Partida Rol por web

Where the team is assembled and briefed on the mission to Antarctica. Current base location: [color=#00FF00]-69.45571,-139.484882[/color]

Electronics whiz, Vasqez comes back to the table with two pints of lager. She places the tall glasses in front of her and looks at the newcomers.

"So, any news regarding this mission to the white wastes? Do we have a contact name? All I got was directions to be here at The Waterfront. "

She checks her wrist watch. "Ten minutes over the time he said we´d be here..."

Dimitri is drinking some beer meanwhile he is waiting for orders.

He looks at the newies and thinks that they should be his new "playmates"

The place is relatively empty. Dimitri and Vasqez are the first to arrive. They know each other from a tour to the McMurdo base two years ago. Some scientists needed to evac from yet another experiment gone bad. Vasqez checks the other tables. "Could any of these guys be here for the mission too?"

From their table, right in front of the bar counter at the far end of the room, she spots a man sitting in the corner, away from the more lighted areas of the bar. By the door leading out to the kitchen area a group of three UN officers sit and play cards. Just inside the entrance door, one guest is leaning towards the wall, waiting.

Two bouncers by the door keep the most disturbing elements out of the bar. So far they have had little to do, but the evening is still young.

At the table next to Vasqez and Dimitri, three female officers from the PX is relaxing after a busy day. They are quite loud. A monitor above the bar is showing a pro wrestling game. At the bar counter, two guests who previously sat next to the ladies, sit and enjoy their drinks in the relative calmness having their backs to the noise. The place is only half full. According to the mission statement their contact should have been here by now. So should anyone wanting an extra bonus on the next paycheck be. "Could it be that she´d have just Dimitri along for the ride in the chopper? Nah, she guesses that some of the characters at the bar will join at the table when that Sgt Chard arrives."

"What do you know about this mission? Being all wired, you probably hear a buncht of the chatter going in and out from base." She draws her index finger down from the tip of the pint and down to the base, then picks it up and takes a mouthful. She raises her eyebrows at the comms specialist.

Peter asked at the bar for is customary 0%-alcohol beer and then proceeded to the main area.

Let's see who else is here for the show, he thinks. Provided it is not another fiasco like the one at Namibia. Jesus! He'd had to patch bullet wounds for a solid week, not to mention the phosphor wounds; those nasty Al-Quaeda guys love to booby-trap everything.

He shrugs imperceptibly. All in a day's work.

Peter gets his drink and sees how the two guests at the table next to the bar checks him out as he pays the bartender. Being late doesn´t seem to be a problem. Time stands still when in a bar. Only the bell at the end of service will remind you that it´s time to head home.

The woman by the table looks like a typical UN tech. She has the standard multitude of equipment attached to her utility belt.

Looking at the entarance he spots a newcomer. A young woman. She looks like she belongs to a private contractor. Possibly a pilot. She has the customary sun glasses tucked in her breast pocket.

The man opposite the tech  looks more military. Guess it´s the worn heavy duty boots and reinforced trousers that give that impression.  "Enjoy, sir!"

The bartender leaves to cater to the two men to the left of Peter.

Shane headed to the bar, carefully taking stock of each of the people present. He ordered an orange juice then lent on the bar...

Peter sits, alone, at a table far from the monitor with the wrestling match.

He enjoys the calmness of the half-empty bar, and looks at the rest of the customers. Two chicks, a pilot and a military. Chicks with guns, that is a bad combination if any. He looks back and remembers a certain chick with a gun. Which was the name? Oh, yeah, Olivia.

Carefully I watched all the crew while enjoying a mug of hot black coffee. I glanzed to everybody when they approach to my table allthoug I did not met anybody already.

Almost all of them are supposed to belong to UN military personel. I am probably supposed to bring them to any place in the helicopter. That is my job. I am a driver on the air cab for the UN people.

Everyday I meet new faces, everyday i meet new people briefly, some of them likes to talk but most of the offen see me as an external employee and dedicates me a cold and brief farewell clarifying me I am not one of them;
Everyday, as usual, I am abroad and far from home. I am young and I am used to it, but that situation avoid me to be near my closest friends.

But I do not know nothing at all about my next destination and about the mission of the people to be carried. Just I am supposed to be here at this precise moment, meet a mission chief, receive a location, pick a cab to the airdrome, heat the engine and fly away. As usual.

I am very shy, and my personality used to avoid me to speak with unknown people. I watch the evolutions of Ms. Vásquez chatting with the communication specialist. I would like to encourage myself and to be an easy tasker, just like her.

I checked my digital wrist clock and talked briefly to the militar located behind me.
[color=#800080] Sorry, sir. Did you got also an appointment to meet Sergeant Chard? [/color]

My voice reveals that I am tired (I arrived from Buenos Aires a few hour ago after a long air travel and I suffered a jet lag). Mi eyes confirm that situation. The bags under my eyes were slightly hided by a soft make-up.

As more people enter the bar the counter  starts to fill up.  A crowd of eight off-duty soldiers barge through the doors and get stopped and frisked by the two bouncers. The five men and three women tones down a little and are admitted entrance.

The man at the table behind Zajic smiles at her, apologingly. "No, don´t want to meet no officers off duty, miss. Have time for you, though. Care to join me?" He pats his lap. His smile grows wider.

Dimitri answers Vazquez saying:

I don´t know anything about this mission, it could be because this is a secret mission. What about you? You know anything?

I drink some beer after making the question.

Shane sipped his coffee and then his eyes satisfied about the occupants of the bar, moved to table with Vasquez and Dimitri.

He had overheard them discussing missions, "[color=#0000FF]I got a message to be here as well, I'm Shane McArthur.[/color]" He pulls up a chair and offers a handshake to the two. "[color=#0000FF]You guys have any idea what the job is? I've been itching to get back into the field.[/color]"

As Chad moved over he made room at the table then stood to get another drink and he caught the eye of his friend the young pilot "[color=#0000FF]Hey Hel? They called you in on this one as well?[/color]" He casts a evil look towards the man at the table behind her, "[color=#0000FF]why don't you come and join us over here?[/color]"

Peter overhears the others' chat, sighs and stands up, ambling to the group and accomodating himself in a chair there. [color=#0000A0]I guess we're on the same boat, or should I say on the same chopper, no offence meant, miss[/color] (says to the pilot).

[color=#0000A0]Peter Bishop, here, your friendly MD. No wounds are allowed without a previous appointment. And don't you dream of dying on me, it's messy and ruins my day with autopsies. I hate doing autopsies, specially on friends."[/color]

Downing the first beer, she begins her second. "Something about a tri-plan rig out of commission. Power trouble, I heard. Not any of my work..." She nods at the newcomers, " Vasqez, electronics." She looks at the doctor,  "If they lost power down there at that research station - they sure´ll need your help." She checks her watch. Fifteen minutes past 2100.

"I overheard a discussion at the officers´ mess at lunch time. Guess they could use someone to get the power up again. Seems we won´t be flying anywhere tonight. Those Tri-Plan guys don´t miss appointments."  She drums with her fingers at the edge of the circular table.

The man at the table next to Vasqez, Dimitri and their new friends decide against a come back at Shane´s comment.

At the bar, the eight over refreshed UN troopers make noise trying to order all at the same time.

[color=#800080]Oh, that would be nice. Thank you. But I'm afraid I will not stay so long with you. My next destination is probably to be decided in the next minutes [/color] I answered politely to the soldier and toke a seat besides him. I warm my hands placing then around the coffee mug.

This is my favourite moment. Hot coffee, a seat and relax my body and mind after so much exhausting flying hours. The weariness fly away and I feel relaxed and happy. I close my eyes for a while and deep breath. Then I caught a few conversations surrounding me. A few guys are looking forward for meeting Sgt. Schad, the sergeant whom I also must meet in a few minutes. They should be my next "cargo".

[color=#800080]I would be lucky if I were able to sleep in the base something like 6 or 7 hours. But I do not actually know if I would have just time for the coffee. I think I am supposed to fly again soon and far away. Sorry about that[/color] I continued talking to the soldier. I glanced through to the rest of the crew. An engineer, a soldier, a doctor... and somebody I meet before and recognised me. I smiled trying to remember his name... Shane... Shane Caufield? Shane Mc.... Macarthur. Yeah, Macarthur!!!! it would be nice to work with him again I smiled him and turned to the soldier who shared his table.
[color=#800080]I am so sorry but I have to join that people around there. I'm sure they are my next passengers. Let's have a coffee together next time I visit this base [/color] then I stand up and smiled to Shane. I took my coffee mug and brought it to the table where Shane stays.

[color=#800080] Hi Shane. I am glad to meet you again!!. [/color] and then I shaked his hand. [color=#800080] So, may I take a seat? [/color] I asked to the others and then introduced myself.
[color=#800080] My name is Helena Zajic. I think I will be responsive to bring you to our next destination. [/color] My voice sounded natural and ratherly reflects my lack of sleep in the last 20 hours.

The man at the table mutters, "Yeah, sure...." He seems unsure if he should reply or not but decides to answer.  "Some other time then." He finishes his drink and leaves the bar. The company gathering around the pilot seem to deter him from staying.

The man troubling the Helen mutters something like, "Yeah, sure - some other time...". He seems conflicted about the stare down from Shane and the continued conversation by the pilot. "Always a tease that Helen."

The following conversation is almost drowned by the guys at the bar trying to shout their way to a drink - or forceful flight out the doors. Vasqez report on the electrical failure is something at least.

McArthur knows that Tri-Plan has had some trouble with the colony below the ice. The initial leader of the research station was replaced by someone else. The whole deal is silenced not to cut financial flow or cause unrest on the other research stations. As always everything is great. Nothing to worry about. Just another fuse to be replaced.

"No problem with that until it turns out you´re the busted fuse."

Through security channels, Shane has heard that the trouble began five weeks ago. Twenty one hours ago audio feed was lost. Only three hours ago, the research lab´s beacon disappeared from the GPS system.

Below the monitor the bartender shuts off the monitor and starts up a Spotify Juke emanating from hidden speakers around the room.