middleofsomewhere | Race Against Time: Mission Start

Race Against Time: Mission Start

Preparation

Four days after the newest passengers join the train everyone’s SCA glows with the colours of the void. A message for the mission to come.

There’s a few hours as usual to get prepared before there is an announcement. "Arrival to System #16125 imminent. Prepare for exit from Void. All passengers are to wear their Safety Control Apparatus."

A shudder as the train jerks to the side and judders. "We have arrived on Space Station Delta in system #16125. Passengers should note that due to the adverse conditions of the planet evactuation protocol should not be relied on."

Arrival

With that the doors hiss open into artificial lighting. As passengers step off the train they will find themselves in a vast room of stark metal. A hangar of a ship, the train looks strange next to a move conventional shuttle craft.

Footsteps sound, heavy on the metal floor. Three people approach. A man flanked by two women take in the group silently.

“Voidtreckers. Thank you so much for heeding our call.” The man speaks. “I am professor Jori. I am the lead scientist here. This is officer Mira, head of security and captain Quin. I believe you have some information already and time is short but we have arranged a short induction and basic training for you. A lot of the equipment we use is strange even for us and we know… nothing of your origin world. We will be taking the shuttle down to the planets surface and our base there. If you would follow us to the shuttle we will do our best to answer any questions on the way.”

He pauses and looks around. “I will warn you, the planet is very unstable and not a safe place to be. Even though we are deeply grateful for your assistance we do not wish to take anyone who does not wish to go. If anyone wishes to remain here and help with the technical side of things they may.”

It is just large enough for everyone, though it is a bit of a squeeze and those who are tall, large or spider will find it an uncomfortable ride.

It is a relatively short journey, the craft is small and fast. It has no windows and passengers are strapped into their seats, but apart from a couple of dicey moments the journey is smooth, allowing Jori and Mira to answer questions. Quin is busy piloting.

They arrive at a large camp, except most of the actual buildings are underground. Jori leads them down through tunnels to a surprisingly well lit room where there are a group of people waiting them.

“This is our main rest area, you are welcome to use it as a base whilst you are helping us. There are sleeping compartments at the far end, feel free to use any not in use. Food will be served here too, it is very basic I’m afraid. We have an open radio channel you will have access to for use in emergencies.” Jori explained. “I will pass you along to those who have agreed to give you a quick training course in our equipment and the specifics of the tasks we need assistance with.”

Basic Training: Red

“Those assisting with the clearing of space debris please come this way.” Quin called, before turning and leaving the hall quickly. She led the way up out of the compound to a large transport bay where there were a series of small fighter craft.

“These were donated very kindly by the Gubita people and are the best craft for the job, they can take a hit. A few hits actually and their beams practically obliterate space debris to harmless levels. Problem is,” She grinned, “Gubita have four arms and so they cannot be piloted by someone with two. Luckily they are just big enough to fit two. One person needs to do the actual piloting while the other controls the guns.”

She led them over to the open cockpit of one so she could explain the different controls. She spoke as briskly as she had walked and seemed to assume they all had at least a basic understanding of fighter craft, though she was open for questions if anyone got confused.

“Feel free to test them out. Once your ready then the sky is yours. There’s a group already up there, but they could do with being relieved. Radio is on the left.”

Basic Training: Purple

“Those willing to evacuate villages please come with me.” A young man gestures anyone over and begins leading them out of the main room.

“We estimate about fifty villages, though in reality they are glorified bunkers underground that house groups of people. Some we are in regular contact with and they are ready to evacuate once transport turns up. Others are less… They don’t want to leave their homes and believe that as the world didn’t end last time it won’t this time either.”

He shrugged, “Our aim is to leave no one behind, do what you must.”

He enters a bay that contains some strange looking transport. Best described as glass bubbles. Each has a front bubble, or carriage, with a control panel and then two spheres attached. Each sphere had a ladder leading up to it’s centre and a bench around the side, with thick straps. Metal legs kept the transport up off the ground.. “This is what is left of the public transport system here. But they are our best way of moving groups. Each pod holds ten people. We don’t recommend pulling more than two pods per engine, as it is harder to dodge falling rocks. They travel about fifteen feet from the ground at their highest.”

He took them over to show them how they worked. If they checked they would find the whereabouts of the villages on their maps and their guide was happy to point them out. “Once you have a full load bring them back here and we can shuttle them to the station.”

Basic Training: Orange

“If you come this way I will give you the rundown on lindusi and how to catch them.” Jori gathered any science types to his side and led them into a side room. There were chairs around a few desks and Jiro gestured for them to sit before turning on a hologram projector at one end.

Large lizard-like creatures are shown prowling around forests, or skittering up mountain sides. “This is the only planet in the system where we have found lindusi. It is an umbrella term for many sub species of creatures but they are all reptilian creatures that don’t just survive in this environment but seem to thrive here. They are predators, preying on each other as well as other creatures.” He grinned as the images moved through different creatures, some small, some very large.

“We have transporter ships read, we just need help rounding the creatures up. You will be given a restraining device.” He help up an object that looked a bit like a yoyo. “You attach the strap to your wrist and throw the device towards the creature.”

One of the scientists stepped forward and Jori threw the yoyo at him, It stuck where it landed and there were three short beeps. “It will detect their heartbeat and their size and create a harness for them.” It did indeed do that, straps sprang out of the cylinder and wrapped around the scientist, restraining him whilst leaving him able to walk. “

We do not recommend trying to restrain a creature more than half your size unless you are unnaturally strong. Larger creatures can be lured into the transporters directly. You will each receive a tranquilliser gun in case things become dangerous but we ask that you only use those in emergencies.”

One of the scientists began handing out the restraining devices. “Please have a practice with the restrainers. They are completely painless so practising on each other is fine. If anyone has any questions now is the time to ask.”

Basic Training: Blue

Mira gathers up anyone left and takes them off to a large training room before handing them a glove with a small disk in the centre. “Shields. Very easy to use, just clench your fist to activate the shield and throw your fist in the direction you need to protect. They will fly out up to ten feet so can be used to block falling rocks. They don’t last long, thirty seconds at best but they will save you from a rock rain or stop a charging lindusi.”

She looked around. “Your job is easy, don’t let the scientists die. They won’t let us actually shoot lindusi, even the ones that try to eat them, so tranq guns have to do.”

She went over to a basket full of small hard balls. “Have a practice with these, make sure you can all activate the shield before you leave. Good luck, I’ll be out there too so just yell on the radio if you need me.”

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"It's no trouble at all." Ignis assured smoothly. After all, looking after others was something he did and wouldn't quite know what to do with himself if he didn't have someone to take care of.

Nodding to how Curufin said he wouldn't need help at all, his green eyes spotted a particular person that might not be so good on the battlefield. But then he returned his full attention to the elf.

"I'm sure we'll all be fine." He'd fought bigger and meaner looking things back home but that of course didn't mean these creatures were going to be easy at all.

Curufin nodded, with a smile. "I hope we'll all be fine. I have no hesitation about going into this situation myself, but it certainly is a dangerous and unpredictable one."

He was curious. "What did you do in your own world?"

"Fortunately we've more fighters than not." Ignis replied, not minding that he was stacking the odds in their favour. The same couldn't be said for the Blue Team itself, as tiny and 'young' as it was. In the end he would make up for the lack no matter what.

Looking over at Curufin now, he paused. Really, what didn't he do? Knowing the elf wasn't asking out of some malicious spirit, it was just hard to break the walls down after having had them up for so long. And only one man had been determined enough to do so.

"Back home I wore many hats. I was a butler, a chef, a driver and could more than handle myself in a fight." Add to that list babysitter, body guard, protector, advisor, chamberlain, the list went on.

Curufin likewise was one of the few fighters in Team Orange, and he felt he had to contribute at least twice the fighting energy to make up the shortage.

Multi-talented people are common in Curufin's world, and Curufin certainly is one. He wouldn't be at all surprised to find that that's true on other people's worlds. And why wouldn't the trains collect such people? -- it would be a great advantage.

"Good for you," he says, with a smile. "Even if all you could do is cook and fight, you'd be valuable to the whole train. I mean all of us passengers, not to mention the train itself. But it sounds as if you can do a lot more than that?"

"It's nothing special." Ignis said, not sure how to take a compliment. He downplayed his skills and just considered himself as a mere passenger who just so happened to be the leader of the Blue Team. Besides, others here had abilities that far outstripped his but he was definitely good at what he could do.

The last part however got a bit of a smile. "Anything beyond that would certainly more than sound as if I were bragging." And that wasn't who Ignis was. On the other hand, he wasn't an elf and while he didn't really know all of what they could do, he wore a piece of their fine work on his left wrist, a gift from a determined man.

Edited 2019-11-20 05:45 (UTC)

Curufin smiled back. He wasn't very modest himself, but he recognized it as a virtue in others.

"Brag away! Believe me, if you can cook food that's even edible, let alone delicious, you're a boon to the rest of us. And I'm sure I don't have to say how valuable fighting skills are in this venture -- all this rescue work in dangerous places. "

He smiled again when he spotted the bracelet. He recognized the work; it had to be Fëanor's. "Nice bracelet," he said.

Ignis nodded. "Cooking is something I'm fond of." And that's where a big part of his pride came in. However he wouldn't brag, so he looked around. "This place is more dangerous than the last." And the mission was different and harder for his tiny team too. But he wasn't about to let that stop him. After all, he had help this time for two team members in particular that he worried about.

At the comment about the bracelet, Ignis fought the smile that threatened to show, thinking of Tony and the words inscripted on it. "Thank you. But it's beautiful work done by your kin, and I couldn't ever thank them enough."

Edited 2019-11-21 05:36 (UTC)

"Then you're probably miles beyond me," said Curufin. "I can make food that won't give the passengers food poisoning, and it's palatable, but it's not by any means gourmet. And I'm on meal prep for the month of Catfish! They should have chosen you, since those who love cooking are the ones who are the best cooks." Chuckle.

"This place is most definitely more dangerous than the last. If we don't all get blown to hell by exploding volcanoes or smashed by falling rocks, or chomped by terrified lindusi, we'll be lucky." But he's still laughing, even though he's worrying and planning at the same time. Old habit. "How's your team doing? I haven't met everybody in Blue, though I know Romeo, Madoka, and Khardeen. Did you get any new team members this last round?"

"I figured," he said. "It looks like my father's work. He'll feel thanked enough if he knows you like it."

Edited 2019-11-22 04:21 (UTC)

The advisor could only smile. "If you're in need of help let me know. I'm more than happy to assist you." This was a genuine offer and only those came out of Ignis in the first place." He smiled more at hearing Curufin's solution. "There's been talk of such a thing as to not rotate chores. But I'm not sure that will ever be a thing." Given the chance he would totally do something like the elf was suggesting.

The other man certainly had a knack for causing more internal worry, but it was very carefully hidden. After all he'd had years of experience and actual hands on experience at doing some very scary things that involved running from an Empire, narrowly escaping death daily, and other small scale things. To the question about the team, he shook his head. "No, but the team is small and seems almost fated to stay that way." Why that was, Ignis couldn't say.

Looking down at the bracelet again, the advisor nodded to Curufin's words. "It was commissioned and the work is most certainly beyond any work that I've ever seen."

"I might, and thank you for the offer," Curufin chuckles. "I'd be surprised if people weren't talking of assigning permanent chores. But I agree, it'll probably never happen."

Curufin hadn't actually meant to cause more worry, only to comment on how much there was to worry about in such a way as to make the other and himself laugh, but he'd be sorry if he knew it had had the opposite effect on Ignis. "It is a little odd that the train authorities are keeping Blue Team small. Oh, by the way, I'm Curufin. I never formally introduced myself." Smile.

"Yes, my father is the most skilled smith that I've ever known. His jewelry designs are exquisite. I knew he was working on a commission, and my brother Maedhros may have helped. I was busy at the time, but if you ever need any more metalsmithing done, I too am skilled at that type of work."

Mentally Ignis recalled the first time he'd met Tony, who'd pretty much stated Ignis should take over the kitchen duties. If only he could in reality but it was still something he could inquire about again, he supposed it couldn't hurt and he smiled to the elf. "You're quite welcome."

Ignis knew who Curufin was, but they'd never formally introduced themselves as had been stated. So he nodded, not sure if the elves extended their hands when meeting. So his head inclined politely. "Ignis Scientia at your service." He'd cooked for the elves and had met them through Tony, another one of the hundred ways that man had turned his life upside down. No one back home would believe that he'd had the privilege to meet elves. Not a soul.

At Curufin's offer, Ignis thought of a project, but dismissed it from his mind almost immediately. Still it couldn't hurt even if there was only one, right? "Your father's work is indeed beautiful and I am most grateful for his time and your brother's." He didn't want to ask, but he had to. "Even if it's a small piece of work it would be able to be produced?"

His brow furrowed. "I do believe we have metals on board, but I would certainly need to check first."

Tony was a managerial type, no doubt about it! Maybe he could swing it, cause the train authorities to reconsider the chores rotation and allow people to claim a permanent gig.

Curufin had not yet introduced himself to all the passengers, though he was working on it. Of course, new people were appearing on the train, so keeping track of them all was a chore in itself! Elves did sometimes shake hands, but usually they simply spoke polite words of greeting and introduction. However, if Ignis extended a hand, Curufin would be courteous enough to take it. He'd have been pleased to know that Ignis had cooked for his relatives, and he felt privileged to meet such a kind person. And a scientist besides. Not all worlds have Elves, so perhaps it would seem a fairytale thing to Ignis.

He heard the suggestion of a project that Ignis might want implemented. "If I or anyone else can find the materials, I can make just about anything. What item are you thinking of? If it is small, it will be easier to make, but even a larger object can be produced providing I have the right equipment. I do have my own smithing tools with me, so that's not a problem."

Elves were the closest things to fairytales, much like he'd spoken of other things being such to Tony. But thinking on the man, he nodded to Curufin about the materials. "Tony may already possess them, but I will certainly find out and inform you. But I'm thinking of something small such as a ring, made of iron."

Pausing he looked at the elf. "I don't know what the payment would be, but I'm more than willing to pay for it in whatever way it needs to be." This was his fairness showing, he wasn't the type to expect something for nothing, because life didn't work that way. Sure he would do things without payment, but that was him and not something he would expect, especially for a commission such as this.

Edited 2019-11-25 04:45 (UTC)

Curufin was aware that he and his world must seem like fantasy to most people. He was used to his race, his life, and his world, and so it only sometimes seemed magical to him. But in fact, to him all worlds that were not his seemed like fairytale worlds, since they were usually so different from his, in ways that the Elves could not have anticipated in his era. This gave them a fantasy aspect, in his eyes.

He considered what Ignis had said about the project. "Don't worry about payment. I donate my skills and my time wherever they are needed. You are speaking of a finger-sized ring, and the material is iron? Of course I can make such a thing. If you can talk to Tony about acquiring some iron, that would be good. I'll need a sketch of this item, with any etched designs it might require, if you want decoration. Or I can do the drawings myself, if you'll tell me what it should look like and what the size should be."

He nodded to Curufin's guessing about the ring and what it was for. Ignis didn't flinch when the elf mentioned talking to Tony because this project wasn't for him at all and he planned to keep it to himself. However, it might get around to the older man and if it did, well he of course had a back up plan for that.

It didn't sit well with him about the repayment option but of course the advisor could cook so he would totally keep Curufin fed if nothing else. The project itself was to make himself feel a little better and even if it didn't, the elf was taking time out of his day to craft such a thing for him.

He shook his head at the offers of the etched designs. He had no idea if the elves knew what tigers were and didn't want to accidentally offend Curufin or his kin by asking anything about that. "I will have to get back to you regarding the size, I don't quite know that. But I'm willing to look over any drawings or ideas you have once I find that out."

How in the name of the Six did he find out his ring size on a train?

Curufin of course had no idea that Ignis wanted to keep this project secret from Tony. But that wouldn't be a problem anyway, if Ignis could get hold of metals without going through Tony for these materials.

Curufin would cheerfully accept anything Ignis chose to cook or bake, even if it wasn't a formal agreement of payment. He just didn't feel comfortable selling his skills, when several years ago he had dedicated himself to comprehending the meaning of community and determining what he could contribute. His answer to that question was EVERYTHING. His life, if necessary. A ring was a small thing and easy to give.

"Just find a string and tie it in a loop around the finger, roll it off without untying it, and bring it to me. I'll figure out how to make a ring of that size. If you don't want any decoration, I'll just make it plain but smooth and polished. If you do want any designs, you can describe them to me and I'll endeavor to draw them."

The Elves have heard of tigers, though none lived in the part of Middle-earth that tigers had lived in. They'd have had to travel much further south, all the way to far Harad or even further, to find tropical animals. However, books existed in Middle-earth that described such creatures, and furthermore, Curufin had seen such images or illustrations in the two worlds he had lived in after he had departed from his own. If Ignis desired a tiger design, Curufin could make one.

"Ah I see." Such a thing would work. Back home he'd just go to a jeweler and have them size him. Smooth and polished appealed, because it had to be something simple and elegant. But Curufin might be able to help him with the design. Maybe the elves had some sort of designs that would help too.

The more Ignis considered it, the better it sounded to have Curufin add something of an elven design on the ring. This left him in a dilemma, should he get..two then? Well nothing was written in stone and he knew how to get ring sizes now though it would definitely be a give away. He could ask Tony in casual conversation what his ring size was.

They weren't ready for marriage anyway though, with Tony having recently passed away and leaving his wife behind, besides, in the older man's world people courted for years. Plus Ignis had said he wouldn't ask and if he went back on that word, trust would be somehow broken and then how could he be trusted with anything he said?

This didn't even factor in either of them could disappear at the next station, there wouldn't be any solid foundation to build on, because it could be ripped away at any given moment.

With a small sigh, the advisor nodded. "I appreciate your help in this matter. I shall definitely be getting back to you." He didn't do free or charity either, Curufin would most certainly receive some sort of payment for his time and trouble.

The Elves would go for either option, simple and elegant or etched with fine designs. The Elves certainly had a catalog of designs they could pull from their cultural memories. Curufin had made quite a bit of jewelry in his time and could create something very beautiful, and if Ignis wanted it to look Elvish, it could.

A pair of marriage rings would be easily within Curufin's power to make, if Ignis decided that that is what he wanted. The Elf would understand the situation, too -- marriage was a sensitive issue and a complex problem in the Elvish world. People did marry in haste at times, though the culture preferred a long courtship if possible and certainly the approval of all important relatives. Not that Curufn had exactly done things that way himself, but still.

"I'll gladly give my help in this matter," he reiterated. "Yes, think about it and then get back to me." Smile. "You know where to find me." Haha. The VoidTrecker was a limited environment and you ran into everybody more than once a day. If Ignis is dead set on payment, hint: Curufn likes berry tarts.

The advisor nodded. "Thank you so much for your time, you've given me plenty to think about." And not just dealing with a ring or two or whatnot. Even for the consultation Ignis planned to repay Curufin for his time and effort, it seemed only fair.

He didn't know about the specifics of the payback, but he would definitely inquire. That sort of information was pretty easily obtained at least in his book. But as Ignis walked away from the elf, his mind was in a whirl. There were so many things to think about and so much was at stake. There were also so many unknown factors and the advisor hated ambiguity.

Should he even follow through? Should he..no he couldn't broach the topic with Tony even as an eventuality, he'd said twice that it wouldn't be a thing. All of which left him right at the beginning.

"You are welcome, and if you want to talk further about this project or collaborate on detailed drawings, I'm available, as I've said. Just let me know."

Repayment information is easily obtained, either by asking Curufin or his relatives.

As the two of them separated to go back to their respective teams' preparations and practices, Curufin nodded to Ignis and smiled, wishing him good luck on the mission.

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Race Against Time: Mission Start

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