Day 19 | Video | Incoming missive

[voidtreckernpcs]

[Towards the evening of day nineteen of the month of Quicksand there is an announcement.]

Voidtreckers and Passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. We are receiving a communication attempt from the Void Ministry. Please stand by.

[The ICP screens crackle for a few moments, before it settles and a picture emerges, of a young woman sat at a desk. She looks a little bit nervous behind her professional smile.]

Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. My name is Lia Nine, I am a junior minister under Commander Orlaith and she asked me to follow up on the reports that you submitted following your mission on system #5739. Thank you for those who filled them out, I know paperwork can be tedious but it does help us monitor situations.

[She moves her hands on the desk, as if she is using a computer or tablet device on her desk.]

I hope this isn't a bad time but I have around an hour if any of your crew are available to talk. There were a couple of queries your crew had so I'll go through those first.

I've got a report from a Yondu Udonta of the blue team asking about the bio fusions and what causes them. It's basically the void itself. Organic matter is not made to move through the void, that's why we have voidcraft and why anchoring takes so much mental energy. I can elaborate if anyone wants the science in more depth.

He also asked about setting your SCAs up to register Blutz waves. I've looked in my databases but can't find any energy waves called Blutz. Are they system specific?

I filled an equipment request form out on your behalf but can't promise anything. Elidibus I have also filled a book request for you for the information you seek.

Bruno Madrigal of the Blue team and Thanatos of the Red team I will happily speak to you about your requests.

Tidus I've passed your request about a communication line to the ministry on. Faux I am not sure there is anything to be concerned about regarding the alphabetical nature of the months. Most voidcraft have a simple time monitoring system that is based on what would be natural to their crew.

Faux also mentioned your craft was in need of maintenance. Do you have any details on that?

[She looked up from her tablet.] I think that's all the questions but I've got an hour if anyone has any more for me. While we're at it I wanted to ask for a report on the experiment with your tethers. We have some data from the site but I don't think anyone has actually asked you what happened yet.

[OOC: If you were planning for your character to have filled out a report for the mission and hadn't yet it is not too late. Even though Lia only has an hour IC there is no such thing as too late to this post OOCly! If you don't have time or don't wish to do an NPC thread but feel your character would say something feel free to give us a quick summary in the top level below!]

Comments

[voidtreckernpcs]

Voidcraft don't eat. As a rule.

[najaran]

"Wh...what? Why not?!"

[voidtreckernpcs]

Because they are machines. Do machines such as trains eat in your world?

[Does she even have trains. Perhaps that should have been the first question.]

[najaran]

"We don't have trains or anything like this back home. But Anything that is alive eats. Living Weapon and Knight eat. Even..." [she stopped dead. She wasn't allowed to talk about the Island that eats.] "Goligan!" [she said quickly.] "Even he eats!"

"EVEN?!" [Goligan protested, outraged.]

"I'm not allowed to talk about the is.." [her hissed words were cut off when his mustache slapped over her mouth like a hand to keep her quiet.]

"Fine, point made," [he said quickly and grumpily.]

[voidtreckernpcs]

[She raised an eyebrow at them but then nodded.] I see. Well as a rule voidcraft don't. I am sure it meant no offence by not taking your food.

[najaran]

"Oh. Well that's sad. No wonder the train is always so grumpy. I'd be grumpy too if I got to visit all these worlds, but not eat their yummy foods...."

[voidtreckernpcs]

[She's so young. She knows that the voidtreckers are, as a rule, but seeing it like this is...]

Is that something you enjoy about travelling the void? The food?

[najaran]

"Yeah, all the new foods. And getting to help people..." [Which reminded her.] "Is there a way that I..."

[Goligan coughed.]

[Najaran sighed, relented.] "That someone," [she corrected,] "Could just turn off the part of the SCA that lets the train drag us back without us wanting to come back. I don't mind the rest of the SCA, but it made us abandon people who need us... And I can't do that again. But I get in loads of trouble with the other passengers for refusing to wear it, and some worlds give me terrible headaches without it..."

[voidtreckernpcs]

You should wear your SCA. Your fellow passengers are right. Especially with your tethers as unstable as they are.

If your craft evactuated you like that the situation must have been dire.

[najaran]

"If it was dire that was all the more reason to stay and help! Those people needed us! Were counting on us!"

[voidtreckernpcs]

I understand. It must have been very hard for you to go through that.

[najaran]

"Harder for those we left behind," [she said softly, trying not to cry.]

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Yes." It strikes her again how young she is, her voice is very soft as she speaks.

"Leaving people behind is never easy. Unfortunately sometimes you can't save everyone."

[najaran]

"But we need to try... We do." [Her eyes closed.]

[voidtreckernpcs]

Yes. We do. I know it is difficult. Especially when you got no choice in any of this. But you aren't alone in it, alright?

[najaran]

[She gave a small nod.] "Then.... you'll help me figure it out?"

[voidtreckernpcs]

I will, I'll do my best to help.

[najaran]

"Great! Then we can figure out how to turn off the part of the SCA thinggy that drags us back when we don't want to go back?!" [Finally, someone who understood and wanted to help!]

[voidtreckernpcs]

No. [She shook her head.] But I can help make sure you have as many tools to save people as possible.

[najaran]

[She nodded.] "Thank you. And I can just... keep not wearing the SCA until we figure this out," [she added, nodding again. At least someone was being reasonable. She was tired of this becoming a screaming argument.]

[voidtreckernpcs]

I strongly suggest that you do wear it. [Her voice is still patient.] I will help you find as many solutions as we can but the SCA is a vital piece of safety equipment. You should wear it.

[najaran]

"Once we can figure out how to stop it from forcing me to abandon people, I will." [She nodded.] "But I can't run away when someone needs my help. Not again."

[voidtreckernpcs]

No. You must wear it even before. There is a lot you can do to help. But being stubborn about this is only going to endanger you and other people.

[najaran]

"I can't promise that. I've been working hard, I'm doing my best to still help people. I don't mind if I feel sick or get a headache if it means I can help save their lives."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"It is more that we don't know what it will do to your tether. We don't understand everything about your situation. So being as safe as possible is very important."

She sighed.