Race Against Time: Ongoing Mission

[voidtreckermods]

Once the training is over people can get to work pretty quickly, there is plenty to be done both out in the world and back at the hub for those not too keep on jumping straight in to a strange volcanic planet with creatures that probably want to eat them.

Hub

The underground hub is a centre of activity. It turns out there isn't all that much fuel for shuttles to get back up to the space station so trips are rationed, they will hold villagers and lindusi until they have full shuttles and then send them up. So the hub is busy with scientists, lindusi in holding pens and as the week goes on villagers who may not be too impressed with the evacuation.

There is food, usually large pots of soup that can be reheated whenever people are around. Though some heavier meals are provided at set times the people leading the evacuation are keen not to let any of their helpers, or those they are rescuing, starve.

Sleeping rooms hold bunk beds, usually around eight a room but as the hub fills up space gets limited. Sharing beds or sleeping on the floor may become necessary.

For those hanging around the hub as the week goes on there is plenty to do, small jobs, entertaining village children, logistics, communication. Or they can find a quiet place to rest before going back out on their mission.

Red

The skies are heavy with debris, both from space and the volcanic ash and rocks from the planet itself. The fighter craft are not difficult to pilot but nor are they easy. They cannot be piloted by one person, unless that person has four arms and space in the cockpit is tight for two people.

It's difficult work and it is probably good for everybody that the craft only fly for six hours before recharging, it means they have to work in shifts, and rest when they are not in the sky. The pilots from the world are generally friendly, if very focused.

Purple

Flying bubble pods around what seems like an apocalyptic wasteland may seem surreal and that's before they even get to the villages. The villages are mostly underground, bunkers where groups of people shelter. There are a range of ages. Some villages come easy, some do not. Diplomacy is key.

Watch out for falling rocks, rogue lindusi and angry villagers, all are threats that have to mitigated. As the week goes on the villagers get more stubborn, the earthquakes get more frequent and the villagers that are waiting to be taken off world get more impatient. It's a tough job.

Orange

The lindusi are scattered across the island. Mostly as far away from volcanoes as possible though there are a few that seem too curious for their own good.

The trucks to hold the lindusi in are kept in a central point in an area whilst the groups go out to try and round as many up as possible. The voidtreckers are encouraged to stick together as they don't know the area or threats very well.

Blue

The Blue team are to protect the scientists, both those collecting plants and other life samples and those with Orange rounding up Lindusi. Once they have the hang of the shield devices it's just a case of sticking close by, keeping both eyes open and being quick to activate shields whenever there is a threat.

There are plenty of threats, it's one thing this island has in abundance.

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

It's true that Curufin's humor is sometimes dark humor. It does run in the family. And besides that, his sense of humor owes much to the Wars of Beleriand and all the years in between when there was constant skirmishing on the Marches. Hundreds of years of death and destruction. If he hadn't laughed, he'd have gone insane.

"Let's see what we can do with the engines after our snack and nap." He laughs when his father laughs. Curufin was definitely trying to entertain him.

He makes a face when Fëanor frowns at the coffee. Still being funny. "All right. I'll hide this cup under my bunk so nobody finds it and drinks it instead of me." He mimes stowing it under the bunk and then flings his arms out as though to prevent a sneaky person from thieving it from him. Imaginary swords in both hands and a humorous snarl on his lips.

Curufin likes being a hyperactive ferret. But all right, he'll defer that till later.

[tinkerheart]

There are less healthy ways of coping with hurt and stress. Dark humor is actually a world of improvement over Fëanor's usual reaction. But dark humor aside, Curufin has a true talent for comedy, he always had. The twins absolutely adored him for that. So whenever he makes an attempt at entertaining his father it is a complete success every single time. Fëanor is laughing so hard at the coffee pantomime that they both start to draw attention from the other tables. And a lot of curious looks from all the children present.

"I'm far from trying to deprive you of your coffee. That would be criminal. I just want you to get a chance at rest," he says when he's finally able to calm down enough to speak, his shoulders still shaking.

All this is true. Curufin should know well he is his father's favorite hyperactive ferret. Fëanor would never want him to change. Ever. He just worries.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin is delighted at his father's response to the coffee defense theatrics. Just as he was always delighted when Fëanor or the twins or any of the rest of the family were entertained by his spontaneous comedic routines. The laugher does indeed draw attention from others in the cafeteria, adults and children, and Curufn grins at them.

He can't help laughing as well, when his father jokes about the criminality of depriving his son of his coffee. "You're right, though. I probably wouldn't sleep at all if I drank too much of the evil brew. I'll grab another cup of the stuff when I wake up. Meantime, we'd better eat, so we'll have enough energy to tackle those engines."

He picks up his spoon, raises it in a salute, and starts to eat his soup. He picks up a slice of bread and bites into it. "Hmmm, not bad."

wrap?

[tinkerheart]

Food. Right. He almost forgot about it. That the soup hasn't gone cold yet can only be attributed to the ambient temperature of the base being quite high on its own.

When they finish there is no other excuse to stall the long deserved rest. There are no luxuries in the base for anyone but there are beds and blankets in a space with lights dimmed enough that sleep is possible for all, not only the most exhausted.

As he drifts out of conciousness Fëanor tries to remember when had he laughed like that last time. It's been long. Far, far too log.

Wrap!

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin walks with his father to the sleeping area and climbs into the cot beside his father's. He pulls the blankets up, grins at his dad and then pulls the covers over his head.

The coffee doesn't keep him awake long, and the stillness of his body gives his mind a chance to stop running like that proverbial hyperactive ferret.

He, too, feels the lingering delight of their joking and their raucous laughter. He's looking forward to more of the same in the future. He conks out and sleeps until it's time to get up and work on those engines. His sleep is short but profoundly refreshing.