Brings up a good point. What are these 52 partying libs eating now??? THEIR food was left on the Russian ship, which having its supply of mouths cut from 74 to 22 is now considered well stocked with food. At least unless they lose the ship, which as it has the lowest ice protection rating above zilch available remains possible. The Chicom icebreaker only has to feed its normal complement. I don't know how long they'd planned to stay, but you would think someone had enough sense to pack some extra food just in case. The
Aurora Australis, which normally feeds a crew of 24, now carries 76 mouths. How far its regular supplies will stretch to cover more than triple the mouths hasn't be reported to my knowledge. It was supposed to be on the annual resupply run for Casey Station, about 30° to the west, but left there after partial unloading to rescue these fools. The
Aurora Australis had been heading back to Casey, to complete its supply run, when re-detoured to help the Chicoms the fools entrapped. There may be extra food intended for Casey aboard, but then you'd be starving REAL scientists to feed fools. Conceivably any deficit to Casey could be made up by air as Casey has runways. In that case I'd certainly add those transportation costs to the fool's tab. And I would spare no green source in assuring that tab gets paid in full.
However, there is another, more fitting, option. The fools stated goal was the Sir Douglas Mawson experience. If you haven't read just what he experienced a century ago I strongly recommend reading the tale. There are few, if any, better. Have them better experience Mawson. Say quarter rations for most fools, none for their leader. Leave the brought food for them that brought it. Unless the fools entrap another ship, they'll return in plenty of time. If the fools complain there is another option. Send them out hunting. Guns are passé in Australian lib circles, but clubs would suffice. Shackleton and others, back in Mawson's day, proved you could live on seals and penguins alone. Mawson wished he had the chance. Just think how admired the fools would be by their fellow libs for that totally natural diet!
