middleofsomewhere | Crashing Down: Start

Entry tags:

Crashing Down: Start

As the Voidtreckers are going through their morning routines on the 24th Quicksand, there comes a train announcement over the comms. When it ends, their SCAs glow and bring up a holographic screen as is common before a mission. There's a few hours to prepare before a new announcement:

Shortly arriving at system #78961112094711. Leaving the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

The train shakes as it leaves the void. As explained by the mission brief, those who are not wearing their SCA will not be able to physically leave the train.

But for those that do, they will find their SCA lights up with their stopwatch. Counting down from five hous.

CRASHING DOWN: START

QUICKSAND 24 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

HOUR ONE

The Voidtrecker Express lands them within a voidcraft multistorey, the same one as when they came to holiday at the Irue Grotto. As soon as it does, their SCAs vibrate and bring up a message, audio and transcript (including brialle) become available from a Ministry worker: the tethering station is on the first floor, and there will be people and gear waiting for them, depending on what jobs they're taking up.

Evacuation plans have already begun, and everything is going to get hectic, fast. Voidtreckers will have no end of work available.

1. PROCESSING. For the more tech-minded, plenty of help is needed. Containers of SCAs in storage need to be scanned and made sure they're not faulty before they're loaded up and sent off to communities outside the Irue Grotto. It's a simple if tedious process, but necessary. There's also helping to process people, getting visitors to the planet back to their voidcrafts, so they can leave and make room for more voidcrafts to station.

People can help civilians through the health scanners, or help manage the cyro-pods that they'll be placed into, Setting up the pods isn't too difficult, it just requires hands and the ability to follow an instruction manual. The void scientists happily give this task to any voidtreckers availible to help so that they can get on with the tasks that require more know-how. ( ORANGE1 )

2. GATHERING. The Ministry also need help with bringing in people. Hover trams will help take officials - including Voidtreckers - into the Irue Grotto, to pick up people at farther parts of the city, and who can't walk to the tethering station. Directing people is necessary, as well as making sure that people have caught the message of the evacuation in the earliest hours; but also those less keen, not taking the call seriously will need to be persuaded.

People are also needed to begin going to further out communities. There are emergency broadcasts throughout the planet but the ministry and the local governing groups are aware that not everyone is going to have heard them. The ministry scramble to give the voidtreckers official passes, to help give credibility to their announcement of evacuation. ( PURPLE 1, BLUE 1 )

3. JOIN THE QUEUE. Help will be needed to help keep some semblance of order, to create a flow to keep everything running. Out in the streets, or even in the tethering station, people will become more panicked if they think they've missed their ride, if they have to wait for too long. It's not yet violent, but people with presence will be useful for helping keep everyone sensible. ( RED 1 )

HOURS TWO AND THREE

The work continues to bring people from their lives to the tethering stations, now packed by anxious individuals. There's aid needed for people outside the Irue Grotto, a call for drivers and more volunteers to stay back and help with tethering processing to get people onto the liminal stations. Panic rises with the tension, and there's also signs of disbelief for what's apparently going on.

The Ministry are handing out SCAs to be taken to those who can't come to the stations, to help with the tethering process. With quick training, people can tether themselves, and arrive at the liminal stations awaiting them.

1. ALL ABOARD. Even in the most busy of void hubs, the tethering and platform systems are not designed for an entire planet to arrive all at once. Those volunteering can access the void by a device at the tethering station. The ministry workers explain that it won't disrupt their own tethers, and they will be able to freely walk through the barrier back to the ministry building. The platform is larger than any voidtreckers have seen in their time in the void, closer to the transport station. There are rows of train tracks, but also docked air craft, space craft, there's even a port with voidcraft that look like traditional ships that would sail through water, if there were any water in the void.

All those tethered have tickets and so should know where they are going, but volunteers have been given tablets with an ever growing database to match passengers up to their voidcrafts. From there, it's a case of helping direct people, carrying luggage, and hurrying children along.

For those who would rather not be around panicked people, there's plenty of work loading animals, be they pets or animals from the zoo, who have their own dedicated voidcraft. ( ORANGE2 )

2. THE IRUE ZOO. Outside the Irue Grotto the planet is pretty rural. Not far from the city is The Irue Zoo, a clutter of domed conservatories customised to house creatures from across the system's planets: avians, reptiles, creatures that don't match anything Voidtreckers know. The zookeepers have already had collars delivered- devices similar to SCAs but for use on animals. They do however need help getting them on the creatures. For any tiny animals, there are chip guns - but, you'll need good aim.

Using drones, those piloting them can also help to make sure an area has been cleared and no one left behind, without the person piloting even being physically present. ( PURPLE 2, BLUE 3, ORANGE 3 )

2. OSIGA VILLAGES. In the villages, there are families who just don't have easy access to reach the Irue Grotto: not everyone has a vehicle. Some eagerly climb into the Ministry ride that Voidtreckers take to reach their communities, while others will need help to go to them instead. They might have family members who can't make the trip, others are more worried about their pets or farm creatures, for those lucky to have indoor farms. Luckily the SCA packs that voidtreckers were given also contain the animal tethering collars- the ministry had factored that into their evacuation plans.

More of a challenge are those who refuse to leave the lives they made, who've barricaded and are making it difficult to be helped. They might not trust the ministry. They might not believe that the threat is real. Or they might resist the idea that this threat cannot be fought, after all they are Osigan, not a weak people at all. ( ORANGE 3, RED2, PURPLE2, BLUE3 )

HOURS FOUR AND FIVE

As their countdown clocks tick to two hours remaining there is a message from Anan. The main bulk of people have been processed by now, freeing up those helping in the grotto to move out to further flung communities. Almost all efforts are now on the portable tethering kits, voidtreckers encouraged to travel by speeder to get to as many places as possible.

1. OFF WORLD. Anan waits at the main transport hub next to a space ship. It's not particularly large, clearly made for short inter planet journeys rather than long durations in space. She looks understandably worried, Chiff sat like a hat on her head, but she welcomes people on board for half an hour before they leave.

They're headed to a space station, getting there not for the faint hearted as it's situated in an asteroid field. Luckily, Anan can pilot her way through safely. The station is mostly occupied by elderly people and small children, suspicious people, a couple even tangry at Anan for leading strangers to their door. She takes their ire with humility but is quick to get down to business.

Here like on Osiga people have varying reactions to the news. The children are frightened but generally tough souls. Some of them know Anan and Chiff already and that helps with coaxing them. ( RED 2-3, BLUE 3, PURPLE 2-3 )

2. ON PLANET. The easily convinced have been evacuated by now, which leaves those who are, for variety of reasons, more difficult. Some are the furthest away from the Grotto, the travel time longer. Here, there is often unrest. There's been a couple of hours for people to work themselves into a state of panic. Even those ready and prepared to be evacuated are frustrated.

As they travel they might even find bands of people moving towards the grotto, angry and assuming they have been forgotten, abandoned. They can be calmed, especially when they learn that the voidtreckers have tethering kits and are here to help. But it will take some loud voices and calm personalities to break through that fear and anger. ( BLUE 2, PURPLE 3 )

3. THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. But what of those who are adament they will not leave? The refusers are not one homogeneous group. Some refuse to believe what is happening. World eaters? Whose heard of them? Who are these strange people who are trying to empty their world? They never did trust the ministry, setting up in Irue like that...

Others truly believe that leaving their home to an otherworldly threat is an act of cowardice. Surely they should stay and fight. Stand against this threat and drive it back. They have weapons, surely if everyone just made a stand they could stop what was about to happen.

Others just can't bare to leave their homes. They are old and would rather face their fate in the comfort they know rather than leave to go to the void- they might know of it but that doesn't mean they trust it. Others are very aware of what this means, they survive but their bodies do not.

Some can be convinced, others are more stubborn. It may be best to focus on those who do want to leave, but there is no easy answer. ( RED 2-3, BLUE 3, ORANGE 3, PURPLE 2-3 )

All the time the skies are calm and clear, no sign of the approaching danger present. In some ways, this makes it harder; te only indication they have is their SCA clocks counting down. Hours turning to minutes, counting down to catastrophe.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Rewards
This event will last for 1 IC day, and OOCly runs from 16th to 22nd, with a conclusion going up on the 23rd.

CHARACTER AID: Lan Jingyi will be offering transport over distance, Lea can create keyblade portals to move people; Thanatos and Tidus will have functioning transgates to allow movement between where they are and back at the tethering station. Elidibus will also eventually be creating portals and force-teleports.

Art Credit: Header

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

'Can you come over here? We need help moving people!'

Tidus would make a pretty good summoner himself, because the words are hardly out of his mouth that there's a crackling response from the SCA, a cheerful lilt as Esteban replies "I'm on my way!" It doesn't take the half-elf overly long to pop by the same halls where the blond had called from, the hectic pacing of people flowing about him as he looks on in slight confusion.

There are... a lot of people about here. Like, moreso than he expected, and most of them don't seem to be in any sort of trouble, so he's a bit confused at first.

"What's up?" He asks the sportsman, moving out of the way of a brisk-paced Osigan holding a clipboard and a long list of names. The person hardly passed them by that they stop, glancing back down at their charts briefly, before looking back up at the two VoidTreckers.

"You're here to help? Good. We're getting through floor three, but we don't have the hands to get through floor two. End of the hall, take a left, non-violent cases, and they've been warned. Can you take care of them?" They pause briefly to send a stern stare at the two, clearly expecting a serious and swift response.

"You heard the boss." If Esteban's been caught off-guard, Tidus isn't - but then, he didn't get the chance to explain. He still waits, nodding to the nurse and clapping his friend on the back of the shoulder, giving a "On it!" to the other before, to Esteban: "Come on, I'll explain along the way."

He starts walking with the expectation to be followed, a hum of activity and conversation around them, with Tidus adding to it. "This whole block's for old retired people, they can't just tether them with the stuff the ministry gave us. We've gotta send them down through the transgate outside, get them to the hospital over in Irue."

A hassle, but the quicker they get it done, the more likely they were able to get help. There's elevators to help them up to the second floor at least, Tidus pressing the button to call for it to them.

There's an easy shrug from the half-elf, as he figures Tidus knows what they're up to. He follows the blond up to the end of a hallway-- odd if you ask him-- only with a pair of doors and buttons there. There's a raised eyebrow indicating Esteban has no idea what these are, but he doesn't think to ask since he's getting the rundown of their task.

Hun. Alright.

"Non-violent cases?" He asks lightly, surprised, because if they are in a residence for older people, he wouldn't have expected any of them to be prone to violence. But the elevator doors open at that moment, and there is a pause, a flinch as Esteban sees what this is.

Oh, he does not like this. He does so not like this.

It's a small room with sturdy walls, and a glass panel that shelters some light dusting of sors between it and the back walls. The light effect of the sors is probably meant to be soothing, or something, but Esteban hesitates at the entrance, his face pinched.

The almost luminescent blow of the sors against the open panelling where the elevator sits catches Tidus's eye briefly, but he takes in the interior with a sweeping gaze that follows him turning to the side panel, having a vague idea of what he's looking for. A vague idea that leads him to the set-up to work the lift, finger hovering over the buttons for a second before he thinks he has an idea of what he's doing.

But then there's Esteban, still standing outside the threshold of the elevator, and Tidus nods his head to the space beside him without a second thought.

"Get in."

Edited 2022-04-25 13:25 (UTC)

Right. There's still a pinched expression on Esteban's face, but he does as Tidus asks, tucking himself near one of the walls. He fixes a point up at the corner of the tiny room, feeling the elevator rumble up to the next floor. It's a blessing that they don't need to stay in it too long, and when the doors open again, he slips out quickly enough, waiting a step outside of it for his companion to join him.

"Alright, so, get the residents out." The hallways stretch on from there, doors after doors to a total of perhaps twenty or so, arranged on each side of a central desk that is currently unmanned. "Start from the closer ones?" It's their best bet, in his opinion. No one in their way while they work, and they would reach the far ones with the hallways cleared of any disturbance.

Tidus watches Esteban briefly, but he doesn't read too deeply into his actions. Has the guy ever been on an elevator before? There's a reassurance he might give on any other day about the lift, but it slips his mind as they're making their way to the right floor, Tidus's mind on whoever it is they're going to meet, find, and what he'll say or need to, to get them to come along.

They're soon out, Esteban with a suggestion first. One that gets a sound of acknowledgement from Tidus.

"Wanna see if we can split? We can join up if we need a hand."

There might be a few people where they'll need the two of them to get going, but they might get lucky with the first few.

A brief pause as Esteban considers it, but as the nurse had said, these were the non-violent cases, and they'd been prepared. Everything should be fine with splitting up.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

He glances down the hallway, before reaching out to the first room on his left, and leaves Tidus with a wink and a "shout 'f you need help!~" A knock starts him on his way into their task.

Each room is split into a mini-apartment when he walks within; a small room to share tea with friends, with an archway that leads to a bedroom. It likely grants a bit of privacy to the owners while keeping an open floor plan that nurses can glance through quickly if there's a need. There is likely a bathroom deeper within the small area, but Esteban doesn't linger on that thought, walking up to the resident to start guiding him away.

Each of the residents Tidus meet sound confused, understandably so. 'Wha? An emergency?' most of them echo, and Tidus meets some reluctance to his plan of them moving, but most give in - it's good they have the Ministry message to repeat, to give some credit.

A few need time to put together their belongings, while others seem keen to get moving once they grab their stick. There's one who wants Tidus to take them to where the nurses are, bossy, demanding he push them to the destination; and he only gets more annoyed at Tidus hesitating, thinking about the other residents who haven't left. But he goes, 'Alright, alright!' as they keep on, and he's out of the door, pushing the person-

'Bah!' And they're grumbling again, soon after. 'You! get me outta here before that louse! I'm not sharing a ride with them!'

Who are they talking about? Why, the other wheelchair-occupant that Esteban is currently wheeling out of the farther end room.

Tidus manages to mutter a "Really?" under his breath.

It doesn't help that his companion's suspicious cough could not cover up the snicker that scrunches the bridge of his nose. He tries to bite the smile from showing up too, but it's a poor attempt, and the corner of his lips are too high. The sweet little old man he was pushing out turns warm pale eyes to the blond before turning to stage whisper to the half-elf behind him.

"We're not going to stand for that, are we?" His voice is reedy and thin, which would almost make him soft, if not for the absolute belief behind what he is saying. He smiles again when Esteban balks at the idea, stopping in the hallway and giving Tidus a second and a half of advance.

"They're winning." The old man mock-scolds, shoulders shaking as he prods the half-elf again. "We can catch up." He promises again, as if he'd been taking a grandchild on a stroll rather than encouraging something that probably shouldn't get back to the nurses. Esteban's steps are slow when he starts back again. But. Well.

The hallways are large enough. And the old man had been very sweet to him so far; warm and friendly and cooperative. He'd insisted on nothing more than bringing his cane, which he now held against a shoulder as he waited to see the redhead's reaction. Esteban's pace roamed a breath faster, and his long strides helped him catch up with his friend.

"Scoot over, Sunshine," he warns with a bright grin. "We're gonna win this race." He is not running but there is a bit of speed to his movement that holds them just a breath ahead of the other two. The older man Esteban is driving glances at Tidus again, his warm, pale eyes thinned from his smile as he nudges the other with a tilt of his chin, before looking dead ahead.

Tidus isn't really running either, but he hasn't been keeping a slow pace either; wanting to get moving along regardless of the toothless complaining of his weelchair-bound companion. But now he's got extra company to his side, gaining speed as the call of competition takes a hold of Esteban and his old man at the most inappropriate of times.

"Oi, kid! You're slacking!" --but neither of these men care, and Tidus lets out of a scoff that sounds more like a huff, and he's pushing forward, wheels turning as he gains speed. "Hurry it!" snaps his ride, Tidus meeting it with a "I'm going!"

It can't be called wasting time, and the hall fortunately keeps clear of other occupants as they charge the way down to the lift. It'll be a coin flip on who wins, with Tidus lacking some gutso for the challenge at the start - but more taken aback for a second by it, until, well --

Who can deny a race, even at the end of the world?

It's the blond that gains, by a hair's breath just as they get to the elevators. Esteban's shoulders are shaking, and the sweet old man he'd brought over is smiling so wide, it crinkles his entire wrinkled face.

"No one speaks of this," the old man swears solemnly in his gentle, feather-soft voice. "We wouldn't want the nurses to find out, would we?" he asks, turning his pale gaze to the snarky gentleman that had caused Tidus such troubles. Esteban raises an eyebrow behind him, eyes widening a little, but he doesn't comment, even as his smile grows warmer.

"With the both of you, we gotta be done up here," the half-elf mentions, a little more at ease inside the tiny room, so long as he doesn't focus on the four walls surrounding him. "Tidus an' I will go an' make a last sweep, but I think that's it for second floor!"

It's a job well done in his books, if a little reckless by the end there. But there's still fun to be had, even at the end of the world, after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Crashing Down: Start

2-ish wildcard

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject