ANTARCTICA - Moore/Starkweather Campsite -
Alphonso believes that these rocks were blasted out of the local hillside. Clearly the survivors were intent on getting these bodies properly buried before they left and spared no expense or effort to do so. Even blasted, moving these rocks would have been difficult and time consuming.
they used explosives at the end to bury the dead and made sure it was done. What ever happened here they finished it for their lost the only way they could without leaving them in ice forever Alphonso says as he walks the area.
Nodding, "They were good people then."
Rubbing her hands up and down her arms as if that would chase away the cold. Staring at the makeshift tombstone, "We should go let him know about this and then see about getting all this ice dug up."
"Agreed. Let's get out of here and remember to take some digging equipment with us when we come back next." The moment broken, it also seems to lose much of the oppressive weight it pressed on his mind upon first discovering the cairn.
ANTARCTICA - Moore/Starkweather Campsite -
Professor Moore gathers you all together in the kitchen tent the first
night, as soon as they are done with their survey. He listens to your reports with interest, taking many notes, and asking your opinions of what you have seen and what it may mean. Moore is fascinated by the straight line of snow hillocks.
“Yes, yes!” he murmurs to himself, writing in a little notebook. “Of course. But why?” He does not explain himself to you. It is clear, however, that he continues to place the highest priority on the solution of the mystery.
"We will need to spend time here in camp ensuring that the drilling equipment does indeed work before we move it to Lake's Camp and begin utilizing it. Do you think that shovels can aid you in uncovering anything further before the rest of the camp is ready to move to the Miskatonic site?"
Stanley looks down at his noodley arms. He's put on a bit of muscle since this expedition started, thankfully, or else he would have probably been squished like a bug by those loose aircraft engines. But still, he would have to bulk up quite a bit more to even be considered of average strength. "I'm an engineer, not an excavator," he points out. "And I have no idea how thick that ice is. It doesn't hurt to try to dig through it with shovels, I just want to make sure that expectations are kept small, is all. I don't want to promise any results without knowing all the variables, so to speak."
"Hmmm", replies Moore. "Perhaps it would be better to keep you all here, set up camp and simply together with the proper equipment excavate".
"That actually makes a heck of a lot of sense. This is why we're here, after all. Close to the action! If discoveries are to be made, I know the prof would want to be the first to see them!"
"However you think things will go most effectively," Stanley agrees.
Nodding, "That would be the better option"
As you assist in setting up the camp yous see that Moore lays out his camp in a very organized way. Three large tents, each capable of holding the entire party at once, seated or standing, are lined up in a row. The first of these is the kitchen tent and larder; the second, the generator and radio tent; and the third is for specimens and supplies. The upwind walls of each of these tents are backed not only by ice block walls but by crates and barrels of supplies that can be left in the cold.
Accommodations for the party members are scattered downwind of the large tents, each carefully buttressed behind its own snow bank. One lone tent, furthest downwind of all, is dubbed the “biology tent.” “Sometimes animal specimens have an odor,” Moore explains mildly, and does not elaborate.
The camp crew digs trenches for the aircraft and builds ice-block windbreaks around them. These are sturdier affairs than the flimsy ones thrown up by Lake, and by December 1st, are complete.
You are told to protect your tents in a similar fashion, with deeply anchored lines and a wall of ice and packed snow to windward.
By December 2nd, the camp crew have erected and strung the twenty foot radio tower and its antenna, connected the generator inside a temporary shelter, and raised the kitchen tent behind its wall of ice. Sykes and Packard mark out a runway with poles and colored flags.
The Lexington Camp is smaller and set up by December 2nd, leaving them the 3rd to assist the Moore camp in finalizing the set-up.
Acacia’s team are also on hand throughout the hours that follow. Priestley wanders here and there, happily recording everything on film. Again and again he pops up at the investigators’ sides. “Pose for a picture,” he says, as he scuttles back and forth looking for the best light, always asking about what you found in his unfailingly cheerful way. “Come on, mate, it’s history we’re about to make! Look proud for the wife and kids!” After a while it can be quite annoying.
Lexington is standoffish and clearly chomping at the bit to head to Lake's Camp. Of them all, the only member of Acacia’s group that does not appear interested in examining Lake’s site is Kyle Williams, her pilot. He seems content to stand at a distance, near the Belle, and stare endlessly across the ice without moving.
After a long time, he turns away, enters a tent, and is not seen again until the evening meal. All appear apprehensive about this shared camp.
For all his engineering expertise, Stanley just can't seem to get the hang of these snow bank shelters. It frustrates him greatly, and he withdraws into his own head as a result, stewing. The eternal sunshine clashes with his mood, and for perhaps the first time ever he wishes for some classic, brooding darkness.
The hard wind and the billowing of the tent flaps muffle Avery's foul language as he struggles to set up his own shelter.
"Enjoyin' the scenery?" he asks Williams over chow.
Alphonso does it all wrong but will find someone to assist him in order to correct the issues at hand.
As Avery tries to make casual conversation with Williams you see his face is a mask of blankness as if being here is bothering him.
He was much more personable with Alphonso at the lower camps.
As Williams sighs, shrugs and walks away from Avery, one of Lexington's other men slides over, “He’s always been like that. A real grouch, and touchy too. But he does know how to fly.”
Avery nods, slurping his tepid coffee. His comfortable life had kept him in proximity to philanthropists and academics. It was a continual struggle to acclimate himself to the apathy (or resentment?) inherent in the working class. At this rate, ya better get used to it, Buster.
Frowning at her attempt. Phoebe opts to have some man make sure she did it right. There are plenty of those around.
"Is there anything subject we should try and avoid with him?"
He responds to Phoebe, "Hah, talking altogether. If ya' got someone that knows planes that'd help".
Over the next few days you spend time with Lexington’s party in a variety of situations. By and large they are good company, but all of them seem reluctant to fully trust the Starkweather group. You get the sense that they all believe that Starkweather, or someone in his camp, is responsible for the string of mishaps that has plagued their expedition since they set sail. It is an impression that is almost impossible to dispel, doubly ironic since Starkweather himself believes the reverse to be true.
Acacia herself is unexpectedly pleasant and outgoing after her initial standoffish demeanor. Work well done pleases her, she does not seem to share her team’s suspicions of the other party. Or at least she does a better job of hiding it. Starkweather alone receives her anger and disdain.
At least twice a day, during lunch and after the evening meeting, the combined parties communicate via the now functional radio with the barrier camp and the ships; reports and personal messages are relayed to the world through the base station on the coast. These are pleasant breaks for most of the explorers; they gather around the radio tent and listen to the broadcasts from outside. Starkweather transmits too, from his camp on the Polar Plateau.
Lexington’s Belle takes off between 6 and 7 a.m. each morning, bound for the coast. It returns about 6 p.m. with a full load, spending the evening hours on the ground while the pilots sleep or maintain their craft. The two Boeings, Enderby and Weddell, arrive each day about 3 p.m. with their cargoes. They are on the ground less than two hours, flying out before the Belle arrives. Their pilots sleep over at the barrier base camp.
On the 5th, Arnault arrives on one of the planes.
Arnault asks Lexington about Nicholas Roerich but she barely remembers him. “A friend of my father’s, he came by my house the day before we left New York, but I never got to see him. I haven’t met him in years, in fact. Why do you ask? Do you know him?”
Smiling, "I do know someone like that."
Alphonso considers Nicolas and the Germans whom were interested in him wondering if perhaps they were in any way related to the misfortunes to follow. It would be a long shot coincidence to be sure.
we had dealing with a fellow like that did we not?
Arnault nods to Alphonso and frowns, "Very well Miss Lexington, we had very little in the way of dealing with him as well".
He gives Alphonso and gesture clearly asking to speak with him in private.
---
Phoebe grins and states, "I do know someone like that."
Her eyes fixate on Stanley.
Stanley gets up and follows Williams. He finds him staring off into the distance in the area where Lake's Camp is located.
Not being told that she wasn't invited Phoebe follows behind. The buddy system is important and entertainment is sparse here.
"See something unusual?" Stanley says, trying to sound amiable and standing next to Williams and looking off in the same direction. He's been there recently, what with all the frustration at trying to set up the ice walls properly, and sometime's it's just nice to make small talk. "I was rather hoping to spot a polar bear myself, but I've recently been informed we're on the wrong end of the world for that." He winces.
"Are we? I was not thinking about that.
I was thinking about how that plateau is a mass grave site. Those people gave their lives and here we are, more people, more snow. This place is no place for people.
Some things are better left buried".
"It's very sad, sure," Stanley says, solemnly. "But I think I couldn't disagree with the rest of your sentiment more. What did those people give their lives for if the rest of the world gives up out of fear? I can't help but think of all the important human advancements that would be lost if we, as a species, gave up after the first hint of adversity." He goes out on a limb and pats Williams on the shoulder. "We're on the cutting edge, down here. Sometimes edges hurt. That's just the nature of the beast."
"Besides, we're smarter than them," Avery pipes in. He'd been so quiet, it's quite possible the others had forgotten he's there. "More careful, better funded and prepared. We aren't going t'do anything crazy."
"Advancements? WE are at the end of the world what is there here but snow and stone?
This is about vanity.
If I did not need the money, I would not even be here.
Smarter? Plenty of smart men lie beneath the ice up there. Just coming here is crazy. Continuing despite the setbacks was crazy too".
Stanley shrugs and rolls his eyes. "That's the purpose of exploration. To find out what else is here besides the obvious."
Quietly listening to the men talk back and forth, "Well I have been told most of the smart are a little insane."
Looking back out into the distance, "You can be angry about being here and that anger will effect everything you do. Making this even more dangerous than it already is. Or you can make peace with the situation you are in and let that anger go."
Alphonso moves to where he is being motioned listening as he goes
"Angry? I'm disgusted and appalled that I have to be out here.
We should be heading backwards not forwards".
You seem to be upset friend, let's step to someplace more private where we might speak, yes? Alphonso motions out of the general area with a look of genuine kindess.
He turns to Alphonso and shakes his head, "What could be more private than this place at the end of the Earth? Say what you have to say Mr. Wolf".
fine, men are fragile and we all die. Speaking like you are will avail nothing. We all die in the end. We are all dying in increments right now each moment. You'd like to think you could control it or pick when and where. You want to do it warm and safe. What do healthy people die of you think? Nothing you suppose? You are an idiot. Shut your milky weak willed mouth. Find more productive things to do and say or by God as my witness I will find them for you.
"I am an idiot?
You are a financier Mr. Wolf. You care about profits over people. Goldman and Sachs is interested in what they gain from this.
I am interested in the very fate of all humanity.
What lies beyond those Mountains of Madness is something that those men died for. Something that should perhaps remain here, frozen in these wastes.
Think on that before you seek to lecture me on weakness of will or body".
That said, he stalks off to his own tent.
Rubbing at her arms and starting towards those mountains, "That was roughly said. Less vinegar and more honey mister numbers. Especially with people we need."
Alphonso leans in toward Ms Barrett and says very quietly so only she may hear his words and actions may effect more then one man here. We need all of us to have good moral or all of us might suffer at best or die in this place as others before us. His weakness of spirit could become contagious.
Avery stifles a laugh. "Get em, Wolf. Show your fangs!" He pats Alphonso on the shoulder.
Turning to face Alphonso but not moving out of the close space, "I understand that. What I meant is by lashing out and making whatever his concern is about him being weak is simply going to make him angry. It could give validation to his malady. This place is dangerous, everyone knows that. I doubt someone like him should have come on this venture but he is here and we need him. Bickering will solve nothing."
Letting out a tired sigh, "It is harder to build someone up and much easier to break them down like you just did. But all that breaking down does is weaken the chain."
Crossing her arms and simply glaring at both men. It is a wonder that they are called the better sex.
money is not the only thing I have done in my life, and I did offer him the kind voice and alternative. He chose otherwise.
ANTARCTICA - Moore/Starkweather Campsite -
The Lexington/Moore team begin the process of moving equipment to the Lake Campsite.
On the 7th, Fiskarson’s sled team reacts very badly to the campsite. The dogs become extremely excited and difficult to control, snarling and howling in a hostile and uneasy fashion. This behavior is most marked near the line of tall hillocks and the lone tent, but is also notable near the second of the aircraft shelters. By the afternoon, a separate camp and kennel is set up to keep the dogs away from the camp as much as possible.
Finally, on the morning of December 8th, the work to unravel the mystery of what happened here at the bottom of the world begins.
Moore believes that the mounds within the middle of the camp should be uncovered first while Lexington finds the small line of conical mini-mounds to be most odd.
There is also the matter of the collapsed hangars and the large pile of ice northwest of the mounds . To the left of the line is yet another mound to be uncovered.
The drill techs Gilmore and O'Doul meanwhile believe that Lake's drill site should be explored first.
Professor Arnault argues, successfully, that his men and woman! should be the group to make the decision as to where to start. From saving the ship from fire to uncovering the saboteur on the ship, the Moore/Starkweather Team would not be here were it not for you all!
"I would think getting one bulk issue taken care of first would be best. The lake sounds like it would be more dangerous so it should be the later option. We could uncover information pertaining to the lake before we get there."
I wish to examine the old hangers and drill site for anything of use left behind. We will need all we can get