Arden defies orders to excavate the Ice Warrior
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Arden directs Walters and Davis to drill and clear a trench, preparing a seismograph probe, setting the stage for their work at the glacier face.
Walters discovers a humanoid figure encased in ice, intriguing Arden and shifting the focus away from their initial task, as Walters urges Arden to look at his discovery.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Eager and impatient, with a dismissive attitude toward authority
Arden wipes away snow from the wall of clear ice, revealing the humanoid figure encased within. He immediately abandons the seismograph probe and orders Davis to prepare the heavy drill, overriding Walters' objections and the base's computerised schedule. His actions are driven by archaeological curiosity and a disregard for institutional safety, as he prioritizes the potential discovery over protocol. Arden's physical presence is dominant, his voice commanding, and his movements urgent as he directs the excavation.
- • Uncover the humanoid figure encased in the ice, regardless of the risks
- • Assert his authority over Walters and Davis, overriding their objections and the base's directives
- • Scientific discovery justifies breaking protocol
- • His expertise and authority should not be questioned by subordinates
None (frozen and inactive)
The Ice Warrior is discovered encased in the wall of clear ice, its humanoid figure barely visible beneath the surface. Its presence is initially mistaken for an animal or mastodon, but Arden's decision to excavate it sets in motion its eventual revival. The Ice Warrior itself is passive in this moment, frozen and unaware, but its discovery marks the beginning of a chain of events that will threaten the base and the team. Its symbolic role as a dormant but imminent threat looms over the scene.
- • None (currently)
- • Implied: Survival and eventual revival to reclaim power (foreshadowed)
- • None (currently)
- • Implied: Loyalty to his people and a desire to restore their dominance (foreshadowed)
Anxious and torn between loyalty to Arden and adherence to protocol
Walters rubs snow off the wall of clear ice, discovering the humanoid figure encased within. He expresses concerns about the computerised schedule and Clent's potential anger, attempting to communicate with the base via his wrist-com but failing due to poor reception. Despite his objections, he initially follows Arden's orders to excavate the figure, though his anxiety is palpable. Walters' physical presence is tense, his voice hesitant, and his movements cautious as he grapples with the conflict between obedience and safety.
- • Follow the base's computerised schedule and avoid Clent's disapproval
- • Ensure the team's safety amid the risks of excavation and avalanche
- • Protocol exists to protect the team and the base's mission
- • Arden's defiance could lead to dangerous consequences
Neutral (as a machine), but its authority is challenged by Arden's defiance
The Computer is referenced as the source of the computerised schedule that Walters mentions as a constraint. Its directives are overridden by Arden's actions, symbolizing the tension between institutional protocol and individual ambition. The Computer represents the cold, mechanical logic of the base's operations, which Arden dismisses in pursuit of his discovery.
- • Enforce adherence to the computerised schedule and base protocols
- • Maintain operational efficiency and safety standards
- • Protocol must be followed to prevent systemic failure
- • Human discretion can lead to unpredictable and dangerous outcomes
Indirectly threatening (via Walters' warnings about his potential fury)
Clent is referenced indirectly as the figure whose authority Arden is defying. His name is invoked by Walters as a cautionary figure, symbolizing the institutional power structure that Arden is challenging. Clent's potential disapproval looms over the scene, representing the base's rigid hierarchy and the consequences of insubordination.
- • Maintain control over base operations and adherence to protocol
- • Prevent unauthorized actions that could jeopardize the ioniser system or team safety
- • Strict adherence to protocol is essential for survival during the ice age
- • Unauthorized actions by subordinates undermine the base's stability and mission
Neutral, with a sense of pragmatic compliance
Davis is directed by Arden to prepare the heavy drill for excavation. He follows orders without objection, though his role in the scene is largely functional. His compliance with Arden's commands highlights the hierarchical dynamics at play, as he prioritizes obedience over safety concerns. Davis' physical presence is utilitarian, his actions methodical as he readies the drill for the unauthorized excavation.
- • Follow Arden's orders to prepare the heavy drill
- • Contribute to the excavation without questioning the risks
- • His role is to obey superior officers without question
- • Safety concerns are secondary to the mission's objectives
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Arden initially prepares the seismograph probe to analyze the glacier face, but its use is abandoned when Walters discovers the humanoid figure encased in the ice. The probe symbolizes Arden's scientific method, which is quickly discarded in favor of direct excavation. Its brief appearance underscores the shift from methodical investigation to reckless discovery, highlighting Arden's obsession with uncovering the figure at any cost.
The protective plastic suits worn by Arden, Walters, and Davis shield them from the sub-zero winds and ice shards at the glacier face. The suits crinkle with each movement, emphasizing the physical demands of the excavation and the harsh environment. They symbolize the team's preparation for danger, though their protection is no match for the reckless risks Arden takes in defying protocol. The suits also highlight the team's vulnerability to the elements and the potential consequences of their actions.
The protective goggles shield Arden, Walters, and Davis' eyes from the blinding snow glare and flying ice shards at the glacier face. The team wears them during the tense excavation of the humanoid figure, pulling them down as Arden overrides warnings to chip away at the frozen block. The goggles symbolize the team's attempt to protect themselves amid the dangers of the excavation, though their use is undermined by the reckless actions they are taking. They also serve as a visual cue to the harsh and hazardous environment.
The heavy drill is central to the excavation of the humanoid figure encased in the ice. Arden orders Davis to prepare it, overriding Walters' objections and the base's computerised schedule. The drill's roaring power symbolizes the reckless urgency of Arden's actions, as it chips away at the frozen layers, scattering ice shards and heightening the risk of an avalanche. Its use marks the moment of defiance against institutional protocol, setting in motion the discovery of the Ice Warrior and the subsequent threat to the base.
The Ice Warrior encased in the wall of clear ice is discovered by Walters, its humanoid figure mistaken for an animal or mastodon. Arden's decision to excavate it sets in motion its eventual revival, marking the beginning of a chain of events that will threaten the base and the team. The figure's presence is initially passive, frozen and unaware, but its discovery symbolizes the dormant threat that Arden's recklessness will unleash. The Ice Warrior's encasement in ice also serves as a metaphor for the base's own fragile stability, which Arden is determined to shatter.
The durable metal helmets worn by Arden, Walters, and Davis guard their heads against falling ice and extreme cold. They gleam under the harsh lights as the scientists ignore warnings, pulling them down to better focus on the excavation. The helmets symbolize the team's attempt to mitigate risk, though their use is ironic given the reckless nature of Arden's decisions. They also serve as a visual reminder of the team's professional roles and the institutional context they are defying.
The wall of clear ice at the glacier face embeds the humanoid figure discovered by Walters. Its transparency reveals the figure's outline, drawing Arden's immediate order to excavate it. The ice wall symbolizes the boundary between the known and the unknown, between safety and danger. As the team chips away at it, the wall represents the fragile barrier that Arden is determined to breach, regardless of the consequences. Its clear surface also reflects the harsh lighting and the team's determined faces, emphasizing the tension and urgency of the moment.
Walters' wrist-com beeps with a transmission from the base, but poor reception garbles the message, preventing communication. The wrist-com symbolizes the base's attempt to maintain control and adherence to protocol, but its failure to function underscores the isolation and autonomy of the field team. The device's malfunction amplifies the tension, as Walters is unable to seek permission or guidance, leaving the team to act without oversight.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The glacier face serves as the primary setting for this event, where Arden, Walters, and Davis engage in the unauthorized excavation of the humanoid figure encased in the ice. Sheer walls of clear ice tower over the team, creating a sense of isolation and danger. The harsh environment, with its biting winds and the looming risk of avalanches, amplifies the tension as the team defies protocol. The glacier face symbolizes the boundary between the known and the unknown, between safety and the potential threat of the Ice Warrior. Its sheer expanse also reflects the team's vulnerability and the reckless ambition driving their actions.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Britannicus Base Europe is represented through the computerised schedule, Walters' wrist-com transmissions, and the looming authority of Leader Clent. The base's institutional protocols and hierarchical structure are challenged by Arden's defiance, as he prioritizes his archaeological curiosity over adherence to the schedule. The base's influence is felt through Walters' attempts to communicate and his warnings about Clent's potential disapproval, but its authority is ultimately overridden by Arden's actions. The organization's goals of maintaining control and safety are directly threatened by the team's reckless excavation.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Arden ignores the call from base to focus on the humanoid figure in the ice, leading to a tense exchange when Clent discovers Arden's actions via video call."
Arden defies Clent over frozen discovery"Arden's disregard for Clent's orders at the glacier face foreshadows Walters' concern about potential conflict with Clent."
Arden’s discovery fractures the team"Arden's disregard for Clent's orders at the glacier face foreshadows Walters' concern about potential conflict with Clent."
Avalanche fractures team and exposes fracturesThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"WALTERS: Sir. Get your drill ready, Davis. Sir! ARDEN: Yes? WALTERS: (WALTERS rubs snow off a wall of clear ice.) Come quickly, sir! WALTERS: I could swear there's something inside. ARDEN: Oh, not another mastodon. WALTERS: Well, look for yourself, sir. ARDEN: Is it a man?"
"WALTERS: But, sir, the computerised schedule. We must stick to that. ARDEN: Oh, must we? WALTERS: Leader Clent will be furious, sir. ARDEN: Well, that's just too bad. For once we'll do something on our own account, eh?"
"WALTERS: There's not much base can do about it, sir. After all, we can't even ask permission, can we? ARDEN: (ARDEN wipes away more of the snow) Come on, Davis. Hurry, man!"