VoidTrecker Express

The train returns to the Void base with speed. There is a considerable sense of urgency, no doubt shared by the voidtreckers themselves. There is some damage to the train, which those on board work on fixing.

The scientists back at base await them nervously, along with any voidtreckers who stayed behind. There's good news at least, in that the tether looping worked as intended.

Permission is sought for void technicians to enter the train and fix any damage. Any voidtreckers who wish to are welcome to use the tools and help repair, while others can report to the scientists about what they saw in the eye of the storm. Or perhaps they wish to just eat and rest; no one will stop them from going to their quarters.

Once everyone is up to speed, there is a renewed sense of urgency. Another answer and another problem to solve. A few days later, on the last day of Symphony, the ministry gathers everyone again.

"We have something for you. It is not as finished as we hoped it would be, but we feel that we need to move now. Your efforts of reaching out have been notable, and we want to help with that. We have developed some focus crystals that we believe that if used as a focus in the void, could allow you to reach out further than before, and try and pull a larger amount of people back.

We have also found a way to... Temporarily lock you all to your craft and this station. It is but one step on our attempt to untangle your tethers, and it will make you as stable as we can manage. We think doing this is key to blocking the craft's ability to draw in new souls."

She looked serious. "However. We know how important those you have lost are, and how vital it is to find them, and so we want to give you this chance. There is always risk. We cannot promise no one will slip away when your craft opens the link to the station, but we hope the loss will be minimal - the gains greater.

"We also can't promise you will reach everyone you seek. But we will hold those tethers, even if we cannot draw them back here with you. We can promise that after all this is done, we will do our upmost to return them to where they belong." Her face looks as if she is very aware of the enormity of that promise.

"After you bring your people on board, we will lock down your tethers. Then once you are as secure as we can make you, we will deal with... Everything else." She looks resolved.

The next day, the train is loaded up again. The focus crystals are pretty large, each needing to be carried by a couple of voidtreckers, unless they are those far stronger than their fellows.

The train once more leaves the Void hub, carrying the voidtreckers on, hopefully their minds focused on the souls they are seeking.