Play@YSDC

Posted: **Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:16 am**

At Last!

Because of--or possibly despite--everyone's continued nervous vigilance, no further incidents interfered with the expedition's preparations for departure.

How all of the things that eventually got on board were squeezed in was amazing; for with an unsuspected necromancy, Professor Moore managed to find a place for everything, although the pile of supplies still awaiting a place seemed to grow larger and the space of the Gabrielle, pitifully small to begin with, seemed to shrink before our eyes. At last the hold was full; there was room for not another box below, so Moore began to load the decks. Food boxes and gasoline drums were ranged about it until the waist of the ship became so deep with things that some pathways on the main deck could only support single file traffic.

As the weights of supplies in her mounted, the Gabrielle settled gradually. This, with the fact that an immoderately large part of her load was above decks, gave rise to some uneasiness. In fact, the day before we put to sea, an old sailing man, who had been watching operations with a disapproving eye, came up and said: "You're taking an awful chance with that ship. She'll ship green water every roll. You don't know what storms are until you get into the 'Sixties.' I've been there and I know." Commander Starkweather led the man away, assuring him that we knew what we were doing.

All the crew and party members gathered together on board ship for the first time on the morning of September 11th, 1933, three days after originally planned, and the Gabrielle set sail at last, early that afternoon.

The skies were covered with high, thin clouds; the sea was choppy; a number of small boats turned out to watch as the ship saluted the Statue of Liberty, and continued alone south into the Atlantic Ocean.

Headed southward at last. After years of anticipation and months of preparation.

Above is a recording of the USS Gabrielle departure, courtesy of Louis Laroche, our expedition radio technician

Map of U.S.S. Gabrielle Aftercastle
Floorplan of U.S.S. Gabrielle Common Area with Cabin Assignments

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

** = copyright 2010 Erdenstern

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:34 am**

Royya wrote:Father Rucker stood on the upper deck, watched the statue and recited the old verb
In god we trust

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:41 am**

It is hard to say who popped the first cork, but an hour after departure--as soon as the ship has passed the five-mile limit--the entire group was invited into the Officer's Mess. The room was crowded with shipmates: Father Rucker was there, as was a still-shaking but smiling Martin LeBlanc, the biochemist George Barrow, female pilot Camille Bardier, Øyvind our dog handler, physician Dr. Watkins, geologist Jim Poole, and polar guide Paco Guerini to name but a handful. Notably missing was Vittorio Luizzi, the demolitionist, but he told his bunkmates that he was "OK" and asked them to go along without him.

The champagne flowed freely! Starkweather and Moore both toasted the future and the expedition's good fortune, grinning ear to ear.

"To our place in history!" "Hear, hear!" "Salute!"
"To our success!" "CHEERS!" *loud clapping and whistling*
"To our destiny!"

As the party wore on, Peter Sykes entertained all with old Newfoundland whaler's chanteys accompanied by spoons and cook-pot drums, and offered to teach the words to whomever wanted to learn. Many tall tales were told, both of great accomplishments and stunning disasters, with much backslapping, toasting, laughing and singing.

The fun goes on until sunset, when the ship's cook cleared the room to begin setting up for dinner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:42 am**

There are 48 crewmen and 35 expedition personnel on board. From the amount of congestion, one might imagine that there were ten times that number. Because of the last-minute preparations after the fire, everything is in great confusion in the aftercastle and even below decks. Every bunk is piled high with equipment which has overflowed to the floor. There is scarcely a place where one can set foot on deck. Supplies of all descriptions so fill the deck that to get from fore to aft it is either necessary to do a perilous balancing act on the rail or else risk one's neck in an alpine assault over peaks and precipices of crates and boxes. It will be days before everything is properly stowed away.

And if this were not enough, the chaos is exaggerated by the mixed harmony of the dogs howling below and the high pitched overtones from the radio machinery above. The dogs howled all day long, with an unearthly disharmony all their own, and it seemed that the radio would keep at it all night. What few wits were left to everyone were being sorely tested.

Fortunately, Niles Abraham, the ship's cook, provided an excellent meal and this brightened spirits considerably. The ship's first dinner is eaten at long tables in the ship's mess halls. Thereafter, the expedition member's time is their own.

At the end of the meal, Professor Moore announced that he expected everyone on the expedition to become as familiar as possible with the facts of life in the Antarctic before arrival. He asks all expedition members to lecture or give lessons in their areas of expertise. Attendance at these sessions is not mandatory, but it is expected.

[OOC - If your character might be interested in running a session, please post a note in the Chapter 5: OOC thread.

The professor plans to post a list of sessions the next morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:46 am**

Royya wrote:This is a good way to introduce myself and my contribution to this scientific expedition. Thinks Father Rucker.
He goes to Prof. Moore and present two lecture topics.
1. Antarctic Paleobiology.
2. Antarctic chemistry

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:49 am**

Anatomist wrote:1. Mountain Rules

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:55 am**

That evening, Professor Moore posted the next day's schedule of events.

Tuesday 12th September 1933
Latitude: N 37° 30’
Longitude 74° 00’
Google Map travel path
Sunrise: 05:35
Sunset: 18:08
Todays Weather: Overcast, possible rain
Wind Speed: 10-20 mph

Today's Classes:

Instructor / Topic / Location
Morning:
Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
J Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Ship's Mess

Afternoon:
G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
P Miles / Aeroplane Maintenance / #2 Tweendeck Hold
Eriksson / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
E Fiskarson / Boxing Fundamentals (last one standing takes on James Starkweather) / Main Deck Fore

Evening:
Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Ship's Mess
Griffith / Antarctic Geology / Officer's Mess
D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab

[OOC - Note that there are weeks worth of courses and the list will change day by day. So don't worry about missing out on anything. Be sure to let me know which courses your characters plan to attend because there will be a chance for increasing skill points.

Regarding the sporting activities, the NPCs are generally a fit lot, as you'd expect for an Antarctic expedition, so there is plenty of interest, and I hope some of you will be joining in. Especially the boxing! Come on I'm sure somebody fancies sparring with James Starkweather?]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:09 am**

During the first night, Øyvind Raknes awoke to a noise.

[OOC - To keep this "At Sea" thread as clean as possible, we'll play out Øyvind's investigation in a separate thread.]

Here is a link to Chapter 5a: Øyvind's experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:18 am**

Royya wrote:Those two sounds interesting for Father Rucker

Afternoon: G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess.

since he knows basic geology
Evening: Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Ship's Mess.

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:20 am**

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind will assist to the D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab lecture.

'So Starkweather wants a nose bleeding? i would happily provide it!'

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:22 am**

Anatomist wrote:George will assist to the
Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment , Grene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid, J Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology lectures

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:26 am**

The ship moves smoothly through the Atlantic waters. The rise and fall of the vessel in the waves, while noticeable, is gentle and soothing, accompanied by the continuous faint thrum of the great engines below decks. Everyone is a little wobbly at first, until they get their sea legs, but within hours the motion of the ship seems natural.

On the morning after launch, the daily routine begins.

Breakfast for the expedition is served from 8-9 a.m. There is no formal lunch, but sandwiches and cold foods are laid out in the mess halls from noon to one o'clock, and the evening meal is held at eight p.m.

TODAY'S SESSIONS

Professor Moore attended Father Rucker's paleobiology lecture and seemed to enjoy himself thoroughly, asking numerous questions.

Spoiler:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:33 am**

Anatomist wrote:George uses his days at the lectures and putting his lab into perfect shape, canvas, pipets, microscopes in different sizes and a wide range of knives and scissors are all placed carefully with straps so they dont move with the movements of the sea.

He will take his usuall walks of 45 min twice a day around the ship taking a new route every day to get familiar with the ship and its corners and hallways.

Posted: **Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:35 am**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:27 pm**

Note: Add a praying session every morning in the main cabin and everybody is welcome to attend

Posted: **Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:47 am**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:39 pm**

Job wrote:
Anatomist wrote:George uses his days at the lectures and putting his lab into perfect shape, canvas, pipets, microscopes in different sizes and a wide range of knives and scissors are all placed carefully with straps so they dont move with the movements of the sea.

He will take his usual walks of 45 min twice a day around the ship taking a new route every day to get familiar with the ship and its corners and hallways.

George worked through the afternoon, scouring the ship's decks and crawling through the lower holds to locate the crates that contained his equipment. The items that he hand-carried onto the ship were stowed in his cabin, but all other boxes were a challenge to find. He started by examining Professor Moore's inventory lists--volumes of paper in filing cabinets and attached to a number of clipboards on the wall in Moore's office--to find the general areas where his boxes might be. Eventually, George found most of his items, all except for his medical set for animals.

He spent a large part of the day hunting for his treasures and found that he was quite exhausted at the end of the day's exertions, flopping into his bunk after nightfall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:57 pm**

royya wrote:Note: Add a praying session every morning in the main cabin and everybody is welcome to attend

After listening to Father Rucker's suggestion, Professor Moore studied the priest for a moment, then nodded, and said, "Alright Dr. Rucker, I'll allow you to take a moment each morning in the crew's mess while the men are gathering for breakfast. You might find that you'll need to get their attention, but if you keep it brief, then I don't see any harm."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:00 pm**

Job wrote: He spent a large part of the day hunting for his treasures and found that he was quite exhausted at the end of the day's exertions, flopping into his bunk after nightfall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

George was exhausted. It felt like it had been years since he last laid down to rest. George shifted in his bunker making the wood boards crack. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift on the happenings of late. Acacia Lexington, the dead Captain Douglas, the fire on board, the threatening letter... what does it all mean. How does these pieces add up
In a quieter place of his mind he made a to-do list. 1. be on the alert 2. be on the alert 3. be distrustful exept: Rucker, Moore and the egotripp Starkweather, he was after all a good man when you got to peel away the hormones, and the basic reptilian brain.

George shifted side again, making that cracking sound again Ill need to fix this he mumbled for himself being that the last thought he had that day. He slept for seven hours, he didnt sleep well... having dreams about lightnings at deep sea and a smell of rotten fish hunting him trough shadows.

Soon enough it would be morning again.

Posted: **Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:24 pm**

he first full day aboard the U.S.S. Gabrielle passes as the ship cruises steadily south through relatively calm North Atlantic waters.

MORNING
The morning classes are well attended by attentive (for the most part) expedition members. In the time alloted, the instructors provide an overview of each course topic and inform the students that more detailed information and practice sessions will be provided as the week progresses.

Peter Sykes, the Antarctic guide, begins teaching his small group how to assemble, disassemble, and repair the camp equipment. He starts by describing the correct use of all cold weather clothing that is provided to the expedition team members, a total of 82 separate items! Each expedition member is expected to care for his or her own clothing, including the repair and/or replacement of items damaged over the summer.
Doctors Greene and Watkins provide lessons in cold weather medicine and first aid in the expedition laboratory, concentrating today on the recognition of frostbite and hyperthermia in its early stages, and the best treatments.
Father Rucker presents his overview of the subject of Antarctic Paleobiology. In the middle of the course, he and Professor Moore spend a half hour enhusiastically discussing the microscopic cells and chains of cell-like bodies belonging to Precambrian purple bacteria. P.J. then notices the glazed, sleepy look on the faces of all of the students and says, "Ah, but we digress..." , and he then brings the discussion back to more practical--and less slumber-inducing--matters.

AFTERNOON
There is no formal lunch held on board, but sandwiches and cold foods are laid out in the mess halls from noon to one o'clock.

The afternoon courses are similarly popular.

The Sorensen Brothers begin their climbing class by teaching how to make snowshoes, how to repair and maintain skis, and the basics of climbing safety. The Sorensens also describe a plan to use the midships superstructure for some practical climbing training later in the week, which sparks a bit of enthusiastic discussion and boasting.
Enke Fiskarson takes a team out to the main deck to begin his "Boxing Fundamentals" class, first reviewing the rules of boxing, then proceeding on with stretching and limbering exercises, and finishing with demonstrations and practice. He splits the various participants according to their weight, and then proceeds with teaching the basics of stance, jabs and blocks. This boxing class is very popular, even if some choose to watch rather than participate. James Starkweather was seen observing the class from a balcony above, with a characteristic grin on his face, and shouted, "Fight, lads, fight! You'll soon have me to contend with!"
- You can head to the main deck to observe the boxing matches here.
In the tweendeck holds, Patrick Miles describes the principles of aircraft maintenance, while Albert Gilmore covers the Pabodie drill structure and general operation.

Mr Starkweather begins his first of many daily officer’s meetings in the afternoon in the Officer’s mess, behind closed doors.

EVENING

Professor Griffith teaches a formal class on Antarctic Geology and, on this morning, he spends a fair amount of time describing the Ross Ice Shelf and theories regarding the forces that create it
On this first day, Douglas Halperin and Camille Bardier present an overview of the history and general principles of aviation. On the morrow, they promise to provide more practical information about the unique problems of flying in the Antarctic, drawing much of their details from Admiral Byrd’s exploration of two years previous.
And finally, Øyvind Raknes and Paco Guerini present their class entitled “Mountain Rules”, introducing interested team members to the nature of expeditioning in the frigid polar environments. When the presentation turns to sledding, Øyvind takes the group to the tweendeck area to introduce them to the dogs.

DINNER
At eight oclock the evening meal is held in each mess, and the rest of the evening is free time for everyone. Most of the conversation is about Doctor Greene’s sporting events, the first of which will be a ten lap race around the ship, to be held on Saturday, once the crew clears enough room on the decks to run a lap...

Sykes (polar guide) and Louis Laroche (radio operator and electrician), organise a card game in the crew mess, while the various Norwegian expedition members appear to be holding a Scandinavian Sing-Song in the corner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:09 am**

I would like to hold a class on general first aid during day 2 of the journey for those willing to attend.

Posted: **Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:49 pm**

You can count me as a participant doctor
Father Rucker says with a smile.
You can practice live demonstrations of those who engage in the fist fights on deck

Posted: **Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:51 pm**

If Martin is feeling well enough he'll attend.

Posted: **Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:12 am**

That evening of Sept 12th, Professor Moore posted the next day's schedule of events on the large chalkboard in the ship's mess hall.
NOTE: Most courses will change at the beginning of the next week. Professor Moore highlights all additions and changes in the schedule by circling them in green chalk (i.e. in green text below).

Wednesday 13th September 1933
Latitude: N 33° 10
Longitude W 74° 00
Google Map travel path
Sunrise: 05:38
Sunset: 18:04
Todays Weather: Overcast, light rain
Wind Speed: 20-25 mph

Today's Classes:

Instructor / Topic / Location
Morning:
P Rucker / Morning Breakfast Prayer / Ship's Mess

Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: G. Barrow

Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

P Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Ship's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole
Afternoon:
G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
---STUDENT: P. Rucker, J. Poole

P Miles / Aeroplane Maintenance / #2 Tweendeck Hold

Eriksson / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

***Boxing Fundamentals will not be held again until next week
Evening:
Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Ship's Mess
--- STUDENT: P. Rucker

Griffith / Antarctic Geology / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole

D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab
Signup for this Saturday:
Greene / 10-lap Race / Main Deck

[OOC - Note that there are weeks worth of courses during our voyage and the list will normally change week to week. So don't worry about missing out on anything. Be sure to let me know which courses your characters plan to attend because there will be a chance for increasing skill points.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:22 am**

BenTheRat wrote:If Martin is feeling well enough he'll attend.

By the evening of Sept 12th, four days after Martin received his burns, he is mobile and starting to wean himself off his pain medication. He finds that he continues to need more rest than usual and that he does need a low dose of morphine a few times a day to tolerate the pain of his burns.

By the morning of the 13th, he will be able to attend classes but not able to participate yet in physical events. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:14 pm**

James Poole will attend the Paleobiology in the morning, the Climbing in the afternoon and the Geology in the evening.

Posted: **Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:21 pm**

Our expedition members arise on the morning of September 13th to find that it is cloudy and raining, although warm. The waves are small and the ship continues to make good progress. You can smell the coffee brewing as you make your way down to the ship's mess.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:26 pm**

Father Rucker opens the day with a prayer.
“Oh, blessed lord, thank you for another day we wake up to see the sun and for putting food on our table and ..."

Posted: **Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:09 pm**

royya wrote:Father Rucker opens the day with a prayer.
“Oh, blessed lord, thank you for another day we wake up to see the sun and for putting food on our table and ..."

The mess hall occupants all quiet down--some had to be prodded into silence--and a number of the crew members quickly doff their caps as Father Rucker stands and begins his prayer. Immediately after Father Rucker finishes, the ship's mess once again fills with chatter, laughter, and plates and dishes clattering.

Towards the end of the meal, James Starkweather and Professor Moore both enter the Ship's Mess. James clears his throat and begins, "I want to thank you all for your enthusiastic participation in yesterday's sessions! This is a splendid start to our voyage and I want to emphasize how important it is for everyone to take advantage of our travel time. Soon, we won't have such luxury.

Photo of James Starkweather

"As a group, you men represent all that I had hoped for! Whe..." Doctor Moore briefly interrupts James by tapping him on the shoulder and whispering in his ear, then James begins again, "Ah, thank you Bill, and also our lady! I cannot leave out our courageous pilot, Camille Bardier..." He nods towards Camille. "Where is there another organization knit together as this one? Outwardly, it appears to lack the factors that make for stability and cooperation in civilization. There can be no promotion for work well done--no increase in pay. Many of you are either volunteers or else receive only what is necessary to support your families during your absence. There is only one thing holding us together, disciplining us, identifying us from any other collection of persons on the high seas. It is the fact of loyalty! Loyalty not only to a common purpose; but loyalty according to the various ideals we live by; loyalty to family, to country, to men, even to self. In this affinity, I place my hope. There is no other bond on earth, save this, that will see men through an Antarctic expedition and the other experiences that lie ahead of us!

Thank you, and now Bill has a few words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:38 am**

Camille will attend the Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical class in the morning, the The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation in the afternoon, and will of course give her own lecture in the evening. She also has plans to compete in the race, should she not win by default from lack of challengers.

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:01 am**

James Starkweather wrote:Thank you, and now Bill has a few words.

Professor Moore stepped forward and addressed the crew.

"I'd like to first echo James' earlier comment that our expedition is proceeding very well and that I believe that we have gathered the most capable and talented team on this earth. We are uniquely qualified for this endeavor!

This morning I only have one other detail to mention to everyone. I checked in on all classes yesterday and am a bit concerned that the Peter Sykes' class, the Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment, was not very well attended." Moore paused as he looked across the room, his gaze stopping at Pierce Albemarle, Douglas Halperin, and you. He continued, "Peter's course is essential and, I daresay, could be life saving. During his class, you will practice how to put on and take off your gear, and how to avoid the build-up of moisture that can accumulate, for example, through the simple act of exerting yourself and sweating. He will also cover the correct use of snow boots and skis which will be necessary for our occasional journeys away from camp. There really isn't ever too much that you can know about such things. I will be stopping by again tomorrow and hope to see a better turnout.

That is all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

As James stated, I believe that the

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:45 am**

Later that evening, James Starkweather called Øyvind over while walking the deck:
"Damn good boxing earlier, Øyvind! Keeping yourself fit eh? Nothing like a little sporting competition to keep the morale up!

"I was a dab hand myself at Eton and Oxford, school champion in fact. So I'm looking forward to a little competition when you take out the next bloke!

Right then, must dash! Looking for those doctors, Greene and Watson, to suggest a few things for sporting tournament, more damn good idea I must say!"

Louis Laroche stopped to visit with Martin LeBlanc while Martin slowly walked around the ship, getting himself back in condition:
"How are you doing, Martin? I heard of your daring rescue of Camille! Very courageous!

"Hey, I just thought that I'd invite you to my radio cabin aboard ship for an interview some evening. I send radio broadcasts once a week to our news teams in New York City and I'm sure that they would love to hear your report."

Photo of Louis Laroche, above, at work.

Paco Guerini pulls Father Rucker aside after his morning prayer:
"Hola Padre. I want you to know that I like your prayer today. Very much. It means a lot to me. Gracias, Padre."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:28 am**

Martin will attend the cold weather intro then take a break, and if feeling well enough try to attend the Mountain rules evening class.

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:38 am**

Job wrote:Later that evening, James Starkweather called Øyvind over while walking the deck:
"Damn good boxing earlier, Øyvind! Keeping yourself fit eh? Nothing like a little sporting competition to keep the morale up!

"I was a dab hand myself at Eton and Oxford, school champion in fact. So I'm looking forward to a little competition when you take out the next bloke!

Right then, must dash! Looking for those doctors, Greene and Watson, to suggest a few things for sporting tournament, more damn good idea I must say!"

'Takk takk' 'Mr Starkweather' 'i havent won anything, but i have broken some jaws at the bar' 'got mine broken once too' Øyvind takes a boxing stand 'This i learned of my cousin Jan Egil who boxed some on the Continent, Spain and France.'

Job wrote:
Right then, must dash! Looking for those doctors, Greene and Watson, to suggest a few things for sporting tournament, more damn good idea I must say!"

'Well, have a good day, Sir'

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:28 am**

Addressing Paco Father Rucker say
I'm glad son, in the place we are heading to, faith is needed in addition to cold weather outfit and skills. You are welcome any time for a talk with me.

Posted: **Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:11 pm**

Watkins would like to attend technical climbing in the afternoon and mountain rules in the evening.

Posted: **Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:19 am**

14th & 15th September, 1933

The next two days pass rather uneventfully, and I assume that everyone will attend similar classes each day, so this posting will cover the activities for both September 14th and 15th. Below is the schedule of events on the large chalkboard in the ship's mess hall.

NOTE: A number of courses are expected to change on the day afterwards, September 16th. If you'd like to take a different class than shown below, or would like to teach a different class on September 16th, please let Professor Moore know.

Professor Moore's Chalkboard wrote:
Ship's Mess Corkboard (you can add notes to this corkboard!)
Latitude - Sept 14: N 27° 88' / Sept 15: N 20° 84'
Longitude - Sept 14: W -75° 05' / Sept 15: -73° 78'
Today's Weather - Sept 14: Rain / Sept 15: Sunny
Wind Speed - Sept 14: 20-25 mph / Sept 15: 10-15 mph
Updated Google Map travel path

Classes on Sept 14 & 15:

Instructor / Topic / Location
Morning:
P Rucker / Morning Breakfast Prayer / Ship's Mess

Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: G. Barrow, M. LeBlanc

Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

P Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Ship's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole
Afternoon:
G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
---STUDENT: P. Rucker, J. Poole, W. Watkins

P Miles / Aeroplane Maintenance / #2 Tweendeck Hold

Eriksson / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

***Boxing Fundamentals will not be held again until next week
Evening:
Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Ship's Mess
--- STUDENT: P. Rucker, M. LeBlanc (tentative), W. Watkins

Griffith / Antarctic Geology / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole

D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab
Signup for this Saturday:
Greene / 10-lap Race / Main Deck
--- PARTICIPANT: C. Bardier
What? Noone wants to race against Camille?

Aboard the SS Gabrielle

Above Photo: First Officer Turlow is photographed while calling for "ALL HANDS ON DECK!"

On the morning of the September the fourteenth, First Officer Turlow calls for a lifeboat drill, the morning classes are interrupted and all expedition members and non-essential crew members are called to assemble on the Gabrielle's Boat-Deck and don life-jackets. Officer Turlow looks on, glancing at a stop watch and occasionally shaking his head. Once everyone is accounted for, Turlow laughs, then announces that that was the very worst effort that he has ever witnessed. Another drill will be held in a few days.

The rain showers come and go throughout most of the fourteenth and as the Gabrielle continues to cruise southwards, everybody settles into the ships routine.

The ship's crew are everywhere, mixing and mingling with the explorers whenever they are off-duty. They are a social bunch, though most have little in the way of education. Despite their good nature, however, it is impossible to hide the fact that explorers are very much intruders their world. Some of the crew are garrulous, but others watch quietly and make no friendly gestures. There is even, at times, a strange sense of unease in the air, as if the explorers are objects of suspicion or fear.

In contrast to the ship's crew, the captain and the ships officers are quite friendly in a professional way. First Officer Turlow is in charge of the expeditions affairs and deals with most enquiries that members of the expedition team make. As the sun slips below the horizon that evening on the fourteenth, the clouds have finally broken. The wind drops and that night is clear and star lit.

The fifteenth is hot and sunny with very few clouds visible. The Gabrielle is south of Florida now and passes through the Bahamas during the day. The stewards are busy throughout the day supplying refreshments to all of the classes.

Photo Above: Chief Steward Jack Whitney is all business as he serves the team.

Photo Above: Steward Adam Henning politely enquires about further drinks.

Gone are the sudden cold squalls of the north Atlantic; now the air is heavy with moisture, warm and oppressive, and the rain--when it comes every couple of days--is soft and clean. All in all, it is an idyllic life. The only ones who do not seem to appreciate it are the dogs. At least once an hour they moan and howl loudly. Their cries echo weirdly throughout the ship, seeming lost and very sad. Late during the night of the fifteenth the Gabrielle turns South-East as she begins to sail around Cuba.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:17 pm**

George Barrow and James Poole have noticed that Vito Luizzi (cabin-mate, engineer and demolitions expert) has been very quiet lately, ever since the fire on the NYC docks. When George and James first met Vito, he seemed friendly and easy-going, but now he's much more reserved and often stays in the cabin. He was not injured during the fire as far as you know. Whenever you ask Vito if he is OK, he simply responds, "OK. Grazie".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:17 am**

George Barrow will attend the Afternoon class whit G & N Sorensen on Technical Climbing.

And barrow suggest to Mr. Moore he can do a class on life in Antarctica, penguins, sea lions and whales. How do they survive?

Posted: **Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:27 am**

Job wrote:George Barrow and James Poole have noticed that Vito Luizzi (cabin-mate, engineer and demolitions expert) has been very quiet lately, ever since the fire on the NYC docks. When George and James first met Vito, he seemed friendly and easy-going, but now he's much more reserved and often stays in the cabin. He was not injured during the fire as far as you know. Whenever you ask Vito if he is OK, he simply responds, "OK. Grazie".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

George Barrow would, if not preoccupied whit own problems, take care of the obvious sadden man. But in light that James Poole also sees this, George decides to let the man take care of it.

'Hey James' he whispers 'talk to the man, i think he need to talk out something that preoccupies him'

Posted: **Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:01 pm**

'I have actually been thinking the same thing and have been meaning to talk to you about it, George. I hope that he will tell me what the matter is. I'll do my best.'

Later in the day, James returns to the cabin to encounter Vito.

'Vito', James says in a low and sincere tone. 'I know that we have only known each other for a short time, so you must excuse my intrusiveness, but I do feel that something is wrong. Your behaviour seems to have changed radically since the fire. Is it something about it that troubles you or do you have any other explanation for this? I will not believe you if you tell me that everything is alright, but if you don't want to tell me, then say so. However, I still think it would be better if you opened up; such things do not get better if kept wthin.'
.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:05 pm**

Father Paul Rucker will try to continue the conversation with Martin about the book and the other expedition. They began to talk after the accident when Martin saved Camille, now there is plenty of time to complete the talk.
Paul Rucker is anxious to know that the book was about and he hopes Martin got the answers.
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:34 am**

Túrin Turambar wrote:Later in the day, James returns to the cabin to encounter Vito.

'Vito', James says in a low and sincere tone. 'I know that we have only known each other for a short time, so you must excuse my intrusiveness, but I do feel that something is wrong. Your behaviour seems to have changed radically since the fire. Is it something about it that troubles you or do you have any other explanation for this? I will not believe you if you tell me that everything is alright, but if you don't want to tell me, then say so. However, I still think it would be better if you opened up; such things do not get better if kept wthin.'

Vito looked up at James briefly, a forced smile flitting across his face. He then turned back to folding his clothes, saying, "No signore, I am good. The fire... It was terrible. I... I need time, that is all."

Vito seems uncomfortable. He finishes with his clothes, then starts cleaning his shoes, and every now and then looks up to see if you have further questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:32 am**

As you assemble in the mess for breakfast on September sixteenth, the SS Gabrielle begins a turn to the Southwest. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is off the starboard side and the thick green palm-fronded jungle slides by in silence beyond the rocks. A U. S. destroyer, the USS Du Pont, salutes from a distance, she is just beginning a tour patroling off the Cuban coast. The Gabrielle responds with a triple blast of her steam whistle.

Breakfast is interrupted by Louis Laroche, the radio operator, announcing that Acacia Lexington's SS Tallahassee has just arrived in Panama. Immediately afterwards, from down the corridor--perhaps originating from the Officer's Mess--you hear a muffled shout of dismay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:14 am**

Job wrote:
Túrin Turambar wrote:Later in the day, James returns to the cabin to encounter Vito.

'Vito', James says in a low and sincere tone. 'I know that we have only known each other for a short time, so you must excuse my intrusiveness, but I do feel that something is wrong. Your behaviour seems to have changed radically since the fire. Is it something about it that troubles you or do you have any other explanation for this? I will not believe you if you tell me that everything is alright, but if you don't want to tell me, then say so. However, I still think it would be better if you opened up; such things do not get better if kept wthin.'
Vito looked up at James briefly, a forced smile flitting across his face. He then turned back to folding his clothes, saying, "No signore, I am good. The fire... It was terrible. I... I need time, that is all."

Vito seems uncomfortable. He finishes with his clothes, then starts cleaning hs shoes, and every now and then looks up to see if you have further questions.

'Forgive me for saying so, but you certainly don't seem fine. I get a feeling that there was something particular about the fire that got to you. Is that so?'
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:23 pm**

Martin is going to take some time to write an article on life at sea. Take a few pictures of the boxing matches, and other sights.

.

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:59 pm**

.

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:25 pm**

.

Posted: **Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:35 pm**

As Father Rucker is walking the deck one morning, he overhears a small group of ship crewmen talking amongst themselves...

"I'm tellin' ya, he's bad luck! He's a Jonah! Things always go wrong when he's around."
"What? He takes risks like any explorer..."
"No, think about it! Our dock explodes. Cap'n Douglas is murdered. And that's only recent! I heard that he lost a lot of men on his safari..."

The crewmen then see you walking nearby and abruptly stop talking, break up, and go back to their work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:53 am**

16th & 17th September, 1933

The below list assumes that everyone will attend similar classes each day, but you may change your classes simply by informing Professor Moore. This posting will cover the activities for both September 16th and 17th. Below is the schedule of events on the large chalkboard in the ship's mess hall.

Professor Moore's Chalkboard wrote:
Ship's Mess Corkboard (you can add notes to this corkboard!)
Latitude - Sept 16: N 16° 93’ / Sept 17: N 13° 05'
Longitude - Sept 16: W -75° 72' / Sept 17: -78° 22'
Today's Weather - Sept 16: Sunny / Sept 17: Partly Sunny & Thunderstorms
Wind Speed - Sept 16: 5-10 mph / Sept 17: 10-15 mph
Updated Google Map travel path

Classes on Sept 16 & 17:
Changes from prior days are circled in green chalk

Instructor / Topic / Location
Morning:
P Rucker / Morning Breakfast Prayer / Crew's Mess

Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: G. Barrow, M. LeBlanc

Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

P Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Crew's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole
Afternoon:
G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
---STUDENT: P. Rucker, J. Poole, W. Watkins, G. Barrow

W Moore / Antarctic Exploration / Officer’s Mess

Eriksson / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier
Evening:
Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Crew's Mess
--- STUDENT: P. Rucker, M. LeBlanc (tentative), W. Watkins

P Albemarle / Antarctic Weather / #2 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: J. Poole

D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab

G Barrow / Antarctic Flora and Fauna / #1 Tweendeck Hold
Postponed until Sunday, Sept 17:
Greene / 10-lap Race / Main Deck
--- PARTICIPANT: C. Bardier
What? Noone wants to race against Camille?

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:18 pm**

Watkins will put his breakfast on hold to investigate the muffled shout heard from down the corridor.
.

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:07 pm**

As he fails to taunt Martin to speak to him again, Paul Rucker decides to lay it off for now and approach Martin someday in the near future. For now, he decides to approach Prof. Moore itself and question him about the explorer that lost his men at the Safari, without revealing the gossips he heard on the deck.
.

Posted: **Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:01 am**

Classes on the 16th and 17th proved very interesting for our explorers.

In Peter Sykes' "Intro to Cold Weather Clothing" class, all attendees were timed in how fast they could don and remove their gear. Peter then blindfolded everyone and again took timings! "In an emergency, you may not have a lit candle or lantern to depend upon!", he exhorted. For some individuals, including Martin LeBlanc and George Barrow, he took items from their pile--or threw in an extra item--after they were blindfolded and watched as they fumbled about.

Dr's Green and Watkins spent their morning's "Antarctic First Aid" sessions describing the the dietary needs of an explorer. All participants, including Camille Bardier and the class instructors, were required to eat a ration of pemmican, a conglomeration of dried and pounded meat product, molasses, and "other additives". They were informed that the typical diet of an active Antarctic explorer required at least 5,000 calories a day!

For the afternoon's "Technical Climbing" class with the Sorensen brothers, everyone spent their days rappelling off the ship's aftercastle structure, which presented a 40-foot drop to the main deck. James Poole seemed to have no problems, but the expedition's more scientifically-oriented team members (i.e. Father Rucker, Wade Watkins, and George Barrow) found it an exhilarating challenge! It was a hot and humid day on the Caribbean Sea, so their sweaty palms did not help matters. Neither did Gunnar Sorensen's shouts and taunts, "*Raskere! Raskere!", while performing acrobatics, twisting and flipping, as he dropped down his rope alongside the team. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:19 am**

BenTheRat wrote:Martin is going to take some time to write an article on life at sea. Take a few pictures of the boxing matches, and other sights.

Martin attends classes during the mornings and evenings, but his afternoons are free and he is able to find a quiet nook between crates at the stern of the ship to hide away and write. The afternoon's boxing matches have been well-attended, with a fair amount of betting amongst the audience members. Martin is just in time to watch the match between Øyvind Raknes and Gunnar Sorensen. It appears that Gunnar is at a disadvantage, having injured his hand somehow...

BenTheRat wrote:
Response to OOC question,QUESTION from BenTheRat: When overseas how does Martin usually get a story back to the states, I'm assuming my email account isn't activated yet. ;) Does Martin work for a magazine/newspaper, or does he freelance? Does he have an agent he sends his stories? Just curious. Thanks. [color=#00BF00]ANSWER from Job: I'm assuming that Martin freelances for either the New York Times or for American Geographic magazine, but feel free to make something up. While you're in transit, or in the Antarctic, your stories are submitted to your publisher either by radio or by wireless morse code. Photographs or paper transcripts can only be physically shipped when entering a port or whaling station. Radio communications will be a problem however, once you reach the Antarctic, because the presence of the Aurora Australis--the "Southern lights"--causes magnetic disruptions year round. Radio transmissions will be a fragile and transient thing once you reach the continent of ice. Also, James Starkweather gives a once-a-week radio broadcast on Sundays that is picked up in New York and rebroadcast to most major U.S. cities as well as Britain, Germany, other parts of Europe, and Australia. [/color]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:27 am**

Túrin Turambar wrote:
Job wrote:Vito looked up at James briefly, a forced smile flitting across his face. He then turned back to folding his clothes, saying, "No signore, I am good. The fire... It was terrible. I... I need time, that is all."
Vito seems uncomfortable. He finishes with his clothes, then starts cleaning hs shoes, and every now and then looks up to see if you have further questions.
'Forgive me for saying so, but you certainly don't seem fine. I get a feeling that there was something particular about the fire that got to you. Is that so?'

Vito sighed, then started to say something, but stopped and rubbed his forehead. He looked around the small cabin for a moment, then once again looked to James and spoke in his heavy Italian accent, "Signore, I can not speak of a that day. Mi diaspiace, ma è troppo difficile... La morte..." He looked at his feet and shook his head. A very sad look came over him, then he said, "I am sorry, signore, it is hard for me. I see death... It is come. I am not afraid, signore. La morte è qui con noi. Death is very close."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:48 am**

jrod wrote:Watkins will put his breakfast on hold to investigate the muffled shout heard from down the corridor.

As Doctor Watkins get up from his meal and starts down the hallway, he passes the showers and latrine and hears voices from further along. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:30 pm**

As the U.S.S. Gabrielle travels across the Caribbean Sea, the high temperatures and humidity have begun to aggravate the dogs. Their loud mournful howls and restlessness can be heard every hour, even during the night. Their cries echo weirdly throughout the ship, seeming lost and very sad.

Every morning when Enke and Øyvind feed and walk and clean the dogs, the dogs quiet down for a while, but as soon as they leave the hold the dogs begin complaining again about the hot and stuffy conditions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:27 am**

James looks at Vito and asks quietly, not wanting to draw any hasty conclusions: 'Death, you say? Somehow I don't think you mean it in the usual sense. If there is something that you know about ... Death lurking aboard this ship, I think that you should tell me, for the sake of everyone aboard.'

Posted: **Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:14 pm**

watkins will open the door and investigate further. "Excuse me Sirs, but i heard shouting. Being the doctor nearby, i felt it imperative to investigate, discovering the shout originated from here. Is everything as it should be?"
.

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:16 pm**

18th & 19th September, 1933

The below list assumes that everyone will attend similar classes each day, but you may change your classes simply by informing Professor Moore. This posting will cover the activities for both September 18th and 19th. Below is the schedule of events on the large chalkboard in the ship's mess hall.

Professor Moore's Chalkboard wrote:
Ship's Mess Corkboard (you can add notes to this corkboard!)
Today's Weather - Sept 18: Sunny / Sept 19: Partly Sunny & Thunderstorms
Wind Speed - Sept 18: 5-10 mph / Sept 19: 10-15 mph
Updated Google Map travel path

Classes on Sept 18 & 19:
Changes from prior days are circled in green chalk

Instructor / Topic / Location
Morning:
P Rucker / Morning Breakfast Prayer / Crew's Mess

Sykes / Introduction to cold-weather clothes and equipment / Officer's Mess
--- STUDENT: G. Barrow, M. LeBlanc

Greene & Watkins / Antarctic First-Aid / Ship's Medical
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier

P Rucker / Antarctic Paleobiology / Crew's Mess
--- STUDENT: J. Poole
Afternoon:
G & N Sorensen / Technical Climbing / Crew's Mess
---STUDENT: P. Rucker, J. Poole, W. Watkins, G. Barrow

W Moore / Antarctic Exploration / Officer’s Mess

Eriksson / The Pabodie Ice-Drill Operation / #1 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: C. Bardier
Evening:
Ø Raknes & F Guerini / Mountain Rules / Crew's Mess
--- STUDENT: P. Rucker, M. LeBlanc (tentative), W. Watkins

P Albemarle / Antarctic Weather / #2 Tweendeck Hold
--- STUDENT: J. Poole

D Halperin & C Bardier / Aerial Navigation / Expedition Lab

G Barrow / Antarctic Flora and Fauna / #1 Tweendeck Hold

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 2:07 am**

Morning, Tuesday, September 19, 1933

The lush green shores of Panama close in on either side of the Gabrielle, studded here and there with buildings and gray fortifications. The city of Colón, where the Canal enters the Caribbean Sea, seems small and sleepy at the edge of the jungle. Fishing boats float in the waters of the bay, and the grim guns and walls of the forts on either side seem out of place.

Pictured above, the breakwater near the entrance to the Panama Canal, near Colón

Pictured above, Fort Portobelo near Colón

[sup]2[/sup]Above, a bird's eye map of the Panama Canal, with Colón on the left
Direct link to canal map to view greater detail

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

[sup]2[/sup]Copyright National Geographic Society

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:16 am**

As the Gabrielle waits for her turn to enter the Panama Canal, Katie Wright flies her Lockheed Vega out from shore over the line of ships at a low altitude. When she passes the Gabrielle, she executes an Immelmann turn and comes out of it facing towards Colon. She waggles her wings as she passes back over the Gabrielle to attract attention and then pulls into a steep climb, testing the limits of both the aircraft and her body. Though she is highly skilled, she finds the maneuver a little difficult.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:55 pm**

As Katie reaches the top of her climb, she pushes the plane just a little too hard and the engine briefly stalls. However, she expertly restarts it and levels off with barely a hiccup. Waggling her wings again, she heads back towards Colon. From there she plans to fly back to Panama City and rendezvous with the Gabrielle when she docks.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:16 pm**

Knowing we are going to dock soon, Martin finishes up a fascinating story on life at sea aboard a ship heading for adventure.

Upon docking he will find a place to ship the pictures and story to the National Geographic.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:46 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:As the Gabrielle waits for her turn to enter the Panama Canal, Katie Wright flies her Lockheed Vega out from shore over the line of ships at a low altitude. When she passes the Gabrielle, she executes an Immelmann turn and comes out of it facing towards Colon. She waggles her wings as she passes back over the Gabrielle to attract attention and then pulls into a steep climb, testing the limits of both the aircraft and her body. Though she is highly skilled, she finds the maneuver a little difficult.

From the bridge of the Gabrielle, Captain Vredenburgh shouted "Come look at this!" down the stairwell that led to the owner's suite where Starkweather and Moore were working. Henry Vredenburgh saw that an oncoming aircraft was flying too low and was headed directly for the Gabrielle.

The aircraft roared right over the flying bridge of the Gabrielle, causing many crew members who were on deck to duck and point. Even Captain Vredenburgh ducked reflexively, although he could tell by the attitude of the craft that it would miss the ship's superstructure--but not by much!

James Starkweather and William Moore were rushing up the stairs as it went overhead, and James shouted, "Bloody hell! What in blazes is going on?"

The three men bolted outside through the door to the bridge's deck to watch the plane fly a quarter mile straight away from the ship, then pull skyward and loop directly back towards the Gabrielle, ending this manuever while flying upside down. The pilot then executed a quick flip to right the aircraft.

"A perfect Immelman," whispered Starkweather.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:10 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:As Katie reaches the top of her climb, she pushes the plane just a little too hard and the engine briefly stalls. However, she expertly restarts it and levels off with barely a hiccup. Waggling her wings again, she heads back towards Colon. From there she plans to fly back to Panama City and rendezvous with the Gabrielle when she docks.

As the three officers looked on in astonishment, the pilot once again buzzed past the Gabrielle with a wave of the wings.

"Showing off..." muttered Captain Vredenburgh.

"Yes, absolutely," remarked Professor Moore.

"Splendidly." commented James Starkweather

The pilot then pulled the aircraft upwards once again, but rather than performing another loop, the individual directed the craft straight upwards towards the clouds until the onlookers saw it reach its peak--when they suddenly heard the engine quit.

"Oh..." said Moore as he watched the tiny silhouette of the plane, high above, flip and begin falling back towards the water. A moment later, they heard the pilot successfully restart the engine and watched the craft pull out of the dive and zoom off towards land.

"Remarkable," said Starkweather, "I wonder what the devil that was all about."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:05 am**

jrod wrote:watkins will open the door and investigate further. "Excuse me Sirs, but i heard shouting. Being the doctor nearby, i felt it imperative to investigate, discovering the shout originated from here. Is everything as it should be?"

As Wade opened the door, the conversation in the room abruptly stopped and he saw half a dozen heads swivel to face him, including those of James Starkweather and William Moore.

After a moment, recognition crossed James Starkweather's face, and he smiled and stood and said, "Ah, Doctor Watkins! Everything is fine, my good man. I suppose that we were getting a bit over-enthusiastic about our expedition?" He extended his right arm towards you in a welcoming fashion and said, "Come in, come in. Moore and I have actually been meaning to talk to you about your First Aid class. First rate work there, I must say!"

The tension in the room eased. William Moore offered you an empty chair and asked the steward to get you coffee, eggs, and a sweet roll. The men all welcomed you to their breakfast and warmed to lively conversation about expanding the objectives of your class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:48 am**

BenTheRat wrote:Knowing we are going to dock soon, Martin finishes up a fascinating story on life at sea aboard a ship heading for adventure.

Upon docking he will find a place to ship the pictures and story to the National Geographic.

Professor Moore plans to dock the Gabrielle for resupplying when you reach Balboa on the morrow.

The Professor announces to the crew (and writes it on the chalkboard in the ship's mess) that all classes are cancelled while the ship is travelling through the canal. He said that he believed it important to allow the team a bit of liberty before the long journey to Australia. Classes will resume once the SS Gabrielle leaves Panama and begins the trip across the Pacific to Melbourne, Australia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:08 am**

Captain Vredenburgh holds the vessel offshore for most of an hour inside the breakwater in the still depths of Colon Bay, as the Canal pilot is brought aboard in a small customs launch flying the American flag. The pilot, a tall black-skinned Jamaican in his thirties named Quentin, inspects the ships documents with First Officer Turlow and then proceeds to the bridge, where he remains with Captain Vredenburgh throughout the crossing.

Passing through the Gatun Locks takes almost an hour. The ship's engines idle, and off-duty crewmen lounge on the rail, watching as the gargantuan water gates approach. There are two sets of these, each set one hundred and fifty feet wide, looming seventy feet above the water. A long wharf thrusts out between them hundreds of feet into the channel, decorated along its length with rails and overhead power lines for the squat electric "mule engines" used to pull vessels through the locks. Small stout tugs urge the ship into the gaping steel mouth, then the gates close, and there are shouts from the crew; lines are tossed to men on the pier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:57 am**

Impressive, a nice maneuvers indeed.
Remarks Father Paul Rucker as he joins the viewers on the deck as he prepares himself to the Morning Prayer before breakfast begins.
Rucker will be on deck, to watch the pass of the gates. It is a once in a life time for him to be on a ship that passes that Panama Canal.

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:21 am**

Øyvind standing near Father Paul with one of his dogs in a leash nods with his head. 'Impressive indeed, think on the effort to make this thing in this heat and humidity. 'Im starting to miss the cold and dry weather' 'my dogs are quite affected by it' 'you know if this crossing take much time?'

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:11 pm**

Anatomist wrote:'Im starting to miss the cold and dry weather' 'my dogs are quite affected by it' 'you know if this crossing take much time?'

The trip through the Panama Canal is expected to take the better part of a day.

Passing through the Gatun Locks near Colón takes almost an hour. Great tow cables are secured to a squat, powerful-looking red locomotive waiting to one side of the deep concrete channel. When the inner gates open and the water of the lake swirls by, the locomotive thrums and roars and surges forward along steep crooked tracks, holding the SS Gabrielle steady against the current and drawing her along. When the gates close behind, the engine rests, only to surge forward again when the water has risen and the next set of doors opens.

It takes fifteen minutes to raise the ship thirty feet above the level of the sea before she can slide forward a thousand feet into the next basin of the lock. The doors behind her close, and the water rises again. The process is repeated three times before the Gabrielle completes its journey through the Gatun Locks and is released with a whistle into Lake Gatun.

Pictured above is a nearby ship, just ahead of the Gabrielle, being towed by electric mules and ready to be raised up through the last lock into Lake Gatun
Here is a link to our map showing the path of the Gabrielle through the Gatun Locks. I recommend that you open the map and zoom in to examine the canal. You will be able to see detailed images of cargo ships that are passing through.

Once out of the locks, the Gabrielle begins its peaceful trip across Gatun Lake. The Gatun dam and spillway can be seen, as well as heard, far off to the right.

A day's slow measured progress follows through the lake's still waters, surrounded by thick jungles, passing other ocean-going giants headed in the opposite direction for the Atlantic. Brightly coloured birds flash in the dense foliage, alligators sun themselves in great numbers on the shore, and the heavy sweet smell of decaying plants is strong in the fitful breeze. Signs of man are few: here the thin tall tower of a radio transmitter, there the fort-like clearing of the Canal Zone Penitentiary.

There is a brief torrential downpour late in the afternoon, causing all the explorers out on deck to scramble inside, but the rain lasts for only twenty minutes and the skies clear quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:26 pm**

At last the Culebra Cut comes into view, a huge deep slice carved through surrounding hills. These hills mark the continental divide. The rough-cut rocky walls ghost past for miles, festooned with vines and clinging shrubs, seemingly inches away on either side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:48 pm**

As the edge of the Cut nears, the ship enters another set of locks.

This time, she descends once, crosses Miraflores lake, only a mile end to end, and is lowered again through the final two locks toward the sea. Roads and houses are visible in increasing numbers. Pleasure craft dot the edges of the expanse of water, and black-haired children wave at the Gabrielle as she passes. The jungle is cut back, replaced by stretches of green open lawn and careful swaths of brilliant flowers. When the ship moves at last out of the channel and slips into Balboa Bay, investigators on the upper decks catch glimpses of the curve of Panama City to the south and the dark restless expanse of the Pacific beyond.

Pictured above, Panama's port town of Balboa. C.Z. = Canal Zone
Here is a link to our map showing the path of the Gabrielle through the Panama Canal into Balboa. I recommend that you open the map and zoom in to examine the canal. You will be able to see detailed images of cargo ships that are passing through the canal and also the Balboa docks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:27 am**

Early Evening, Tuesday, September 19, 1933

The Gabrielle anchors for the night in Balboa Bay. The lights of the millitary reservation and the town beyond glimmer brightly over the water, red tiled roofs surrounded by careful lawns and trees. Panama City is much larger than Colón.

A number of small ferry craft come alongside during the evening, 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.

Anyone who doesn't wish to spend the night and next day aboard can take a short train ride into Panama City, but James Starkweather warns the team that he is eager to move out on the morning of September twenty-first. "Be back tomorrow evening because we leave at first light on Thursday morning, with or without you. I will not wait for any lollygaggers!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:44 am**

Katie waits on the Balboa docks as the Gabrielle comes into port. She still wears her flight suit and leather flying helmet, as she wants it to be obvious that she is a pilot, but not so obvious that she is female until she is close enough to talk to Starkweather. She keeps an eye out for boats bringing anyone ashore from the Gabrielle, looking especially for familiar faces. She has seen several of the expedition members in newspaper photographs, and she knows Douglas Halperin personally as well.
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:46 am**

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind standing near Father Paul with one of his dogs in a leash nods with his head. 'Impressive indeed, think on the effort to make this thing in this heat and humidity. 'Im starting to miss the cold and dry weather' 'my dogs are quite affected by it' 'you know if this crossing take much time?'

Hello to you, I have not introduced myself proper to you as there are many who joined the expedition. My name is Paul James Rucker and I'm a scientist and a priest.
The father extends his hand forward to shake Øyvind's hand and pets one of the dogs.
Look at the area around you, and the jungles that controls the area around here.
Rucker says as he leans forward on the rail.
Imagine the wildlife that denizens the area.
.

**********************************************

Upon reaching to Balboa, Father Rucker intends to disembark and feel the ground. His intentions are to travel for a one day trip to Panama city, taste the local food and to visit a nearby chapel or a church for impression. Maybe there is a chance to visit a local museum or a market where the wildlife of the area is exhibited. Whoever wants to join him is more than welcome.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:05 am**

royya wrote:
Anatomist wrote:Øyvind standing near Father Paul with one of his dogs in a leash nods with his head. 'Impressive indeed, think on the effort to make this thing in this heat and humidity. 'Im starting to miss the cold and dry weather' 'my dogs are quite affected by it' 'you know if this crossing take much time?'
Hello to you, I have not introduced myself proper to you as there are many who joined the expedition. My name is Paul James Rucker and I'm a scientist and a priest.
The father extends his hand forward to shake Øyvind's hand and pets one of the dogs.
Look at the area around you, and the jungles that controls the area around here.
Rucker says as he leans forward on the rail.
Imagine the wildlife that denizens the area.

'Hello hello father' 'carefull with the dogs they arent pets' 'this one is quite calm, but the others might bite your hand of if you try to pet them' 'these are work dogs and are quite jealous on who touches them' 'its not for no reason we where whips'

Øyvind will use the time the Gabrielle is docked to air his dogs and take long walks with them four and four, trying to avoid the dock crowds but staying on some road.
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:12 pm**

Martin stands on the deck taking pictures of the canal and the surrounding countryside. A new story already forming in his head.
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:37 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie waits on the Balboa docks as the Gabrielle comes into port. She still wears her flight suit and leather flying helmet, as she wants it to be obvious that she is a pilot, but not so obvious that she is female until she is close enough to talk to Starkweather. She keeps an eye out for boats bringing anyone ashore from the Gabrielle, looking especially for familiar faces. She has seen several of the expedition members in newspaper photographs, and she knows Douglas Halperin personally as well.

A ferry makes its way to the Gabrielle shortly after it drops anchor in the bay. Some of the crew board it to go to town, those who Professor Moore calls "non-essential personnel".

Upon its return to the dock, Katie sees Douglas Halperin get off, joking with a heavyset, mustachioed teammate.

Above, Douglas Halperin

Douglas' teammate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:53 am**

royya wrote:Upon reaching to Balboa, Father Rucker intends to disembark and feel the ground. His intentions are to travel for a one day trip to Panama city, taste the local food and to visit a nearby chapel or a church for impression. Maybe there is a chance to visit a local museum or a market where the wildlife of the area is exhibited. Whoever wants to join him is more than welcome.

Father Rucker takes a short ride on the ferry from the SS Gabrielle to Balboa's dock area, along with a number of his crewmates. Balboa's train station is only a quarter mile up the road. It is even hotter and more humid inside the train station than outside (if that's possible in this brutal equatorial environment!), and all of the signs are in Spanish, but fortunately the clerk at the counter speaks English. A short time later, Father Rucker is aboard the train, on his way to Panama City. The trip to the station at Panama City takes only 20 minutes.

Pictured above, the Panama Canal Railroad train.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:44 am**

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind will use the time the Gabrielle is docked to air his dogs and take long walks with them four and four, trying to avoid the dock crowds but staying on some road.

The ferry steerman only allows Øyvind to take two dogs across at a time, so he and Enke decide to walk most of the dogs on deck aboard the Gabrielle. Later, they take their lead dogs for the ferry ride into Balboa. After watching a few of the Balboan locals get into a fight outside the train station, Enke remarked to Øyvind, "Hmpff! Our dogs are better behaved!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:46 am**

As the team begins ferrying to the town of Balboa for a day of liberty, you catch sight of an individual, horribly disfigured, who is talking and reviewng papers on deck with First Officer Turlow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:47 am**

Katie approaches Douglas and the man with him, taking off her flying helmet and letting her red hair fall loose. With her free hand, she waves to him. "Hello, Douglas!" she calls. "It's me, Katie Wright! Did you catch my little demonstration during the approach to Colon?"
.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:30 am**

Douglas looks surprised for a moment, finally responding "Katie? Katie Wright? That was you flaunting your skills near Colón? I didn't see it, but I sure heard about it! I think that you shocked a few of our officers...

What brings you to Panama?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:10 am**

"Helllloooooooo~!" said Ernest from afar at towards the deck of Gabrielle. "Is this ship headed for Antarctica?"
.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:45 am**

"Yes, that was me," says Katie with a grin. "I came to Panama hoping to join your expedition. Starkweather just brushed off my telegrams because I'm a woman, so I figured that the only way to convince him would be to come down here and show him what I can do. Could you arrange a meeting with him? Maybe you could tell him that the pilot who performed that stunt is here and wants to join the expedition without mentioning that it's me or that I'm female. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."
.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:17 pm**

Martin leaves the ship to head to Panama city. His story in a satchel and his camera handy.
.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:27 pm**

Seon wrote:"Helllloooooooo~!" said Ernest from afar at towards the deck of Gabrielle. "Is this ship headed for Antarctica?"

The crew members on deck of the SS Gabrielle don't respond to your calls, either because they're too far away or too busy. A number of Panamanians on the boats nearby turn to look at you, but most simply turn back to their chores while a few respond, "No entiendo Inglés, señor."

From your left, on the docks, a short, slim American in casual attire responds, "I just arrived from the Gabrielle. Yeah, we're bound for Antarctica. Can I help you with something?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:04 pm**

Job wrote:Vito sighed, then started to say something, but stopped and rubbed his forehead. He looked around the small cabin for a moment, then once again looked to James Poole and spoke in his heavy Italian accent, "Signore, I can not speak of a that day. Mi diaspiace, ma è troppo difficile... La morte..." He looked at his feet and shook his head. A very sad look came over him, then he said, "I am sorry, signore, it is hard for me. I see death... It is come. I am not afraid, signore. La morte è qui con noi. Death is very close."

Túrin Turambar wrote:James Poole looks at Vito and asks quietly, not wanting to draw any hasty conclusions: 'Death, you say? Somehow I don't think you mean it in the usual sense. If there is something that you know about ... Death lurking aboard this ship, I think that you should tell me, for the sake of everyone aboard.'

Vito studied James' face, then shook his head. "I believe that we are cursed, signore. Maledetto. I saw death in the City of New York. On the docks-a. I can say no more, signore. It is not safe." he replied as he looked nervously about the cabin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:52 pm**

Watkins will pick up some fresh fruit from the locals, and check out Balboa's sites and shops(if there are any). I'd like to keep my eyes peeled for any bizzare medical oddities(souvenirs and such) and pick up some more cuban cigars(now that I'm aware of the time of ban).

.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:01 pm**

.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:25 am**

"Ahhh, just my luck. As they say, ask and thy shall receive. Oh, erm, anyways, I believe that I am looking for...ah...Mr.Starkweather, was it?" Ernest said to the man.

"I contacted him by the telegram, so he should have been expecting me... No matter. Say, did Mr.Starkweather get off the boat, or must I rent a boat to get to the ship?"
.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:45 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:"I came to Panama hoping to join your expedition. Starkweather just brushed off my telegrams because I'm a woman, so I figured that the only way to convince him would be to come down here and show him what I can do. Could you arrange a meeting with him? Maybe you could tell him that the pilot who performed that stunt is here and wants to join the expedition without mentioning that it's me or that I'm female. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Douglas began laughing, then said, "You? Want to to go Antarctica with James? Good lord, woman, do you have a masochistic streak that I don't know about?"

When Katie didn't join him in laughing, he stopped. "Oh no. You're serious, aren't you. Tell me that you're not being serious. Katie?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:01 am**

"Of course I'm serious," says Katie. "I want to go for the same reasons you do. I want to explore where nobody has been before. I want to fly over those mountains and see what's on the other side. I want it so much that I'm willing to put up with Starkweather. If I can endure that, the frigid wastes of Antarctica should pose little difficulty."
.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:09 am**

BenTheRat wrote:Martin leaves the ship to head to Panama city. His story in a satchel and his camera handy.

Jrod wrote:Watkins will pick up some fresh fruit from the locals, and check out Balboa's sites and shops(if there are any). I'd like to keep my eyes peeled for a deal on some cuban cigars, or any bizzare medical oddity(souvenirs and such).

Martin joins Father Rucker and Wade Watkins on the train ride to Panama City. Wade decided to go to the city when he discovered that Balboa had very few items of interest for sale, other than food, clothing, and farm and shipping supplies. Also along for the ride were Michael O'Doul, Pierce Albemarle, and Peter Sykes.

Along the way, Peter Sykes (pictured above) tried to convince the team to go out for a good time at one of Panama City's bars. "C'mon fellas! We don't have to be back until tomorrow night! No offense, Padre! I'll make sure that not of these fine gentlemen get into trouble." He winked at Father Rucker. "Let's meet back here after we finish our shopping and sightseeing! Say, nine o'clock? We'll find a nice hotel, go out and have some fun, meet some locals, stay here overnight, sleep in tomorrow morning, get up then have nice breakfast. Then we'll finish buying our supplies and make our way back to the ship. Whadayasay?"

The train pulled into the station at Panama City, which was very lively with crowds, lights, music, and street hawkers.

Pictured above, Panama City Train Station during daytime hours (our explorers arrive in the early evening, just as the sun was setting)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:22 pm**

I’m not for beer or martini Mr. Sykes but I am for a fine wine.
Paul Rucker replies to Peter.
I will be occupied with my own business along the day. Let me pond about the idea of spending another day in Panama City. If so, I will meet you at nine o’clock outside the train station.
If someone wants to join me for a tour I plan to visit the National Theater, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the La Merced Church and the market.
.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:29 pm**

Job wrote:
Job wrote:Vito sighed, then started to say something, but stopped and rubbed his forehead. He looked around the small cabin for a moment, then once again looked to James Poole and spoke in his heavy Italian accent, "Signore, I can not speak of a that day. Mi diaspiace, ma è troppo difficile... La morte..." He looked at his feet and shook his head. A very sad look came over him, then he said, "I am sorry, signore, it is hard for me. I see death... It is come. I am not afraid, signore. La morte è qui con noi. Death is very close."

Túrin Turambar wrote:James Poole looks at Vito and asks quietly, not wanting to draw any hasty conclusions: 'Death, you say? Somehow I don't think you mean it in the usual sense. If there is something that you know about ... Death lurking aboard this ship, I think that you should tell me, for the sake of everyone aboard.'
Vito studied James' face, then shook his head. "I believe that we are cursed, signore. Maledetto. I saw death in the City of New York. On the docks-a. I can say no more, signore. It is not safe." he replied as he looked nervously about the cabin.

"I surely hope that you are not right about this, but I think that both the expedition leaders and the men are of the kind that can handle potential threats", James says. "I am sorry that I don't seem to be able to help you in your troubles. I don't know how to expel curses." James makes sure not to show his skepticism. Even though he is interested in the supernatural, he doesn't believe much in it and thus ends the conversation by steering it onto something more neutral.
.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:02 pm**

BenTheRat wrote:
ooc,I just bought my cubans at the local store before I left. Cuban cigars weren't banned until the 60's.

Job.

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:17 am**

Seon wrote:"Ahhh, just my luck. As they say, ask and thy shall receive. Oh, erm, anyways, I believe that I am looking for...ah...Mr.Starkweather, was it?" Ernest said to the man.

"I contacted him by the telegram, so he should have been expecting me... No matter. Say, did Mr.Starkweather get off the boat, or must I rent a boat to get to the ship?"

"Ah yes, Commander Starkweather remains back on the ship, taking care of last-minute details. You may hire one of these small boats to take you out. Simply show your credentials to First Officer Turlow on the main deck and he'll take you to the commander."

Shortly after you've negotiated with a local boatman, showing him a flash of silver coin, you find yourself being paddled out to the SS Gabrielle. The large ship is silhouetted against a sunset on the Pacific Ocean, a breathtaking image in blues, greens, reds, golds, and black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:36 am**

Early Evening, Tuesday, September 19, 1933

Mr. Handy wrote:"Of course I'm serious," says Katie. "I want to go for the same reasons you do. I want to explore where nobody has been before. I want to fly over those mountains and see what's on the other side. I want it so much that I'm willing to put up with Starkweather. If I can endure that, the frigid wastes of Antarctica should pose little difficulty."

"Well, I see that you haven't lost any of your spunk, Katie", said Douglas with a laugh. "I was just about to travel to Panama City with these gents behind me, but give me a moment to tell them to go ahead without me. I'll join them later. It'll be worth it to help you just to see the look on James Starkweather's face when he meets you," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.

Douglas turned to inform his group that they should travel on without him, and you see a number of members of the team look over at you with interest, nods, and smiles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:21 am**

Katie chuckles too. She smiles and waves at the other members of the team, then puts her hair back up and her helmet back on while she waits for Douglas to return.
.

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:07 pm**

Douglas and Katie join Ernest Roosevelt in the small boat, transporting them across the calm waters of Balboa Bay to the SS Gabrielle. Once seated, Douglas turns to Ernest and begins introductions, extending his arm to shake hands, "Hello sir. My name is Douglas Halperin and this is Katie Wright. We're both pilots and traveling on the Gabrielle. Are you also headed for the Gabrielle, and Antarctica, by chance?"

The group exits onto the ship's gangway and meets First Officer Turlow at the top, who is directing work on deck.

Turlow motions Douglas to pass through, but stops when he sees Katie alongside him. "Ma'am, do you have an appointment? Douglas, is she with you?"

Douglas Halperin responded, "Paul, I'd like you to meet Katie Wright. Katie has applied to Captain Starkweather to join our expedition and is here to...uh...discuss his assessment of a piloting demonstration that she provided for him some time ago." Douglas smiled calmly at First Officer Turlow.

Turlow ran his finger down a list in his logbook, and said, "Why haven't I been informed of this? I don't see an appointment for a Katie Wright..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:20 pm**

Seon wrote:"I am looking for...ah...Mr.Starkweather, was it?" Ernest said to the man. "I contacted him by the telegram, so he should have been expecting me..."

First officer Turlow looked at his work list, nodded to Ernest, and said, "Yes, I see that the Commander is awaiting your arrival. You'll find him working in the Officer's suite on the second level of the aftercastle." He points to the large, main structure on deck, and says. "Through that door, bear right, then take the stairway up to the second level. You'll find him in one of the rooms there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)[/quote]

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:00 pm**

royya wrote:I’m not for beer or martini Mr. Sykes but I am for a fine wine.
Paul Rucker replies to Peter.
I will be occupied with my own business along the day. Let me pond about the idea of spending another day in Panama City. If so, I will meet you at nine o’clock outside the train station.
If someone wants to join me for a tour I plan to visit the National Theater, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the La Merced Church and the market.

Sykes replies with a grin, "I enjoy wine as well, Father. We have something in common!"

Pierce Albemarle (pictured above) agrees to accompany Father Rucker on his sightseeing. Along their horse-and-buggy ride to the cathedral, he asks, "So, Father, if you don't mind my asking, how does a priest end up on an expedition to the end of the earth?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:19 pm**

Túrin Turambar wrote:"I surely hope that you are not right about this, but I think that both the expedition leaders and the men are of the kind that can handle potential threats", James says. "I am sorry that I don't seem to be able to help you in your troubles. I don't know how to expel curses." James makes sure not to show his skepticism. Even though he is interested in the supernatural, he doesn't believe much in it and thus ends the conversation by steering it onto something more neutral.

In contrast to James' earlier interactions with Vito before the voyage began, James notices that the man is surely not himself. Vito was much more outgoing and happy when James first met him at the Amherst Hotel in New York City.

When James turns the conversation to other matters, Vito seems relieved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:17 am**

"Oh, I'm sure he'll want to see me," says Katie with supreme confidence. "My demonstration was most impressive. You may have seen my flying yourself - when the Gabrielle was approaching Colon earlier."
.

Posted: **Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:09 am**

Job wrote: Pierce Albemarle agrees to accompany Father Rucker on his sightseeing. Along their horse-and-buggy ride to the cathedral, he asks, "So, Father, if you don't mind my asking, how does a priest end up on an expedition to the end of the earth?"

We do need to put our fate in god, don't we Mr. Albemarle, this trip is most dangerous.
Father Rucker replies
I'm a scientist as well, Palobiologist and a close friend of Prof. Moore. Surely I will not waste such an opportunity to travel to the most remote place on Earth. Now tell me my kind Pierce, what brought you to the expedition?
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:04 am**

"Why thank you," Ernest said. He turned to Katie.

"I suppose that you are planning on joining the expedition as well, Miss...ahh...Wright?" Ernest said. "Sorry, I could not help but overhear... I am actually planning on applying for the expedition myself. Would you like to come with me to his office? I overheard that you may be... erhem...uninvited."
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:07 am**

"Yes, that's right," says Katie. "Thank you, I would like to come with you. I don't believe I caught your name."
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:21 am**

"Roosevelt. Ernest Roosevelt," he said. "So, why are you going to Antarcticq?" he said. "Not the nicest place in the world, eh?"

"
.

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:40 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Oh, I'm sure he'll want to see me," says Katie with supreme confidence. "My demonstration was most impressive. You may have seen my flying yourself - when the Gabrielle was approaching Colon earlier."

Paul Turlow stopped in mid-review of his list, then slowly raised his head to gaze at Katie with astonishment. "You were yesterday's mystery aviator? I wasn't there to see your display, but... You were the one who buzzed our bridge?" He paused a moment, then continued, "Normally I'd simply send you away without further thought, however I believe that our Commander might be interested in meeting you so that he can lay to rest his questions. Douglas, please escort Miss Wright and Mister Roosevelt to the Owner's Suite on the boat deck, where you'll find Commander Starkweather and Professor Moore.

"I have to remain here to oversee preparations, but I'm sure that I'll have a chance see Miss Wright again on her way out."

Douglas led both Katie and Ernest Roosevelt across the main deck, avoiding bustling crew activity, through the aftercastle structure's doorway, down a corridor and up a flight of stairs to the Boat Deck. They passed a door with a plaque labeled "Radio Room" from which could be heard intermittent static overlayed with an occasional voice and typewriter tapping. Douglas stopped at the next door down the corridor, lightly knocking, which was followed by a response from within, "Come in."

Douglas opened the door into a wood-paneled room containing a desk and set of chairs, a large chalkboard completely filled with small neat handwriting, and a number of metal filing cabinets. The remainer of the room was filled with numerous crates stencilled in black lettering: "U.S.S. Gabrielle" . Seated at the desk, using a telephone while waving you to enter, was a man of slim build, short dark hair, wearing hornrimmed glasses.

The man finished his phone call and turned to the group, standing as he saw the newcomers. "Hello Douglas. I see that you've brought company."

"Yes Professor Moore," replied Douglas, "I'd like to introduce Katie Wright and Ernest Roosevelt. Miss Wright and Mister Roosevelt, this is Professor William Moore, our expedition co-leader. Both Miss Wright and Ernest are here to join the expedition."

"Ah! Mr. Roosevelt, yes, I've been expecting you. Welcome aboard!" The Professor energetically shook Ernest's hand.

A look of puzzlement crossed Professor Moore's face as he reached out to shake Katie's hand, "I'm afraid that my memory fails me, Miss Wright, even though your name sounds familiar. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:20 pm**

royya wrote:We do need to put our fate in god, don't we Mr. Albemarle, this trip is most dangerous.
Father Rucker replies
I'm a scientist as well, Palobiologist and a close friend of Prof. Moore. Surely I will not waste such an opportunity to travel to the most remote place on Earth.

"Yes, yes Father, I wholeheartedly agree. This expedition will surely test our mettle! I'll be happy to accept whatever assistance we can summon from a higher power," Pierce replied with sincerity.

royya wrote:Now tell me my kind Pierce, what brought you to the expedition?

I am a meteorologist, Father, and I am greatly interested in studying the weather patterns of the Antarctic continent. I expect that I'll be able to provide guidance to the team and also will collect enough data to publish a few scientific papers."

The two get along famously, finding many scientific areas to discuss, and Pierce eventually leads the conversation around to one of his passions, Oolong tea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:01 am**

One week earlier, in the dead of night on September twelfth...

"Señor! Señor! Estás bien?" asked Paco Guerini as he shook Øyvind awake. Paco looked terribly worried about Øyvind. "Señor, you fell out of your bunk. You were choking. You were screaming."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:08 am**

"Why, thank you, Mr. Moore," Ernest said, smiling.
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:47 am**

"Yes, thank you, Professor Moore," says Katie, shaking his hand with a very strong and firm grip. "I applied to join the expedition previously, so that might be where you heard my name. Unfortunately, Commander Starkweather just brushed me off without giving me a chance because I'm female. I happen to be a highly skilled pilot, and I'm very strong and resilient. I'm also a good mechanic, climber, and navigator. When I first heard about this expedition, I was filled with excitement! I'd do anything to join, to have the chance to explore one of the world's last frontiers, to go where nobody - male or female - has ever been before."
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:44 am**

Dr. Watkins tells Peter Sykes, "After scanning the Balboa for objects of medical interest...I suppose a night out for some whiskey could do me some good. I'll also meet you around 9."
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:40 am**

Job wrote:One week earlier, in the dead of night on September twelfth...

"Señor! Señor! Estás bien?" asked Paco Guerini as he shook Øyvind awake. Paco looked terribly worried about Øyvind. "Señor, you fell out of your bunk. You were choking. You were screaming."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Øyvind stands up with haste grabbing his throat and coughing hard waving with his arms as in desperate fight. 'God a dream' 'it was a dream' 'oh God' Øyvind look Paco in the eyes 'it was so real Paco it was so real!' 'a thing was like eating me from inside, moving beneath my skin' 'i was alone' i could not fight it' 'oh God....' Øyvind lies down in his bed again, trying to asuer himself he is awake, fumbling for his watch on the table.
.

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:35 pm**

Seon wrote:"Why, thank you, Mr. Moore," Ernest said, smiling.

"If you'll wait here a moment, then I'll ask James to join us to meet you," said Moore.

Mr. Handy wrote:"I applied to join the expedition previously, so that might be where you heard my name. Unfortunately, Commander Starkweather just brushed me off without giving me a chance because I'm female. I happen to be a highly skilled pilot, and I'm very strong and resilient. I'm also a good mechanic, climber, and navigator. When I first heard about this expedition, I was filled with excitement! I'd do anything to join, to have the chance to explore one of the world's last frontiers, to go where nobody - male or female - has ever been before."

"Yes, Miss Wright," responded Moore, "that probably is where I heard your name." After pausing for a few seconds, Professor Moore asked Douglas and Ernest to step outside to allow him to conduct a brief interview in private with Katie. "Douglas, you may rejoin your friends taking liberty in Balboa and Panama City. Ernest, please wait in the hall and I'll be with you shortly."

Douglas seemed disappointed, but replied, "Yes Professor. Thank you."

After they'd left, during the next twenty minutes Professor Moore asked very specific--and often very technical--questions of Katie regarding her knowledge of aviation, her experiences as a pilot, and her participation on explorations in cold environments. When he seemed satisfied, he asked Katie for references and made a number of brief telephone calls for confirmation.

Following this, he stood and said, "Very well, Miss Wright. I've heard enough that I believe our Commander should take the time to meet with you. I'll get James. He's right next door, refining and rehearsing his speech for tonight's radio broadcast."

Moore first opened the hallway door and asked Ernest to step back into the room, and then left to get Commander Starkweather.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:49 am**

"A pilot, eh?" Jack said conversationally. "Sorry! Couldn't help but eavesdrop. I've always wanted to fly planes myself. How's it like? Being up there in the sky?"

Posted: **Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:55 am**

"It's the most wonderful feeling in the world!" says Katie, recalling the joy as if she were up there now. "To be able to soar like a bird, completely free...there's nothing else like it. Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to fly. Of course, that shouldn't be a surprise considering my surname - Orville and Wilbur are distant cousins of mine, so it's in my blood too. If you want to learn how to fly a plane, I could teach you. It takes a lot of work and a long time, but it's worth it."

Posted: **Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:43 pm**

"Really?" Ernest said. "I'll definitely hold you to that after the expedition. Say, what was the most interesting place that you flew over? Sorry," Ernest said. "Writer. I am just so curious about all these things, yah know."

Posted: **Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:27 am**

"Definitely Peru," says Katie, grinning at the fond memories. "Have you ever heard of the Nazca Lines? They're these huge elaborate drawings that were carved into the terrain long before Europeans set foot in the Americas, and they can only be seen and appreciated from the air. Yet we've only had powered flight for the past thirty years. So why did the ancients draw them? It really makes you wonder."

Posted: **Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:34 am**

"Ah yes, the Nazca Lines. I've actually visited that place some time ago, although I saw the lines from a balloon instead of a plane," Ernest said. "It almost makes one wonder if we were not the first ones to discover flight..."

He frowned. "Speaking of flying, do you think it's aerodynamically feasible for there to be a big enough bird to carry away a man?"

Posted: **Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:38 am**

"That's a tough one," says Katie. "I've never given it any thought. Birds don't get that big, but it might be possible. Pterodactyls aren't birds, but some of them were probably big enough. They're in short supply these days, though." She grins again.

Posted: **Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:00 am**

"Yeah, I know, right?" Ernest said, chuckling. "It's just that I heard a really freaky story from a guy who went to Antarctica before. Said that a giant starfish-headed monster carried away his friend at night. He was pretty crazy, I must admit though," Ernest said. "It would be exciting if it was real though. Unless one of us gets carried off, of course."

Posted: **Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:37 pm**

"That does sound crazy," says Katie. "I mean, I'd expect to maybe find new kinds of animals in Antarctica that don't exist anywhere else, but nothing that different. Probably no dinosaurs left alive there - the cold weather would have killed them off, as they're not warm-blooded - but it could be that they used to live there too. Antarctica may have been a warmer place in the past. But, yeah, it would be amazing to find new creatures there."

Posted: **Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:48 am**

"That's why I am here, actually. All these times, I have been following in the footsteps of other people. Visiting already explored areas. Breathtaking placecs surely, but all of which have been visited by others. This time, we just may be the first."

Posted: **Sun Dec 25, 2011 8:17 pm**

"Yes, I'm excited about that too," says Katie. "Of course, there is Acacia Lexington's expedition too, though she's only trying to reach the South Pole. She has a headstart, but I think we can catch up to her. If we make good time, I might even beat her to the South Pole and be the first woman there, but I have no intention of stopping there. I hope to be not just the first woman to fly over those mountains, but the first - period."

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:26 pm**

jrod wrote:Dr. Watkins tells Peter Sykes, "After scanning the Balboa for objects of medical interest...I suppose a night out for some whiskey could do me some good. I'll also meet you around 9."

"Excellent, Doctor Watkins!" exclaimed Sykes with a grin and a wink. "The game is afoot! I look forward to engaging in our own medical interests later to confirm the potency of Panamanian spirits. I'll scout the area for a suitable establishment and meet you back here at the station at nine.

"Anyone else?" Sykes asked, looking expectantly at the rest of the group.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:48 pm**

Job wrote:One week earlier, in the dead of night on September twelfth...

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind stands up with haste grabbing his throat and coughing hard waving with his arms as in desperate fight. 'God a dream' 'it was a dream' 'oh God' Øyvind look Paco in the eyes 'it was so real Paco it was so real!' 'a thing was like eating me from inside, moving beneath my skin' 'i was alone' i could not fight it' 'oh God....' Øyvind lies down in his bed again, trying to asuer himself he is awake, fumbling for his watch on the table.

"Señor, you are OK. Yes, it was a bad dream," said Paco. Within their darkened cabin, Øyvind could hear the concern in Paco's voice, and Paco laid his hand reassuringly on Øyvind's forearm. "Do you want me to get Padre Rucker? He may be able to help?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:51 pm**

Seon wrote:"That's why I am here, actually. All these times, I have been following in the footsteps of other people. Visiting already explored areas. Breathtaking placecs surely, but all of which have been visited by others. This time, we just may be the first."

Mr. Handy wrote:"Yes, I'm excited about that too," says Katie. "Of course, there is Acacia Lexington's expedition too, though she's only trying to reach the South Pole. She has a headstart, but I think we can catch up to her. If we make good time, I might even beat her to the South Pole and be the first woman there, but I have no intention of stopping there. I hope to be not just the first woman to fly over those mountains, but the first - period."

Just then, Katie and Ernest hear Professor Moore returning down the hall and into the room briskly strode a tall, handsome man with the bearing of an army officer.

With a radiant smile, he reached forward to Ernest and said, "Ernest Roosevelt, I presume? I'm James Starkweather. It's a great pleasure to have you aboard! I've heard stellar reports from your colleagues and I believe that we're fortunate to have you on our team. Welcome!"

James then turned to Katie and extended his hand and also his warm smile, saying, "And you must be Katie Wright. Professor Moore speaks very highly of you, Miss Wright! Welcome to the SS Gabrielle."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:27 pm**

"Thank you, Commander Starkweather," says Katie. "I'm glad to be aboard." She reaches out and grips his hand, shaking it very firmly - with enough force that he can tell how physically strong she is, but not enough to hurt.
.

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:01 pm**

Job wrote:
Job wrote:One week earlier, in the dead of night on September twelfth...

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind stands up with haste grabbing his throat and coughing hard waving with his arms as in desperate fight. 'God a dream' 'it was a dream' 'oh God' Øyvind look Paco in the eyes 'it was so real Paco it was so real!' 'a thing was like eating me from inside, moving beneath my skin' 'i was alone' i could not fight it' 'oh God....' Øyvind lies down in his bed again, trying to asuer himself he is awake, fumbling for his watch on the table.
"Señor, you are OK. Yes, it was a bad dream," said Paco. Within their darkened cabin, Øyvind could hear the concern in Paco's voice, and Paco laid his hand reassuringly on Øyvind's forearm. "Do you want me to get Padre Rucker? He may be able to help?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

'The Father' 'yes' do that' 'I fear my God and i might need the Fathers council on this'
.

Posted: **Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:50 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Thank you, Commander Starkweather," says Katie. "I'm glad to be aboard." She reaches out and grips his hand, shaking it very firmly - with enough force that he can tell how physically strong she is, but not enough to hurt.

Katie's action surprised the Commander. From the manner in which he had extended his hand, he had obviously intended to gently and politely shake hands with Katie Wright, as a gentleman would with a lady, however Katie's handshake brought a confused look to his face and he hesitated. He soon responded with a good-natured laugh and a confident, energetic handshake.

"Ah, very good, Miss Wright," he said, "I see that you are ready to accept a challenge! Very well, please excuse me for being abrupt, but I have much work to attend to this day and have little time for pleasantries.

"An expedition to the Antarctic is a deadly serious undertaking. I go there not to satisfy my ego", he said with a perfect look of sincerity, "nor to prove the dominance of the male species, but rather to extend the knowledge of humankind. To answer the gauntlet thrown down by a harsh and unforgiving Mother Nature and to succeed where others have failed.

"As the originator and commander of this expedition, I have the full burden of responsibility for the lives of every individual who sets foot on that ship and who later dares tread the treacherous ice at the dark end of the earth. I take that responsibility very seriously indeed, Miss Wright.

"Tell me then, why did you ignore my direct reply to your wire and come to see me today? And why should I accept an individual on this expedition who disregards my decision?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:33 am**

"I do love a good challenge," says Katie, "and that's how I viewed your telegram. I told you that I don't give up. I want to be part of the expedition for the same reasons you do. I want to put myself to the ultimate test and explore uncharted territory. If someone else told you that you couldn't go to Antarctica, would you have listened? I don't believe you would. When you made your decision, you didn't really know me or what I could do. The only way to convince you to reverse your decision was to fly to Panama and give you a demonstration of my abilities. So that's exactly what I did. Perhaps you saw it when you were approaching Colon. You need me to get over those mountains, Commander Starkweather. Few other pilots are good enough to pull off that steep a climb, but that sort of maneuver may be necessary there. Would you rather fly over the mountains, or into them?"
.

Posted: **Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:07 pm**

Job wrote:Within their darkened cabin, Øyvind could hear the concern in Paco's voice, and Paco laid his hand reassuringly on Øyvind's forearm. "Do you want me to get Padre Rucker? He may be able to help?"

Anatomist wrote:'The Father' 'yes' do that' 'I fear my God and i might need the Fathers council on this'

"Si, señor! I will find the Padre," said Paco, and then he hurried from the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:19 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:"I do love a good challenge," says Katie, "and that's how I viewed your telegram. I told you that I don't give up. I want to be part of the expedition for the same reasons you do. I want to put myself to the ultimate test and explore uncharted territory. If someone else told you that you couldn't go to Antarctica, would you have listened?

James Starkweather smiled. "In actuality, Miss Wright, I have repeatedly been warned not to proceed with this expedition. Had I heeded their advice, you and I would not be talking here today in Panama."

Mr. Handy wrote:"When you made your decision, you didn't really know me or what I could do. The only way to convince you to reverse your decision was to fly to Panama and give you a demonstration of my abilities. So that's exactly what I did. Perhaps you saw it when you were approaching Colon. You need me to get over those mountains, Commander Starkweather. Few other pilots are good enough to pull off that steep a climb, but that sort of maneuver may be necessary there. Would you rather fly over the mountains, or into them?"

James Starkweather listened intently as Katie talked, then he responded, "I understand that you are capable, Miss Wright. I saw your exhibition and admire your tenacity, however you must understand my position.

"I must maintain order amongst a crew of over fifty hardened men on a extended, dangerous journey; a journey that many have rightly described as a deathtrap. I have journeyed alongside determined women in the past, Miss Wright. You would not be the first. And while those expeditions ended in success, I'm afraid that they were always fraught with the tension that develops between the sexes."

The commander stared unflinchlingly into Katie's eyes as he continued, "In addition, I expect that the elements and stresses would undoubtedly place an enormous burden upon a woman's biological and psychological makeup. Unfortunately, I've already been forced to approve the addition of one female explorer on board due to circumstances beyond my control. To add a second to our team would dramatically increase our risks and I'm afraid that to do so would be to invite disaster."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:24 am**

Katie returns Starkweather's gaze with the same intensity. "Commander Starkweather, I am not like most women," she says. "I am as physically capable as any man, and moreso than most. My strength and fortitude are extremely high, and my reflexes are nearly unmatched. And I don't get overly emotional like some women do. The only emotions this expedition inspires in me are same ones you feel: excitement and the thrill of exploring the unknown. Whatever hardships this expedition brings, I'm prepared for them and I can take them. I don't need anyone to hold my hand. I can handle being on a ship with over 150 men just fine. If they can handle themselves around Camille Bardier, they can handle themselves around me. I've seen her picture in the papers, and I'm not nearly as pretty as she is. I can stick with her, too. That wouldn't increase the risks, it would reduce them. I'm more than capable of looking out for not only myself but her as well."
.

Posted: **Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:25 am**

Starkweather paused, looking at Katie while he thought through his decision. After a few moments, he nodded and reached out to shake hands with her, saying, "I'll consider your request, Miss Wright. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to meet, in person, the individual with the audacity to perform a flyover of the Gabrielle's bridge. Right now, I must return to my office to finish preparing for tonight's radio address.

"Professor Moore will arrange for your return to the docks."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:53 am**

Katie shakes his hand firmly again. "Thank you, Commander," she says. "I am looking forward to your decision, and I hope to join your expedition tomorrow." She gives him the name and room number of the hotel where she is staying in Panama City, as well as the telephone number, so that he can contact her.
.

Posted: **Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:15 pm**

Paco finds Rucker easly, in his chamber. He hurries after the man to find Øyvind.
.

Posted: **Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:31 am**

Evening, Tuesday, September 19, 1933

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie shakes his hand firmly again. "Thank you, Commander," she says. "I am looking forward to your decision, and I hope to join your expedition tomorrow." She gives him the name and room number of the hotel where she is staying in Panama City, as well as the telephone number, so that he can contact her.

"Good bye, Miss Wright." Starkweather turned to Professor Moore and said, "Please come to see me when you've finished, William. There are a few things that we need to discuss." He then left the room.

Professor Moore asked Katie if she could linger for a few minutes, then instructed Ernest to seek out First Officer Turlow on the main deck for a quick tour of the ship and to be led to his cabin.

After Ernest left the room, Moore closed the door and turned to Katie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:25 am**

.

Posted: **Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:03 pm**

royya wrote:Paco finds Rucker easily, in his chamber. He hurries after the man to find Øyvind.

The two men rushed into the adjacent room, to Øyvind. Paco knelt and gently shook the Norwegian's shoulder. "Øyvind," Paco said. "Padre Rucker is here. Tell him what is wrong, por favor."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:08 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Keeper only,[color=red]"Yes, gladly,"[/color] says [b]Katie[/b] with a smile. [color=red]"I'm just thrilled to be joining this expedition, and I can't wait to meet [b]Camille Bardier[/b]. My luggage is back at my hotel in Panama City, but it's all packed and I'm sure someone can pick it up. I've already made arrangements for my plane to be kept at the local airfield on a long term basis."[/color]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:13 am**

.

Posted: **Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:22 am**

Øyvind lies over to his side grabbing his throat 'Father' 'I think it was a dream' 'i dont know why but im not sure if it was' .... 'I woke and was going down the hall towards the toilets' 'it was in the mirror' ' some kind of leech' 'it borrowed itself beneath my skin' 'i was so terrified' 'it was so real' 'the pain the crawling made' 'God' ...... Øyvind starts to silently cry as he massages his neck should and throat. 'I tried to scream i even fired my gun' 'but none came' 'i think i fainted and awoke here' 'im not sure' 'it was so real' 'i cannot had been a dream' 'ive never had a dream like that'
.

Posted: **Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:06 am**

Calm down son, calm down. God protects his children and your soul is among them.
Father Paul Rucker tries to comfort the panicked Norwegian.
Paco, water please.
He turns back to Øyvind and tries to check his neck and nape. In addition he tries to recall similar things from his knowledge of the occult and the mythos and his biological knowledge about parasite organisms. If he recalls none, he tries some common knowledge about tropical diseases that Dr. Watkins might be the help.
.

Posted: **Sat Jan 07, 2012 3:00 pm**

royya wrote:Calm down son, calm down. God protects his children and your soul is among them.
Father Paul Rucker tries to comfort the panicked Norwegian.
Paco, water please.

'It was the Devil was it not Padre' 'was it not?' Øyvind ask looking Rucker in the mid of his eyes 'Some Demon hunting my soul'...... 'Padre, that thing borrowed itself in my head and disappeared Padre!' he stands up and turns is back to Rucker indicating the base of his skull 'right there!'
.

Posted: **Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:49 pm**

Let me see.
Father Rucker investigate more closly Øyvind's nape
.

Posted: **Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:33 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Keeper only,[color=red]"Thank you, Professor,"[/color] says [b]Katie[/b], giving him a firm handshake. [color=red]"I think I'll start by looking around on the upper decks, since I won't be able to see them for some time after today."[/color]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:37 pm**

royya wrote:Paco, water please.

"Si, Padre!" Paco left the room to fetch some water.

royya wrote:
OOC from Royya,I guess that Occult, Mythos, Biology and Medicine rolls can be rolled here.

royya wrote:Let me see.
Father Rucker investigate more closly Øyvind's nape

The priest does not see any physical damage; no wounds, bruises, or blood. Nothing, other than the psychological impact--probably temporary, he believes--that Øyvind apparently has taken from his nightmare.

After Father Rucker completes his examination of Øyvind, he sees that Paco has returned with a pitcher of water and cups. Paco fills a cup with water and hands it to the priest. "Here is water, Padre. Está bien? Is he OK?

Father Rucker notices that Paco's hand is trembling as he passes the water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Posted: **Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:14 am**

Katie heads for the stairway forward of the galley and ascends to the next deck.
.

Posted: **Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:22 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie heads for the stairway forward of the galley and ascends to the next deck.

From the Owner's Suite on the Boat Deck (where Katie met with Professor Moore), Katie climbs one flight of stairs, opening a stout wooden door at the top into a large, brightly lit room with captain's wheel, an array of desks, navigational equipment, and maps, along with two gentlemen in naval attire.
Link to map of Bridge Deck and Boat Deck

An elderly officer turns as Katie enters, saying, "Good evening. Might I be of assistance?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:28 pm**

"Good evening, sir," says Katie. "I'm Katie Wright. Are you the captain? I'd like to look around the ship, with your permission, of course."
.

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:29 am**

"Yes ma'am, I am Captain Vredenburgh and this is Arthur Ballard, my second officer," he said as he reached forward to shake hands with Katie.

"And your name is Katie Wright? I'm afraid that I don't recall you being on the ship's roster... I assume that you've been approved by James Starkweather or William Moore?"

Captain Vredenburgh sent Arthur to confirm Katie's assignment with Professor Moore and, upon his return, the Captain smiled and responded, "Welcome to the SS Gabrielle, Miss Wright. I believe that you'll find our ship is not only a strong, seaworthy vessel, but also one with comfortable accommodations and an excellent cook. You have my consent to explore the ship. If you have any questions about the Gabrielle, don't hesitate to contact either myself or First Officer Turlow."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:55 am**

"Thank you, Captain," says Katie, returning his handshake with a strong grip. "It's good to meet you. Is there anyone available who can give me a brief tour?"
.

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:57 am**

At twenty-one hundred hours on the ninteenth of September in Panama City, Peter Sykes waits for his colleagues to gather outside the train station to begin their evening's adventure. He sits on a dark wooden bench under dim lantern light, smoking a large odious cigar, laughing with a few locals. As each member of the expedition arrives, he offers them a nip from his hip flask: a pleasantly-smooth, slightly-sweet liqueur which quickly warms each individual for the night ahead.

Peter grins and exclaims, "I can't wait to once again meet my Lovely Lolita! It's been a two years--no THREE years!--since I last came to Panama City and I miss her dearly. Our first stop is "El Zorro's", just down the road. You are in for a treat!" He winks slyly at you while drawing on his cigar, the tip glowing red, illuminating his deeply lined face. He slowly blew a stream of smoke from the corner of his mouth, away from you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:34 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Thank you, Captain," says Katie, returning his handshake with a strong grip. "It's good to meet you. Is there anyone available who can give me a brief tour?"

"Yes, you'll find First Officer Turlow on the main deck. He will get you oriented and squared away. While you're waiting for him, I recommend that you locate the ship's mess. You can't miss it; just follow the aroma of fresh coffee down the hall. There's always a pot brewing in the Ship's Mess, hot and strong."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:17 pm**

Calm Paco
Rucker says to the man.
Øyvind is all right.
He then turns to Øyvind himself
Son, this is a nightmare and no more. We had terrible days following the accident at the piers. It's a stress and no more ... have some rest and pray with me each morning.
.

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:32 pm**

royya wrote:Calm Paco
Rucker says to the man.
Øyvind is all right.
He then turns to Øyvind himself
Son, this is a nightmare and no more. We had terrible days following the accident at the piers. It's a stress and no more ... have some rest and pray with me each morning.

Øyvind seems surprised by the Priest finding nothing on him. 'Dear God' 'Why would he do this to me' 'Pray i will Padre' 'Ill find you every morning to do so' Øyvind lies back down taking some big calming breaths 'Ill try to rest a bit' 'please leave me alone ' 'And thank you Paco for the water'
.

Posted: **Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:56 am**

"Thanks again," says Katie. "Some coffee would hit the spot. The best coffee beans come from this part of the world, Colombia in particular is the best, but Panama's coffee is quite good too. Goodbye, Captain." Katie leaves the bridge and heads back down, sniffing the air for the scent of coffee.
.

Posted: **Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:00 am**

"There's the main hall," Ernest wondered. Getting lost in the ship was a first.

"Excuse me sir," he said, tapping the shoulders of a nearest sailor. "Do you know where the First Officer of this ship is?"
.

Posted: **Sat Jan 14, 2012 6:50 pm**

royya wrote:Calm Paco
Rucker says to the man.
Øyvind is all right.

"Gracias Padre," said Paco, and Father Rucker could see that he relaxed a little. "Qué pasó, Padre? Sorry, what do you think happened? He was screaming."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Jan 14, 2012 6:58 pm**

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind lies back down taking some big calming breaths 'Ill try to rest a bit' 'please leave me alone ' 'And thank you Paco for the water'

"De nada, amigo," Paco responded as he laid his hand reassuringly on Øyvind's shoulder. "Try to sleep."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:22 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Some coffee would hit the spot. The best coffee beans come from this part of the world, Colombia in particular is the best, but Panama's coffee is quite good too. Goodbye, Captain." Katie leaves the bridge and heads back down, sniffing the air for the scent of coffee.

With the aroma of coffee to guide her, Katie easily found her way down to the Ship's Mess. Just as the captain had said, a warm pot was waiting for her on a wooden serving table along the wall, presumably refilled every so often by stewards from the galley.

The Mess was quiet with only two crewmen sitting at one of six tables. Along the front wall hung a large map of Antarctica, displaying most of the continent blank, unexplored. A number of wooden doors lined each side wall, some open, leading into very small cabin areas containing bunks, desks, and small portholes. The back wall was lined with bookshelves and two closed doors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Jan 14, 2012 11:08 pm**

Seon wrote:"There's the main hall," Ernest wondered. Getting lost in the ship was a first.

"Excuse me sir," he said, tapping the shoulders of a nearest sailor. "Do you know where the First Officer of this ship is?"

"He was on the main deck, last I saw," said the crewman. "There's the exit to the deck, right there." He pointed through the open door at the front of the Mess Hall to a stout metal hatch with a porthole, about 5 or 10 feet beyond.

"And if you get turned about, just look along the walls wherever you are and eventually you'll find a small map of the ship's layout."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sat Jan 14, 2012 11:21 pm**

The morning of September 20th?

It was hot! And he heard birds. Peter Sykes had a tremendous headache as he awoke, moaning from the sharp throbbing pain. He wasn't feeling so well. He could tell that wherever he was, it was bright with sunlight, so he kept his eyes closed for a moment. Besides the birds loudly cawing and chirping, he heard the somewhat-distant sounds of horsedrawn carriages and people talking. He could smell... something nauseating. Food of some sort? Sweat? And alcohol, definitely alcohol.

Without lifting his head, he cautiously opened his eyes and looked immediately in front of him at the back of someone's shoulder. They had smooth, dark skin and long hair, so he deduced that it was a sleeping female. She was naked. They were surrounded by empty bottles, trash, and half-eaten food.

"Where am I?" He felt something warm against his backside and turned to look--and experienced a wave of dizziness and nausea. But he had to know and continued to roll over. It was another dark-skinned woman, also asleep, gently snoring and somewhat-dressed. "Huh. Where's Lolita..." He heard another, different snore and forced his eyes to focus further away, cranking up his headache a notch, and saw a tangle of arms and legs hanging over the side of a bed. From his angle of view--and his sore back--he deduced that he and his companions had slept on the floor.

He sat up and surveyed the wreckage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:56 am**

Katie pours herself a steaming mug of coffee. While she sips at it, she walks over to the bookshelves and examines the titles of the books on them to see if there's anything interesting.
.

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:52 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie pours herself a steaming mug of coffee. While she sips at it, she walks over to the bookshelves and examines the titles of the books on them to see if there's anything interesting.

The coffee was surprisingly good and surprisingly robust, even when compared against the strong and tasty brews that Katie had sampled during her travels!

Katie discovered an eclectic collection of books in the ship's "library", all carefully sorted into categories and subsorted in alphabetical order according to title, including technical manuals, nautical and scientific guides, exploration tales, numerous historical textbooks, tradecraft manuals, religious and spiritual sourcebooks, a couple of shelves of literature and fiction, a few books of poetry, and even a handful of artistic works. There was a small handwritten sign near the shelves asking: "Please be considerate of your crew members and promptly return all books to these shelves."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:24 am**

Katie strolls over to the map and examines it, looking particualrly for the ship's intended landing site and the route the expedition will take.
.

Posted: **Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:18 am**

"Thank you, good sir," Ernest said, bowing slightly. He turned towards the door to the Main Deck.

Posted: **Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:25 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie strolls over to the map and examines it, looking particualrly for the ship's intended landing site and the route the expedition will take.

Alongside the map of Antarctica, Katie sees the Starkweather-Moore Expedition (S-ME) route, hand-drawn on a display board. When Katie cross-references the hand-drawn route map against the large map of Antarctica, she notes that the question mark corresponds to "Lake site" area in the Victoria Quadrant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:59 am**

Katie finishes her coffee and then heads out to the main deck to look for First Officer Turlow.
.

Posted: **Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:45 am**

Seon wrote:"Thank you, good sir," Ernest said, bowing slightly. He turned towards the door to the Main Deck.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie finishes her coffee and then heads out to the main deck to look for First Officer Turlow.

Ernest finds First Officer Paul Turlow stationed at a small podium at the top of the gangway on the main deck, animatedly directing crew workers as if he were a policeman directing traffic, occasionally taking notes in a logbook, and drinking a large mug of coffee. Turlow asks Ernest if he can wait for a short while before he is able to leave his post, otherwise the crewmen will all stop their work.

After a half hour or so, Katie joins them.

Once a supervisor comes to relieve him, Turlow asks, "Well now, where would you like me to begin your tour of the ship? Normally, I'd start at the bridge, but apparently the two of you just came from there."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:13 am**

"How about we start at the top and work our way down?" suggests Katie. "What can I say? I like high places. I believe the boat deck is below the bridge."

Posted: **Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:48 pm**

George Barrow was staring at the same line in his book about animal life of the Great Southern Ocean for about ten minuttes. He had been distracted for the past few days, immersed in his own thoughts, ideas, and reading material. He looked at the small circular window his lab had. Someone was talking outside, and there where sounds of Øyvind and his dogs, Turlow maybe speaking grandiose about the ship?

George laid a pencil on the page of the open book, took a look at himself in a small mirror to fix hsi hair and opened the door. He could smell the coffee from the mess hall, the air was hot and humid and the warmth pusht him a bit back when he opened one of the big heavy metal doors on the main deck plane to walk outside. It was a beautiful day and in the distance he could hear a female voice he had not heard onboard before talking quick and assertive it seemed the voices where a bit to far to make out the words.

Wonder who this could be... George did not notice his legs automatically took him towards the noise.

Posted: **Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:05 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:

"How about we start at the top and work our way down?" suggests Katie. "What can I say? I like high places. I believe the boat deck is below the bridge."

Ernest shrugged. "I have no objections."

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:11 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"How about we start at the top and work our way down?" suggests Katie. "What can I say? I like high places. I believe the boat deck is below the bridge."

Seon wrote:Ernest shrugged. "I have no objections."

Anatomist wrote:Wonder who this could be... George did not notice his legs automatically took him towards the noise.

"Very well then, follow me," said Turlow as he led the way into the aftercastle superstructure and up two flights of stairs to the Bridge Deck.

The First Officer entered the bridge, introduced the Captain and Second Officer (whom Katie had already met) and provided an overview of the navigational equipment. A wall of glass windows provided a view forward of Balboa bay. There were a variety of communications gear including telephones, telegraph, voice pipes, foghorn, whistles, and navigating lights. The compass binacle and ship's wheel dominated the middle of the compartment. A log indicator showed the ship's speed and a dial showed the angle of the rudder relative to the keel of the ship. Racks and cupboards along the walls contained signal flags, national flags, semaphore flags, flare pistols, pyrotechnic signal rockets, and hand-held lights along with various other small items of equipment.

The nearby chart room contained the ship's log and another telephone. Turlow pointed out a depth-sounding machine that was controlled from here that could measure down to 100 fathoms (600 feet or roughly 180 meters) while the ship was under way, using a wire and weight that unspooled automatically from the ship's keel. There was also a rack of six bolt action rifles, all padlocked by a chain running through their trigger guards, and a large iron safe.

Two doors on opposite sides of the room led outside to the "flying bridge" areas, balconies and a roof area that overlooked the main deck, each side with stairways down. A single huge smokestack rose above.

"Any questions before we move down to the Boat Deck?" asked the First Officer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:33 am**

"Just one," says Katie. "Why is it called the 'flying bridge?'"

Posted: **Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:48 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Just one," says Katie. "Why is it called the 'flying bridge?'"

"Ah, Miss Wright, that's a good question that I should've anticipated from an aviator. The flying bridge is simply a term identifying the highest navigational bridge on a ship, which is often an open deck above a ship's pilot house. Because it's usually an open area at the highest point on a ship where the captain stands and steers, it is said that this may give one the illusion of flying along the ocean."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Posted: **Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:03 am**

"Ah, thank you," says Katie. "That makes sense." She smiles, knowing that she doesn't have to be content with the mere illusion of flying.

Posted: **Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:18 pm**

"Interesting..." Ernest said as Katie's question was answered.

"Why do we keep weapons and other pieces of equipment in the bridge?"

Posted: **Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:43 pm**

"Ah, Mr. Roosevelt, that's another good question. The Captain is responsible for getting us from New York City to Antarctica, thus the Captain requires all equipment to be within easy reach. The bridge is his command center. While we're on board this ship, all communications, all movement, and all activities are the Captain's responsibility, including maintaining order. Thus, the shotguns.

"Once we set foot on Antarctica, then the expedition is the responsibility of James Starkweather and Professor Moore, but until then, Captain Vredenburgh is master and commander. Now, if there are no further questions...," said First Officer Turlow as he turned towards the stairway down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:29 am**

Ernest cringed when the officer mentioned "maintaining order," but seemed to have no other objections.

Posted: **Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:42 am**

Katie follows First Officer Turlow down the stairs.

Posted: **Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:02 am**

At the bottom of the stairway, Turlow pointed out a water closet on his left, saying "Having females aboard ship on our expedition is a rarity, Miss Wright, and I'm sure that you don't need me to say what I'm about to say, however my responsibilities as First Officer require that I do so. To avoid any embarrassment, please confirm whether the latrines are in use before you enter and also be sure to lock the hallway door while you are inside. I can assure you that our crewmen are all professionals, however on a long expedition away from civilization, we must take every precaution and minimize temptation for the men."

"And here," as he turned down the left-hand corridor, "is our radio room, as you can tell by the small plaque on the door." When he knocked and opened the door, you gazed into a room that was absolutely filled with cigarette smoke, electrical equipment, and the intermingled sound of static and voices. A stocky man with dark hair smiled at you from his chair, briefly waved a lit cigarette, and immediately returned his attention to his signals. Long and short-wave radios were bolted down into metal racks and wires snaked everywhere; behind the racks connecting to various units, between the racks collected into bundles, rising above to the ceiling area onto shelves and into pipes, and down onto the floor where they were either taped or covered with rugs. A series of tables ran half the length of the room just in front of the racks and on top of these rested microphones, morse code units, telephones, and a number of gray boxes that were adorned with meticulously-labeled switches and dials. In a sturdy chest against the wall farthest from the door were several large lead-acid batteries.

Pictured above, Louis Laroche at work.

First Officer Turlow then completed his tour of the Bridge Deck by pointing out doors to the Captain's Quarters and the Owner's Suite, but declined to open the doors, saying, "You're only permitted entrance into these rooms at the request of Captain Vredenburgh, Commander Starkweather, or Professor Moore."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:13 am**

"All right," says Katie. "What's the range on the ship's radios, I wonder?"

Posted: **Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:44 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:"All right," says Katie. "What's the range on the ship's radios, I wonder?"

Louis raised his hand to get Katie's attention while he continued talking into his large desk microphone, then signalled with one finger to ask her group to wait as he finished his message, "...and we will depart at oh-eight-hundred hours on the twenty-first. Gabrielle out."

He then turned and smiled at Katie, "Your question is a good one but I'm afraid that I won't have a good answer for you. However, before I provide my answer, I don't believe that we've been properly introduced." He reached out to shake hands, saying, "I'm Louis Laroche, radioman extraordinaire, and you might be?"

After everyone has become acquainted, Louis turns back to Katie and continues: "With today's modern radio technology, low powered radio signals can reach anywhere on the globe. We simply bounce the short-wavelength signals off the earth's ionosphere. We call them "skip bands."

"Unfortunately, Antarctica presents us with a difficult challenge. Our icy continent is haunted by the presence of the aurora australis--better known as the "southern lights." This great magnetic storm is present year round and disrupts not only all radio communications, but also the accuracy of compasses. Reliable radio traffic from Antarctica is therefore a fragile and transient thing. It can only be achieved by using lower frequencies, the so-called "ground waves" that are used by AM radio stations, but these require much larger antennas and more powerful transmitters, something you'll only find aboard our ship and at our expedition's base camp.

"So I believe the real answer to your question is that we expect our base camp in Antarctica to communicate with the Gabrielle using low frequency radio, unless a flare-up in the aurora or a surface storm prevents even that. And the Gabrielle will relay communications to New York City using the skip bands whenever the aurora permits."

I hope that I haven't confused you..." Louis stopped talking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:31 am**

Katie grins back and shakes the radioman's hand with a firm grip. "Nice to meet you," she says. "I'm Katie Wright, aviatrix extraordinaire." She nods as she listens to his explanation. "No, I get it. Are the expedition's aircraft equipped with radios? How does communication work between them and the base camp?"

Posted: **Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:13 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie ... nods as she listens to his explanation. "No, I get it. Are the expedition's aircraft equipped with radios? How does communication work between them and the base camp?"

Turlow smiled, "The expedition's aircraft are indeed outfitted with radios so that may communicate with the base camp. These radios only have a range of a few hundred miles, but we expect these to be more than sufficient for our purposes. We also have a few portable radios that our sled groups will take with them when laying food and fuel depots.

Our expedition is fortunate because this situation is very different from conditions that prevailed on this same continent scarcely two decades ago; when exploring parties set out on their lonely journeys and remained in the fields for months on end with no communication with their bases. When Scott and Amundsen patiently waited out the winter to begin their competing dashes to the Pole, with scarcely 450 miles between them, the one was as ignorant of the other's movements as if they had been separated by the Poles."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:28 am**

"Or Shackleton's expedition," says Katie. "They were stuck in Antarctica for well over a year, and they had no idea of how the Great War was going during that time."

Posted: **Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:10 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Or Shackleton's expedition," says Katie. "They were stuck in Antarctica for well over a year, and they had no idea of how the Great War was going during that time."

"Exactly so," responded the First Officer. "And we not only have superior communications technology, but also that of aviation! Our modern aeroplanes coupled with your reputed talents will no doubt do much to ensure our success where others have failed!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:06 am**

"Thank you, First Officer," says Katie with a grin. "I've been following advances in aviation, and I look forward to seeing the latest aircraft up close."

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:30 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:"Thank you, First Officer," says Katie with a grin. "I've been following advances in aviation, and I look forward to seeing the latest aircraft up close."

"Yes, you'll see the stored aircraft when we reach the lower hold. Alright, let's proceed down to the Main deck," said the First Officer.

"You should already be well aware of the general layout of the Main deck because that is where your cabins are located, so I'll merely show you a couple of areas that may have escaped your attention." As he led you through the Ship's Mess, Turlow pointed to two doors along the far wall, on each side of a large wooden bookcase. "Those two doors lead to a storage area where we keep our life preservers and fire-fighting equipment. Also inside that storage room is an exterior hatch that opens to the Main Deck proper so that our crew may readily access that equipment if something should happen outside."

"To the left of the storage area is cabin that serves as our medical office, and doctors Green and Watkins both sleep that area. Behind us, I'm sure that you've already found the ship's galley and the officer's mess, so I'll leave those off of our tour."

As you exit the mess, Turlow points out a door along the wall that leads to the engine room. He opens it and you are immediately assaulted with loud noise and the smell of exhaust fumes. The First Officer beckons you forward to enter before him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:32 pm**

Katie goes through the door, eager to check out the engines.

Posted: **Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:34 am**

You enter at the top of an open space leading down into the engine room. It is a five story climb down ladders to the main floor, through a number of platforms containing pipes, wiring, machinery, generators, and pumps. The large area is hot and noisy, although surprisingly well lit with a skylight and also numerous wall-mounted lightbulbs spread about, each protected within a metal cage.

At the top of the metal catwalk, First Officer Turlow described the "reciprocating steam engine, supporting a top speed of 12 knots and consuming 0.14 tons of fuel per nautical mile when traveling at 11 knots. The Gabrielle has a maximum cruising range of about 12,000 miles."

At the engineer's position, two levels down and approximately midway from the main floor, were a telegraph, telephones, and a voice tube that ensured reliable communications with the bridge. The on duty engineer, William Wheeler, offered cotton earplugs to all. The First Officer quickly accepted and donned a pair.

Pictured above, William Wheeler (sans earplugs), one of three ship's engineers

At the bottom were two huge, roaring oil boilers set forward of the main engine, which was beating rhythmically. The further down one climbed, the louder the noise and the more pronounced the vibrations. When standing next to the boilers and engines, the noise was nigh intolerable, even with earplugs in place.

Turlow led the team abaft the main engine and pointed out the rotating tree-trunk-sized propeller shaft and its long, dark tunnel leading sternward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Posted: **Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:12 am**

Katie looks around in wonder. "This sure puts airplane engines to shame!" she yells to be heard over the engine noise. "Of course, it would be extremely hard to get something this massive to fly! They're doing some amazing things with zeppelins, though, so maybe one day..."

Posted: **Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:03 pm**

The First Officer nodded, chuckled a bit at Katie's remark, then motioned for everyone to begin their climb from the heart of the Gabrielle.

Once back on the main deck, Turlow said, "There are cabin areas at the far end of the SS Gabrielle's bow and also its stern. The bow structure is called the "forecastle", or "fo'c's'le" as you'll hear the crew pronounce it. The cabin structure at the stern is named the "aftercastle". Since these are merely crew cabin areas, we won't be spending any time there and instead will now make our way to the Tween Deck.

Link to ship floorplans

Any questions before we proceed?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Play@YSDC

CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea > NYC to Panama

CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea > NYC to Panama

Father P.J. Rucker

Salute!

Sept 11 Evening - USS Gabrielle off the Eastern Seaboard

Father P.J. Rucker

Øyvind Raknes Sled Driver

Sept 12, 1933 Classes

An Odd Awakening

Father P.J. Rucker

Øyvind Raknes

George Barrow

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

George Barrow Scientist

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: George Barrow Scientist

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: George Barrow Scientist

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Gatun Locks

Culebra Cut

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea

Re: CHAPTER 5: IC - At Sea