voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-12-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

On the Train

It's only been a couple of days since the Voidtrecker Express took to the void once more, and many of the passengers are still recovering and recuperating after a very hectic end to their latest mission. Nevertheless, they are awoken by a familiar message.

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Imagination. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while 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. It is warm outside with a pleasant breeze that flows down the platform, rustling the light spread of leaves that litter the floor.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Akemi Homura, Alfred the Poisoner, Donatello Versus, Chie Satonaka, Joscelin Fitzthomas, Ronan Lynch, Rose Tyler, Tangle the Lemur, Trowa Barton, Wester Mazaki and Whisper the Wolf all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear 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. The second thing they will notice is the swirling leaves at their feet, moving in flurries and rattling against each other softly. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, cement and packed earth forming a very practical, plain-looking shelter. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into 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 in the white haze but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large and it holds eight figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Both left and right the tracks disappear into the mist. 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 into the gloom step a selection of people. 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.

The Train

The doors hiss open. 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'). The store rooms have been restocked with more jars of honey, the ingredient of the month of Imagination, as well as sundries.

A new carriage has been added right next to the luggage carriage. It is a second medical carriage, or triage carriage. Downstairs is more open with beds and chairs, upstairs are two surgical bays for those that need immediate attention.

For those intrigued by the claim of a parcel for every passenger they will find several large boxes filled with small blue bags. Inside each bag is ten dark blue coins imprinted on each side with a silver snowflake. Each bag has a small label with a passengers name. On the other side of the label it reads: Keep these safe for now.

Of course for any passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage as well.

New passengers will find their tickets allow them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

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 and you will hopefully find a pillow for your bed if it has not been nabbed by a roommate, there are also spare blankets for if it gets cold.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the pleasant weather 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!
fun_thementalist: (SNAFU)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-19 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
That actually caused Gen to wince, a genuine reaction. But the hot water kettle beeped, buying him a little time to pour it over the mix from the packets. He handed Adam his mug, and sat down.

"More dangerous than I'd really like!" Gen said with a nervous little smile, that expression a ruse. Mixing truth and a cowardly persona. "I was hoping that pretty soon we could ... figure out how to make them less so, because I don't really ... I can't do a lot on my own."
forleaving: (011)

[personal profile] forleaving 2020-12-19 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Sucking in a deep breath, he took his mug with a quiet thanks. "I've only been on one, myself, but it sure did get rough at the end." Rougher than he'd imagined it would, even with an impending meteor impact that they'd stopped. "Are all of them like that?"

He remembered being upset at first that Ronan had never answered him about how dangerous things got here, but now he understood that he'd been trying to keep Adam from worrying too much. There had been so much else going on, worrying about missions and danger would have been a probable overload. And then...Adam had never pressed the subject again; he'd let it slide.

"I'm a mechanic, not a fighter or anything else," he added, "I know how it feels to only be able to do so much." Not that it had ever stopped him before, and he maybe wasn't giving himself enough credit, but such was his life. He was a planner, and a psychic, and brilliant, but sometimes he still only saw himself as the poor boy with shitty parents.
fun_thementalist: (that's my line usually)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-22 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
“Honestly? This was only my second mission,” Gen told him. “So, I don’t know which one is more ... ‘normal’. My first mission was definitely a lot less intense and dangerous than this one.”

His eyes widened a little. “But a mechanic sounds really useful, honestly! Especially if we’re going to have more missions that need repairs. All I know is to check if it’s plugged in, and then try rebooting things.”
forleaving: (008)

[personal profile] forleaving 2020-12-22 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
Making a thoughtful noise, he nodded. So, maybe all of the missions varied? Sometimes wildly? On what they were like. Which didn't help him figure out an average danger level very much, honestly.

"Does it? I've been fixing cars for a few years. I know my way around them pretty well." But he was hesitant to say that would be a big help on missions. He hadn't known much about the robots on the last one, but he hadn't been completely useless with them, at least. "Computers and robotics are different."
fun_thementalist: (manga - innocent 1)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-27 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Gen nodded to him, encouraging a little. "It does. You at least know some basics, and I'm sure there's at least some overlap. Knowing how to wire something up, or at least prevent broken wiring from giving you a nasty jolt. Knowing how an engine or motor works and then guessing a bit on how some alien one might operate. And just knowing the difference between a screwdriver and a wrench!"

He paused, and smiled sheepishly. "I mean. I'm not that bad, I can identify basic tools. But you know what I mean. You're not completely in the dark."
forleaving: (005)

[personal profile] forleaving 2020-12-28 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
He nodded slowly. Gen had some good points; Adam couldn't argue against them. Not that he wanted to, it was just that sometimes he doubted his usefulness. Sometimes he felt like he'd caused more bad than good.

"I do know what you mean," he agreed. "And maybe I'll pick up new skills along the way, too." Or broaden his scope of knowledge about the things he already knew. Like learning to fix robots and other things that weren't cars.
fun_thementalist: (allow me to explain!)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-30 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Exactly!" Gen agreed. "This is a great opportunity to broaden your skill set a little. Not that this situation isn't ... err .. frankly, it sucks, but. I guess I've become pretty used to trying to make the most out of really dire kinds of scenarios."
forleaving: (005)

[personal profile] forleaving 2020-12-31 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
Adam knew the feeling. Making the best out of dire situations, that was. Or just plain bad ones.

"It's never a bad time to learn something new," he said. "Even if the situation sucks." Sometimes especially if it sucked. Learning something new might change the whole thing around or help you find a way out of it.