a sad mournful pippi in need of love'.

"Go for it if you want," Eva says with a shrug, hand resting on Lele's head as if to pet the porygon2.
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

After

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-12 08:26 am (UTC)(link)
Investigating the Spring area- while more pleasant than some area- hadn't been especially enlightening. They'd managed to shut down or otherwise disable a number of malfunctioning Helpmates, but weren't really any closer to figuring out why they were malfunctioning or putting a stop to it permanently.

A stop over back at the bay where they'd arrived to snag some more supplies revealed that he wasn't the only one there; a number of train residents from various teams were there as well. Including a short-ish young man buried under several blankets. From that and the way he was shivering and sipping hot cocoa, Lea guessed he was Team Orange, since they'd taken the Winter area. And it looked like he wasn't dealing especially well with it.

Luckily, if there was one thing Lea could help with, it was warmth, and he approached to offer just that. "You look like you've been having a rough mission so far," he commented. "Mind if I lend a hand?" He demonstrated how he would do this by briefly generating a small fireball in his hand. The young man was perfectly free to refuse of course, but somehow Lea doubted he'd turn down a warm fire.
ayao: (proud)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-14 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The offer of fire - and blessed warmth - isn't something he can turn down. Meng Yao is thankfully quite accustomed to magic and so he doesn't flinch from the use of it. Instead he takes a deep breath into his aching lungs and gently reaches out to tug on Lea's sleeve.

"Will you sit with me?"

In his world, it would be forward of him to ask such, but he doesn't know Lea's social rank - nor does he think it particularly matters. They are in a special circumstance and if Lea is being friendly, Meng Yao wants him near.
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-15 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Lea nodded. "Sure," he said, taking a seat next to Meng Yao. "I can't stay too long; I'm mostly just here to grab a few things and my teammates'll be expecting me back. But I can stay long enough to help you get warm, at least." The fire in his hand vanished as he sat down, but another fire- this one the size of a decent campfire- appeared hovering an inch or so above the floor in front of them; close enough that they'd get a good amount of heat from it, but far enough away that there was no danger of sparks catching on the blankets.

And Lea himself wasn't sure what his social position was these days, but would fully agree that it didn't matter. One thing he was sure of though, was that the young man's voice sounded familiar. "Meng Yao, am I right?"
ayao: (hope)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-19 09:24 am (UTC)(link)
The fire feels good and he relaxes at Lea's side, his cold muscles loosening. Meng Yao is a small, slender man; simply put, he doesn't have enough meat on him to retain heat well. But with Lea, that problem is quickly rectified without him having to rely on his rather weak Cultivation skills.

"I won't keep you long." he promises, peeking out from under the blankets when he hears his name, "Yes, that's me. We...have spoken before."

The voice is familiar. But he wasn't expecting to meet someone with such vividly red hair!
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-24 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, Lea was a very handy guy to have around when one was cold. If they had another mission to somewhere cold, he might ask Meng Yao if he wanted to come along with Blue team, so Lea could offer some assistance in that area. But for now the not-quite campfire would do.

"Yep, I'm Lea," he said. "Nice to officially meet you. You doing alright, aside from the cold?" And yes, his hair really stood out in a crowd, though no one could really argue that it didn't suit him.
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.
ayao: (consider)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-14 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
If they can. Meng Yao winces each time Senku is hit, finally sliding away from one of the pipes in order to be of some assistance. He is small and fast and his sword can fit into delicate nooks and crannies that can disable a robot.

"Keep its attention." he isn't sure if he is heard over the wind, but he brings out his flexible sword and circles around to come at the robot from behind.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-14 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah sure, seems to like me anyway." Senku huffed and gave it a little shove as it seemed to back up a bit and came back, trying to push at him. At least it wasn't holding anything, that was a small stroke of luck.
ayao: (elegant)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-19 09:27 am (UTC)(link)
His sword is slipped into one of the weak spots and the Helper stops moving with an infuriated little spark. Meng Yao peeks around the contraption and hurries to Senku.

"They're not impenetrable. But I know I wouldn't be as strong as you are when taking a hit."
10billionpercent: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-19 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've been hurt a few times." Senku commented. "It doesn't make it hurt less, but I can kind of ignore it when I need to. I'll probably feel it more later."
ayao: (dimples)

[personal profile] ayao 2021-01-23 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
"I will do all I can for you." he promises, bowing to Senku, "I wouldn't mind drawing you a hot bath when we return to the train, either. You were brave and kind to act as a shield."
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-23 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah, sure, I mean I guess that's something I can do at least, but you don't have to do that." He was a bit flustered by the kind offer.

"I'll probably put something on them, it'll be fine. Just bruising."