EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

[futurologists]

THE EARTHQUAKE One day, early in the morning before the mechanical rooster at Amos Zephyr's farm even crows, there's a sudden rumble in the distance. Perdition's Rest shakes and the ground roils, knocking things off shelves and startling the mechanical horses in their pen. Look out the window and you'll see Qorral locals blearily stepping out into the street, murmuring anxiously amongst themselves: Earthquake. Ever since the argecite mines started to dry up, the Qorral colonists have been turning to fracking in order to pull all available argecite out of the planet as quickly as possible. The technique has caused more and more earthquakes to shake the planet, though the fracking fields are far enough away from the town that damage is minimal. However, the fields and mines aren't as lucky. The mayor rushes out into the street, his assistant and Sheriff Holladay flanking him, and asks for any willing heroes and adventurers (that means you!) to venture out to the fracking fields and assess the damages. Though the tunnels aren't being actively mined, there were likely miners and other workmen inside, so there will be rescue needed as well. Get your provisions ready and hop on the train: you're going to work. THE FRACKING FIELDS The fracking fields are a wide open swath of land peppered with looming, iron machines going on for miles. These machines are the Qorral's final attempt at scraping the last remnants of argecite from the planet before abandoning the colony and moving on for good. This destructive practice is causing obvious instability to the planet, but they don't seem to care. This is what their species does: seeks out argecite, mines it, and moves on. The fields are dry and dead, with no plants around -- and now, after the earthquake, there are sinkholes. The iron machines are falling into the sinkholes, slowly being swallowed by the planet, with desperate workers trying to pull them back out. They could use the help -- but be sure not to fall in yourself. Grotesque alien birds circle overhead, searching for the dead or the dying, workers caught in the collapsing earth. Save them before they're swallowed by the earth or swallowed by carrion birds -- and if you're too late, the locals would be happy to have their loved ones returned to them intact. Also found in the fields is the Argecite Refinery, a massive factory filled with machinery meant for the refining of the crystal before it is to be shipped back to the Qorral home planet. The outside of the factory is surrounded by a 610cm (20 ft) tall electric perimeter fence, whose energy shorts out sporadically after the earthquake cracked the service box. If you're quick enough to make it through one of the gaps in electricity, don't relax quite yet -- there are malfunctioning guard drones throughout the facility, the earthquake rattling their sensors and making it impossible for them to tell friend from foe. The drones resemble dogs, though they are capable of folding their legs in for aerodynamic superiority when they take flight. They are equipped with energy lasers to destroy, sticky glue to slow trespassers, and a thin blade in the tail to poison attackers. The poison is quick-acting, causing hallucinations and fever, but it is not deadly. Inside the factory, the machinery has collapsed in on itself from the earthquake; electricity sparks from damaged wires, dangerously nearby spilled oil drums or pools of standing water. Fire can start at any second. There are factory workers here that need rescuing, but also a variety of inanimate objects, including barrels of argecite, machinery parts, files, computers, etc. Anything that isn't bolted down needs to be moved outside of the factory before it explodes. Of course, no one is really keeping track of what's inside... THE MINES The Qorral have been digging in the mines since arriving on this planet 30 years ago, but recent efforts have shifted to fracking after the argecite veins slowly became depleted. The mines are still maintained by a skeleton crew of workers, making sure there is no build-up of dangerously flammable gas and patrolling the tunnels to look out for cave-ins -- which, after the earthquake, have happened in spades. The tunnels are winding and deep, turning in on each other and ending in dead ends or sudden, steep drop-offs into the dark. There are workers trapped within, and some at Perdition's Rest have said that their thrill-seeking relatives -- typically teenagers -- have gone missing. It's possible that they have found themselves trapped in the mine, so it may be a good idea to look out for them as well. And even deeper in the mine, there is a writhing, pale danger: sand worms, blind and hungry, wait in the dark. The earthquake has begun to drive them further up the tunnel, their tooth-lined maws open as they slither through toward the surface. Those focusing on the fields above may find a straggling sand worm or two, thrashing wildly in pain from the unfamiliar heat of the sun. This will definitely put a damper in the rescue and recovery efforts, so take them out as quickly as you can -- with as little damage to the fracking equipment, please. OOC NOTES Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Bounty Board for side missions! Remember you can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Comments

Undyne | OTA

[aspearation]

ɪ. Iɴ Tᴏᴡɴ

[ She never thought she'd say this (to herself, entirely in her head) but... it feels good to be back. With her team, her... friends, if they're still here too. Who knows who's been reassigned or sent home by now? Maybe it's a good thing that she doesn't have a lot of time to think about it as tremors start to rumble through the ground and building; all she can think, at that point, is Not again.... There's less immediate panic from the locals; either they're not nearly as concerned as she is, or they're used to this by now. From the mission briefing, she's not really sure which she's more ready to believe.

She doesn't need the mayor telling her to head out into the fields; except she does because it wouldn't have occurred to her otherwise. But the second she gets wind that there might be locals trapped out there, then she already knows what she's doing.

It starts with poking her head in open and dubiously public doors, trying to spot the familiarity of the ALASTAIR uniform or at least the people who don't look like they belong with the ranks of the Qorral, in an attempt to round up a group to head off into the fields. ]

Hey! [ Yeah, you. She's looking right at you. ] Let's get going!!

ɪɪ. Tʜᴇ Mɪɴᴇs

[ Cave-ins are kind of a specialty for Undyne, if for no other reason than because she easily tosses aside piled-up rocks and, with slightly more effort, manages to push boulders aside to clear the path, at least enough for someone to slip through.

Until she finds the tunnel blocked by a particularly large boulder, both still wedged into the earth, and too big to actually move anywhere. She can move it enough to make a small space just enough for someone to crawl through on their belly, and to pull through any injured miners, but she can't very well hold it and move through on her own. And using her spears to try and prop it up (even if they could do a thing like that) would simply block the way.

She's still holding the rock back and gritting her teeth when she turns to anyone who might have followed her this far. ]

You're gonna have to go in there!

ɪɪɪ. Tʜᴇ Fᴀᴄᴛᴏʀʏ

[ It's probably a good thing that Undyne sees the signs indicating that the fence is electrified because... well, she probably would have tried climbing it. She could try jumping over it, but if she needs to vault herself over at the top, that probably won't end well, either. Tossing spears at it, which stick in the fence's holes, tells here that there are periods when it's electrified and periods when it is not; being made of water magic, they crackle and steam when electricity courses through them.

Of course. It's a puzzle. Why wouldn't it be a puzzle?

She groans, and throws another spear at it. Time to spend three hours on this stupid puzzle, because as long as there are people inside, she's not going to give up at it. Anyone who comes upon her there is likely to find her just throwing an endless array of spears at it; they stick in it, crackle with electricity when it comes on, then disappear.

This is stupid. ]

ɪᴠ. Wɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ

[ Hit me up at culling, or via PM or drop me a note or prompt here! ]

ii

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan had noticed the impressive (and slightly terrifying) way that the blue woman moved rocks and boulders as if they were nothing, and a small part of him was very, very glad that she seemed to be on their side.

So when she seemed to run into something bigger than she could handle, he felt he should at least see if she needed some help... or watch in case she turned out able to punch through the rocks themselves. The latter might have been easier, as he can see her predicament immediately and moves closer, scanning the hole and getting a sense of how well he might be able to fit through it.

Just barely, he decides, though perhaps easier than some as slim as he is, and he nods agreement.] Can you hold it long enough for me to try and get everyone out? Or will we have to do this in trips?

[aspearation]

I don't know, how many are in there?? Nevermind, let's just get as many as we can!

[ She hopes that it's not many, but if there are more than they can get in one go, then they might need to find a way to break the rock into pieces so they can be moved aside. But that will take time, and time isn't exactly on their side right about now. ]

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan flashes her a wide smile, liking the certainty she has, and slides down to start wiggling through the opening.]

All right then, I'll see how many there are and start getting them out, but tell me if you have trouble. I'd rather no one be under it if you have to let it go.

[With that he disappears into the darkness, and after a moment someone starts to scrabble through from the other side, a young woman looking wide-eyed at her saviours and struggling to get through before taking off for safety. Meallan pokes his head out briefly once she's clear.]

There's about five of them, teens poking about where they shouldn't I'd say. Can you keep it in place for the rest?

[aspearation]

Urf-- yeah, I think I got it! Just hurry!

[ Especially if they're stupid kids; the thought fills her with... not Determination, but something very much like it.

She doesn't even bother trying to flash a heroic grin at the women who's been freed, too busy grimacing and showing rows of sharp teeth. ]

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan doesn't bother with wasting time to reassure her that he'll be quick, he just ducks back out of sight and quickly starts leading - and in one case dragging - the rest of the kids towards the gap and freedom. A couple of quick to clamber out and run for safety, but he has to coax another to give it a try, the boy protesting that the rock might come down any moment, and needing a shove to get all the way through.

Then there's another pair that he hurries through, and finally Meallan himself wriggles through the gap, all too aware of how long his strange new friend has been holding the boulder aloft, and he's barely clear when he's shouting.]

That's it! You can let go now!

[aspearation]

[ Undyne unceremoniously drops the boulder when she gets the word; probably not the best move, as another shudder wracks the cavern, but other than some pebbles that fall from above, it sounds like most of the damage is on the other side.

She spares the kids a look then dusts off her hands, looking to her teammate. ]

Are they all okay? Or are we gonna have to carry some? I can take at least two, three if the third can hold on...

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan drops ready to run or dive for one of the kids if the shaking dislodges something else, but after a moment it all seems to settle down again and he straightens and lets out a slow breath.]

They're mostly fine. A few bruises and cuts from what I could see. [No one had had particular difficulty with climbing through the gap to safety given the chance at least, though he supposes he could be wrong about that; fear could motivate someone to push through a lot.]

[aspearation]

Let get 'em out of here, then. Come on!

[ She gestures to the kids for them to follow, herding them as best she can. ]

Don't remember seeing you on the team before, you new?

iv

[winces]

[ late in the evening, when all has been said and done and many are left tending to their own wounds or trying to come down from the adrenaline-packed day, olivia is wandering about the town with saffron in tow, giving the lion his almost-daily walk in an effort to quell his growing restlessness.

it's about ten minutes into the walk when something seems to catch saffron's attention, and the lion cub suddenly takes off into a run, alarming his adoptive mother. ]

S-Saffron? Where are you going — stop!

[ she takes off after him, kicking up dust and sand in her wake, but he's much too fast. she can only shriek in horror when she sees the lion pounce on an unsuspecting figure in the dark. ]

Ohmygosh I'm so sorry!! Saffron — bad!!

[aspearation]

[ Undyne is, in fact, a little surprised to be pounced by a lion, but not as surprised as she could be. Her first reaction is to wrestle the thing to the ground, and as soon as she hears Olivia's voice... that doesn't change. ]

Hey, look who it is! You're getting big, what happened?!

[ ...she's talking to lion, as she tussles with it on the ground. ]

[winces]

[ olivia's feet skid to a halt in the sand, kicking up dustclouds where she's stopped. ]

M-Miss Undyne?!

[ she can only gape at the scene before her, while saffron responds to the playfulness in kind, lightly growing at he gnaws on one of undyne's arms. ]

[aspearation]

That's me! When did this happen?!

[ She pushes herself up a bit, not really paying a lot of mind to the play-bites, and points at Saffron. ]

I was only gone for... wait, how long was I gone??

[winces]

[ olivia still can't really believe her eyes, but she's slowly beginning to process it. she hadn't realized... people could come back... ]

Oh gosh, a couple of months at least... Where had you gone? I thought you were transferred...

[aspearation]

I was!

[ She looks like she's very far away for a moment. The paperwork... oh, god... the paperwork... and then she's back. ]

But then I got transferred back?! Go figure! Uh... Dogberry's on another mission for now though, I guess. So no more playdates.

[winces]

Oh no...! I hope he's alright. [ it seems very cruel, to olivia, to separate a mother and her pet.. child.... thing.... ]

But it's so nice to have you back, Ms. Undyne...! I'm sure Papyrus would be thrilled.

[aspearation]

He's my dog, of course he's alright!

[ She may or may not have equipped him with armor. Dog armor. ]

It's good to be back... you guys are a way cooler team anyway! Where is Papyrus anyway??

I.

[fateality]

[The moment she speaks to Twisted Fate, the man pauses, almost startled before he lets out a short laugh.]

Pardon?

[Hell, she looks like she'd be kin with a few people he's run into back home, so Undyne's appearance doesn't generally bother him. But he's still a bit thrown off that she'd demand he go anywhere.

Sure, he knows there's trouble, but he doesn't see what it has to do with him.]

[aspearation]

You heard me! Get off your butt, and let's go! There are people out there who need help!

[ Because that's the only reason anyone would ever need, clearly. ]

[fateality]

[Twisted Fate shrugs, and debates just skipping out on her. It doesn't really concern him immediately, and he's not interested in getting scuffed up.

But he also doesn't really want to argue with her.]

All right, all right. Lead the way, fangs.

[aspearation]

It's Undyne.

[ She scowls but doesn't really give him much more trouble than that. ]

...you got a weapon, just in case?

[ Not that she ever typically anticipates having to fight, but she's been on enough missions now to know that what she thinks and what the reality is aren't quite in sync all the time. So the question comes as more of an after thought, but still with more forethought than usual. ]

[fateality]

Twisted Fate. Pleasure's all mine, Undyne.

[At the question, he snaps out a playing card from his sleeve, letting it twirl in his fingers.]

Might not look like much, but I can hold my own.

[aspearation]

[ She doesn't slow down, but she is poking her head in another doorway, and turns a critical eye to the playing card. ]

...what kind of magic is that??

[fateality]

My kind.

[That's super helpful isn't it.]

I can do a variety of things with my cards. Got some tricks yourself, Undyne?

[aspearation]

[ She doesn't say anything as she closes a door, she just holds up a hand, and in it, a spear appears-- blue and glowing and shimmering in a weird way, not unlike water. She doesn't comment on it, just holds it and lowers it to her side. ]

I guess that's it, then. I think we should head to the mines, first.