Fighting Headstrong in our Final Hour: IC Preperation

[voidtreckermods]

---

THE FINAL MISSION: PREP

---

On day 5 of the month of Tribulation - the day after the performances - the Voidtrecker Express makes its return to the void base. The void scientists meet them as always, with those visiting for the first time are welcomed and given information, and offered a tour if they wish it.

Everyone will be informed of a meeting to take place in a couple of hours. Voidtreckers are welcome to skip it and to do their own thing, but attending is stressed - it's important, to both them and the rest of the void.

Once everyone has had time to rest, a call will come through the base leading everyone to the largest of the meeting rooms. It's filled with more than just the Voidtreckers: The ministry, its scientists and those from system #3721010010 are present, as well as Osigans. Far more familiar faces take the front of the meeting, with Lia-Nine, Ten-Nank and Anan joining the head scientist Till, who takes a step forward to address everyone.

She thanks everyone for joining, and recaps the situation:

A couple of weeks ago, the Voidtrecker Express and those on it discovered a tear in the void within a void storm. This tear, and the resulting shapes seen within it, are the disaster wiping out systems from existence - including system #78961112094711 (Osiga's system) and system #1015, which is the system of the Voidtrecker Express.

Many of those present will not have heard of system #1015 because of the voidcraft's previous crew attempting to revert time after the shapes destroyed their homes, despite the many taboos surrounding this practice. This resulted in a paradox as they met with themselves, which utterly erased all existence of system #1015, and even outside knowledge, which led to the Voidtrecker Express on its course to capturing unwilling souls to serve upon it. It's believed that Halo - a person from the planet Enrara of system #1015 - escaped the same fate as many outside of their system at the time by being caught in the void storm at the time, saving them.

The attempt to revert time in system #1015 created an anomaly that can't be left alone. While not immediately dire, a plan has been made to address the issue of both the tear in the void, and that of system #1015. It will be dangerous, and everyone is free to give their own thoughts and help solidify the plan before the mission starts.

The plan is such:

ONE. Dealing with the shapes. Convince the entity known as Chaos to take in the shapes within its sealed space of illusions.

This entity and the Voidtreckers have a history, with Chaos attempting to take control over worlds after losing their own, and being driven insane through exposure to the void. However, this exposure has also made them an incredibly powerful - and dangerous - force, capable of warping reality to the point where life is inhabitable within their illusions. Just, not with their consent.

The Voidtreckers were able to talk them down in the past, and the Ministry have sealed Chaos within their own illusion. It is believed that Chaos's abilities could, if not destroy the shapes currently in the void, then contain them within himself. However, Chaos would need to be convinced, but he does have a history with them after they destroyed his system.

---

TWO. Close the rift. Seal the rift letting through the shapes so that no more can travel the void.

In the centre of a void storm lies a tear in the void that is allowing the 'shapes' to slip out and decimate the systems that they spill out near to. An inspector voidcraft will be taken into the storm that will protect everyone on board from the effects of the storm, allowing them to focus on the tear. Charges - devices of the ministry - must be set around the tear, the inspectors have allowed the use of their suits and technology for this. More charges will be set where system #1015 used to be. By having those tethered to the Voidtrecker Express do this and establishing links between the two locations, the energy from the experiment taking place in system #1015 can be used to close the rift.

It is best believed the tethers Voidtreckers have with the Voidtrecker Express, a craft from system #1015, will allow the energy to flow from one point to another. It is unknown what or if there will be any side-effects to this.

---

THREE. Deal with time. Rescue the survivors of the shape attack on system #1015 and Prepare the site of system #1015 to recieve a surge of energy and redirect it to the tear in the void.

This is perhaps the most audacious part of the plan. The Voidtrecker Express will travel to the site of system #1015 and using experimental technology from our scientist allies who were rescued from system #3721010010, will anchor backwards towards the point in time where the decision to break time was made. Those anchoring will try and convince the previous voidtreckers to instead be pulled into the present with them, breaking the time paradox.

The energy discharge from this shaking of reality will be great, and so charges will be set up in the space that was once system #1015 linked to the charges at the site of the rift, and Voidtreckers in both sites will use their entangled tethers to open a connection and redirect the energy.

As the plan is explained, their SCA's have lit up with the colours of the void that signals a mission brief.

OOC NOTES

Questions.

To help some people who may be confused about references to certain individuals or terms, we've connected a summary below to help! This will be told and so known ICly.

Click here!

The previous crew: The Voidtrecker Express's previous crew. Most were killed in the attack on system #1015 by the shapes. The survivors broke all the rules in a desperate attempt to bring their friends and their home back and paid a terrible price. More information can be found here

Enrara, Thistea: Sister planets from system #1015, the system the Voidtrecker Express is from.

Halo: A dying void pilot that some voidtreckers found on a mission. She had been caught in a void storm and when it faded she had discovered not only her system gone but every mention and every memory of her and her home vanished. You can read her final message here.

The Inspectors: The inspection arm of the ministry are the protectors of the ministry. A psionic people who share a low level telepathy and the ability to manipulate emotions, they are a worrying force to face. Here is some more information about them.

Chaos, Diagad: Diagad was in system #401837400141. The people of Diagad specifically were known for having powers. The system was destroyed by the shapes and somehow a person- later known as the entity Chaos, survived. But not with their mind intact.

Chaos' main powers are illusions and there was an arc of plot dealing with the Voidtreckers finding systems in the sway of Chaos' imagination. Eventually they ended up on a world created by Chaos- a 4th wall event where people had been pulled onto into a false superhero world. They managed to get everyone stolen back home and sealed Chaos in the system of their making.

Anchoring: Anchoring is a way of moving through the void 'spiritually'. It anchors a person to their craft whilst allowing their mind to move. This was used on Chaos' world to return the 4th wallers home, it was subsequently used during the 'No Place Like Home' event to return everyone safely back to the train.

Tether: The tether is the voidtreckers connection both to the voidcraft and their home worlds. When they talk about 'looping' a tether it is to connect them to another void craft (or the void hub) as an extra level of protection and to allow them to exist in the void whilst not in proximity of the Voidtrecker Express.

PREP PROMPTS: While the plans may differ in some places, there will be preparation before the mission for the equipment and environments used. Here is a list of exercises that will be gone through, and for which task. Feel free to use them to play with below, or just to know how your character would have prepared for the mission!

Click here!

RED task: The Inspectors have set up training room to practice with the Inspector technology. It is heavy, clunky, almost like an old fashioned diving suite. Everything is muffled but there are speakers that can be turned on, and a microphone to speak out, making their voices sound exactly like the inspectors do.

Those with any ability to read emotions, minds or other telepathic gifts will find them boosted, as if they are inside a conductor. It may be quite overwhelming at first.

The suits are larger than they are but have controls so that they can be controlled. It will take them a little while to learn to move. Once they get the hang of it the inspectors will take them out in a controlled walk outside the void hub.

Being out in the void is trippy, even with the protection of the suites they will get disorientated quickly, colours swirl around them, even if dulled through the visers, singing vibrates through the metal and even a short walk results in a headache. It's going to be tough, to deal with that whilst setting charges.

There is also training in opening a mental link using their tethers. This is advanced tether work but those who excelled in anchoring and reaching out will do well here.



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ORANGE task: They will be travelling on the voidtrecker express so there are no new SCAs to get used to, however the burden of opening a link will be on this team, since they will have to initiate it for Red team to accept. They train in this, in seeing the tethers and moving along them, opening a connection. This is very advanced, but very similar in skill set to anchoring and reaching out.

They are also given suits, these are more like space suits that many of them will have worn before, they are given advanced zero gravity training and there is also training in undegoing sensory deprivation. They don't know exactly what time spent in a site of a time paradox will do to them, but the ministry are trying to make sure they are as prepared as they can be.



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BLUE task: For those who have not anchored before they are given a lesson on that, how to hold onto a static anchor whilst moving through the void, towards a target. Using the experimental time technology will add a layer to that and there is not much that can be practiced in that regard on the void base, they will just have to hope their anchoring skills are up to it.

There is a group of scientists who will travel with them and serve as the static anchors. They will also be practicing, getting to know those volunteering for this part and trying to make sure their connections are as strong as they can make them.

After all they will be the people keeping their tether connected to both the train and the present. Of course if any voidtreckers wish to act as static anchors they will be welcome to as well.



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PURPLE task: There is lots to prepare for those who are deciding to take on this part of the mission. They will be traveling in an Osigan craft 'Voiddream' with Anan and her crew. They will be tethered to that craft through a looped tether and wear a second SCA. The ministry sugest wearing these in advance to get used to them as the effects can be strange. They will feel a little heavy, have moments of double vision. This will allow for a comms link between them no matter the team, as well as their normal Voidtrecker comms.

As well as the additional SCA there is other technology they will need. The life beacon itself is simple to use, it will be getting it safely through Chaos'... chaos, to where it needs to be that will be difficult. The seals are again simple to place once they get to where they need to be, activating them is a little trickier, requiring a steady presence of mind and a very good sense of timing. The ministry have set up some simple practice rooms where they can practice using their tethers to help create a web between sealing points and then tying off, as a team.

There is also training to withstand illusions, some voidtreckers may still have the pendants given to them by the temple on the void nexus and these will surely come in handy.

Comments

NPC Questions

[voidtreckermods]

If you are having your own discussions in your own top levels and want an NPC to answer a question or have a IC question that you want answered but don't want to be in the big chat here is the place to ask them!

Note this is for IC questions only, for OOC questions please go here

[maxwellsdaemon]

Just to clarify. When they go out in the Void in those suits, is the Void 'space'? Is it zero gravity, is what I mean?

NPC Discussion

[voidtreckermods]

These will be mod led discussions - treat them like a boss battle where everyone may comment once per mod comment round. To help the mods out please bold any questions and relevant information!

Anan (Dealing with Chaos)

[voidtreckermods]

Anan speaks, Chiff sitting on her head like a hat. "Chaos is extremely powerful. It is more than just illusions, it is imagination becoming real. After the events on the fake Diagad I was able to feel how others felt, to sense their presence, their joys and sorrow. My own crew also maintained their powers that they had developed during that time and I know from speaking to the voidtreckers who were there it was the same for them. They are probably the only force we now and have access to who could contain the shapes. But first we need to convince them to do it."

Inspector (Dealing with the Rift)

[voidtreckermods]

An inspector speaks, their voice emotionless through their suit. They are clearly trying hard to keep their general aura of intimidation down but those standing close will still feel a tendril of dread inside them.

"Those heading to the rift will travel in Inspection Craft A9310. We will bypass the storm and so that is not relevent. Charges will be set around the rift, you will also work to open a connection with those setting charges at the site of the former system of #1015.

Ordinarily we would not take non inspectors on our crafts, nor would we put them in our technology, but it is believed that it is only your tethers, as unusual and entangled they are, that will allow the energy caused by changing time in the void itself to be redirected to the rift to repair it. We do not know what the consequences to yourselves will be."

Till (Dealing with Time)

[voidtreckermods]

Till speaks. "So this part might be the most... audacious of it all." She sighed. "We have some experimental technology, from our scientist allies who were rescued from system #3721010010. We believe that if we take the Voidtrecker Express to the site of system #1015, with use of the technology and the fact that time is broken in that place we should be able to... anchor backwards."

She looked at them, as if she was surprised that she, as a ministry scientist, was suggesting this.

"We believe if a team anchors backwards to the moments before the time paradox occured and convinced them to instead return with them. This will change time, which in itself is incredibly risky but we think we can use the energy that will be unleashed."

She sighed again, looking grim. "If we set up charges in the space that was once system #1015 and charges in at the site of the rift and we have members of the voidtreckers, whose tethers are entangled and connected in the way that they are we can direct that energy, from one site to the other, using it to close the rift. It is madness, but it is the best plan we have."

Sonic the Hedgehog | Purple Team | OTA

[they_call_me_sonic]

Practicing

Sonic was not used to this at all. There's too much power going through him, too many new equipment and abilities. The SCA was really throwing him off and making him slower. This wouldn't do at all.

But, they need the practice. They need to create the web to help tie off the sealing points. He could do this solo, but no, this is a team thing and he needs to work with a team.

"C'mon, we're on a time limit, guys!" he called out.

Feeling of Dread

After all of the practicing, all of the tests, all of the work, Sonic still didn't feel right. But that was because he was dreading something. He wasn't here for long, but he had been in action for years, so he knew things were off when he saw it.

"Hey, c'mere. I need to talk to ya." he said, motioning to anyone coming close to him.

Feeling of Dread

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre had been feeling rather uneasy with this since everything began. This mission was definitely far more intense than any for a while. After practicing, while with the other purple team members, someone for him and he went over.

"Is everything alright?"

LO | Red Team

[knifewithnoname]

Discussions

She follows most things alright, after all she was one of the first to step on this train and has been here ever since except a couple of times spent in a suitcase. Still, this is very overwhelming.

"What do time energy be being, how do you redirecting it and this plan do be sounding stupid complicated." She grumbled. They aren't official questions, but there is an agitated young girl in the crowd, looking around as if those around her can fill in these gaps.

A Suit

Okay this was weird. She felt far too small and in a suit far too large. Even though it had controls to move it it was clunky. She felt like a monster from a movie stomping around like this.

"How do you be even getting through doors." It sounded strange, to hear her words come through not in her voice. Emptier even than when she was in the emptiness.

Going Outside

For other two years she has lived on a train, don't go near the windows, the void is dangerous, breaches could make terrible things happen, void storms made everything go mad.

And now they wanted her to go out in this suit?

"I do no be knowing about this..." She's no coward. She's just smart.

Mental Link

More meditation. It felt sometimes like all they did was meditate. She's used to it, it was part of her life before the train as well. But still. She sat restlessly as she focused on clearing her mind.

This would be so much easier if there was just a big monster to fight instead.

Mental Link

[scorpionsect]

Xie'er was not thrilled with this mission one bit. He was extremely unsettled and nervous. This was out of his element, but he was also determined to see this through. He tried to meditate as best he could to keep his mind focused and clear. He had set about placing the charges as expected. But it was a slow and cumbersome process.

With the bond he already shared with LO he did find it easier to set a mental link with her. She could probably sense his nervousness and fear with this mission.

"Fighting a monster would be easier then setting charges," Xie'er mentally replied.

Discussion

[wewillwewill]

Here's a familiar face. Yes, he's familiar with a rhetoric question, but it's not it specifically that causes him to pause and address the child. He happened to be passing by when he heard her grumbles.

"Would you like me to explain? I can answer your questions to the best of my ability."

It's the confusion that brought him to stop. There's a lot being talked about and quickly. And it would be better to offer an opportunity for the child to better understand what's going on than have her swimming around and unsure where she can best put her talents.

47 | Hitman | Red Team + OTA

[rieper]

I. Training Others How to Set Charges

47 was very familiar with this sort of work. He often used remote detonators for audio, visual, or explosive charges. The former for distractions and the latter for, well, lots of things but some less pleasant than others. These devices were different from his own concoctions but not enough to take him long to figure out. Then it was just a matter of learning where the best places would be to set them.

Once he knew that, 47 offered to teach Red Team (and any of the others with similar tasks) how to set the charges. It was relatively simple. Anyone with experience with any electronics would find it easy to learn the specifics for these devices so that all they really needed to learn was placement. And practice in the chaos of the void. For anyone else, 47 would take the time to go over the steps carefully, fully patient with even the most technically challenged individuals.

II. Void Practice

This was something 47 didn't excel in. For once, he was just as fallible as the rest of the team. However, his stubbornness would not allow him to give up. Working through a headache was simple enough; not the first time constant pain accompanied him while on a mission, and a headache was much better than a bullet wound. The disorientation was another story.

The hitman had dealt with this sort of distraction before as well but it was never pleasant. And one did not ever really get used to swirling colors and vibrant sounds causing a general lack of equilibrium. It hit his system just like anyone else and he didn't have much more in the way of wisdom than 'breathe calmly and focus through it'. Therefore, 47 was just as unsteady on his feet as others. The bulky suit didn't exactly help matters either. He had been fine operating it during inside practice, but out in the void it became a chore like everything else out here did.

He kept practicing, willing himself to get used to the disorientation and work through it. His stubbornness paid off as he set up charge after charge through simple trial an error as he went along. Good thing these aren't explosives, he thought to himself as he fumbled with one of the devices and only "caught" it after it dropped to what counted as ground out here, keeping it from tumbling away at least.

No one saw that. Or maybe they did. But he kept working at it either way.

III. Wildcard

When not teaching or practicing, 47 could be found wherever else at the base. He was always available for mission discussions--or whatever else someone might want from him. For anyone truly paying attention, he neglected tethering/mind link practice more than he probably should have considering Red Team's role in the upcoming mission.

Hythlodaeus | FFXIV | Red but going Blue

[sharpeyes]

Consideration

Well. Hythlodaeus has much to consider about the situation, and he winds up leaning against a wall, observing all groups, though his eyes linger on the one around Till.

"Hmm. Perhaps I might yet be useful... if it will not be too close to breaking a promise." To Hades.

He is not blind to the dangers, nor the additional twist of toying with time. And if it is too much - and he knows his dearest friend is tired enough that it might be - he will follow his decision.

Anchoring practice

Interestingly enough, as this is based on discipline of the mind and technology, Hythlodaeus takes to it rather easily. Once he has learned what to look for, he is very good at identifying his goal, too, mental agility letting him shoot towards his goal while holding on to the anchor without hesitation.

Still, it is a skill that he will need to perform under additional circumstances, so he practices diligently. And perhaps a little too much, paying no mind to his mounting fatigue.

Wildcard

ooc: For any other ways you might want to run into him or poke him.

Anchoring Practice

[persona_non_ratta]

Hyth might not have noticed his growing fatigue, but Bruno had seen it, and approached him with a bit of a hesitant smile and a cup of coffee as soon as he saw the taller man settle back into the here and now. "Hey," he said a bit awkwardly. "Think maybe you ought to take a break for a bit? Long enough to get something to eat at least. I made some coffee and arepas, and there's some stew too, so..."

Aelienor Estienie | Purple

[bladesdarkandlight]

[Prep Work]

On hearing there was going to be a mission soon, Aelienor had sewn herself up a set of cotton mage's robes, not trusting this strange shirt to be aetherially conductive enough for serious casting. On hearing what to expect, however...if the last time she faced dangers drawn from her own mind was any indication, she knew such simple garb wouldn't be enough.

Her prep time is spent in the art carriage, sewing frantically to put together protective and physically or magically enhancing clothing from exotic fabric, strange metals, and beautiful blue gemstones. Those visiting or passing through, particularly those wearing purple, are likely to get waylaid by a remarkably tall elfin woman with a tape measure.

"Hold still a bit, lemme measure ye so I can put together summat good fer fightin' in."

[Material Acquisition] (Closed to Hythlodaeus and Elidibus)

But how did she get her hands on the materials for her work? Asking for help, of course. First, she approaches Hythlodaeus, clad in her simple robe, hood down to properly show her face. When she tracks down Elidibus, she's instead wearing a much fancier set of Signifiers' clothes. Either way, her greeting is the same.

"Hey, mind if'n I ask a favor what'll help me help the folks goin' wit' purple out?"

[Surprise Gifts!] (Closed to K'zeka and Q'uila)

Once she's finished her own casting clothes, she has enough materials left from Hythlodaeus to outfit two other people, meant for a specific other two. Before she tracks down Elidibus, she goes looking for her counterparts who aren't already properly equipped. She approaches in her new casting shirt and pants, tape measure in hand.

"Hey, what kind o' soul crystals do ye have wit' ye?"

Materials

[sharpeyes]

Hythlodaeus is thoughtful when she approaches him, but he does look up at her with a smile without hesitation. His eyebrows twitch very slightly, as he is rarely the one who can do much for those in combat, on the whole, but his eyes brighten, too.

To his people, he is ever happy to be helpful.

"Aelienor! What can I do?"

Material Acquisition

[wewillwewill]

"What is it?" Elidibus has no problem with a Warrior of Light approaching him with such a request. Aelienor will have found out that he's very capable of remaining a neutral party despite the past. There's no censure in his tone and he's there to hear out the request.

His current task- a checklist of available resources for the upcoming conflict- is paused and he turns to face the elezen woman. The ascian waits for her response while also taking a moment to observe her new attire.

Lea | Blue Team | OTA

[hotheadwarmheart]

Anchoring Practice

Lea had never attempted this sort of thing before, and he was beginning to understand why. The level of focus required was... not his strong suit. But if he had one thing in his favor it was stubborn determination, and gradually, he was getting the hang of it. Unfortunately, that same stubborn determination meant that when the inevitable fatigue started to set in, he kept trying to push through regardless, determined to be prepared before the actual mission. Maybe someone should convince him to take a break?

Resting and thinking

Lea sat against the wall head leaned back and eyes closed. He wasn't asleep, though there was a distinct possibility of that happening, even if he'd regret sleeping in such an awkward position later. He just... couldn't quite bring himself to get up and go anywhere. It felt like way too much effort. "Man, I'm beat...", he said to anyone within earshot, his tone reflecting the truth of his words. "They said we'd be tired afterwards, and they weren't kidding. All I did was stand there for a couple hours, but I feel like I spent all day training, then ran a marathon." Of course he'd done significantly more than stand there, but the effort had been mental and spiritual rather than physical. Not at all what he was used to.

Re: Lea | Blue Team | OTA

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion sat down beside him and let him talk if he needed to. She didn't know how else to help. She had tried to listen at the meeting, but she didn't understand everything that was said. Something about shapes and time and... she was just going to have to follow Axel or Roxas on this mission. She tried to listen, she did. But she had no idea what she was supposed to do. Not really.

Bruno Madrigal | Blue Team | OTA

[persona_non_ratta]

Anchoring Practice

Bruno would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid. Terrified, even. But with the lives of a whole world, and- indirectly- many more in the balance, how could he just stand back? He'd never be able to look at himself in the mirror again if he was that much of a coward.

So here he was, doing his best to try and learn how to properly anchor before the big mission. It was kind of slow going though. Maybe someone could give him some tips?

Lunch Break

He'd also volunteered to help make sure his fellow Voidtreckers who were working on learning anchoring didn't collapse. It was Blue's turn at meals anyway, so he found himself bringing around coffee and arepas that he'd made, or bowls of a simple but tasty and filling bean stew that someone else had made to people who were too exhausted to make it to the dining car or station cafeteria, or who just looked like they needed a break.

Unplanned Siesta

Between his own anchoring practice and helping others with theirs, it was no wonder Bruno eventually ended up worn out. In fact, he'd straight up dozed off on a bench along the wall of the practice room. It obviously wasn't planned, as he was in kind of an odd position. Maybe some kind soul could wake him up before he ended up with a kink in his neck?

Lunch Break

[sell_tickets]

Khary was starving. Having made sure Leia was safe and doing something that wouldn't make his hair turn grey and fall out he had gone to grab them both food. He needed quite a lot of food, especially if they were about to be going into a dangerous situation. So he headed for the kitchens.

"Whatever that is, smells great. Trade you for a laced coffee?"

Leia Organa | Blue doing Purple mission | OTA

[motherofresistance]

Anti-Illusion training

For training to withstand illusions, the setup itself was fairly straightforward. This particular test was a maze, and their goal was to make their way through it to the exit on the other side, without the use of teleportation or other such shortcuts. But only some of the maze's walls were real; some were illusions, and only by picking out the illusory sections of wall from their identical real counterparts could they succeed. There were also additional hazards. False floor panels that would remain solid until someone stepped onto them fully, at which point they would vanish, dropping the unfortunate Voidtrecker to the padded floor of the room below. Small drones roamed the maze as well, to either harry the Voidtreckers with stinging low-power energy bolts or potentially even teleport them back to the beginning of the maze.

All in all, a very good test. And completing it within a reasonable timeframe might well be telling for how they'd fair under some of the hazards Chaos might throw at them. "Well?", Leia said to her testing partner as they stood at the entrance, "ready to go?"

Lessons for the non-tech savvy

The equipment they would be asked to use was straightforward in its purpose, and- to Leia at least- in operation. But the same couldn't be said of everyone on their crew. So if anyone seemed to be struggling with it, Leia approached them to lend a hand. "Need some help?", she asked. "We need to make sure everyone's on the same page for this mission, and that- in a pinch- anyone can work the equipment."

Training

[sell_tickets]

"I suspect that someone has a sense of humour. An illusion maze inside an elaborate illusion web?" He shook his head. "You'll allow me to shield you for this, I presume. Illusions can have teeth after all." And if she didn't know how to air walk he was planning to teach her.

Najaran | Will be going with Purple

[najaran]

Meeting

Najaran had gone to the meeting. She almost walked back out when she saw everyone who was already there. Specifically the people from the world they failed to save. Well, almost ran away, more accurately. Instead she swallowed hard and tried to find a place as far from everyone else as she could. She sat on the floor and pressed herself back into the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible as she listened.

But even listening, she didn't understand half of what was said. They were supposed to be fighting the World Eaters, right? So what was everyone talking about shapes for? She didn't know, but she was having trouble following and really was wishing she hadn't come.


After The Meeting, in one of the simulation rooms
Najaran wouldn't be that hard to find for those who knew her, since Eidolon and Gremlin were making runs back and forth from the cafeteria to where she was hiding to bring her food to try to help her. Those who know her best could probably guess she was a wreck. But perhaps more importantly... thy'd know that she was planning to go on this mission... without her SCA.

She should probably be talked out of this...

Simulation

[mystic_mongoose]

Mina had seen Eidolon and Gremlin dashing towards and back from the cafeteria to the simulator rooms. That wasn’t good. That meant that something scared Najaran.

Worry hit her as she went inside, looking for her friend.

“Najaran?”

Khary | Will be going Purple with Leia | CW: potentially all.

[sell_tickets]

Right after the meeting

If Khary was to say that any of this made sense to him, he'd have been overestimating himself. So he was talking to people for elaboration and explanations. He'd missed... a lot, apparently. If he had missed anything at all. He still was pretty sure this whole thing was an elaborate illusion - a Tangled Web. So that left the question of who caught in the Web with him was real. If it was just him, then no time at all had passed probably. In any case, feel free to help him understand all of this?

Training
Yeah, it didn't take Khary long to find a place designated for training. Being trapped in an illusion spell wasn't going to make him neglect the chance to work on his skills, especially when he knew that illusions could kill.

So Khary could be found easily - and he made sure Leia knew where to find him - working out. He was wrapped, as usual, in multiple players of skintight invisible shields. Some under his clothes, some over them. Layered shields took more power to maintain, but there was so little here to spend his magic on, and he needed to spend it off anyway.

Khary was the least aggressive person among his friends. Even his old dance instructor had more of a killer instinct than he did. But Khary still trained hard and knew how to kill, could kill easily if he needed to. Mentally, emotionally, and physically. Because this was just training, he wasn't using any magic other than his shields and the occasional bit of motion on top of the air subtly to give him more maneuverability. His weapon of choice was a long wooden staff with a wicked looking blade at the end, though midswing sometimes the blade became a sharp dagger. But mostly it was the bladed stick. He knew how to fight hand to hand, how to fight with clubs, how to use daggers and knives. But the Eyrian war blade, the bladed stick, was still his go to weapon if he wasn't using Craft.

So feel free to come watch, or bother him, or even ask to join in. He is moving smoothly through what looks like well memorized and practiced forms. And even as he drew his blade smoothly through a training dummy, the look on his face was that of a mildly amused young man watching something innocuous but pleasant. There was no sign on his face or psychic scent that he connected these motions to the thought of actually killing someone.

Being underestimated was always one of his strong suits. He could find humour in most things, and that helped people to think he was harmless. Even when confronted with proof that he could rip them apart with a thought. No one here wore a Jewel. He was not dropping his guard, but he was certain he could take down pretty much anyone here if they attacked him seriously. And even if he couldn't...

Nothing was getting through his final shield. Nothing.


Cafeteria
Khary worked hard, yes. But he also ate a metric ton. It took a lot to maintain a body that was a channel for such Dark power. Of course, Khary didn't think he ate all that much, after all his scale was very much not the scale of the Train. He was used to being one of the weakest people in any gathering. And thus one who ate the least. Jaenelle tucked into meals that could feed a Landen village regularly before the war ended. So really, the fact that he had already had eight servings and was scrounging for more clearly just meant that plates here were too small. He had a pot of the best stew he could manage with these ingredients cooking over a magical flame, stirring itself as he tried to find something to eat until it was ready. At his side was a large mug of laced coffee. He was also making a mental note to make sure to bring food back for Leia when he was done here.

Mother Night, he missed Curufin. He kept expecting his friend to drop into a seat and offer to get him some more alcohol to replenish his now dwindling supply.

Clef | Will be going with Purple | OTA

[guru_clef]

The meeting and after

Clef had spent the meeting sitting on his floating spit of earth over the heads of everyone else, protected in his translucent bubble shield. He had spent the meeting taking notes and listening intently. When the crowd cleared some after, he lowered his bubble so that he would be at eye level with the average adult here, and then started working through his notes. He was willing to speak with anyone who approached. That was why he lowered the bubble after all, but unless someone tried to get his attention, he was gonna be more focused on his notes than anything else...

Rezo Greywords | Red Team | OTA

[redprayer]

Postmeeting

By the end of the meetings Rezo has headed to the archives in order to find somewhere he can reread his notes and ponder over the task that lies before everyone.

It’s a tangle of timespace magic- as Rezo can only see it as magic- that’s distinctly different from the magic of his world, but he knows enough to understand that this whole plan is risky and experimental beyond anything else they’ve done during his time on board the train.

“We do not know what the consequences to yourselves will be,” the inspector had said, referring to the Red Team’s assignment in particular.

Rezo visibly is making no progress actually rereading his notes, his fingers halted on the page and his brow furrowed in a clear sign of somebody deep in the act of brooding.

He murmurs to himself, “Do they believe we may die, or…?”

Training

Rezo realizes within a few moments of trying one of the suits on that he hates them, although he tries to bury that feeling. The suits muffle the hearing and mess with the kinesthetic senses that he has to rely on far more than a sighted person would. But whining certainly won’t do him any good and he’s extremely reluctant to sit such an important mission out, so he grits his teeth and paces in his suit up and down the training room, praying he doesn’t bang into anyone else.

(He may not succeed- there is a chance, though a small one, that he’ll accidentally barrel into you before he adjusts fully.)
Despite his difficulties, Rezo will eventually adjust enough that the inspectors tentatively approve him for the void walk. Voidspace is unpleasant, but after getting used to the suits in the first place the task of going around setting charges is pleasantly straightforward.

As long as you’re someone that Rezo doesn’t outright dislike, there’s a chance you may be approached by him- body language clearly reluctant, despite how the inspector’s suit obscures him- and asked “Forgive me, but would you be able to assist me?”

Wildcard

[[You know the drill!]]

Postmeeting

[sciencegirl]

"I hope not."

She's never met him, nor was she on the train for all that long. Really only about four months in the train's bizarre sense of time. But she'd become invested. More than that, one of those she was particularly invested in left. He was also doomed to death if she didn't work on a way to save him.

"I'm hoping that if people don't have a body back home, and they still have their tether information intact, then I may have an acceptible solution."

Her voice is nasal and her orange gear mismatches her purple gear, and she's even a little grimy from mechanical work. But she's completely serious about this. She doesn't want people to go out there helpless.