middleofsomewhere | Crashing Down: Start

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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

She likes this woman. Useful, practical and not afraid to boss people about to get things done. She was the sort of person needed right now. She would make sure people were gathered.

Good. She nodded at Thanatos.

"Yes, we will keep going. Be getting everyone gathered first."

Probably the best way.

Yes, they could leave this area to that woman. The next area appeared to have a large building, but Thanatos couldn't tell if it housed multiple families, just one, or wasn't residential. The latter still didn't exclude people from being in there either.

Thanatos tries the door, but it doesn't budge. He pounds his fist against it. "Open up. It's an emergency. We need to talk to you."

"If you do no be opening we will be blasting it open!"

Look there was time for politeness and time for threats and right now the latter was being more useful.

She hadn't expected this to be easy, so she wasn't disappointed. It was still annoying though.

There's still no reply, but there's the sound of something scraping across the floor. At least one person is in there.

"We'll have to break down this door." Thanatos looks from his scythe to the door. He probably could... but it's also probably not the best method. He could also shift his way through the door. However, not knowing what exactly is on the other side could prove dangerous for him.

"Okay." She nodded and stepped back, closing her eyes she brought her hands up to her head. What she needed right now was to blast down this door.

And so what came from her head was a large gun, almost too heavy for her to lift.

"Be standing clear."

Buttercup doesn't need to tell Thanatos twice about standing back. However, he a little concerned about the large gun she is suddenly wielding. He... moves a bit behind her and prepares to catch her in case the recoil on that weapon sends her flying. (By now he's seen something like that happen to other VoidTreckers; it must have happened during his long stay on the train.)

It's for the best, she sort of has the hang of guns now. Her normal guns from the shop. But these weird head guns are harder because it's never the same. A different gun each time, for whatever situation she needs it for.

She aims, looking through the scope to aim at the door. "If you do be being at your door I do be suggesting stepping back."

It's all the warning she gives before firing, and indeed goes flying backwards into Thanatos' arms.

He catches her and holds her steady for a just a second to let her regain her footing. That door falls to pieces before them. There doesn't seem to be anyone directly on the other side of it.

Thanatos moves to enter first. He will count on Buttercup to watch his back and be another set of eyes. "Pardon the intrusion, but we must speak with anyone in here! Your life is in danger."

She finds her feet beneath her and flashes him a smile. The door is dealt with at least. She keeps hold of the gun, just in case she needs to blast anymore doors.

She tilts her head, listening. "This way."

She can hear people. Clearly they are not going to come easily.

There's a very loud "Shhh!" coming from the direction Buttercup hears people in. So, there are at least two people in here.

Thanatos thinks for a moment and makes his scythe vanish. He's not here to reap them. (Even if tethering them does something very similar under these circumstances.) Maybe that will help him look a little less threatening....

"Listen to what we have to say, and then we will leave. We will not persuade or bother you further." Mainly because they don't have the time to waste. There might be more willing people in another area, and they won't reach them if they spend too much time arguing with difficult people.

It was probably a good idea, she sighed and vanished her gun so she didn't look like she was going to shoot them. She can't do much about the other gun strapped over her shoulder but it should be clear she isn't about to use that one.

"Yes you do just be needing to be listening to us, if you do be wanting to be staying and dying we will be letting you."

She didn't care and wasn't Thanatos death? A death god? He liked it when people died right?

Thanatos liked it when people died at their fated time, when they no longer had to suffer, and he can help them pass peacefully, painlessly. He doesn't wish for them to die because it's something he likes or desired. Perhaps, someday he will be able to explain that to Buttercup. Now is not the time for that.

Despite the attempts at hiding, Thanatos can see two people ducking under a table. There seems to be another partially hidden behind a chair. They can stay hiding.

"There is an entity which will destroy the entire world in a few hours. The Void Ministry is evacuating as many as possible to the Void before that happens. We have a gate which will take you to the station where you will be tethered to a Void Craft. Let others know and take only what is irreplaceable and what you can carry. We need to move the gate to the next village soon."

She glances at him as he speaks. He says it better than she can and she can only hope it will be enough. She just nods along, there's not much more she can add except to stand by his side.

The people remain hiding, though there is a hiss of whispers as they react. The world will be destroyed? The void ministry?

"How do you know?"

"Our VoidCraft picked up the entity with its senses." He means sensors. "It has sensed the same before, and that world was soon lost."

Thanatos wasn't present during that time, but he trusts the train on this. If the train thinks this world is under the same danger, then it is.

"We know better this time."

The whispers turn more intense. They knew? They had seen it before?

"You said we were evacuating?" One asked.

She just nodded, keeping an eye on everyone, in case they tried anything funny.

"Yes. You can bring some small, personal items that can't be replaced, but be quick. You'll need more time than just arriving at the station. You'll need to be tethered too."

Thanatos takes a step back, showing that he is making good on his word that he'll leave after having spoken. "The gate is currently set up in the center of the village if you decide to evacuate."

"Yes." She nodded back at them. "Be being quick but be taking what you do be needing. You can no be coming back."

Important and perhaps a sobering truth. She followed Thanatos out of the house. "Do you be thinking they will be going?"

Thanatos leaves and expects Buttercup to follow when she finishes talking to the others. He pushes aside some debris from the broken door, just in case they decide to run after the VoidTreckers.

"They might, but we can't use any more time trying to convince them."

"Yes. We do be having more people to be collecting."

So they had no time to wait. Hopefully the people would make up their mind quickly.

Very quickly. Time was ticking.

Thanatos nods at Buttercup's words. Time is something that even gods must contend with. (Unless one is the god of time, but Thanatos is not that. The point remains.)

"I think there are a few more buildings to check before I need to move the portal to the next village. I'll leave it here while I search and come back for it. All right?"

Better to start the search for the next one while more convincing is being done to shave off those few seconds or minutes between villages.

"Okay. We will be checking more."

She nodded at him, it was a good idea and she would follow his lead. It was clear he knew what he was doing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Crashing Down: Start

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Thread end?

Yep!