voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-09-01 05:54 am

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

On the Train

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Nebula. Points have been updated on the system."

With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform.

The doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. A-Qing, Atem, Beauregard Lionett, Casper LeBlanc Jr, Donatello Versus, Frankie Bacon, Ichiban Kasuga, Kumoko, Lena Sabrewing, Mami Tomoe, Mono, Peter Parker, Reno, Shi Qingxuan, Tobari, Wen Ning; all pass across the platform, not looking back. And then they're gone, disappeared through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform. The platform is open to a bright blue sky, speckled with a couple of clouds. It's very warm, enough that they will not want to stay in those hoodies for long. Behind them through the fogs is a set of barriers, set in a brick wall and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone on the foggy, blistering hot platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, but it is enough to hold the figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

Behind them, the doors close, and the train is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform.

The Train

After a short time, perhaps ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). They will also find a bunch of posters around the train and might notice the new clock in the standard coach.

The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, the ingredient this month is a strange meat, yaddon tail.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a box labelled for purple team containing a stick of rock for each member of purple team, including those who are new. Join in your teams success!

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-20 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"There were a lot of people counting on us to get those supplies through." THere are always a lot of people counting on her, she can't get rusty here.

"I know people who can get glimpses, sometimes. Usually just a warning that something's about to happen if they haven't really focused. But the bigger visions always sound confusing."
gundamofthedesert: (it's amazing)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-09-21 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
He nodded, understanding. "It is good that you were about to get them through." He could certainly understand why she wouldn't want to get rusty here. Sounded like they were doing important things back home and this place didn't accommodate.

"Really? That's impressive. I don't know anyone who caught glimpses of the future without using a program like the Zero System."
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-22 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
"From what I've heard from others here, they're going to need my skills for years yet." Maybe someday she can relax. Maybe.

"There aren't many people who can do it, especially now. But there are some people with remarkable abilities. I'm lucky to have two on my crew." She says it fondly. THey're so much more than her crew.
gundamofthedesert: (another cup of tea)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-09-23 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
"It is good to be useful, but I can imagine them being useful is both a blessing and a curse." Good because they were needed. A curse because there was a reason they were needed.

"Really? That's amazing. Must be very helpful."
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-23 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Even in peacetime, there would be something for me to do." She can barely imagine what peacetime would look like. But she'd find a way. She left home to fly, not fight. Fighting just happened to need to happen.

"The Jedi though... they can do amazing things, but they're targetted by people who would try to twist their gifts to their own ends."
gundamofthedesert: (wait what?)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-09-24 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
"It's good that there will be. I hope that your world sees peace soon."

His world had, at least for now, and it was definitely something that everyone could want.

"Really? How do they twist it?"
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-24 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
"There are people here from my future. So I know it gets worse before it gets better, but it does get better." That's enough. She always believed it would, but it's nice to hear.

"They connect with the life energy around them. Something like that can be used to harm and control if used in anger."
gundamofthedesert: (pensive)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-09-24 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm glad that you have that knowledge that, eventually, it will get better. Probably a relief to know for certain that what you are doing is helping."

He agreed it was nice to hear. There were times when he wasn't sure what they were doing back home would help and even though one tried to be optimistic, sometimes it was hard.

"Oh... yeah, I can understand how that would be a problem. They could do some very bad things if they had the wrong intentions."