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!
blitzcheer: (do the thing yuna!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-24 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, food. He tips his head in acknowledgement of Elidibus's ask, a kind of gesture in place of a shrug of scooping up some scrambled eggs to chew and swallow on. It was something to think about, but so was how teams even really worked, how any form of guiding would be better with how everything played out on missions.

It's as Tidus finishes with a drink of his milk that Elidibus speaks up again, and Tidus puts down the glass, eyes lifting back onto the guy.

"You can still help out, can't you? I don't know what's up between you and Q'uila, but helping out the team..." But he gives a proper shrug now, a shake of his head. "Well! It's up to you. It'll be good for you to see how teams really work on missions." And that's not a bad thing. "You'll see what I mean about leads."

And how they'll never be accountable for everyone on any team.
wewillwewill: (Elidibus-lookaway)

[personal profile] wewillwewill 2021-09-26 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
"I can and I will," Elidibus agrees. As to what's between himself and Q'uila, that's probably best left for another time. At least, the Ascian doesn't provide an answer to it right now even if there's a simple way to do so. Finishing his drink, Elidibus nods.

"I look forward to seeing the process." He sounds sincere.

There's a little time for thought. When the Ascian finally speaks again, it does touch, a little, on his reluctance earlier. "I'm committed to offering aid to the passengers on this train while we share the voyage. Within reason of course, whether it's the Red Team or an individual. I intend to keep the conflicts of my Star separate from my journey here, insofar as that is possible. I believe the Warrior of Light-- Q'uila," he corrects, using a rare invocation of a name, "wishes the same."

What is left unsaid is that others may come and go and not hold the same sentiment but... that is a problem for another time.
blitzcheer: (chatter chatter)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-26 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
Tidus finishes chewing on his time as Elidibus expresses his position, and swallowing it down, he nods at the guy, giving him a small smile.

"Cool." That's about as much as anyone could ask for with two people with beef, or whatever was going on with the two. He never did get around asking Q'uila about that, did he? But given the stance being expressed by Elidibus, it seems rude to stick his nose in and ask more now.

He leans back in his seat some, still a slice of toast in hand. "What would you do? Think to do, if you did take on any lead role."
wewillwewill: (Elidibus-thoughtful)

[personal profile] wewillwewill 2021-09-28 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm. His beverage is finished and a napkin used. "I would speak to each member of the team individually. Find their strengths, discover what they might have the capacity to learn and improve. What they want to do, regardless of what the train has assigned to them." Whether it's to act in the team, in another or not at all. At the end of the day they're all prisoners of a sort. But for those who would like to learn in a more structured way than 'on the job', there's certainly options.

"As for leadership, I believe you mentioned coordinating with other teams for more than just needs. I agree with this, if for no other reason than to balance teams with fewer members to handle the mission goals. As much as people seem to know where their strengths lie, there can be better ways of organizing and communicating their intentions."