When Charlie and the others disembarked from the boat, the brief day was drawing to a close.
A hundred meters from the ship on the ice sheet, three members of the Nordic polar science expedition awaited next to a snowmobile.
They had received word that after refueling and resupplying the scientific research station, they would set it to operate unmanned. The power, heating, and water supply systems would function automatically, ensuring the station remained habitable. Instruments would continuously document the operational status and key indicators like temperature and humidity, as well as air quality and oxygen levels. If the unmanned operation is successful throughout this winter, it would allow a group of researchers to spend the next winter at the station.
In the Antarctic winter, with no sunlight and unstable winds, clean energy is nearly non-existent. The most reliable energy source is the diesel generator, which also provides heat to the research station during operation.
Therefore, this supply mission would deliver at least 150 tons of diesel fuel to keep the station operational throughout the winter.
Transporting fuel is quite complicated and necessitates at least two or three trips to complete the delivery. Consequently, the members of the expedition were busy wrapping up their mission that morning, eager to return to their warm homes in Northern Europe.
As they spotted Charlie and the others, the three expedition members were taken aback. They had driven a snow tractor to tow the crew cabin, expecting to bring back those who could assist on the ship, but instead found four Asian faces aboard.
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