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the outer gate
"Open up, and let them in."
The Moira is no more.
With the damage done to the ship due to the timeslip, all that remains is a burning wreckage and parts to be taken—if the crew can find anything in the pieces. Recovery and headcounts are the main objective for the first several hours of being planetside, and once things have settled just enough, Captain Ira calls for a meeting and addresses those who are able in person to explain the situation. He draws a rough map of the area and explains where he believes they are - according to the terrain - and where they must go. For anyone who’s listening, he describes things like an “Outer Gate”, an “Inner Gate” and “gate sectors”. Believing this to be the best course of action, all crew are asked to explore and gather what they think they’ll need to make the long journey towards the central point of the Hub. Because the MIDs are no longer working due to the lack of a network, the Captains distribute a newer tech called the TAB. It serves the same functions as the MID but is lighter, slimmer, and has the ability to stick to any surface.
WELCOME TO THE MIDWAY HUB
Now that the smoke from the crash has cleared, and injured crew have been tended to, the Captains get everyone ready for departure by explaining what they know of the Hub. Almost stone-like, the creators built a domed workspace in the largest solid space on the planet they could find. Gates are the only way inside, and anyone who catches a glimpse of the compound will see that parts of the dome are cracked. Yet, everything still appears to be relatively intact. The Midway Hub’s terrain is very rocky and difficult to walk on at times. Below the surface is a honeycomb of intermittently dense and brittle stone that makes travel difficult due to the unpredictable nature of what lies beneath the crew’s feet. Those who can develop the tech from what’s left of the debris might be able to create something to determine which route is the safest. Ships and small crafts can be used to fly, but landing is a problem—rocks jut up in sharp peaks and the clearer spots can't handle their weight. Vegetation is sparse, consisting of twisted dark gray thistles that have sprung up from cracks in the rock and burn when in direct contact with skin, and what could be considered small animals here can be seen scurrying away the closer crew get to them.
☄ WEEK ONE
Crew are asked to hook cryo beds together and to use any appropriate vehicles that can be made or fashioned to fit the terrain to carry injured crew on the journey to the center of the Hub. Supplies are gathered, and the Captains, as well as any crew who want to, give the Moira a proper sendoff, heads bowed as they say goodbye to what’s been their home. Traveling starts out slowly, a line of a hundred-plus crew members making their way slowly forward. Stops are frequent, but camping for rest only occurs at night. Crew are assigned watch shifts, fires are built, injured tended to, and those who are able are asked to explore nearby caves and hunt for food.
Something akin to deer, though striped and only to be found in pairs, can be stumbled across at night. Throngs of dark purple mammels begin to follow the Moirans on their trip as well. They are friendly, curious, and eat the thistle. Meet the intelligent, watchful predators that aren’t easily scared away and follow the crew from a distance as if waiting to pounce. The thistle can be eaten, but only if cooked first, and those who sample the chewy plant raw will experience a burning sensation in their throat that doesn’t go away until the cooked version is consumed. During the first week, water can’t be found.
Anyone who does hunt, gather, or explore should make sure to that their TABS are on and it’s suggested that nobody goes alone.
Nearing the end of the first week, an Ingress can be spotted close by that crew can explore. If anyone dares to go inside, they will find the texture of the ground and surrounding walls to be rather soft. If inspected closely, crew will discover that what they originally thought to be rock is actually a living organism that’s fed off the energy of the Ingress it’s attached itself to. It’s not harmful and squishy to the touch. If pressed hard enough, it secretes a turquoise liquid with the consistency of water that might make a good substitute for that very thing. ☄ WEEK TWO
When crew finally pass through the sector gates, a strange sensation encompasses them, and a depowering of sorts goes into effect. The creators put in security measures meant to put all visitors on equal footing as well as to protect themselves from harm. All crew will essentially have the strength and abilities of the average human. An unforeseen issue, this causes Captain Thán to slip into a coma as he is no longer able to continue to recover at a steady pace, and with the loss of the former Captain’s abilities, crew can no longer be brought back if they die. For the first time, all Moirans are subject to permanent death.
During this week of travel, broken ingress machines and parts will be found scattered among the rocks, and new crew will come through. Unfortunately, these Ingresses aren’t in good shape, and anyone coming through will be in varying states of distress—some physical and some mental. New individuals will either have suffered an age slip, growing older or younger than their original body, some form of body transformation (perhaps that shiny thing they were wearing is now part of them somehow), or an extreme weakness they had never been subjected to before arriving on the Midway Hub. The new people will be offered to join their group, once found, and seasoned crew will be asked to explain to them where they are going and what they know.
The rest of the week will be a mix of greeting the new arrivals and continuing to travel to the center of the Hub. The closer they get, the less frequently they’ll see animals, and more caves will begin to pop up. ☄ WEEK THREE
Entering the third week of travel, settlements and houses begin to crop up and are prime areas for exploration and general supplies. Those who go inside may find items that have been left behind and evidence showing that those of varying species and cultures lived in the homes. Some appeared to have been scientists while others were explorers, but all living quarters are deserted. Crew who are less lucky in their search might come away with no fresh supplies, and others might walk into traps or safeguards left behind by previous tenants; these come in many forms, from mild paralysis to temporary unconsciousness. As there are more residences, there are also more caves. The entrances vary in size, and light sources will be needed to explore. Once inside, crew can find purple underwater streams, which can be consumed, and glowing surfaces. When crew drink the water, it temporarily restores powers, a few minutes tops, and then, extreme lethargy settles in for a couple of hours.
Further into the cave systems, crew will come across these lovely creatures that are attracted to sound and track through scent. They are highly dangerous and attack simply to feed. Killing them, though, is surprisingly simple as they are just as vulnerable and weak as everyone else. They are vicious in demeanor but only as strong as an average human.
The closer to the Inner Gate crew get, the less homes, wildlife, and more caves there will be. ☄ WEEK FOUR
The Captains, aware that the crew is exhausted, stop and make camp for the first few days. Someone mentions that it’s the holidays where they’re from, and the Captains do their best to throw a party. Set up at the base of a cave, tents are built and fires roar. Soft music is played in the form of guitar, thank you Ira, and Cúrre brings out some legumes that taste like cherries when roasted. There isn’t much in the way of decorations, but crew are encouraged to dig through their pac-discs and contribute to the festivities.
After a brief respite, crew learn that the entrances to Gate A and Gate B are inside one of the caves but any signs or markings have long since worn away or been destroyed. Groups are split, TABS are synced, and crew explore carefully until an entrance is found. Crew discover Gate A first, and all crew are contacted to gather there. The Captains will remain at the cave entrance until all crew are accounted for, and then, they’ll enter through the gate together.
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hohnkai) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thisavrou_log2016-12-02 06:54 pm
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[He turns, as he walks, watching behind her. One shoulder still dropped out of the way. But, even like this, he's still between her and the monsters.]
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Hey! There's a chamber full of stalactites down this tunnel, I think if I take out enough of them, we can stop them chasing us-- but I'm going to have to stop firing and we'll have to move faster!
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[He's fine moving faster. It's probably for the best anyway. Since, so far, there's nothing behind them but rocks. Nothing he can see. But if they're going to do something, then he needs a little clarification first.]
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[If something was threatening her life or the lives of the crew, of course she'd shoot. But at the moment, running seems at least plausible.]
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[He won't argue. No reason to, really.]
[Once the stalactites are in sight, he ducks to one side of her, keeping out of her line of fire, still, but in range should the things lunge. Prepared to bolt once the rocks start coming down.]
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[She makes a decision quickly, and starts emptying her cartridge into the ceiling. Rocks start falling and thankfully, the occupants are at least wise enough to stay away from an apparent cave-in. They back up until Elizabeth's gun is empty.]
That's all I got, let's go!
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[It's weird, how loud old firearms are. The ones he'd gotten accustomed to weren't like this. But, then again, that's space lasers versus actual pistols. Having the helmet helps, so he keeps an eye on their enemy. Up until it clicks.]
Right! [He doesn't take off immediately, though. Instinct won't let him. It wants him to grab her arm and pull her with him, but he settles instead for falling into step just behind her. If anything jumps them, it should have to go through him first.]
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[Elizabeth hurries down the next tunnel, she can almost see the light from the outside that signals they're almost out.]
You keep putting yourself between me and the pursuing party, don't think I haven't noticed that.
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[Sure, he realized it, on a logical level. But people didn't tend to pick up on it. They're almost there -- he can spare a word or two.]
Force of habit. Nothing personal.
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It's just been a long time since someone's done that for me. [And that's a good thing, judging from the way she says it. She's even smiling a little.]
[At least until one of them appears behind her escort, then her face drops and she raises her empty gun before she remembers she's out of ammo.]
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[Besides, she can handle herself around a firearm -- which is more than he can say for some other battle-ready people he knows. Sorry, Princess.] Stick around me long enough, it's bound to happen.
[Anything light and casual drops out of his tone immediately when the creature shows up. Because all his thoughts are focused on moving. On lunging forward after her weapon fails. The hand doesn't work like it should, but it's still metal, he's still wearing armor.]
[And he's still slashing the side of his hand at its throat.]
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...well that's one way to do it.
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[He's breathing a little too hard, but tries for a reassuring expression.]
Better than... drawing it out, right?
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[Sure, she'd seen Booker bludgeon people before, but fisticuffs are more or less foreign to her. She looks up when she hears more falling rocks and screeches.] We should get while the getting's good.
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[He's unarmed and all -- and no pun intended there, for once. Before he can ask anything else, the sounds filter across and he nods.]
Right. Questions later. Moving now.
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[Elizabeth trots to a stop outside, taking a moment to catch her breath and make sure her partner gets out too.]
That-- is not something I expected to happen. I went into at least three of these, and no one was ever in them.
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[Funny. It must have some kind of compensation system in place.]
It's all right. I... don't think anyone really expected that kind of company. You're not hurt, are you?
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[She wouldn't expect he had, given he's wearing armor, but he did hit that thing rather violently. Maybe he tore a muscle or popped his shoulder out of alignment.] I have a medical kit back at my tent, if something's hurting you should have it looked at.
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[At least that's true. It doesn't hurt. Just feels too heavy.] It's okay, really. Thanks.
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[But really Liz, tell us how you feel about the other First Mate.]
And to answer your question-- I really had no idea what you were going to do. I'm not used to people ah, punching their way out of a problem.
[Shooting yes, bludgeoning yes.]
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[That is entirely true. Pidge checked it out herself. Granted, she was baffled, but still. It wasn't about to fall off any time soon.]
Punching was sort of the only option we had.
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[It might be true, but as far as Elizabeth's concerned there's no reason to look at an arm unless it's injured.]
Oh, believe me I'm not criticizing it, it was the right choice. I'm just used to-- you know. [She waves her empty gun around for a moment before putting it back in its holster.] No one's ever really come at me unarmed.
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[He shakes his head, to dismiss the line of conversation altogether. If possible. It's not hurt, and they're safe. No problem.]
No one? Ever? [That's a little hard to believe, when you run into someone and they've got a weapon prepared. Since... doesn't that usually mean people are used to fights?]
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Not... really. [Columbia's Finest and the Vox all didn't go anywhere without a gun or explosives. Splicers would rip up the floorboards if they wouldn't break on impact. Plus, if she's being honest, if someone came at her unarmed they wouldn't last very long.] I come from some places where firearms aren't rare, and those who can't find one? Find something.
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So everyone's just armed where you're from?
[The irony of that statement, given their previous conversation.] No one ever just... gets into a fistfight?
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