CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea > Panama to Australia

[Job]

On the evenings of September 19th and 20th, small ferry craft come alongside the SS Gabrielle with fresh fruit and fresh water, and a few luxuries for sale. Those who wish can purchase souvenirs, cigars, candy, clothing and a few other items from the grinning locals.


Throughout the day of the 20th, a cargo barge brings quantities of fresh tropical fruits aboard to supplement the vessel's larder. These are lowered into the #4 hold.

On September 21st, 1933, the ship steams south into the Pacific ocean and by noon, there is no sight of land.

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Job]

Thursday, 21st September, 1933

Aboard the U.S.S. Gabrielle
Hours after the Gabrielle pushes into the Pacific the weather begins to turn. The sea becomes rough and choppy beneath swirls of changing clouds. The wind gusts and changes direction uneasily every hour. It does not rain, but the threat hangs overhead, as though a storm might suddenly rise up out of nowhere. The ship ploughs ahead in the freshening foamy sea at a steady eleven knots. Every few seconds the bow slams into a new wave, sending a shudder through the hull and tossing spray high into the air. The motion of the deck is much stronger than before, and acquires a distinct pitching motion that sends scientists with weak stomachs, like Professor Albemarle, running for the lee rail.

Please see OOC thread,A 1d100 seasickness roll is needed for rough seas. Please post your rolls in the OOC thread, and I'll graphically describe the results. 8-)

The dogs redouble their cries. They do not like the rougher seas.

Classes continue as before, but the ship'’s tossing takes away much of the holiday atmosphere. Anyone spending time outside is quickly soaked to the skin by warm salt spray as the average wave height rises above twenty feet, and lessons that were previously offered on the foredeck now move into one of the lounges. Doctor Greene'’s sporting events are cancelled for now.

CLASSES
The below list assumes that everyone will attend similar classes to those that they attended during the previous sessions. You may change your classes or request to teach a class simply by informing Professor Moore. Ernest Roosevelt and Katie Wright should let Professor Moore know what classes they are interested in taking/teaching. This posting will cover the activities for the week of September 22nd through 28th. Below is the schedule of events on the large chalkboard in the ship's mess hall.

Ship's Mess Corkboard (you can add notes to this corkboard!)
Latitude: North 7° 50'
Longitude: West -79° 38'
Today's Weather: Mod-Strong Gales, Possible Storm
Wind Speed: 40-60 mph (65-95 kph)
Updated Google Map travel path


Classes on Sept 22 through 28:
Instructor / Topic / Location
Mornings:

• P Rucker / Morning Breakfast Prayer / Ship's Mess
• Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
  --- STUDENT: M. LeBlanc, K. Wright, E. Roosevelt
• Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
  --- STUDENT: C. Bardier, G. Barrow
• P Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Ship's Mess
  --- STUDENT: J. Poole, Ø. Raknes

Afternoons:

• G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
  ---STUDENT: P. Rucker, J. Poole, W. Watkins
• W Moore / Antarctic Exploration / Officer’s Mess
  --- STUDENT: K. Wright, E. Roosevelt, G. Barrow
• M O'Doul / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
  --- STUDENT: C. Bardier, Ø. Raknes

Evenings:

• Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Ship's Mess
  --- STUDENT: P. Rucker, M. LeBlanc, W. Watkins, E. Roosevelt
• P Albemarle / Antarctic Weather / #2 Tweendeck Hold - Cancelled due to P Albemarle's sickness
• K Wright & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab
• G Barrow / Antarctic Flora and Fauna / #1 Tweendeck Hold
  --- STUDENT: J. Poole

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Mr. Handy]

Katie tells Professor Moore that she would like to teach a class on aircraft maintenance. She'd also be qualified to teach aerial navigation, but the other pilots already have that covered. Likewise, there are already climbers teaching the climbing course. If possible, she'd schedule it in the afternoon. In the morning, she'd like to take Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment, and in the evening she'd like to take Mountain Rules. If she cannot teach her class in the afternoon, she'll take Antarctic Exploration in that timeslot and drop whichever class is in the same slot as the one she'll be teaching.
.

[Job]

The rough seas have taken their toll on the crew members although, not surprisingly, Øyvind Raknes and Katie Wright seem to have no difficulty with the conditions.


Unfortunately George Barrow and Pierce Albemarle are both in bad shape, pale as ghosts. They spend most of their first day in the Pacific in the latrines since remaining in their beds seems to only make things worse. Peter Sykes occasionally pops his head into the water closet to see how George is doing, and often has a teasing remark about how George's and Pierce's "latrine songs" are music to his ears.

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Job. (the torturing one)

[Seon]

Ernest would like to tell Prof. Moore that he would like to learn in the class for Cold-Weather Clothes and Equipment. Freezing to death in Antarctica was not in his top-priority list. He would also like to learn in the Antarctic Exploration class, taught by Professor Moore himself. Not freezing to death was important, but not getting lost was probably just as important. Finally, for the evening class, he would like to take the Mountain Rules Class.
.

[Job]

As the afternoon wore on, the wind and sea increased greatly, and the Gabrielle pitched about, shifting everything that could be moved on deck. The seas began to break over her and soon everything was wet. The decks were flooded with heavy seas which poured, whitecapped, over the side and even the bridge deck was drenched with the spray of breaking waves. Starkweather ordered that lifelines be stretched along the deck and it was a risky thing to go forward without holding on.

Dr. Watkins could not venture very far from his cabin and fought his own waves from within, filling buckets while his stomach roiled with the sea. The pitching of the ship on one occasion threw him from his bunk and he had neither the will nor strength to rise from it, preferring to lie there with his face against the cold deck, moaning.

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Job. (the torturing one)

[Job]

Katie tells Professor Moore that she would like to teach a class on aircraft maintenance. She'd also be qualified to teach aerial navigation, but the other pilots already have that covered. Likewise, there are already climbers teaching the climbing course. If possible, she'd schedule it in the afternoon.

"It just so happens that Douglas has turned ill this afternoon and won't be able to teach the aerial navigation course, so I'd be pleased if you could replace him," responded Professor Moore.

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Mr. Handy]

"I'd be delighted," says Katie. "I do hope Douglas feels better soon, though. In that case, I will be able to attend your class in the afternoon."
.

[royya]

Unaffected by the sea, Father Rucker will offer any help needed for the sick and poor.

[Job]

Ernest would like to tell Prof. Moore that he would like to learn in the class for Cold-Weather Clothes and Equipment. Freezing to death in Antarctica was not in his top-priority list. He would also like to learn in the Antarctic Exploration class, taught by Professor Moore himself. Not freezing to death was important, but not getting lost was probably just as important. Finally, for the evening class, he would like to take the Mountain Rules Class.

"Excellent, Mr. Roosevelt! I'm thrilled to have you join my class, and also am pleased that you are taking the initiative to increase your knowledge of the cold weather environment. Would that every crew member were equally as proactive," he said, "then our odds of success would be dramatically increased."

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Job]

"I'd be delighted," says Katie. "I do hope Douglas feels better soon, though. In that case, I will be able to attend your class in the afternoon."

"Wonderful, Miss Wright, we're lucky to have you on our team," said the Professor. "This will provide me with exactly the opportunity that I've been seeking to alert James that I've sponsored your membership in our expedition. I'll talk to him tonight about it."

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Job]

Saturday, 23 September, 1933

The blustery weather continued through Friday and Saturday, the twenty-second and twenty-third of September. During the day, classes were held as scheduled, although some expedition members were not able to participate due to seasickness. Getting sleep was difficult due to the tossing of the ship, the occasional scraping and banging of shifting cargo, and the incessant howling harmony of the wind and dogs.

Fortunately for those who had their sea legs--and whose stomachs would accept food--the meals were excellent! The ship's cook, Niles Abraham, managed to put hot, tasty meals on the table with regularity, despite the challenging conditions. Grilled meats such as venison, beef, and pork; spiced potatoes and eggs; fresh bread; hot coffee; and a delicious peach cobbler one evening.

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Job. (the tortured one)

[Mr. Handy]

Katie has no trouble adjusting to life at sea and is in excellent health as usual. She greatly enjoys the food and eats heartily, always cleaning her plate.

[Seon]

"Ah, Miss Wright!" Ernest said one day in the lunch room. He had claimed a table for poker and was dealing out cards to several interested sailors.

"Fancy a friendly game of poker?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Thanks, I'd like that, Mr. Roosevelt," says Katie with a smile. She sits down at the table. "Deal me in."

[Seon]

"Great!" Ernest said, smiling. He pushed over a pile of fake chips towards Katie.

"Of course, it's all a friendly game," Ernest said, winking. "No need for anyone to get mad inside the ship and make the officers spoil all the fun, right?"

He slid two cards from the deck towards Katie. She looked under them to find that they were both aces.

Ernest whistled out a tune as he dealt the rest of the deck towards the other players.

[Mr. Handy]

Katie tries to keep a straight face and to show no reaction to the good cards she has. "Right," says Katie. "What variety of poker are we playing? Five card draw?"

[Seon]

"Seven card stud," Ernest said, dealing each player a face-up card. A jack of spades for himself and a queen of hearts for Katie.

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says Katie. "Who bets first?" She tries not to sound too eager.

[Seon]

"Me, blinds are at 200," Ernest said, tossing two chips into the middle.