Orchestra 14 [Voice post]

[voidtreckermods]

[The train has been flying steady for a few days now, the storm long behind them. Those vetran to the train will know it is days past when they should have had a mission, the pattern broken for the first time.

A few hours after the wake up announcement on Orchestra 14 there is another, as all the ICP's flash at the same time.]

Attention Voidtreckers. The Voidtrecker Express would like to make an apology. Voidtreckers may believe this is long overdue. The Voidtrecker Express listens to all feedback and suggestions, I am aware of voidtreckers opinions on many matters.

The false mission to lure us towards the Inspectors was not a tactic I had prepared for. Their skill in manufacturing a mission call was highly sophisticated. The ruse was not discovered until their shields were falling into place and though an attempt to evacuate was undertaken it was not possible to retrieve more than a small handful of you.

In escaping the Inspectors I was reckless and left us vulnerable to the void storm that we encountered. Though there were no long lasting repercussions as a result of that an apology must still be made for the harm done.

Voidtreckers are correct. I should be more open with you all. In the spirit of transparency I shall also inform voidtreckers that we have received a transmission from Voidscout Anan. It is currently being verified and checked to make sure it is real. The Voidtrecker Express has no wish to lead its voidtreckers into another trap. Once verified I shall release the transmission to you in full. Please be assured it is not a distress call. There is no danger detected.

Voidtreckers have accused the Voidtrecker Express of caring less about its current crew than the crew of old. That is untrue. The Voidtrecker knows all of its crew. Every loss is a regret. The Voidtrecker Express invites its voidtreckers to share their thoughts with it.

I open this channel to any questions. The Voidtrecker Express shall not answer the questions straight away but compile them and report back with those answers that can be shared.

Voidtreckers can share as well. What is it that voidtreckers wish the Voidtrecker Express to know?

(OOC: Replies can be given by voice or video like any normal ICP post. They can choose to reply 'to all' or 'to engine' to give a more private response.)

Comments

[thawed_pride]

I must second this question. I have already witnessed one person disembark when his fate at home is something I would do much to prevent.

[voidtreckermods]

If strengthening the tether were within the power of the Voidtrecker Express then none would leave.

But it is worth further research.

[subcircuits]

Please. I... I'm... [He looks away from the feed.] I'm worried she's going to hurt me if I go back. Maybe even worse than hurt me. I can't.

[voidtreckermods]

Returning to your world is not currently possible voidtrecker Devero. It is not a worry you must currently have.

[fivemilesdeep]

Why isn't it possible? Is it possible for any of us to return home?

[It's the exact opposite of what Devero was asking, but also one fear]

[voidtreckermods]

A way has not yet been found.

[fivemilesdeep]

...you can't send us home?

[His voice is suddenly very small.]

Don't...don't people go home when they leave?

[...oh, honey.]

[voidtreckermods]

It is unknown. The Voidtrecker Express cannot sense the untethered who pass through the barriers.

[fivemilesdeep]

[There is a long silence as this sinks in.]

...so you bring us here, with no way to send us home, and if you lose your grip on us we just...disappear? We don't go home, but you don't know where we go? Is that it?

[He's struggling with this, but gods, he's trying.]

...how do we fix this?

[He doesn't know the first thing about how the void or how train tethers work, but he refuses to believe that this is just how it is. They have to be able to make it better. They can't be stuck like this.]

[voidtreckermods]

How do we fix this is a very good question Voidtrecker Ryo. I shall add it to the list of questions that are being compiled.

[subcircuits]

If you had a trained crew, would they be able to use your instrumentation to figure it out? Why and how this is happening; how to get back to our home realities for the folks who want to; how to tether and untether us voluntarily?

reply all

[stonefvced]

( He contemplated a long time before deciding to add his own question. ) You are the one in control of bringing us here, are you not?

reply all

[flameinthedarkness]

We really can't return? Ever? We were brought here for... even those of us not even useful for anything... and we can't return?

C-C-Can we request others to come then? To bring those from our worlds here instead?

[voidtreckermods]

Bringing specific people is not possible.

Everyone on board this craft has a use voidtrecker Idia Shroud. Do not doubt yours.

[flameinthedarkness]

...Maybe just to take up space and supplies... You miscalculated, or your information was wrong.

[voidtreckermods]

My information is not wrong.

You should believe more strongly in your own worth.

[flameinthedarkness]

How would you even know that... [It's not really a question.]

Y-You shouldn't had interfered in the first place.

[thawed_pride]

I find I must agree with the train, none are wholly useless. Some merely have not realized what talents they may have. I have not been able to closely observe your work due to a...personal issue, but surely you must have projects of which you are proud?

And, if I may ask of our current host, am I to take this assertion as confirmation that your methods of summoning us here are not precise enough to allow for communication or avoidance of unfortunate timing?

[subcircuits]

I thought that same thing about myself, when I got here.

I was wrong.

action branching off and checking in

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Koumyou hears and sees this little interaction, and comes to find Devero. When he does, he immediately wraps him up in a tight hug. ]

It's a terrible possibility, but it's good that you said it out loud in public.

[ Dev's come very far from 'everything is fine' and even getting angry on Valdana's behalf when her honor was questioned like when he'd first arrived. So much progress!

It's not like this possibility is any different from before, either. Just that Devero no longer believes Valdana's lies about it. ]

[subcircuits]

[Devero startles a little when Koumyou hugs him from behind, so wrapped up in all these discussions with the train that he hadn't realized he wasn't alone. As soon as he realizes it's Koumyou, he of course relaxes, even leaning back into the priest's arms.

Quietly:] I still remember the plan, if-- it happens.

[its_dad_sanzo]

[ Koumyou leans the side of his face against the back of one of Devero's shoulders and just stays right where he is. ]

Good.

[ A beat. ]

Hey, the train used your name this time, didn't it?

[ That's something! ]

[subcircuits]

[He straightens up a little.] --It did, didn't it? I didn't even notice.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Mhmm, that's at least something, isn't it?

[subcircuits]

Be more of something if it'd put my damn name on the roster. [He sure is salty about that, huh? Even after all this time.]