natha: (Default)
ɴᴀᴛʜᴀ orbiters ❰ mod collective ❱ ([personal profile] natha) wrote in [community profile] elnyan2018-08-26 01:27 pm
Entry tags:

❪ test drive #7 ❫

YOUR STORY BEGINS    

The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that.

You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma - once, you might have been able to speak to her, but now you are only met with silence.

When you awake, you will find yourself in Thesa Station. Your body is still cold, you're hungry, and the halls seem frighteningly bare somehow.

EMPTY HALLS    

Despite the absence of Darma and the rest of the Natha Orbiters, the station is still managing to sustain itself. Those that dig within the station’s log will find that it’s currently in some sort of Energy Saving Mode. While Thesa isn’t at risk of failing any time soon, people will notice that the ship will appear more dim and desolate. Malfunctions will be common, and while none seem to be life-threatening (yet), they are notably inconvenient. Fortunately, it seems the Orbiters were prepared for the worst, and in a potential response to these concerning turn of events, they've prepared some help.

Hi! My name is Yppilc, I will be your assistant on the station! It looks like you just woke up. Did you need help?


The virtual assistant takes a wide variety of shapes, from adorable animals to metal paper clips with googly eyes. Regardless of what form they take, their mission is clear: to help in any way they can. It’s unfortunate, however, that they just haven’t been calibrated properly. Hence, they will appear at the strangest times— in the middle of dinner or an important conversation— sometimes they won’t even offer anything useful. Apparently they were designed after a program that existed once, but who really knows....

However, while they may seem like nothing but trouble at first, there are many occasions in which they can actually help. They are equipped with a whole wealth of information on how to keep the station operational. They can offer tutorials and step-by-step instructions on how to fix various aspects of the station and beyond. Their knowledge is extensive, and if they believe the refugee they're assigned to needs a different kind of help (a lesson in smiling or how to have adequate small talk being some of the many topics they're equipped to teach), well ... they're not against supplying it. Expect some invasive teaching.

The virtual assistants are also all synced together. Meaning, if there’s a big enough problem, they can ping one another and assign refugees to help with certain parts of the ship. The only problem is that prioritizing may not be their strong suit. What seems like a simple issue could be exacerbated into a huge ordeal. What someone thinks is a fire in the main hatch could actually be a plumbing issue near the Mess Hall. They also seem to assign people arbitrarily. One can only hope all the refugees get along.

SEND HELP    

While no specific parts of the station are necessarily offline, a lot of the tasks the station would normally complete on its own will need to be handled manually. Fortunately, the main functions of the station are more than accounted for, however everything else will be up to the refugees. As there is no telling when the Natha Orbiters will return, perhaps it’d be wise to take this opportunity to learn to be a little more self-sufficient on Thesa Station.

1. There are some areas the Station can’t automatically clean without exiting its current emergency protocols. Each of these areas will be marked off on the map provided by Thesa's very own virtual assistant, Yppilc. According to Yppilc, one of the key places that would benefit from a good wash down is the airlock. As a fair amount of foreign matter travels through these doors, special suits will be provided for those cleaning the area. The suits will have a built-in communications system and will also include its own oxygen tank. A helpful feature to have, just in case someone may be swept out into space. Which happens more often than one would think! Cleaning too close to the controls can trigger the doors to open… they’re sensitive. The oxygen tank isn’t equipped to last very long, so you can only help comes soon.

On the bright side, in the event that someone is stuck outside and running low on oxygen, rescuers can easily share some of their air with them. The suits are built to be able to connect to one another like an adhesive. To activate this oxygen-sharing mode, refugees will be required to follow several steps. Hand on one another's shoulders, eye contact, helmets pressed against each other— each suit follows a slightly different set of steps, but they’re probably not any less awkward. While it looks a little absurd and while maneuverability might be a bit of an issue, at least everyone is breathing!

2. Space is unpredictable at times. It isn’t uncommon for the station or its pods to occasionally brush against meteors or asteroids. While Thesa is well-fortified, it doesn’t mean that these asteroids don’t need closer inspection. A lot of rare materials can be mined from them, and while this domain would normally be handled by the Natha, it’s now the job of the refugees to procure pieces of it. You never know when this alternate source of energy and fuel could come in handy, after all! Refugees will be provided two-person pods to go and retrieve these materials. While they can physically descend from the pod once they get out there, they can also control the pods to drill and pick up these materials. Though, the controls are a bit difficult.

3. Without the Orbiters to operate the the kitchen, the Mess Hall will also experience a steep shortage of food. All the ingredients used in the cafeteria were actually conjured up by the Natha, hence without them— people will discover that there isn’t enough food for the new refugees. Old refugees will be pinged prior to their arrival at Thesa Station and the message is clear: bring and cook food for the new refugees. With the errors on the ship, it seems that many of them woke up hungry. For those that lack confidence in their culinary skills&Mdash; they say food tastes better when you’re starving.

GIFTS FROM THESA    

The Natha have bequeathed their will unto the refugees, the burden of watching over their dear planet not given without a token of trust. Everyone, those newly awakened and those already settled, will receive periodic urging from Yppilc to visit the VR facilities. These messages will grow more frequent, more frantic, the longer they go ignored - for the sake of sleep, it’s best to indulge the request.

Load into the simulation, and the scene is mired by the confusion of battle. You and another stand on a low hanging precipice, overlooking a failing front line. The location and conditions of the fight vary, drawn from the memories and fears of the participants themselves. Olympia and Wyver, locked in a caustic war - and your new home is succumbing. Or your homeland, entrenched in conflict from the past, or from a dreaded future. While the scene laid out before you is chaotic, one thing stands clear; your allies are fighting a losing battle. Comrades fall, innocents flee, and the wounded cry out for help. The program has determined what could best spur you and your comrade to intervene, though the more stubborn refugees may need additional goading from their partners.

Your next action determines more than the outcome of the fight before you. Choose wisely - this message is conveyed mentally in a garbled voice that sounds familiar and ethereal all at once. Jump into action and fight. Save an ally - perhaps even your partner in this simulation - from certain death. Or help those who cannot help themselves. Act, and you will find yourself imbued with a new power. Use it, and the scene will soon come to a close. Despite returning to the reality of Thesa Station, you’ll find this newfound power still within your grasp. A gift from Darma, to aid in the battles to come.

OOC Note: Feel free to give your character any one power that would be classified as a ‘major spell’ on the ACP rewards table. These powers can fall under any category (Unaffiliated, Natha, Olympia, or Wyver), and must be reported by existing characters and new applicants here under the most appropriate header no later than September 8th 11:59PM EST. Please include a brief description of the power you’ve chosen. You will receive a response within 48 hours if there are any modifications required.

SOCIAL-LINKED(in)   
By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile:

●●●●○ THESA
ROMAN
@romannoodles (∞), Thesa

I WAS A: Butler! I still am, and I'm happy to serve all of the new arrivals!

I'M SKILLED IN: Cooking, cleaning, anything that involves making your life better!

I'M LOOKING FOR: Consistency!

ALSO, I'M: Not entirely certain if the "auto" profile function is to your liking. Feel free to edit if it is not to taste!

So, have you decided on making your own profile? Perhaps you used the "auto" function on accident? Regardless, once your profile is out there, it's out there. And like the Omage app, it will match you with someone. NOTE: Please use the form below to fill out a profile! Whether it's auto-generated or filled by the character is up to you!

PROBLEMS IN STASIS    

1. The ship’s malfunctions have reached the stasis chamber, a long feared outcome finally dawning on sleeping friends and families. Yppilc will be quick to notify all refugees aboard that the pods will need close monitoring. Whether you’re visiting to keep an eye on things, or simply there to see the face of someone dear, be careful. Bumping a control panel, or drawing a hand along the glass could trigger an emergency ejection. Lights blink and a mechanism hisses, and then the pod is gone. With the pod thrust into space, you’ll be left with nothing but a small screen displaying the chamber’s position. There are ways to retrieve it— such as climbing into a suit from the airlock or following Yppilc’s instructions. Regardless of approach, it’s imperative that you stay calm. One error, and you could eject another pod or cut off the view screen entirely.

2. The newly awakened won’t find a moment of respite. The errors that pervade over the rest of the station have altered the contingencies for resuscitation in a majority of the pods. Some may awaken with gaps in their memory, or an old injury yet unhealed. Some may be afflicted with new ailments, such as loss of a sense or severe nausea. Anything could happen, with the computer systems processing so inconsistently. Interfacing with Thesa in any way, from entering the VR simulator to accessing the medical facilities, can cause the same range of side effects, so even established refugees should take caution.

FINAL OOC NOTES    
As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!

These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose. Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below.

Players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is September 16 11:59 PM EST.

For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on September 2 12:01 AM EST and end on September 4 11:59 PM EST. Thank you!

thedarkbond: (arduous battle knight)

[personal profile] thedarkbond 2018-09-14 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ren blinks briefly at that, and then lets out a slight huff of a laugh.] Wow, you really are no fun at all...

[Way to spoil a healthy respect for stage setting. Nonetheless, he shrugs a little.] I guess if you already ruined the illusion, there's not much point in hanging around.
inaurare: (Surprise)

[personal profile] inaurare 2018-09-14 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[the wall seems to sort of... falter its way down, Linneus unsure whether she may take another swipe for him again. But she seems to be done, at least, and the wind eventually subsides.]

How, exactly...?

[not just 'how intriguing' - but how exactly could this happen?]
happylocksmith: (pic#12449020)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-14 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
No they weren’t, I could see you and then-

[Her hand lands on Sora’s arm moments after he accidentally knocks against her and he startles, not expecting to make contact so soon. He reaches out with his free arm, waving cautiously until his fingers brush against her other shoulder... at least he thinks it’s her shoulder, he’ll just give it a gentle pat to check and yeah, that’s a shoulder.

But then she reassures him that she’s there and he knows she just means where she is, but she’s here, awake, not sleeping behind a thick pane of glass where he can’t reach her and his heart lurches joyfully as he follows through on his desire to hug her.]


You are here. I can’t believe it!
Edited 2018-09-14 14:03 (UTC)
heartslight: (3)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-14 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It would seem having a conversation about what's going on isn't going to happen until Sora's gotten his excitement out. Though it's not like she has a problem with that or anything — she knows how he is, and none of this is really all that surprising at all.

Except, well, the part where she's not really sure why he's so excited about her being here, considering she's not aware of how long she was asleep compared to him.

Still, his hug is welcome, and after a moment of minor surprise, she smiles with a small, breathy laugh, and reciprocates the hug.

Her voice is rather soft, content, when she responds. ]
Yeah. I am.

[ Despite how many questions she has, she's more than happy to allow him these moments of joy. So she swallows her questions for the time being to keep her response simple. ]
pullsheavendown: (pic#12435365)

wildcard because sora's got the darkness covered and the vr freaks roxas out

[personal profile] pullsheavendown 2018-09-15 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Roxas always keeps an eye out when people start waking up from their pods, which seems to happen in waves. It's not that he's waiting for anyone in particular to wake up, exactly; more like he can think of a few people he doesn't want to see, but if their sleep ends, he wants to be prepared.

So he's kept a sharp eye out all day and has even done a few laps around the station, watching, but there's nothing. He's let his guard down and gone to procure some junk food from the mess hall, as much as will fit in his sack, because some days you just gotta. All thoughts of food are forgotten, however, when he steps inside and spots a familiar face—not quite the face of the one person he wouldn't mind waking up, but pretty close.]


...Kairi?
heartslight: (12)

oh no poor roxas

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-15 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kairi's still on the lookout for her friends when he shows up — hearing her name immediately gets her attention, because it'd mean there's at least some familiar face here. So she turns to face the source of the sound and ... is thoroughly shocked to see who it is. She'd only seen him very briefly before, but she knows enough to be shocked to see him.

So her eyes widen upon the sight of him, before she takes on a more curious expression. ]


You're ... Roxas, right?

[ She takes a step closer, still looking at him curiously. And a hand instinctively goes over her heart.]
pullsheavendown: (pic#12435428)

omg I thought I posted this hours ago but apparently I just closed the tab before doing so

[personal profile] pullsheavendown 2018-09-15 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
[She looks about as surprised as he is, although whether that's because she doesn't expect him to be here (or anywhere) or because she's startled a stranger knows her name, he can't say for sure...at least until she says his name. He moves forward quickly, sack in hand.]

Yeah, that's me. Somehow.

[Since he's not supposed to exist twice over now.]

Did you just wake up? Does Sora know you're here? Do you know Sora's here?
heartslight: (21)

oh my god good job ... i'm glad you realized lmfusk

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-15 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ It sounds like he's unsure of how he's here, too. Well that makes two of them, but ... she's happy to see him here, too. Whether part of that happiness is Namine is unknown. Regardless, she gives him a smile, before he quickly catches her attention with talk of Sora. ]

Sora really is here then? [ She was starting to get a little concerned with all that searching turning turning up blank. ] Yeah, I did. I've been looking for him ever since I woke up. [ Her face shows her clear relief, as she smiles softly and rests a hand over her chest. ] So then he's okay.

[ She only recently lived through that Storm stuff and all ... Having just woken up. ]

And Riku?
pullsheavendown: (pic#12435382)

ME TOO JESUS anyway roxas experienced a vr trauma, he needs exposure therapy or something

[personal profile] pullsheavendown 2018-09-15 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, he's fine! I see him all the time, we were going to meet up later. Riku's here too, but I don't hang out with him much.

[He's uncertain how much to say about his personal history with Riku. For one thing, it's really personal, and he's slowly working past what happened. For another, Riku's her best friend; he'd be kind of a jerk to badmouth him.]

Actually, I could—crud, no I can't, I left my phone in my room. [So, no quick summoning texts.] Sorry. Um...it's nice to meet you. For real this time.
flask: (and no matter what i feed him)

[personal profile] flask 2018-09-15 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Nott reflexively readjusts the mask over her mouth, narrowing her large eyes in displeasure at the apparently human girl.]

Of course I can. I just save it for when I really need to.

[She's only got so much strength each day to cast a disguise spell before needing to recharge, and even then each time only lasts an hour. But illusory magic would be her specialty, between Disguise Self and Silent Image, if she knew enough magic to have a specialty.

As it stands, she just has what she's picked up here and there. Mostly from Caleb.
]

Besides, it's not like I need it. I'm a very normal halfling girl. My name is... Normal Norman.
heartslight: (3)

obvs he should bring kairi ... a princess of heart is bound to help duh

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-15 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ She has some questions about that, most notably about him seeing Sora all the time. She's still not quite aware of how much longer she's been asleep compared to the rest of them. But she'd rather focus on the happy aspects of what he said, so.

Smiling again. ]


It's nice to meet you, too, Roxas.

[ His being here is kind of making her wonder about Namine. ]

We never did get to talk, did we? [ A pause. ] I'd really only talked to ... Is Namine here too?

[ It can't hurt to ask, can it? She's not sure what's going on, but whatever it is could bring her here too right? ]
flask: (cause it reminds me)

[personal profile] flask 2018-09-15 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Kate's first mistake was looking at Nott and thinking the word "hero", which may be evident now as a shiver runs through the goblin's spine and she double takes between the actual hero and the flask in her own claws.]

Uhh! This definitely isn't whiskey! It's... milk. Big milk drinker over here.

[She quickly wipes her mouth and shoves the flask back into her cloak and hidden from view before the other woman can get a better look at it.]
flask: (to take a closer look at me)

[personal profile] flask 2018-09-15 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
But if I eat enough dogs, you'll never have to face one again
Oh right and it's because the new group name is (was) the Fighty Five
because there were five of us
Now there is six so it doesn't work




Wait is Yohane not her name
flask: (so dont be alarmed)

[personal profile] flask 2018-09-15 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Nott has gotten a lot of comments about how strange or weird she is in the past month or two, so she just shoots him a look that reads "I can't believe the guy in an avant-garde spider costume is commenting about me being weird right now."]

Well, I crumpled a donut, then I told a good joke, and now they're laughing on the ground, see. I thought that was fairly obvious.

[She folds her arms and looks very proud of herself.]
pullsheavendown: (※ know that you just don't know)

obviously!

[personal profile] pullsheavendown 2018-09-15 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
[In-person conversations are a lot better than weird, through-the-heart/digital-world ones. It still feels a little strange, though—knowing who she is and the significance of their mutual ties to other people. But all the memories he has of Kairi are good ones, so if he doesn't act like it's weird, maybe it won't be.

His face falls at the mention of Namine, though. The happy reunions only go so far.]


No. I mean, she is, but she's still sleeping in her pod. We figured that the Natha split you and her apart the same way they did me and Sora. [Not that they know how that was accomplished.] Axel and I go to visit her sometimes, so her dreams won't be lonely if she has any.
heartslight: (22)

hell ya

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-15 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ Wow ... that's a lot of information to take in in just a few sentences. She looks confused, and a bit shocked. ]

... Split us apart? [ Well clearly it didn't hurt, otherwise she would've noticed sooner. ] Well ... that's good, isn't it? This way, the two of you can live your own lives. Together.

[ She knows the two of them wanted to be together, after all. This is giving them the chance to have what they wanted. ]

How can we wake her up?

[ He's mentioned more things that show time's been passing quite a bit. However Kairi woke up, maybe that would help. Not that she's ... aware of how she woke up. She just did. And she wants to help her other self do it, too. ]
gekkajuu: commissioned, please do not steal (eatsushi035_zpsobll8gfq)

[personal profile] gekkajuu 2018-09-15 09:50 am (UTC)(link)
[He really didn't mean to make her feel bad, but that seems to be what he did anyway. He can't and won't take back what he said, though.]

... Sorry. I didn't mean to interfere in your private affairs.

But I don't think you give Diva-chan or yourself enough credit.
gravemistake: (pic#12397953)

[personal profile] gravemistake 2018-09-15 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[The simulation is just slow enough to dissolve that Gabriel sees Moira make quick work of one last adversary. At first he dismisses it as something she may have developed for herself, but it becomes clear in the moments after that she has no idea what this is, either. She’s just taking it better than he just did.

Having the simulation come to an end is relieving, if only because he can convince himself that what he experienced in there isn’t real, but there’s dread in the pit of his stomach. He tries to play it off without sounding too rattled.
]

Waste of time.

[Even if he really should keep his skills sharp. Gabriel glances over at Moira, and he can already tell she’s going to have other things to say about what they just experienced.]
quintessent: (and I'm a lion-heart)

[personal profile] quintessent 2018-09-16 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Her eyes idly follow the coffee cup as Moira sets it to the side.]

"A change of location"... [Is there an echo in here? Allura frowns, brows knitting together when she looks back to Moira.] Don't you think that's a cold way to refer to what happened to your planet?

[Some people handled it better than others, and it's not fair to assume that just because the woman has her emotions under control that she isn't in mourning, but it always set Allura ill at ease when someone seems too casual about it.]
nineteenfortyfive: (COSTUME)

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2018-09-16 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
At least you've got that quick. Some people have a hard time coming to terms with that fact.

What's your name? I'm Claire. I probably should have introduced myself before.... [she motions vaguely. The magic.]
particlebarrier: (considering)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-16 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
There has to be somebody...

[Though that's likely to be wishful thinking in the end. The universe is infinite and adding multiple universes to the mix makes the chances of anyone knowing exactly where they are relative to their home world infinitesimal. That's sure as heck convenient for the Natha Orbiters.[

On it.

[Lance moves towards the object Setsuna points at, tether grasped tightly in his hand. He feels almost sick with relief when he confirms the object is indeed a pod and lets out an audible (if premature) sigh when he confirms its Veronica through the glass.]

It's her - she's ok!

[...Or as okay as you can be when you're stuck in an unresponsive coma. Immediately he gets to work on securing her pod with the tether to facilitate pulling it back aboard the station.]

Thanks again, I- ... it was dumb, I shouldn't have tried to touch the pod in the first place, It's just... I haven't seen her in a long time.
jesus_is_gundam: ([Helmet] Let me check my facebook page)

[personal profile] jesus_is_gundam 2018-09-16 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Setsuna is right behind him, coming up on the other side of the pod. He checks it briefly, confirming that the life support is still functioning, so they don't have to rush to get it back to the station.]

Its normally not an issue-- [If Lance ever wanders through the stasis chamber long enough, he'll see more than a few pods that are scratched, marked up, defaced, and so forth.] --but the station has been glitching recently.

[As he secures his tether to his end of the pod, he pauses for a moment as he looks at the sleeping woman through the glass.]

Who is she?
particlebarrier: (actually serious)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-16 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
That's Veronica. [A beat, then he elaborates.] My sister. Last I saw her was on Earth about a year ago.

[He works steadily while talking. There's an audible shift in his tone -- still business like, but wavering a little. Sounding more like his age, a little sad.]

Didn't think I was gonna see her here of all places.

[In his mind anyway, it was supposed to be a happy reunion on Earth with a big parade to celebrate the defeat of the Galra empire. Not this sad state of having apparently lost Earth forever and the looming uncertainty of whether or not she or the rest of his family and friends would wake up. He supposes he ought to be grateful to be seeing her at all, but it's bittersweet to say the least. Not wanting to dwell, he changes the subject a little.]

I'm Lance, by the way. I should've said that before.
sheriffing: (🌟 10)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-09-16 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
Hi Peter.

It's nice to meet you, too.


[ even though she hasn't just picked it up from his profile. it's fine, he probably won't even notice.]
particlebarrier: (SUSPICIOUS)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-16 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[The whirlaround has Lance do a jump back to avoid getting smacked. Not that he can blame Keith for reacting that way to a freaking invisible thing touching him, but yikes.]

The voices were talking to me, I didn't want anything to do with them!

[Great, now he's getting defensive.]

I don't know how it makes sense, ok?! [Oh fuck it. He concentrates and poofs back into being invisible.] But it sure as heck happened anyway. You're the one who's been here longer, you tell me what's going on.