( open ) i'll fly you to the moon and back

[initiates]

Date & Time: September 21st - September 30th, 11:59 PM
Location: The Hold, the Moon Base
Characters: Any/all.
Summary: The Transports are evacuating to the Moon Base. Those on the Moon Base try to settle in and figure out their next move. Setting info can be found here.
Warnings: Talk of nuclear warheads and reference to immense loss of life. Please contact the mods should any individual thread get graphically violent or anything else of the sort.
Note: Use date and location tags in your subject headlines! Such as "On the moon, 23rd onward" or "On the spaceship, 25th" or "down at the Hold, 29th."

The Hold is a flurry of activity, grim faced members of the Initiative group directing supplies and people with the subdued air of people facing their own doom, and wondering at how to process the knowledge. None of the Initiative appears unaware of what will happen; their eyes linger on the Transports, expressions pleading, hopeful, doubtful, or immeasurably sad in turn.

Every eight hours, the space ship is sent back up with a load of people and supplies. The pilots are worked until they can't; the AI stolen ages ago by the Initiative greets and corrals people and supplies at both ends, and in the middle step between.

The network continues to broadcast on narrow channels between the Moon Base and Exsilium, up until the time that all connections are lost, with the carrier located en route to Exsilium. The first airship will pass by without dropping anything, but it's too early to celebrate. At a six hour delay from behind, the second airship arrives, and with it, the dark promise of the Black Code's nuclear weaponry.

The six hour window allows for time for those left behind, either by choice or circumstance, to be pulled to the Moon Base with the successful activation of the Transport Pad. New characters will ultimately arrive with the remainder of those not yet on the Moon Base, all in time to witness the explosive contact of the nuclear warhead with the ground of Exsilium live on satellite.

But until then, there's only the hurry, the silence, and the potential for full out rioting should the Transports spread word to the Exiles inevitably left behind to face this fate.

Comments

Exsilium, 20th-23rd / mission, 24th-25th / moon base, 26th-30th

[interspace]

a) in Exsilium (sept. 20th to 23rd)

[ For an island about to face utter annihilation... it's surprisingly peaceful. Not completely, but more than any place in the situation has right to be. Misha is keeping herself calm, quiet and determined. She has no real way to help anyone should she tell them of their looming fate — so she focuses instead on running as many errands as she can all over the island. For the Initiative, for any Transports that might need someone quick in the air, for any of the natives who might give her the time of day.

It makes her useful, it makes her busy and distracted. It means she can bide her time with her ear low to the ground. She keeps this up all the way 'til the 23rd when she catches wind that the Initiative might be temporarily disassembling the Transporter and takes her chance soon as she can. She tries to hop into the interspace... and finds herself stuck up on the base instead when it rubberbands her back into their clutches.

Damn. ]

b) time-traveling game collection (sept 24th, 25th) [closed to Claudia]

[ Misha, hands over her chest from where she lays on her lower bunk in the assigned room, stares into the visor of ALFRED playing some old cartoons he has on file. It's dismal, boring and tense up on the base with nothing left to do but wait. Everything eats at her in the stillness, Claudia's presence included. There's got to be something she can do... ]

So. Claudia. I've been thinking.

c) putzing about the base (sept. 26th onward)

[ With several thousands of dollars of entertainment media acquired, Misha goes about setting it up. The first day is taken mostly to hooking up all the technology and working with Claudia to figure out power requirements, failsafes and ways to keep this endeavor from being a tax on the base itself.

Every day after that is Misha throwing herself into distraction. The VR room gets used for training. She uses some external speakers and ALFRED's help to compose ditties and songs and other little things to keep herself occupied. The worst part is that she's still stagnating, stuck up on the moon where her endurance and speed means shit when she can't use it to get back to earth in any reasonable amount of time even if she had the equipment.

What's a girl to do? ]

Gee I wonder which one to choose

[acts_of_claudia]

[Claudia had been sprawled on one of the top bunks, her laptop propped up on her knees as she worked at cracking into the drive she'd stolen from the facility. It was slow going and she wasn't entirely sure she was making any headway at all but it was something to do. Something to keep her mind off of the fact that she's basically trapped... again. But this time she's at least trapped with friends and she's not being poked and prodded by scientists every day.

When Misha speaks it pulls her out of her zone, though not unkindly. Her fingers cease typing and she leans over a little to peer over the edge of the bed.]

Uh oh. Careful, I've heard that can be dangerous.

It is a mystery!

[interspace]

It's how the world keeps turning. What's a little danger in exchange for adventure?

[ Misha gives a few-fingered wave when Claudia pops her head over. She sits up to match, plucking at some hair at the back of her head; those strands always go everywhere when she lays on them. Yuck. ]

Anyway, you noticed how little there is to do around here? I've only been up for, like, a day and all I've seen is that simulation room. What's up with that? Going places, sure, that's neat, but what about doing things?

Re: It is a mystery!

[acts_of_claudia]

[Oh she (unsurprisingly) feels your hair pain, sister. She nods, making a face]

Yeah. I was thinking of hacking into it and seeing what improvements I could make but you're right. Other than that this place is horribly bereft of anything fun. Hell I'd even settle for a chess board.

[interspace]

[ It's like they're the same person made different by separate circumstances in the multiverse or something! ]

You've gotta think bigger. What, other than a totally awesome virtual simulation room, do we have access to that is the most awesome thing you've ever heard of in your life?

[acts_of_claudia]

[She lifts an eyebrow]

You're talking about the transporter, aren't you?

[It's like she can just read the girl's mind]

Tell me, Carman Sandiego, where in time are you thinking of going?

[interspace]

Twenty-first century. When else? We need something that will keep this place from going entirely stir-crazy in the first two weeks.

And now I also need a red, wide-brimmed hat and trench coat.

c!

[inafadingcrown]

[What's a girl to do, indeed? Galadriel has been spending a great deal of time distracting herself as well. It's better than sitting in silence, thinking about it.

This particular day finds her sitting in a common room with pen and paper, quietly humming to herself as she scribbles out half formed ideas for songs and poems. When she realizes she has company, she glances up and gives an apologetic smile.]

I do not disturb you, I hope?

[interspace]

[ ALFRED's visor immediately flips up and she turns to Galadriel with something of a sheepish expression. ]

No, not at all. I was just trying to figure out if I could turn what you're humming into something bigger, actually...

[inafadingcrown]

As was I, in fact. [This is the closest to a full smile that she's had on her face for a while. She beckons Misha over to see the composition that she's been working on.]

[interspace]

[ Invitation accepted, Misha stands and moves over to peer at the notation Galadriel has been taking. Whoa, that is nice. ]

Are you asking for help or showing off here?

[inafadingcrown]

[A soft laugh] I would welcome second eye for it.

[interspace]

[ Misha takes the opportunity to sit near Galadriel without really asking, though she isn't rubbing shoulders or anything. The pair of external speakers for ALFRED are set on Misha's other side. ]

What have we got so far?

It would appear...

[ The current tune is played out in synthesized piano keys, then again in synthesized guitar. ]

Is that correct?

[inafadingcrown]

[She tilts her head lightly to the side as she listens. It's a strange thing to hear, this electronic music, but the notes are the same at least.] Precisely so.

c

[maddeninghatter]

[ He is starting to go mad. Well - "starting" is probably not the right word. His bags are packed and he's well on his way to madness town. The observatory holds no wonders for him, and the cafeteria is already starting to smell like burnt toast and broken dreams. His little bunk bed is uncomfortable for prolonged lounging, and the room is too small.

He is climbing the walls. Literally. At present he is locating little gaps in the wall just outside the VR room, tiny finger holds, and trying to scale it. He's making good progress, he is about half-way up.

What the VR room actually is, he has not quite worked out. Victorian-level technology understanding, you know. ]

[interspace]

[ This is a site no one wants to miss. Misha stands with her hands on her hips for a moment, watching, before she finally says something. ]

What happens when you hit the ceiling? Level up?

[maddeninghatter]

[ His oversized boots are a liability; he'll try this barefoot next time... ]

Don't know~!

[ Brightly: ]

I suppose I'll find out when I get there, Miss Misha.

[interspace]

[ Misha grins to herself and levitates herself until she's near the same height as Break. ]

What inspired you to do this, anyway? Because damn, look at you go.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He reaches for another fingerhold, but slips. Fortunately he has instinctively sorted out the three-point rule of climbing safety, so he doesn't fall. He does, however, frown over his shoulder at his levitating companion. ]

That's cheating, you know.

[interspace]

[ Misha makes an aborted motion to catch him, not even brushing skin, but then places a hand and foot against the wall as if bracing herself. ]

I didn't know I was participating. Should I start from the bottom? Also, good evasion.