KactusPunch
Silent Showers
Alisdragon911
op2024
Palindrome
LadyAmber
stormphrax
Estylwen
Snowdrops
wintersoldierSOMEWHERE
Southern Cross Testing Facility, Mana Park, Lake Coleridge, South Island, New Zealand
Harrison Makara
Soundtrack: Grafix, Reiki Ruawai- Somewhere
Somewhere. Faster. The text comes up, on screen, as does the scene you saw before.
You may be familiar with this. But the opener's a nice little bridge. The bars open slowly, as the drum and bass slowly, gently phases in. That build, that whine, it feels like it's almost to the beat of the whine of the AG craft screaming along.
It's even better than last time from that teaser you got.
As the ship straightens out through the hard bank, Harrison and the craft surges forward again, the thrust vectoring meaning that one side turns literally faster on throttle than the other, and he just has to think it. The speed is intoxicating, the scenery flashing by in a kaleidoscope of colours, the camera cutting back to the wider massive glacier delta, and forests, as well as the teal-blue lake in the horizon, mountains in the horizon, and in the middle of it, a ship running over ground at an insane speed, a dust trail from the edges of the tarmac spewing gravel everywhere, not that it matters, but 500kph does that to anything like it. The craft's stability systems keep it steady, but Harrison’s skilled hands and quick reflexes make every second count. The same, yet somehow, the atmosphere is different. Charged with a focus, as if this is the opener to Round One, and we're getting to see all of the beauty behind the country on show from its host, Southern Cross.
"Handling these ships is like surfing on pure energy," Harrison narrates, the joy evident in his voice. "You ride the edge, always pushing, always looking for that perfect line." The corners sway, and racing line comes through easy, the ship's low stability still countered by just how hard Harrison can tilt the craft through, and his skill at hand. He's not really even pushing, given he's narrating a lap. Which makes this even more insane. Similar clip to what you saw before, but well, that's a taster. First round's in NZ, right?
A series of loops and inverted sections appear on the horizon alongside the lake, small and woven into the cliffside, with MAG strips effectively binding the ship with a gentle clatter that feels like the downforce just got turned up even harder, yet barely affecting speed. Harrison approaches with a determined grin. The ship transitions smoothly onto the magnetic induction grabstrips, allowing it to climb and dive effortlessly. The world turns upside down and then rights itself, the ship never losing stability, Harrison's reflexes keeping him hot on the change of angle.
"This is where it gets real!" Harrison says. "Running inverted does make you sick first time, but you kinda get used to it. No loss of grip either!" Harrison commented, a sly smile even beneath his oxygen-breathing setup, as it corks back out, and pivots underneath the loop, away from the lake shore and towards the braided delta, and then, the small warehouse and testing facility's start.
The final straight looms ahead back down to Mana Park's origin, and Harrison activates the ELS. The craft glows with a blue streak as it taps into the energy passthroughs, boosting its speed even further. The sensation is electric, a surge of power that sends the ship rocketing forward.
"600kph and still climbing," Harrison shouts, the thrill unmistakable. "Not bad eh!" With a subtle turn, the system deactivates, and a hard turn banks the ship around, flinging hard, a deep breath and then exhale helping to push him physically, and mentally through a tight chicane slowing the craft from half of the speed of sound to a more manageable 200kph on an insanely twitchy complex.
The ship crosses the finish line.
And with that last cut, the scene instantly warps as if a jump-cut triggers, right as the drop smacks in, two minutes, twenty seconds in.
It's a hyper-montage. Scenes from last season, crashes, ups, downs the winning, the defeat, and more.
Victory for Amy at Singapore at one of the best races of the season, trophy in hand with an ornate hologram beaming out of it.
The messy wreck of a Valkyrie ship and Cassie with her head in her hands by it in Argentina.
Southern Cross and Al-Saqr fighting over position in Italy through the white-glacier snow.
The blasting of salt from a Miller Motor Racing ship over Bonneville.
A Carrera Condor ship flicking through turns hard from on board footage at Spa.
A Fitzroy Orbital ship clattering the wall and sending debris flying.
History, of ten years ago of what looks like a Zygon and Valkyrie craft battling, in early variants that have long since been replaced.
Even older history, from the first Formula One cars, rickety old things piloted by Fangio, to Stirling Moss, the roaring V8 of Lauda and Hunt going wheel to wheel, Senna at Donnington Park charging through the rain, Schumacher in a roaring V10 at Monza, so fast it blurs, cutting to historic footage of F1 cars roaring around Silverstone in 2023, Lewis Hamilton roaring past Leclerc and Verstappen in a late lunge, and the screaming of crowds, the absolute roar of V6 hybrid replaced instead....
With a cut to crowds at Silverstone now at the updated circuit and the thrumming of a Silver Apex, Nordic Call and Valkyrie craft and the sound of whining and the sound of almost a hyper-pitched screaming from the pulse engines, deadlocked in a ELS battle down Hamilton Straight, to the roaring crowd that seems even louder.
The holographic displays of Tokyo's tunnels emerging into a beam of light on the Tokyo Expressway Circuit with a Zygon ship reflecting light off its sleek surface.
The Hagia Sofia, and Condor Carrera's ships roaring over the Bosphorus Bridge, into the evening sun.
The red glow of the Rift Valley's volcanic surge, behind a SuperCat ship roaring through a lava tube, half upside-down.
And then finally, the Lunar AGP itself and two craft heading into the horizon at Mare Austral, Earth in the background, and the slow, cutting dark as it pans through the silver-grey landscape up to black, to the stars.
Somewhere faster is here.
The black fades and turns to to the next scene, bars coming in and cutting as the titles roll....
DELTΔ HYPER
Episode One: Finding their Feet
Meet the Pilots
Titles run, and it's a good one. You're not interested in that, though. It's a show you've seen once before.
"Twenty Pilots, Ten Teams, and Twenty Rounds. Only one can take the drivers title, and only one team can win the constructors."
A setup for drama? Yeah, as usual, but it has to be, but Aurora brings us in with her usual Irish cheer.
"And, this time, we go behind the scenes. We'll show you all the tension, glory and defeat. Shall we meet the pilots?" The screen comes from black, and well, starts introducing.
With Aurora's hologram pitched up, it's time to get back to an interview. As any good fly on the wall documentary does, this is being recorded in a way that picks your character up at an opportune time, near a sofa for a good five minutes, every single one of the drivers lined up. It's an instant response, as Aurora pops into view, but most of all, the camera is pinned on your pilot.
The thing about a meta-documentary is that it's a lot quicker to make than say, a normal one. The weird touch between having an AI editor means that what you say, what you think, and what you know is published an awful lot faster than say, a series at the end. The story isn't set in stone, and well, the narrative thread runs from here.
So, your character has an entrance, whatever that is you decided it to be, but for the future, well, it's still a sofa, and it's still a general background that you drop into.
Struggling to follow? Don't worry. You'll get to know the main cast in time. You're them, after all, and well, this is an interview to hold with your character, and they're now the main show.
@Enzayne
"Welcome to Delta Hyper, Han! So, whilst known to your audience in Korea, would you like to introduce yourself to the fans worldwide?"
@Starlance
"Morning, Bea! We've all been loving your drawings over the off-season, and before the season you've gathered a sizable following? What's your sketch of this season?"
@GingerBoi123
"Morning, Ulrich! Would you like to introduce yourself, and perhaps, take us through your move to Miller Motor Racing, a move I think we can all assume was rather unexpected?"
"Hello Kais, welcome to Delta Hyper! how are you feeling about the season, and what's your thoughts on working with Layla?"
The others also got an interview, each initially, without the question following. Although, you could probably work it out....
Cassie looked decidedly chill, even in spite of the fact that the makeup team had tried to layer on more pale white onto an already half-tan Scottish-Portuguese complexion that needed no more confusion.
"Han? Oh, yeah she's sound, like. I'd say she knows the team. The fans absolutely adore her, but, she's the native. I get that. Really sharp, really good across the board."
Ava looked square at the camera, the Chilean sitting up, her stern demeanour never going away, neither that or the Chilean husk in her English accent.
"What do I think of her? Well, Beatrix has talent, but she is raw. I am sure she'll learn quickly on the grid. It is not easy to be a rookie, not with what we have to do."
Max shrugged, the well-dressed, well appearing blonde haired American dressed in team kit and upright, as if the excitement is still there from first day.
"Man...he's good, yeah, Ulrich's cool, super serious when he's at work though. Won a lot in the juniors. Really, really good with his energy management. I'm gonna have to find out all his secrets!"
Harrison, the relaxed Aussie leaned back in his chair, sighing, not of disapproval. Almost of a weird sort of pride, thought that went into it, like he wanted to find the words.
"Yeah, she's uhh.....a unique one. Nobody could have seen it coming, but she's really incredible, honestly, she's gonna be super. I guess we're all rebels here, aren't we? That's how we get it done, and she has some serious venom, I think she's bloody ripper! Can't wait to race her!"
Dorian shrugged, perhaps a little more clammy and straightforward.
"Well, it's been a good pre-season here. Quiet even. Perhaps a little different when it comes to team mates than my old one, yes?"
Kofi heartily laughed, in a way you'd always expect him to be- happy go lucky, the easy going Ghanaian too at home in front of a camera.
"Well...they're good? Sister, I'm excited! New season, and well, time to go show what we can do."
Amy went next, the champion relaxed in the seat, arm over the support.
"Yeah.....well, they are in the hot seat. I know, I know what you'll say, but honestly? Best of luck to them. They'll get used to what it takes. They'll need to impress at the top."
Layla's response seemed more sincere, the highly augmented, highly implanted Emirati refined in her response back.
"We will see. I think it's a difficult craft this year. They'll need to be patient with it. Pushing doesn't always get more out it."
Lastly, Astrid, in her Nordic Call gear, put down the can she was drinking, and with a certain charm, the kind only someone as dry as Astrid could muster, replied in turn.
"Bwoah.....they are fine."
Round 1 of Formula Anti-Gravity
Saturday March 4th, 2094
Qualifying Day
Oceania AGP
Auckland, New Zealand
2000 NZST
Saturday March 4th, 2094
Qualifying Day
Oceania AGP
Auckland, New Zealand
2000 NZST
The Vibe of Formula Anti Gravity
Cassie Neves
Soundtrack: The Chemical Brothers- Galvanise
The scene cuts with a panoramic view of the Auckland paddock, set against the backdrop of the city's skyline and sparkling harbour in the late evening. The paddock sits on one of the jetties in Auckland Port by the start/finish, and it's more a rave than a racing spot. The camera captures the essence of the skyline, now much heavier built up than ever before, but with its iconic SkyTower still at the centre of it and remaining the tallest, with the mag tracking as always still lit up for tomorrow, as was the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The paddock is a hive of activity, illuminated by the glow of neon lights and holographic displays. It's the night before race day. It's a symphony of motion and sound, where every detail contributes to the electrifying atmosphere.
Cassie Neves stands at the heart of it all, her red hair catching the glow of the intense light, her freckled face illuminated by the vibrant colours. Her blue, augmented eyes reflect the kaleidoscope of lights around her, and her presence exudes a mix of intensity and charm. She moves through the paddock with purpose, her movements fluid and confident. The camera follows her, capturing the scene from various angles as she begins to narrate her experience, looking over her shoulder.
“Welcome to the Zygon paddock,” Cassie begins, her Scottish-Portuguese accent rich with excitement. “This is where the magic happens. Late night, but we have a lot of work to do, and fans are out still here for the first of the season. Let me show you around.”
The music pulsates through the air, a seamless blend of modern electronica and drum and bass. The beats are relentless, a fusion of artists that ranges from trance, drum and bass and breaks, creating an immersive soundscape that vibrates through the ground and energizes everyone around. The camera captures the pulsating speakers hidden within the sleek, high-tech structures of the paddock.
“Paddock for the first race always goes off,” Cassie says, nodding to the rhythm. “The music, the lights, the buzz. Just crazy, like! Though holy hell, that is loud!”
The camera pans across the paddock, revealing sleek, high-tech tents attached to trailers, and shimmering holographic displays that cast a futuristic glow. Zygon’s team area is decked out in their signature dark red with bluish-purple pearlescent accents. Traditional Korean motifs blend seamlessly with cutting-edge design, creating a striking visual contrast that tells a story of heritage and innovation. Everyone's got an allocation, so nobody is going bigger than anyone else if they can help it.
Cassie moves towards Zygon’s pit area, where the team’s anti-gravity craft are undergoing last-minute tweaks before bed. Engineers, dressed in team uniforms, work with precision, their movements synchronized like a well-oiled machine. The craft themselves are a marvel, adorned with ornate decals that reflect a rich heritage while incorporating advanced technology.
“This is where the real work happens,” Cassie explains. “The craft might look incredible, but it’s the details that count. Every adjustment, every calibration—it’s all about getting that perfect edge. Auckland needs a lot of work, and Pre-Season gave us one idea of where we were. Now here we are. I'll take 8th, but we have a lot of work tomorrow.”
She stops by her own craft, running a hand over the sleek, red surface with its intricate traditional designs. Her gaze is focused, her expression a mix of determination and pride.
“Zygon’s been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately,” Cassie admits. “But we’ve got the resources, and I’ve got the drive. I'm here to help turn things around. Somewhat.”
The camera captures the bustling activity as team members discuss strategy and fine-tune the ship’s systems. The hum of the engines and the rhythmic clinking of tools create a symphony of high-tech hustle.
The crowd surrounding the paddock is a mix of fans and media, their excitement palpable. They’re drawn by the spectacle, the promise of high-speed thrills, and the chance to catch a glimpse of their favourite pilots.
Cassie waves to a few fans and poses for quick selfies, her demeanour friendly and approachable despite the intensity of the event. She then turns her attention back to the ship, where a small team is working on the energy systems, the camera coming back in onto her, and onto her little piece to camera.
“So yeah, same as usual really, I guess! Han is as well, they just go crazy for her though.”
The camera pulls back, capturing the entire paddock in its full glory. The futuristic lights, the hum of technology, and the buzz of anticipation create a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds. The music continues to pulse, blending with the ambient noise of the paddock, creating an immersive atmosphere. There is a LOT going on here, from the VIP areas that members of the public are in, displays and digital showpieces for fans to engage with, to VR neural link simulators providing almost a like for like that are here and on site. A lot of people are leaving, considering Qualy was just finished, but who is left, is enjoying the last bit of the rave-like atmosphere of the evening before tomorrow's race.
"Han, over here! Smashed it this evening, where'd you pull that out from, eh?" Cassie yells, the voices getting a lot louder, for the new signing of the team as she came over to the public.
The scene is a mixed one all over the paddock. So, what's going on? Post-qualifying blues, with the results in from earlier in the evening, and the results are interesting. Some teams that should be higher on the grid aren't, and some surprises are in. Tonight is the night before the race tomorrow and the start of season party and engineering fest, and well, it's a good opportunity to mingle, meet the team, meet team-mates, other competitors. Discussing qualifying results, race strategy, and most of all, media and sponsor work. It's a tough gig, but well, getting paid for it well is decent. So from here, the stage is set for your character to delve into this world, and enjoy the high life, whilst getting the last bits they can for the race tomorrow. An introduction to their world, perhaps. And what's in it is up to them, from the staff, Team Principals, fans, media, sponsors, all of it where they go, what they do for now. A moment of reprieve before stuff gets really serious.
It's the calm before a storm.