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

[radishlobbyist]

"Really?" Curiosity gleams in her eyes. "What kinds of stories are there? I don't think we have any such stories at home about traveling to other planets. Or if we have, I haven't heard them." But she has never had much interest in fanciful tales, preferring to spend her time on studying scientific facts.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Um. Well they differ." He's turned away from his bag, since he wasn't being productive in packing it in the slightest. It needs to be done, but the distraction is welcome.

"Some of them are set in the far future, where people from earth have moved to different planets. Others are set more in the time of earth as it is now... Um... There have been people who have gone to space, people have been to the moon. But stories like that one..." He waved at the book she was reading. "Um... They are more like the far future stories. They imagine technology much more advanced than what we have now.

"And um... There's also ones about people coming from other planets. Aliens... Some people believe they are real and claim to have been taken by them. Um... I mean... sorry..." Maybe he was talking too much. Maybe she hadn't wanted to know so much, he doesn't know her that well and as they share a space he tries his best not to annoy her.

[radishlobbyist]

Quite to the contrary of his worries, Wen Qing listens to his rambling explanations in fascination. She can't understand everything and some of it is confusing but all of it intrigues her.

"Don't apologize," she says curtly, "there is nothing to apologize for. You are giving me the explanation I asked for." It's her fault that it is still hard to comprehend, for being so painfully far outside of her realm of experiences.

"You say some people believe aliens are real. There are aliens here. They are real." She takes a moment to mull that over. "So does that mean humans being kidnapped by aliens is real, too."

Will they be kidnapped when they go help aliens?

[longforgottenpromise]

"Sorry..." He said automatically to her curt instruction before he realised that he had just disobeyed her instruction and then looked awkward, like he would rather be anywhere but here. But also she had been so good to him and Lord Gyousou it was all he could do to try and help her.

"Um... I guess so. I always. Sort of believed it. I mean. The stories seemed crazy and far fetched but I... I had disappeared for a year and could not remember anything about that time so I knew that strange things were sometimes real. Um... It wasn't aliens though. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be true."

He isn't sure, "But... The aliens here. I don't think they are the kidnapping type. Except..."

Except they had been kidnapped. Not by the non-human people here but by the train itself, or whoever was driving it. Tony had said these missions were to help people in true need. So they could hope that it would not be a trap... Maybe.

There was no way of knowing though. It wouldn't be safe, he knew that.

[radishlobbyist]

"Except we have been kidnappped," she finishes, her thoughts going in the same direction as Taiki's. "I suppose I don't like to think about it like that, or think about it at all, but technically speaking we have been kidnapped and am used to serve the unknown purposes of people who haven't even shown themselves to us. We don't even know if they are human."

It's a rather glum situation if you let yourself think about it like that.

"I was talking to Nita about us doing good work, and the responsibility we have for being able to help. I find that comforting. But it's easier for me, I didn't leave anything behind and have nothing to return to."

For her, this is her second chance at life, after all. Other people, people such as Taiki, were torn out of their lives.

[longforgottenpromise]

"No. We don't..." It was indeed very unlikely that they were human, though both worlds that Taiki knew had humans as the predominant people and it seemed that was reflected on the train, despite the many worlds.

Her words made his heart hurt though, he had seen her dream. The flames. He didn't know how accurate it was to her life, dreams could mean many things. But it was enough to know that her life before this had not been kind.

"I... I think if we are in a position to help people. We should always. Even if it is not our choice or we didn't decide to come here. We can't leave people in danger."

He felt that strongly. Even if this was not where he belonged. Even if being here was hurting his own people, he would never stop striving to return to Tai but also he could not let people be hurt.

[radishlobbyist]

"That's true. In the end, it doesn't even matter who brought us here or why, or the circumstances of us ending up here. The responsibility we have now that we are here and able to help is enough by itself." She felt a little better for speaking these words out loud alone, it was as if speaking them made them a little more true, as if she could convince herself this way to see only the silver lining of their situation.

There may have been more silver lining for her than for most but she was still not master of her own fate anymore.

She forced a smile onto her face. This was no time to be glum. "We should go back to our preparations. There is no time to waste."

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded with a frown. It was a responsibility. It might not have been one he had chosen, his duty to Tai came before everything else, but now that it was in front of him it was not one he could ignore. He knew Lord Gyousou would not ignore it either.

He smiled at her in return, a small, careful smile. "Yes, we will be arriving soon."

And they still had little idea what to expect. So there was a lot to prepare. "Um... If you have any more questions, you can ask. Sorry... I just know it must be strange... When you come from a world without technology like what they have here." Much less an alien battle field.

There's not often that he can truly be grateful for being Taika but this is one of them. At least he can be of use to his king, and to Lady Wen who has shown them such kindness.

[radishlobbyist]

"For now..." She looked around, wishing she could find her scattered thoughts and the answers she lacked so easily by letting her eyes wander through the room. In the end, she just heaved a sigh. "I think for now I don't even know what else to ask, but when more questions come up I'll seek you out again."

She grimaced a little. "It is very strange. I still can't really imagine what to expect. The train here has been strange enough for me, I'm still learning to adjust to it." Another, brisker sigh. "But there's nothing for it. Helping people is helping people, and we will do our duty. Right?" she added, a little softer now.

It had to be scary for Taiki, too, she figured. If there would be battle... "Promise me you'll stay far away from battle. I don't want to see you blood sick again."

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded, he would of course try his best to answer any questions he can. He can't imagine how strange it would be for her. But it might be easier, this mission being so out of what she knows. After that, things may not seem so strange.

And their duty was to help people, as she said. He nodded sadly. "I will. Lord Gyousou and I will try and help people away from any fighting."

They had already spoken about it, Taiki was only relieved that Lord Gyousou was planning to stay with him, rather than going into battle and sending Taiki off elsewhere.

[radishlobbyist]

"I'm glad." She reached for him, hands fluttering against his shoulders, just finding herself reluctant to let him go and entrust him to whatever fate would bring for them on this mission. But she did have preparations to return to, and fretting wouldn't help either of them.

She nodded firmly to herself, lips clenched together. "Very well then. I'll be with Blue Team and will stick to helping out with civilian duties or with a medical team, so I shouldn't be in battle either unless they need a field medic. I shouldn't be too far from you. If you are ever in any danger, you can call for me."

[longforgottenpromise]

He knows she is worried and he feels bad about that. He doesn't know a lot about her but from what he saw in that strange dream he knows she has endured much pain. He doesn't want to be a cause of more pain or worry for her.

"I will." He nodded, "Um... If you need us you can shout as well. We will help you."

There's not much he can do, he's pretty useless when it comes to. Well anything. But he will try his best to help her in any way he can and Lord Gyousou would be with him, Lord Gyousou would be able to help her, no matter what happened.

[radishlobbyist]

"Thank you, Taiki, if I need help I know I can count on you two." He's so sweet, she couldn't help smiling and ruffling his hair before she even caught herself and took a step back.

She gave him another nod and a smile before walking out. So much to do but she was feeling a lot better about this mission already.

[longforgottenpromise]

The hair ruffling gets a very small smile before he goes back to staring at his things, trying to work out what will be needed. Talking had made him feel a bit better about the mission, though the nerves were still there.