Over the bridge

Col. Hodgeson briefs you on your first official mission.  “We try to start our agents on low-risk missions.  This one should be a pretty standard milk-run.  You will be sent for three days across the Bridge to a polar world (4E01451).  Obviously, this is why you were stationed down South for the last three months. We were planning on waiting another two weeks to send you in, but we lost contact with the remote two days ago.  It recorded temperatures in the subzero range, so you’ll be outfitted accordingly. The air will be breathable (just cold).  No life was recorded, but we’re sending weapons with you just in case.  You’ll have three days to find the remote and the bridge will re-open.  Your secondary objective is to take digital pictures and voice record temperatures and any unusual phenomenon.  Make sure you’re at the rendezvous site (it is the same as where you’ll arrive).  If you miss the pick-up we’ll try again three days later.  Unfortunately, you can only carry enough propane and food for one week.  If you were to miss the second rendezvous we would send an emergency recon team with extra supplies.  I certainly hope we don’t have to.”

Dr. Farnsworth walks you through the ins and outs of walking the Bridge as your gear is brought into the room.  She reminds you that disorientation and passing out are common side effects.  She warns you to get your bearings and get a shelter established right away when crossing.  She tells you that in three days they will send a signal to retrieve you, which should pull you back here (no bridging equipment needed).  You do need to be within 100 yards of where you arrived, so marking it is a good idea. She tells you that at most you can have 100 pounds of gear each.  Any more and you may not make it back.  The remote you’re looking for weighs almost 100 lbs, so you’ll be leaving gear behind if you’re successful.   She seems worried as the techs arrive to gear you up.

You are given top-quality cold weather gear. You are given heavy duty parkas, polar fleece overalls, thermal underwear, balaclava, gloves, boots, and goggles.  You are to share a pack of extra clothing.  You will carry over a tent, one two-man sleeping bag, survival gear, and propane for heating and cooking.  You have a basic field kit with a cook stove and utensils.  You’ll have ice climbing gear, but are supposed to avoid using these if possible.  You have a basic first aid kit and enough food for one week.  You’ll carry binoculars, a digital recorder, and a homing device that should be tuned to the remote you’re looking for.

You are each issued a combat knife, a Smith & Wesson .342 (a 5-shot pistol that weighs less than one pound, and you are to share a 7mm Magnum Remington Model 700 hunting rifle.  They tell you that its used to hunt Kodiaks in Alaska.

You gear up, step onto the bridge and they power it up.  Mac, you seem to blink and suddenly you are standing on an icy plain with the wind ripping right through you.  The cold shocks you and it takes a minute to gain your senses.  Larry is slumped on the ground next to you.  The sun is going down and you know you don’t have long in these temperatures.  Larry starts to groan as you quickly assemble the tent.  Larry, you gain consciousness as Mac pulls you into the tent and starts the propane heater.  You both spend a long, cold quiet night together. 

The view to the north.

After 6 hours, the sun starts to come up, but holds low in the sky.  It is not really a dawn, more like pre-dawn.  You can see about 100 yards out.  You are on a wide plain and can faintly see mountains to the north, but have no way to gauge distance (or what is between you and them).  There is no vegetation present and the only sound is the wind.  You wait another two hours, and it doesn’t get any better.  You get a faint reading on the homing device; your compass says it is east.  Do you head out in the half-light or wait longer for the light to come out?