Orange Team Onward!

[voidtreckermods]

Arrival

Their flight path makes sure they are well out of the way of both the battles taking place and they get to the shield station within an hour as long as they fly quickly.

There are no enemy ships around but it is clear there has been an attack, the shield disk itself is damaged and there seems to be no power in the station.

Once they dock they will be met by some technicians who quickly explain the situation.

Help is needed everywhere. The power needs repaired, the shield needs repaired from the outside, there are injured technicians who need medical care. There is a small med-bay available.

Maintenance

Once the initial crisis is dealt with it is a case of keeping up with things. A patrol is needed to guard the station from other attacks, there are four shield stations in total and so the voidtreckers may chose to split themselves once things are a little calmer.

Keeping up the shields is an almost constant job, especially with the attacks. Once one thing is fixed it seems another thing is down. The maintenance itself is very technical but there are parts that can be done by the unskilled as long as they have direction.

Comments

[mimidaeia]

A. Docking bay / station entrance
[She’s stopped at the station entrance. It shouldn’t surprise anyone, she’s kind of a walking testament to the fact that human innovation needs to be stopped sometimes. But whether it’s well-deserved or not, the guards are very uncertain about not shooting her with their blasters, let alone letting her into the shield-station where their important command controls are.]

I don’t know, you don’t look- [one of the lizard guards grunts.] Not sure you should be going in there.

[SXT-2’s immediate reaction is a c̶̩̲̺͜h̲̩͈͓͉̙͙̕e̙e̞̗̦̜̥͓̮͞p̲̠͎͙͙̙̻͖͞͠ of unhappiness, the feathered growths on her head and back bristling, which causes the two guards blocking her way to brandish their blasters more aggressively.]

I am functional. I am fine, [she says after the initial outburst, reclaiming her self-control unnaturally quickly- one synthetic hand reaches behind her and grabs the first handful of feathers she touches, pinioning the appendage with unfeeling force.]

No, no, you stay there, [the guard insists, audibly unnerved now. It’s as direct an instruction as any. SXT-2 stands there in silence.]

B. Inside the station
[Eventually she’s let in. Um, I hope that happens.

The command room is intimidating in all its complexity; but not to her. SXT-2 pauses to check the map she downloaded from the planetside network, then heads straight to the central terminal. Her base model is a general-purpose one; while she’s lost out on specialised functions, she makes up for it by being compatible with lots and lots of things. As she locates the terminal’s input plug and connects herself in her feathers give one last incredible shudder, before they lie statue-still- still as the rest of her, her face trained on the screens heedless of what happens in the background-

-three terminals that were previously dark flicker on. One screen stutters and goes dark again, but a light continues blinking on the other two as they struggle to restart.]

There’s no response from Terminal 5. The problem is likely hardware failure- possibly the cables for power, or the motherboard itself, [the natives around her stare in awe as she drums her fingers against the console, as if typing at an imaginary keyboard, and static bursts through one of the speakers at the far end of the room. ] I’ve rerouted your communications to the speakers on Terminal 9, the original comms terminal speakers aren’t working for some reason- but the software is still up. You have unread messages. Is there anything specific you want to check?

A

[mtsilver_conquor]

Oh for the love of the Three-

Eva turns and straightens with a slight frown, the only hint of annoyance she dares show when the guards are just doing their jobs.

"She's a VoidTrekker," Eva says, voice calm and level. "And a vital part of my team."

Team Orange are her People.

[mimidaeia]

[SXT-2 swivels her head around to stare at Eva. Other than that movement, there’s no display of emotion- to be frank, even when she had full control of facial affect she’s only emoted when necessary- which is a good thing, because when a new person shows up her usual reaction is (x) doubt.

As far as she remembers, they never decided what part SXT-2 played in the [ team ]. She’s not sure where Eva is getting that information from. Well, other than her experience-based knowledge that human [ leaders ] will show up and say whatever they want if there’s no record to disprove them.]

[Anyway the lizard guard confer among themselves.]

We mean no offense- we’re not sure what HQ’s orders are, our communications were damaged in the attack. Are you sure- are all your Voidtrekkers- screened and whatnot?

[mtsilver_conquor]

That's exactly the plan: say what she needs to in order to get her team to where they need to go. And it's not like she's actually bullshitting that much: everyone on Orange is vital as far as the pokemon trainer cares.

"Yes; we came on the VoidTrekker Express," Eva says with a nod, still calm and level, as if this is another day for her. "We've marching orders to help fix the communications and defend against another attack."

[mimidaeia]

If those are the orders… go ahead, then.

[On ‘go ahead’, SXT-2 nods and does indeed go ahead. Once they’re where they need to be, she’ll probably check if Eva has anything else to say to her- but here’s an opportunity for Eva to initiate first or talk more with the guards, if she wants.]

[mtsilver_conquor]

Thank you.

[Eva offers a smile and a shallow bow. The question's a gamble, but she's pretty sure the guards'd appreciate her asking, not just assuming.] Which way? The sooner we've fixed communications, the better for everyone.

If you’re more comfortable with prose you can stick to that btw! Up to you~

[mimidaeia]

((ooc: I just realised I forgot the guards’ text color code last tag, whoops....))

[SXT-2 stops when Eva asks another question, and turns back around to see the human facing the guards. So the question isn’t addressed to her at all and she just wasted some battery power figuring that out, but that’s social interactions for you.

But she figures she’d wait, it’s polite. The lizard guards point Eva down the corridor and give her the name of the Station’s commanding officer.]

I'm good with both.

[mtsilver_conquor]

[There's a short bow, and a thank you, before she's headed off that way.

When they're away from the guards, Eva sighs in relief.] Let's get the comms up and running before something like that happens again, yea?

[mimidaeia]

[It was most definitely a rhetorical question, but she seems to take it seriously.]

Just the comm systems....? Maybe. The odds are 45-60%, assuming these people are the average rate of nosy.

[mtsilver_conquor]

To get it up and running? I'll take those odds. Same with them being nosy.

[She hopes they won't be; they're in a warzone after all and fixing things should be the priority. Everything else can come later.

Her shoulders settle and eyes harden. Serious time is serious.]

Either way, let's go.

[mimidaeia]

Certainly.

[On the other hand she shows no change in body language, nor does she seem to react to Eva’s strengthening resolve. War zone or not, it’s all the same. Things are to be done. People will meddle.]

Is there anything you want me to do? I assume you stepped in earlier for a reason.

[mtsilver_conquor]

I stepped in because it was the right thing to do. Because you're one of mine- an Orange. More importantly, you're a Trainmate. Take your pick.

[There's a flash an honest grin before she shrugs.] Help with the repairs? You don't have to, but I'm going to do what I can, even if it's just a pair of hands.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin spots a teammate, one he has not yet welcomed to Team Orange, and he follows her to the command center. Very interested in how she deals with technology. He looks surprised when she plugs herself into one of the terminal receptacles and proceeds to activate some of the circuits that were shut off, broken, or blown.

She seems to be speaking to the other technicians or the station officers, but he answers anyway, to both her and them. "Ah, yes, hardware failure. I might be able to deal with that, if I can get the right parts. Can I pull off the panel covers down here?" He moves a foot and touches it to the metal base of the console she was checking.

[mimidaeia]

[An official onboarding process will probably be helpful, but she also survives fine being ignored in the corner.

She turns her head in the direction of the voice and takes a good, long look at his face.]

Hello, Mr. Curufin. [At least the train is not like Google and the only other things she knows about him is his team and his age- which clearly, someone mis-entered because ages do not get that big.]

I wouldn’t know if you can! Is this a question of whether the panel can be removed, or whether you should be removing panels right now?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ He prefers not to ignore people, especially on his team, if he can help it!

He looks back, with a smile. ]

Hello. . . SXT 246. . . ? Ah, is that really your name? What should I call you? [ Definitely not like Google! And lol, he really is 2805 years old. Which he'll explain if they ever have a conversation about their lives. And her info says she's only 5 years old, so that one's a mystery too. Though he's met people before who are synthetic in origin or partially so, so he may not be as surprised as some would be. ]

I guess it's both. The panel covers look like they can be removed, but you never know. I don't have a specific assignment yet, so I'm checking around and collecting information about the extent of the damage and the types of repairs needed. I guess I could work in here as well as anywhere.

What about you? What are you focusing on right now?

[mimidaeia]

[She’s been firmly repressing those w҉éird́ co̸r̢ruptéd ̸co̧mman͢ḑs͏, but a reaction slips out before she can catch it- at the sound of her serial SXT-2 twitches violently, or maybe mildly convulses, and makes a sound like a dozen birds chirping.

Finally! Someone gets her name right! ]

Hello! Hello! [Suddenly, she sounds a lot more excited about this social interaction.] Yes, that works as my name- my device number is longer than that, but if you can only repeat the first three numbers that’s fine.

[After all that’s said and done, she stops. The last three seconds took a lot out of her concentration and she needs to re-figure out what they’re talking about again.]

...sorry, I seem to have lost my mind for a bit there. Could you repeat your request?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin looks only slightly startled when he hears those chirping-birds sounds. ]

Yes, I saw your whole device number on the passenger list. But if you're okay with just SXT 246, then that's what I'll call you. Or should I shorten it even more? I guess that would be sort of like an nickname. By the way, you don't have to call me Mr. Curufin. I'm not very formal these days, so you can just call me Curufin.

[ He looks a little concerned for her, but he does understand that such a brain might glitch even as a wholly human mind might. ]

I was just wondering what technical problem you want to focus on right now.

[mimidaeia]

Any number of digits above 0 is fine. :) [It's not, actually, she has her full device serial for a Reason, but Curufin is already in the 75% percentile for trying and she'd be damned if she looks a gift horse in the mouth.] Most people don't seem to have read the list.

I'm still... "getting settled" into the system. But if there's a specific technical problem you're interested in, I can take a look for you.

[so_dark_a_road]

All right, then I'll call you SXT-246, or maybe just SXT-2. [ And if she ever feels the need to tell anybody that Reason for having her full device serial in the passenger roster, Curufin will be happy to hear it. He's always curious about other people, in theses days of his travels out of his own world. ] I do read the list, in case there's any information on it that it would help me to understand another person.

All right, then I'll wait for you to pick up enough information about the system for you to understand it thoroughly. I'm interested mainly in power generation. Any sort of generator, whether its a kind I've worked with or not.

[mimidaeia]

I appreciate it!

[Though this is mostly formality at this point, she has already made her gratification known. SXT-2 turns to the console in front of her and drums her fingers on the dashboard, as if pretending to type- but she's doing it on the plain desktop and it doesn't actually accomplish anything.]

Generators? Those are simple devices, there’s not much I can do with them. They’re either on or they’re off, you see. [She pauses for about three seconds.] Generator G6 and the emergency power reserve are online, everything else is not.

[so_dark_a_road]

He nods and smiles.

[ He watches as she drums her fingers on the console, wondering if this gesture has some meaning he's not aware of. It does seem almost a sensing gesture. . . ]

Generators can be simple, but some of them can be very complex. They may be feeding immense power grids that extend over miles and miles of land. A generator can also be the power plant of an aircraft or apparently, a spaceship. But it's true they're either on or off.

[ Well, it seems those drumming fingers were sensing something. ]

I gathered that there were multiple generators on board this station. Nice to know that only one is working, but at least the reserves still are functioning. Now we know where to start.

[mimidaeia]

[Interesting hypothesis! You could ask her later.]

Yes, I understand. [She lies, like a liar. But it’s the socially appropriate thing to say!] But those parts are usually analog, and therefore outside my capabilities.

[SXT-2 turns towards Curufin, the gesture parodying attentiveness.]

Okay! What’s the next step?

I am sorry at how late this is!

[voidtreckernpcs]

They aren't sure what to make of this creature but as she seems to know what she is doing- or at least is doing something and having more effect then they were, they leave her to it.

"A communications mast might be knocked out of alignment." One spoke finally, getting over their surprise.

"Can you see if the emergency call went out to the other stations, they should be able to divert some power to our shields but so far that hasn't happened."

[mimidaeia]

“....the emergency call was not sent. Would you like me to try resending it?”

She doesn’t bother with small talk, or even some kind of reaction that might serve as narrative filler. There’s a question- here’s your answer. If the lizards say yes, she’ll fall silent for another long moment before replying in the negative- the emergency call could not be sent for some reason.

[voidtreckernpcs]

They nod, they still look unsure what to make of her but she is being helpful so they are happy to allow her to help.

Unfortunately the emergency call hadn't been sent, they looked at each other in concern.

"This may be more dire than we first thought. I shall go and check the mast. Please you see if you can get any message through, to command if not to the other stations."