Day 7: Screw your courage to the sticking place: Start

[voidtreckermods]

For those who have been on the train a little while they will be expecting this, the beginning of a new month, after certain passengers have strange dreams. Early in the morning of day seven of the month of Egret their SCA's glow the colour of the void and a holographic message appears. Their next mission. Another world to save.

Preperation

Those that go to the dressing room will find flight suits and helmets, one per passenger. Those who are not human shaped will find ones adapted for them, some of them quite odd. The flight suits are tight fitting and light, but once they put them on they will feel quite warm. Each is the colour of the Voidtreckers team and have a black train symbol on the chest, the helmets have clear fronts and coloured backs.

They have an hour or so to prepare for their mission. Time to make sure everyone understands what a space ship is, at least. Hopefully.

Arrival

"We are now approaching System #7212108." Finally it is time. "Warning: Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A jolt, a flash of light and suddenly the colours are gone, out of the windows they will see they are in a large hanger.

And outside of the train there are five scaled humanoids with guns pointing directly at the train. Those that try the doors find they do not open.

"What void transport is this?" One of the creatures demands. "We didn't request void help, explain yourselves."

Another speaks. From where they are stood near the engine. "Voidtrecker Express."

Even though the voidtreckers are unfamiliar with these people the surprise is clear in the creatures eyes.

"Stand down." They snap at the others, who lower their weapons and step back.

The commander looks worried. "Give them anything they need." They turn to hurry out of the hanger.

The doors open, allowing the Voidtreckers off the train.

One of the remaining guards steps forwards.

"I am Hitrinto, I apologise, we were not expecting you." They look worried as well. "We have everything under control but if you are here..."

At that moment there is a clatter of noise over the radio.

"There are reports coming in of a second wormhole in the system." A second voice spoke almost immediately. "Shield Station Two has been hit. I repeat Shield Station two is taking heavy fire." A third soon after. "More enemies ships sighted, reports of a second wormhole confirmed."

Hitrinto looked at the Voidtreckers grimly. "Come with me."

If the Voidtreckers indeed follow them they will find an array of ships. Hitrinto quickly explains the basics, two person ships are easier to pilot. The controls can be shared or can be set so one person drives whilst the other concentrates on fighting. They have solo ships but they are difficult to pilot and they will only give them to those who have ship fighting experience.

Another guard hands out blasters and will give quick lessons to anyone who is unsure on how they work. For all that they were surprised they guards seem to accept the presence of the Voidtreckers and work quickly to get them armed and ready for battle. Choose ships, have a quick practice of weapons and get ready to go!

Onward!

Blue team are already where they need to be, they can begin to explore the station, get the lay of the land and figure out a plan of helping guard this place.

Everyone else is off, purple and red are off to the second wormhole, orange to the shield station that needs help! Board your ships and set off to help!

(OOC: Team posts detailing the next part of each mission will go up on the 15th March)

Comments

[runs_on_batteries]

He was pretty sure Curufin smiled at anyone. The elf was a walking, talking ball of goodness and sunshine. Tony envied his optimism.

The news that Eva and Curufin had spoken was a relief. He was glad no hard feelings had developed. The only remaining question was.. "I'm concerned about making Charlotte a lead. She's a young girl and one who can't speak to others in battle. Would you mind explaining the logic of making her a lead? If I ask Eva we'll spiral into another never-ending argument over children being battle ready, which I'm not wanting to revisit."

At least in this case, Tony wasn't trying to be a dick. He genuinely wanted to know what the reasoning was here and why this choice was made.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin did smile at everyone. But of course, Tony didn't know Curufin's history, and how much the opposite of a Mr. Sunshine he was for most of his adult life. It was only since the end of his life that he had determined to be optimistic, not to mention helpful and supportive.

He listened to Tony's concern, and answered: "Wait, we're talking about the same person, Charlotte, the spider?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Someday, he was determined to have some drinks with the elf and get to those deeper stories that shaped who he was now. He seemed so different thank his brothers and father in some ways but he'd never be mistaken for someone else's son.

"Yes," Tony said with a nod. "She's a girl transformed into a spider. The kids call her Charlotte. Does she have a different name I should be using?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin would be pleased to sit down with Tony for drinks and stories! Anytime.

"I didn't know she was a girl transformed into a spider. She never told me that. But she does seem very human in many ways, and I guess I'm not surprised. No, she's never told me what her real name is, either. Charlotte seems good enough, if she needs a moniker. But you were saying that you worry that a young girl might not be able to lead a team in battle, both because she's young and because she can't communicate with her voice. I can understand your worries. But maybe she doesn't want to lead in battle. Maybe she'd be content to be a cheerleader. She does that well."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony felt some frustration at the obvious disconnect of the purpose of the team lead role, but he caught himself from voicing it. It wasn't Curufin's fault his other leaders were silly, young girls.

"I trust you Curufin. Whatever is decided with her and the leadership role, I trust that you'll do the right thing for your team."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin had much experience as a battle leader, but over time he had come to view the functions of leadership as more various than he had once believed.

"I will certainly do the best I can for Team Orange. I do think that both Eva and Charlotte have done good things for the team. And maybe as a threesome, we can all work together in more ways than we could have done singly."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony hoped he was wrong in this situation and Curufin was right. Despite how often he was boasting about always being right, there were many times he wished he was wrong. That being said, others had surprised him in the past. It was possible Eva and Charlotte would be among them.

"I need to remember to come talk to you more often. Your optimism, I hope, is contagious. Be careful, my friend." He reached out and clapped him on the shoulder affectionately before heading out to check on the other team leaders.

[so_dark_a_road]

"You can come and talk to me as often as you wish, Tony!" said Curufin, fervently. "And I will take that as a compliment, that you see me as optimistic. I try. I will be careful, and I hope you will be, too."

He returned that clap on the shoulder with a gentle shoulder-squeeze. And then he went to check in again with his team.