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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #7 ❫
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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 ![](https://i.imgur.com/G8jldQW.png") 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.
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. 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: 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! |
hope you don't mind one more! (gifts from thesa)
That isn't to say that he's completely unaffected. Earth is gone, that's been drilled into his head time and time again, and yet here he has to watch some made-up war play itself out on familiar soil, a battle raging between humans and omnics right in the middle of Numbani.
He knows it isn't real because this never happened; he would have known about it if it did. It's similar enough to other fights he's witnessed and been a part of that it strikes a chord, though.
Whether it's Thesa Station or El Nysa, this place never seems to tire of screwing with him.
That becomes twofold when someone else enters the simulation and he turns at the sound of a familiar voice, one that seems to work its way right under his skin. If there's someone he would have preferred to have stayed in stasis, it's Moira O'Deorain.
He doesn't want her to know who he is (assuming she doesn't already), so 76 has to bite down on his immediate reaction, jaw clenching beneath his visor as he searches for a reply. ]
It's pretty advanced technology. Normally these sims are used to get the newbies used to the planet before they have to go deal with the real thing. Not sure what the point of this is.
mind? come at me~
Well, this should be a fascinating experience.
Striding over to him, she keeps her hands behind her back, looking down here nose as she observes his posture. How interesting that both Jack and Gabriel would turn to masks after death. Things to hide their identities from the world. At least from those not so intimately familiar with their voices. After all, she's had far too many conversations with this man in the past to not recognize him just from sound alone even if he does have more...gravel now.]
Perhaps we should go to find out then.
[With that, she walks past him just a couple of feet. It's here she pauses as she looks back at him. Without gloves these days, the state of her hand is more obvious. Purple and veiny, that right hand really looks like it should be dead even as it rests with her other hand against her lower back.]
Shall we...?
[Just a momentary pause as she looks away again.]
...Jack?
[After all, why hide that she's figured out who he is? Honestly she feels that if he hadn't wanted to be found out then it would have been wise to not speak at all. She might have even preferred that since it would keep potential judgments for her methods to a minimum. Alas, people couldn't have everything they wanted so clearly she would have to live with the fact that he still had a voice.]
no subject
To say the least.
They'd definitely had their fair share of conversations in the past, especially once her position within Blackwatch had finally made its way to Jack's desk. In most of those conversations he'd barely been holding back his anger, so maybe it's not such a shock that she'd been able to recognize his voice and general bearing so immediately.
As much as he'd like to just plug himself out of the sim and walk away from this situation, he knows that he can't afford to do that. He needs to know what Moira's planning now that she's awake, and if she's run into Reyes yet.
This could get really ugly, really fast. That tends to be what happens when Moira is involved.
Shoulders tensed and jaw still tight, he steps up to stand next to her, but maintains a safe distance between them. 76 isn't trustworthy in general, and that's tenfold with someone like Moira. ]
What, you don't want to just sit and watch?
[ That's what scientists of her caliber love to do, right? Observe. ]
no subject
[The phrasing is very intentional. She is aware of how Jack feels about her and about working with her. The fact that he would have to here is almost amusing. Of course, it also means that she can witness for herself how his skills have and have not improved. He is hardly the type to do nothing. Even after dying apparently. It seems fitting that he should find ways of continuing to fight but on his own terms.
So high and mighty yet so willing to bend the rules where it benefits him. Intriguing how often those who claim to be better than others are willing to fall into hypocrisy when it suits them. Much like him seeming to turn a blind eye to Blackwatch until matters became public.
She doesn't look at him though, simply studying the chaos as she steps over fallen rubble and the like. After a time she finally summons a pair of orbs to her hands before releasing the golden one. Just to be safe and make sure that it will heal them in case they encounter something...unpleasant.
Only now does she glance to her side at Jack. Time to see what he will do, hm?]
I take it that your skills are as impeccable as ever?
no subject
If nothing else, at least he'll be getting something out of this too. He just has to take care to not give too much away in the process.
All the same, he's reluctant in how he follows her, continuing to maintain a healthy distance between them. He watches as she manifests an orb of biotic healing from her backpack, frowning as he watches it drift ahead of them. Watching her work is enough to make him uncomfortable. She may as well be the antithesis to everything Angela stands for.
There's a sort of snideness to her question that rubs him the wrong way, but that goes for just about everything that Moira does. Before he can answer, there's the sound of gunfire and screaming coming from nearby. He goes tense, and then moves toward the commotion, quickly passing her. ]
See for yourself.
no subject
Mismatched eyes watch with vague amusement as he heads towards the commotion before casually following after him. She figures she can let him handle this first to see what happens.
Observe how good he still is in battle or something like that.
But she does stay close enough that she'll be able to support if needed. So there's that?]
no subject
If he's careful, he'll never be put into a position where he actually has to rely on her. All the same, her mere presence here is going to make waves.
He shoves that all to the back of his mind for now, to focus on the mission at hand, simulated though it might be. As he turns a corner he finds a pair of people ducked down behind a turned-over car, but a Bastion unit is quickly tearing through it with a barrage of bullets. ]
I'll distract it! When there's an opening, get out of here!
[ A Bastion can only aim at one thing at a time, after all. 76 runs into its line of sight, and quickly enough he draws its fire, zigzagging to avoid getting hit. He's fast enough to manage it, at least for a short while. ]
no subject
Right until he finds that a golden orb is bouncing around him, a string of energy attaching to him and healing him of the injuries he's sure to be facing right about now. As that happens, she fades behind the Bastion and uses her right hand to draw the life from the unit. It seems to be unsure of which of them to hit and in the end just collapses as a useless machine with no life left for attacking.
Curling her fingers of her right hand, the energy fades and she casually walks to the civilians hiding behind the car. A quick spray of energy from her left hand has them healed fully so they can actually run.
Only then does she turn back to her..."partner".]
no subject
Bastion units always suffer when they're being attacked from multiple positions, and a trio of helix rockets from his pulse rifle definitely helps to get the job done.
He's a little taken aback when Moira goes to heal up the civilians, especially given that they're not real. It's an unnecessary added step, which makes him wonder if she's actively trying to get on his good side. ]
I'm don't know what else --
[ He isn't even able to finish his sentence before the simulation ends, and he finds himself sitting back in the rig. He pulls the headset off and climbs out as quickly as he can, waiting for Moira to emerge from the simulator next to him. ]
no subject
The simulation ends and Moira pulls the headset off. Stepping out of the simulator, she brushes her fingers through her hair and finds that it is none other than Jack himself waiting for her. She lifts a brow at him and smiles a small bit before casually walking closer to him, hands behind her back.]
I should be impressed that you actually waited. However, I think you may have something to say to me that explains the action.
[And she's so intrigued to know what that could be.]
no subject
It's not that he's scared of her, but there's few people awake and alive on this planet who he dislikes more. ]
I don't think I have to point out that we're not friends. If you stay out of my business, I'll stay out of yours. If you don't, we may have problems.
[ If nothing else, it's a fair warning. ]
no subject
[She will have no problems making that point very clear as she turns to head for the door. As she does, she pauses for a moment and glances back at him.]
Say hello to Gabriel for me.
[A smirk and she heads out the door. Just a sign that she knows Gabriel is here and she knows she has the power to ruin everything if she so desires. And, she just wants him to know that too.]
no subject
How much has she told him already? Is she going to keep the truth from Gabriel, or will she just make a mess of everything Jack and Ana have tried to do here?
Jack growls to himself and thuds a fist against the nearest wall. He'll need to check in with Ana, sooner rather than later, to discuss potential damage control. ]