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!

reinerouge: (pic#7703983)

[personal profile] reinerouge 2018-09-21 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
I guess so.

I'll be sure to contact you if anything happens, or I'm in trouble.
emblazes: (pic#10366152)

[personal profile] emblazes 2018-09-21 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Since it's a simulation, the car's already running by the time Lance arrives. He's pretending to be overly invested in learning the functionality of it, though it's all..very straightforward. The simulation's about fighting, not leaning how to drive.

Similarly, he's less-argumentative here and now. We'll see in ten minutes.]


Yeah, buckle in.

[Keith's not even buckled up, but okay. It doesn't look like they have a ton of gas to spare, and any military-esque capabilities of this thing are a mystery to him, but he could definitely bring them closer to the point of action. As it were, this particular vehicle won't do much to take out Galra jets...not on its own anyway.]

Maybe we'll be able to find one once we get closer. [Awfully convenient.] Blending in with the resistance makes most sense, we just have to stick together.

[So far so good.]
here4her: (serious bw)

[personal profile] here4her 2018-09-21 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
The sword was... pretty amazing. Finn was reminded of a lightsaber which had a bittersweet feeling; remembering his ability to wield one, also knowing the damage one had done to him. He didn't have much time for nostalgia with how the scene unfolded in front of them. His seemingly new friend pulled out another weapon and Finn kept his eyes on their surroundings.

"Finn!" he introduced himself, having to quickly get out another barrage of rounds as a previous predator reappeared. "Where are these things coming from? Looks like they're popping up out of nowhere!"

His blaster wasn't as impressive as a sword but Finn handled it expertly. Nothing had encroached a dangerous distance, being shot from safe distances--much to the benefit of vulnerable people in harm's way.
happylocksmith: (pic#12449204)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-21 10:37 am (UTC)(link)
[They're both blind? Oh Sora doesn't like this at all, and now he's doubly worried for Kairi because what if it's something that happened to her coming out of the pod, what if she's stuck like this? It doesn't occur to him to worry about his own, mysteriously vanishing eyesight.]

Yeah, I could see you. You're a real sight for sore eyes. Or, you know, not actually working eyes, I guess.

[Try to keep it light Sora, don't let on how much this is alarming you!!]

Let me try something else real quick...

[He lifts his Keyblade and concentrates on Kairi as he casts Cure.]

Heal!
heartslight: (47)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-21 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... Nice joke, Sora. She appreciates him keeping it light at a time like this (really, she feels the same way — but somehow she feels like this'll be fine, if she's with Sora, and that simple fact alone puts her heart at considerable ease). That isn't to say she isn't feeling some concern, though.

She listens to his spell after he says he's going to try it, assuming he probably used it on her considering he would've said something had it worked (or not worked) for him. And ... she blinks a few times, moves her head like she's trying to look around. And then ... gives the response he was probably hoping she wouldn't give. ]


Still ... nothing.

[ She wouldn't know what's causing this, but it came out of the blue and at different times for both of them, so it had to have been something both of them did ... and there's got to be a way to reverse it, too. ]
happylocksmith: (pic#12449025)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-21 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
Really?

[Well that's... not good. Unless it's because his magic's not strong enough, Master Yen Sid said he'd lost a lot of his power after falling to the Darkness. That's not good at all, what's the point of having healing magic if he can't heal someone when they need him to?

Which means they're just going to have to find someone stronger than him.]


Shoot. I guess that means we're gonna have to try something else.

[He dismisses his Keyblade and gives her hand another squeeze.]

I'm sorry.
heartslight: (21)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-21 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh no, Sora don't start doubting yourself now and especially don't apologize. Rather than showing any of her concern, her voice remains light as a feather when she speaks up. ]

What are you apologizing for, silly? [ He might be able to feel her bounce on her feet a bit once from the way her hand moves up a little. ] It's not your fault this happened. If the two of us work together, I'm sure we can figure out how to reverse it.

[ You're with a Princess of Heart, buddy. All light in there. And besides, she doesn't like hearing him down, and she feels a responsibility to try and keep him cheery. He's always doing so much for her, so it's only right that she return the favor whenever possible. They're in this together and they'll get out of it together, and be just fine. Like always. ]
happylocksmith: (pic#12447076)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-21 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[And then Sora realises something. There's just no point in moping about something that can't be helped, and he can't let this ruin things. Kairi's here! So what if it's not perfect? She's here and he's spent too long waiting for her to wake up to let something like this get in the way.

He breaks out a smile which he sure hopes Kairi can imagine, even if she can't see it.]


You're right! There's nothing we can't do now we're together again.
heartslight: (6)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-21 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She can immediately imagine the smile that must be painted across his face when he says that. And she laughs softly in response to both his words and her mental image of him. ]

Right. There's the Sora I know. [ It makes her heart feel lighter to hear him like that again. ]

Now let's think. What did we both do around the time it happened?

[ If they backtrack in their heads what was going on, they might get a hint!! At least, that's the first thing that comes to mind for her. ]
gravemistake: (pic#12397955)

[personal profile] gravemistake 2018-09-22 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it sounds like we have a lot to catch up on.

[Gabriel says that pointedly, even if he's not quite ready to commit to hearing it. The answers he's trying to get out of Jack and Ana are presumably right in front of him, but he finds himself balking, if only momentarily.

He needs to be alone to think. When he puts the puzzle pieces together, it's going to be on his terms. For now, he'll let her go.
]
sparke: (009)

[personal profile] sparke 2018-09-22 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
Another me?

[ interesting. it's not something thor has pondered often, but it's not at all outside the realm of the possible and so he takes the notion in stride. ]

Was he as strong as me?
sparke: (007)

[personal profile] sparke 2018-09-22 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
family can be a complicated thing

(Anonymous) 2018-09-22 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, Bucky used to say this alternate universe stuff is above his pay grade, but he can't really claim that anymore. Still, he has no idea how to answer that.]

I'm… I don't know. [ A beat. ] He's pretty strong.
deadthenred: (❄️  pic#13873829)

idek why that logged me out & now I can't fix it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[personal profile] deadthenred 2018-09-22 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, Bucky used to say this alternate universe stuff is above his pay grade, but he can't really claim that anymore. Still, he has no idea how to answer that.]

I'm… I don't know. [ A beat. ] He's pretty strong.
particlebarrier: (what's up)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-23 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
[It's still a little strange to be in a place where the name "Voltron" doesn't come with immediate recognition, but he's acclimating.]

You got it. Voltron's a giant robot that's made up of five lions. I pilot the Red lion. The lions by themselves pack a pretty mean punch, but combined they form the most powerful weapon that's ever been created. .

[Thesa station is just ahead and as they make their approach with the pod in tow, Lance slows down to prepare for re-entry.]
particlebarrier: (listening face)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-23 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Lance buckles in as told all right, but not before raising an eyebrow. He sees that hypocrisy, Keith.]

Aren't you gonna buckle in too?

[Then deciding he doesn't actually care to make THAT the nidus of more dumb bickering, he focuses straight ahead through the windshield.]

Blend in, ambush a sentry or a guard, take the weapons, see what we can do -- yeah. I think we got a plan.

[Is it gonna work? Debatable, but he's giving Keith a thumbs up to go.]
sparke: (011)

silly dw

[personal profile] sparke 2018-09-23 12:36 pm (UTC)(link)
So am I.

[ did thor just flex his muscles? ... maybe. maybe he did. a moment later, he grins. ] I would like to meet him.
dreamprotector: (pic#4947094)

[personal profile] dreamprotector 2018-09-23 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[He still can't quite believe his eyes, after all these months it seems even more miraculous that Kairi has woke, than it had seemed when Sora had… even though he's known there always was a chance for it. Then she grabs his arm, a firm grip just above his wrist that drives away any thought that she might be an illusion from his mind.

Riku rises to his feet then, exhaustion and helplessness clearing away from his gaze; Kairi is here and he can't let her get caught up in the fighting, not when she has so little experience still. Though… Riku isn't sure if there actually is an out until they've beaten the simulation to some extend…]


We do… but I don't think we can leave unless we fulfilled some kind of requirement of the Natha's.
heartslight: (43)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-23 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh?

[ She's glad to see him okay enough to stand, and she keeps her hands on his arm even after he's up.

At his words, she looks toward some of the fighting, scanning their surroundings. ]
A requirement? [ Maybe to win the fight? Or to do something else? But there's no way they could win a fight of this scale ... She could help a little, but it would be such a small amount of help compared to what Riku can do.

And then she turns her attention back to Riku, concern written clear on her face. From how bad he looks and how the situation sounds, she can't help but ask this: ]
How long have you been stuck in here, Riku?

[ At least he's not alone now. ]
dreamprotector: (pic#4947083)

[personal profile] dreamprotector 2018-09-23 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[He really looks much worse than he feels – Cure and the healing spell he's learned from the Natha may not heal exhaustion or wash away grime, but they have kept him alive this far, and now that Kairi is here with him, he feels renewed with purpose.

Giving up is not on the agenda today; they will figure out a way to beat this simulation.]


A victory condition, of sorts. I've mostly tried to stop the fighting as a whole so far, but I'm just one person and this is war. Maybe I've been overthinking this whole thing though.

[As for her question…]

Stuck in here as in 'this word', or as in 'this simulation'?

[He tries to sound amused mostly, but may or may not fail a little at it. He is pretty sure that she'll like neither answer after all.]
heartslight: (7)

[personal profile] heartslight 2018-09-23 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well as long as he's alive, that's better than not being alive. Still, she hates seeing him in this shape, even if it's just exhaustion and dirtiness.

She drops her head in thought over that first part — stopping the fighting seems beyond them. And she doesn't want her best friend getting himself hurt even worse over all this fighting. She's concerned, okay. ]


Maybe ... [ Maybe he has been overthinking it. There's got to be an easier way to get out of here.

But that question of his gets her curious. She'd meant the simulation, but she can't help but be curious now, because she wasn't even thinking about that. ]


I guess ... both of them.
jesus_is_gundam: ([Helmet] Staying focused)

[personal profile] jesus_is_gundam 2018-09-23 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
...Right.

[Not that he doesn't believe Lance, he has no reason not to. But he's sincerely hoping that the ships are simply referred to as "lions" as some sort of nickname or acronym, because picturing five (multi-colored???) robot lions coming together to form a bigger robot lion(??? he guesses its just a bigger lion) called Voltron is a rather absurd mental image.

(How do aliens even know that lions exist to begin with????)

He'll worry about it later, as he also slows down, keeping one hand on the pod to ensure it bleeds off momentum with them.]


And who or what are the Galra?
emblazes: (pic#10366151)

[personal profile] emblazes 2018-09-24 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[It's like an automated response. He's more concerned with accelerating forward than he is with buckling in -- which he omits entirely. Fortunately we all know that Keith's an extremely responsible, reliable driver. Off they go, into the sunset, toward dubious circumstances.

At least it's a simulation.]


Sounds good to me.

[At least they're communicating with words and not sign language...]
deadthenred: (❄️  pic#13873827)

[personal profile] deadthenred 2018-09-24 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bucky's eyes dart around the room. ]

He could be in here, somewhere.

[ It's been a while since Bucky actually saw Thor. The Thor from his own world, he means. But he's difficult to forget.

God, there are probably so many people here he hadn't even known to look for. ]
particlebarrier: by request of the icon creator, pls do not take (invisible sushi platter)

[personal profile] particlebarrier 2018-09-24 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[This is the biggest mystery of them all...

But Lance picks up on that dubious tone and refrains from sighing because he's already been accused by someone on the network of being an actor on a children's television program and doesn't want to have this "no seriously, believe me!!" discussion again. He will, if he has to because someone's gotta defend Voltron's honor or something, but still.
]

The Galra are fuzzy, purple aliens. [...yeah, that's not helping the "credibility" thing, Lance.] They're a bit larger than humans and have access to weapons and tech way beyond that of what most of the rest of the universe has. Probably cuz they're using quintessence as an energy source? The point is, they're not good guys. [A beat.] Okay some of them are, but they've been trying to conquer or destroy entire planets for thousands of years. They're like the Storm if the Storm were purple aliens, you see.

[And now he's rambling... what have you done, Setsuna. They come to a gentle halt just outside the airlock. Time to re-enter the station with the pod.]