Scientific Specializations for Exploring Unknown Island

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

So probably around 1600 points or so. That's a good range for a nasty piece of work like something from Outside.

Yes, He Who Hungers in the Deep should be around that power level, although I confess I almost never create anything with points unless it's a PC.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

How's that work exactly?

Well, see above. I haven't made it as a power in GCA. To translate it into something approaching GURPS speak, the tendril or fragment of He Who Hungers in the Deep requires Mana to survive, cut off from his home plane like this, and he can gather it from appropriately dark flavored Places of Power and he can also gain it from 'sacrifices', i.e. those he kills and devours, but also those who die within the right sort of dark energy vortex.

Because Earth is pretty low in Mana, He Who Hungers either has to limit what kind of feats he attempts, as he cannot naturally gather enough energy to sustain it, or he must consume copious amounts of energy by devouring intelligent beings. No prizes for guessing which He'll prefer.

Before Teddy Smith closed off the Aqueronte from any other planes and realities, using his 'Elder Sign'*, He Who Hungers in the Deep was quite close to actually manifesting something more than a few tendrils, given how enthusiastically the PCs were killing the crewmen/human traffickers on the cargo ship and the not-quite-human pishtaco who oversaw them.

But with that connection closed, He Who Hungers must find an alternative source of energy to grow this severed part of him into a perfect predator capable of opening the way to Earth for his whole self.

*A jade seal he obtained at the ruined temple on the mysterious island, in that strange twilight realm where Teddy first met He Who Hungers. In GURPS terms, a combination of grimoire and spell focus.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

So getting it ashore is the key. interesting. And the Outsider likely understands that even if he is forced ashore somehow.

He Who Hungers is quite intelligent, even if He is in no way constrained by any vestige of culture or civilization. He can converse telepathically, at least in areas of sufficient magical energy, and seems to enjoy getting to know his prey before he devours them.

So he likely understands pretty well that he has an advantage in the water, which is most likely why he dove off the Aqueronte, the cargo ship that the PCs had boarded. Much like Shere Khan, He Who Hungers has seen man-made firearms before and recognizes their power.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

That's what I'd do. Get He Who Hungers to come ashore and then use lots of fire. Lots of fire.

The seriousness of the situation probably warrants risking being arrested, yes. Teddy Smith is technically a Reserve Deputy of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and if he shoots He Who Hungers, it's probable that the twisted remains of whoever the host body originally was would appear human enough once they were taken to a morgue and, given that He Who Hungers would likely be the process of committing murder, Smith would be commended for his work.

However, any use of explosives, incendiaries and the like is likely to significantly complicate explanations afterwards, especially as such diverse law enforcement agencies as the SWAT team from JCSO, a tactical team from USCG, assistance from Harris County Sherrif's Office and Houston PD and federal agents from the task force established to investigate the previous events in play, including US Marshals and FBI, are inbound.

As the players made sure to arrange for friendly law enforcement assistance beforehand, the first authorities on the scene will be from the USCG and the JCSO. The USCG contingent is from MSST 91104, a Coast Guard tactical team that was until recently based on Galveston (now moved to Houston) and more than half of the operators there served with LCDR (USCG; Ret.) Mason Armitage, who was acting CO of the unit in 2017, and now commands the Penemue team of 'Night Riders' (Monster Hunters).

Even so, that means several members of the tactical team will be unknown or relatively unknown to the PCs and their allies and while they will know all the SWAT members from the JCSO that probably arrive next, it's unlikely that all of them will be okay with watching 'law enforcement' be performed with napalm and flamethrowers.

Not to mention that Harris County and Houston PD have helicopters and that while the PCs arranged for the rest of the task force to get wrong coordinates for the ship they boarded, that will only delay them for ten or fifteen minutes.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

An ugly situation for sure.

Also not a very satisfying conclusion to an adventure, a short, sharp melee in the waters off Houston.

Far better to have to track He Who Hungers ashore and catch up with him at a local landmark with a fell reputation, a Place of Power for dark magic, where He'll be hunting cultists trying to hide from mundane law enforcement.

Fortunately, He Who Hungers in the Deep explicitly doesn't want to devour Teddy Smith until he has broken his mind and his spirit. It seems He Who Hungers is quite vexed with Teddy, for some reason.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Yes, He Who Hungers in the Deep should be around that power level, although I confess I almost never create anything with points unless it's a PC.

Me either. Not worth the effort in most cases UNLESS it's an ally or important NPC. Then I spend the time to do so.

Originally Posted by Icelander

Well, see above. I haven't made it as a power in GCA. To translate it into something approaching GURPS speak, the tendril or fragment of He Who Hungers in the Deep requires Mana to survive, cut off from his home plane like this, and he can gather it from appropriately dark flavored Places of Power and he can also gain it from 'sacrifices', i.e. those he kills and devours, but also those who die within the right sort of dark energy vortex.

So he's just sort of hanging around in the vortex collecting the souls of those who have died? How does Heaven (or Hell for that matter) feel about him poaching like that? You'd think they'd send someone down to smite the crap out of him./

Originally Posted by Icelander

Because Earth is pretty low in Mana, He Who Hungers either has to limit what kind of feats he attempts, as he cannot naturally gather enough energy to sustain it, or he must consume copious amounts of energy by devouring intelligent beings. No prizes for guessing which He'll prefer.

Aye. Makes for good story too.

Originally Posted by Icelander

Before Teddy Smith closed off the Aqueronte from any other planes and realities, using his 'Elder Sign'*, He Who Hungers in the Deep was quite close to actually manifesting something more than a few tendrils, given how enthusiastically the PCs were killing the crewmen/human traffickers on the cargo ship and the not-quite-human pishtaco who oversaw them.

But with that connection closed, He Who Hungers must find an alternative source of energy to grow this severed part of him into a perfect predator capable of opening the way to Earth for his whole self.

A nice Xantos Gambit.

Originally Posted by Icelander

*A jade seal he obtained at the ruined temple on the mysterious island, in that strange twilight realm where Teddy first met He Who Hungers. In GURPS terms, a combination of grimoire and spell focus.

Cooool. I'd make the darn thing something like a relic myself. But that's just me.

Originally Posted by Icelander

He Who Hungers is quite intelligent, even if He is in no way constrained by any vestige of culture or civilization. He can converse telepathically, at least in areas of sufficient magical energy, and seems to enjoy getting to know his prey before he devours them.

So he likely understands pretty well that he has an advantage in the water, which is most likely why he dove off the Aqueronte, the cargo ship that the PCs had boarded. Much like Shere Khan, He Who Hungers has seen man-made firearms before and recognizes their power.

That's a good metaphor. I like that. I wonder how they're going to get him to come ashore - he doesn't seem like he can be effectively trapped that way. He's too smart. Maybe lure him with souls or something.

Originally Posted by Icelander

The seriousness of the situation probably warrants risking being arrested, yes. Teddy Smith is technically a Reserve Deputy of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and if he shoots He Who Hungers, it's probable that the twisted remains of whoever the host body originally was would appear human enough once they were taken to a morgue and, given that He Who Hungers would likely be the process of committing murder, Smith would be commended for his work.

However, any use of explosives, incendiaries and the like is likely to significantly complicate explanations afterwards, especially as such diverse law enforcement agencies as the SWAT team from JCSO, a tactical team from USCG, assistance from Harris County Sherrif's Office and Houston PD and federal agents from the task force established to investigate the previous events in play, including US Marshals and FBI, are inbound.

As the players made sure to arrange for friendly law enforcement assistance beforehand, the first authorities on the scene will be from the USCG and the JCSO. The USCG contingent is from MSST 91104, a Coast Guard tactical team that was until recently based on Galveston (now moved to Houston) and more than half of the operators there served with LCDR (USCG; Ret.) Mason Armitage, who was acting CO of the unit in 2017, and now commands the Penemue team of 'Night Riders' (Monster Hunters).

Even so, that means several members of the tactical team will be unknown or relatively unknown to the PCs and their allies and while they will know all the SWAT members from the JCSO that probably arrive next, it's unlikely that all of them will be okay with watching 'law enforcement' be performed with napalm and flamethrowers.

Not to mention that Harris County and Houston PD have helicopters and that while the PCs arranged for the rest of the task force to get wrong coordinates for the ship they boarded, that will only delay them for ten or fifteen minutes.

That is a LOT of support for a group of hunters to have. Not that it's a bad thing, but wouldn't you have the whole "Let's wait for the calvary to show up" problem?

Originally Posted by Icelander

Also not a very satisfying conclusion to an adventure, a short, sharp melee in the waters off Houston.

Far better to have to track He Who Hungers ashore and catch up with him at a local landmark with a fell reputation, a Place of Power for dark magic, where He'll be hunting cultists trying to hide from mundane law enforcement.

Fortunately, He Who Hungers in the Deep explicitly doesn't want to devour Teddy Smith until he has broken his mind and his spirit. It seems He Who Hungers is quite vexed with Teddy, for some reason.

Interesting. Why's it angry at Smith? Or is that a campaign secret?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

So he's just sort of hanging around in the vortex collecting the souls of those who have died? How does Heaven (or Hell for that matter) feel about him poaching like that? You'd think they'd send someone down to smite the crap out of him./

The PCs don't actually know if there is a Heaven or Hell.

Some spirits are opportunistic and hungry for attention, as well as often being malleable and influenced by the unconscious belief and desires of the population around them, which means that a lot of spirits claim to be angels, demons and the souls of departed humans, but there's no actual way to determine whether they really are or not.

'Ghosts' might genuinely believe that they are the disembodied souls of the dead, but scientifically, they might just as well be an alien race composed of energy instead of matter which feeds on certain brain waves and unconsciously take the shape and characteristics of the deceased from memories of those who survive them. There is no consensus among occultists as to whether the human 'soul' is an entity or simply a process, let alone what happens to it when people die.

So far, there is no evidence that any celestial or infernal authority that polices supernatural powers exists. That being said, various powerful spirits that claim to be loas, angels or demons from all kinds of human religions are active on the Earth of the 2010s, usually through worshipers, devotees or shamanic intermediaries, and these spirits will mostly not appreciate anything that devours spirits.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

That's a good metaphor. I like that. I wonder how they're going to get him to come ashore - he doesn't seem like he can be effectively trapped that way. He's too smart. Maybe lure him with souls or something.

The occult preparations that the cultists of the Keepers of the Last Hearth have done at several dark-flavored local Places of Power for their now-ruined sacrifice, as well as the upcoming liminal time of the New Year, will both be powerful temptations to He Who Hungers in the Deep.

To His predator senses, there are feasts of flesh and souls prepared for him in locations where the magical energies necessary to strengthen this frail vessel may be found. To His way of thinking, all He needs to do if hunt well the next two nights ashore, rest up in the ocean during the day, and then He'll be in a position to open up a new way to the Outside during the time when the veil between worlds is weak over the New Year.

While He understands the threat of firearms from some previous experiences, that was against a small band of humans cut off from modern society. He Who Hungers still hasn't experienced the scale of organization and coordination of a human law enforcement response to incidents of alleged terrorism, so He cannot really appreciate how unsafe it is to come ashore anywhere near Galveston at this exact time (and for the next week or two).

The ocean depths may be inviting, but there is little in the way of energy or food for him within any reasonable sensory range there. Unintelligent animals yield far less mystical energy when devoured than beings with personality and self-awareness and while there are areas of great magical power in the deep ocean, most of those are located hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the Gulf Coast.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

That is a LOT of support for a group of hunters to have. Not that it's a bad thing, but wouldn't you have the whole "Let's wait for the calvary to show up" problem?

Not in my experience.

Note that only some individuals in the various Sheriff's Offices around Galveston and the local Coast Guard detachment are at all aware of the supernatural. Even those who are friendly to Kessler and/or individuals in his network generally have only a vague idea about the existence of a supernatural threat and they are aware that the official policy of authorities nearly anywhere is to find any other explanation for odd phenomena than supernatural ones.

This means that official law enforcement tactical teams and other support always have to justify their actions to superiors and/or bureaucrats who do not know about the supernatural (or, alternatively, do not believe what they know and/or pretend not to know). There will also often be members of these teams who do not know or do not believe.

In practical terms, therefore, the PCs determined that having sheriff's deputies, Coast Guardsmen or federal agents with them when they boarded the container ship Aqueronte would be counter-productive. Not only does it constrain the actions of PCs, by forcing them to conform to the rules and expedition of law enforcement unaware of the supernatural, it also introduces more or less ordinary people to a situation that they are not equipped to handle.

After all, with the ship roiling with dark energies and attracting every hungry spirit in ten counties, anyone without the right training (and mystical talismans) would be prone to be influenced into violent, emotionally-unstable behaviour by opportunistic spirits, as well as potentially subject to possession if they suffered a mental shock of some sort.

So the PCs deliberately arranged to have a mistake made by the JCSO communications switchboard, to ensure that most of the law enforcement agencies concerned with the investigation had the wrong coordinates. Finally, they warned friends in the USCG to have a boarding team ready for the Aqueronte, but insisted that they did not approach until they gave the okay, instructing their friends to cite unconfirmed reports of a potential biological threat to their superiors, but actually explaining, in layman's terms, the threat of all the qlippoth spirits attracted by the dark magic.

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

Interesting. Why's it angry at Smith? Or is that a campaign secret?

Smith doesn't actually know.

However, Smith's possession of a magical artifact designed to seal barriers between worlds and generally act against Outsiders, as well as Smith's rabid preoccupation with the threat of Outsiders (to the point of Fanaticism), argues that when they met before, Smith might have used the Path of Crossroads to do something that He Who Hungers in the Deep deeply resented.

For that matter, Smith doesn't know what enabled him to finally get home. Something delivered him and the other three survivors through the veil between worlds and it's a fair bet that this was something that had to do with the Path of Crossroads.

[Icelander]

Commander Samuel H. Shackleford (b. June 27, 1938; Corpus Christi, TX); oceanographer from Texas A&M, Galveston; US Navy Reserves, veteran expedition leader.

Professor Harlan P. Wehmeyer (b. May 14, 1935; Galveston, TX); geologist/mining engineer/geophysicist from Texas A&M. Without Magery, but enthusiastic theoretical expert at 'tellurgy', i.e. the study of ley lines and Places of Power.

Reverend Francis Coughlin S.J. PhD (b. September 9, 1939; Dublin, Ireland); theologist and bioethicist from Loyola University. One of the foremost ritual magicians known to Kessler in the year 1995.

Dr. Spencer Duvall (b. October 28; 1943; Houston, TX); MD and forensic anthropologist from UT-Medical Branch and Texas State University; US Army Reserves. Kept on retainer by Kessler for autopsies of unusual creatures.

Denzel Rolle (b. August 1, 1948; Nassau, Bahamas); cultural anthropologist from University of Texas - Austin. Expert in Afro-Caribbean religions and traditional magic.

Hubert Caron (b. September 23, 1961; Lille, France); biologist (biodiversity, ecology) from Sorbonne Universite. Employed full-time by Kessler (through an oil company) since his graduation, specializes in analyzing reports of cryptids and providing actionable intelligence for investigators.

Martin Luther 'Marty' White (b. March 19, 1964; San Antonio; TX); Afro-Caribbean linguist from UT-Austin and Université Paris-Sorbonne. In addition to his formal academic credentials, spent much of his graduate students working on projects that involved research of the occult and supernatural, is a moderately competent ritual magician.

J. Garrett Sullivan (b. August 15, 1956; Dallas, TX); post-graduate biochemist research assistant from Baylor College of Medicine; former USASF Medical Sergeant.

---

In addition, I've been convinced that I need several other scientific disciplines. At minimum, I need a botanist and an entomologist. These should be as familiar as possible with Caribbean species, so it would be good if they came from a university located there or at least had done field work in the Caribbean.

Looking for suggestions, but it is likely that unless either a botanist or an entomologist had provided consulting services to Kessler before (on something other than a suddenly appearing island), they might be graduate students rather than established academics. Especially the entomologist is a specialization that I imagine had to be found for this expedition, as they had perhaps not employed one before.

Assuming that I make space for two more scientists, what two other specializations would be most useful?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Icelander

The PCs don't actually know if there is a Heaven or Hell.

Some spirits are opportunistic and hungry for attention, as well as often being malleable and influenced by the unconscious belief and desires of the population around them, which means that a lot of spirits claim to be angels, demons and the souls of departed humans, but there's no actual way to determine whether they really are or not.

'Ghosts' might genuinely believe that they are the disembodied souls of the dead, but scientifically, they might just as well be an alien race composed of energy instead of matter which feeds on certain brain waves and unconsciously take the shape and characteristics of the deceased from memories of those who survive them. There is no consensus among occultists as to whether the human 'soul' is an entity or simply a process, let alone what happens to it when people die.

So far, there is no evidence that any celestial or infernal authority that polices supernatural powers exists. That being said, various powerful spirits that claim to be loas, angels or demons from all kinds of human religions are active on the Earth of the 2010s, usually through worshipers, devotees or shamanic intermediaries, and these spirits will mostly not appreciate anything that devours spirits.

That's interesting but too wishy-washy for me. Unless you mean the PCs don't know of course. One of the first things I do is figure out how the afterlife works and that includes ghosts. Sometimes it's as simple as "There isn't one."

Originally Posted by Icelander

The occult preparations that the cultists of the Keepers of the Last Hearth have done at several dark-flavored local Places of Power for their now-ruined sacrifice, as well as the upcoming liminal time of the New Year, will both be powerful temptations to He Who Hungers in the Deep.

To His predator senses, there are feasts of flesh and souls prepared for him in locations where the magical energies necessary to strengthen this frail vessel may be found. To His way of thinking, all He needs to do if hunt well the next two nights ashore, rest up in the ocean during the day, and then He'll be in a position to open up a new way to the Outside during the time when the veil between worlds is weak over the New Year.

While He understands the threat of firearms from some previous experiences, that was against a small band of humans cut off from modern society. He Who Hungers still hasn't experienced the scale of organization and coordination of a human law enforcement response to incidents of alleged terrorism, so He cannot really appreciate how unsafe it is to come ashore anywhere near Galveston at this exact time (and for the next week or two).

The ocean depths may be inviting, but there is little in the way of energy or food for him within any reasonable sensory range there. Unintelligent animals yield far less mystical energy when devoured than beings with personality and self-awareness and while there are areas of great magical power in the deep ocean, most of those are located hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the Gulf Coast.

So someone is preparing victims for him? Neat.

I'm guessing he hasn't been hit with something like a grenade or RPG - those always even the odds against critters.

Originally Posted by Icelander

Not in my experience.

Note that only some individuals in the various Sheriff's Offices around Galveston and the local Coast Guard detachment are at all aware of the supernatural. Even those who are friendly to Kessler and/or individuals in his network generally have only a vague idea about the existence of a supernatural threat and they are aware that the official policy of authorities nearly anywhere is to find any other explanation for odd phenomena than supernatural ones.

This means that official law enforcement tactical teams and other support always have to justify their actions to superiors and/or bureaucrats who do not know about the supernatural (or, alternatively, do not believe what they know and/or pretend not to know). There will also often be members of these teams who do not know or do not believe.

In practical terms, therefore, the PCs determined that having sheriff's deputies, Coast Guardsmen or federal agents with them when they boarded the container ship Aqueronte would be counter-productive. Not only does it constrain the actions of PCs, by forcing them to conform to the rules and expedition of law enforcement unaware of the supernatural, it also introduces more or less ordinary people to a situation that they are not equipped to handle.

After all, with the ship roiling with dark energies and attracting every hungry spirit in ten counties, anyone without the right training (and mystical talismans) would be prone to be influenced into violent, emotionally-unstable behaviour by opportunistic spirits, as well as potentially subject to possession if they suffered a mental shock of some sort.

So the PCs deliberately arranged to have a mistake made by the JCSO communications switchboard, to ensure that most of the law enforcement agencies concerned with the investigation had the wrong coordinates. Finally, they warned friends in the USCG to have a boarding team ready for the Aqueronte, but insisted that they did not approach until they gave the okay, instructing their friends to cite unconfirmed reports of a potential biological threat to their superiors, but actually explaining, in layman's terms, the threat of all the qlippoth spirits attracted by the dark magic.

Well, if they can't use them to assist what's the point? It's like a Chekhov's gun for the PCs. Unless they haven't pulled that lever yet - maybe saving it for when they really need it.

Hmmm. I'mma have to think over this some. Got me an idea brewing on when to call in the big guns.

Originally Posted by Icelander

Smith doesn't actually know.

However, Smith's possession of a magical artifact designed to seal barriers between worlds and generally act against Outsiders, as well as Smith's rabid preoccupation with the threat of Outsiders (to the point of Fanaticism), argues that when they met before, Smith might have used the Path of Crossroads to do something that He Who Hungers in the Deep deeply resented.

For that matter, Smith doesn't know what enabled him to finally get home. Something delivered him and the other three survivors through the veil between worlds and it's a fair bet that this was something that had to do with the Path of Crossroads.

Maybe HWHitD is worried that if he's sealed and sent back this part of the tendril from the original entity goes bye bye. Worse than death - that's unmaking.

[Icelander]

Christopher, I've replied to your post in the general Caribbean by Night campaign thread, as it is more suitable for general discussion of the metaphysics of the campaign, recent events in it or the specifics of its villains.

I'll break my response into several posts, because, well, with the quotes and the character limits of posts, it wouldn't fit in one. First one up is about the eternal verities of the setting; I'll get back on the subjects of the PCs position as law enforcement officers (albeit Reserve Deputies) and more about Him Who Hungers in the Deep.

In this thread, I'd really like to get thoughts from forumites on the two spots I have left for scientists on the expeditions and what specializations would be most vital slash most likely to be people already close to Kessler and clamoring to go?

[Icelander]

So, say I'm assigning two extra spots on the expedition to a botanist and an entomologist (one or both of whom may be PhD or post-graduate students rather than established academics), I've still got two spots left.

The roster would then look like this:

---

1) Commander Samuel H. Shackleford (b. June 27, 1938; Corpus Christi, TX); oceanographer from Texas A&M, Galveston; US Navy Reserves, veteran expedition leader.

2) Professor Harlan P. Wehmeyer (b. May 14, 1935; Galveston, TX); geologist/mining engineer/geophysicist from Texas A&M. Without Magery, but enthusiastic theoretical expert at 'tellurgy', i.e. the study of ley lines and Places of Power.

3) Reverend Francis Coughlin S.J. PhD (b. September 9, 1939; Dublin, Ireland); theologist and bioethicist from Loyola University. One of the foremost ritual magicians known to Kessler in the year 1995.

4) Dr. Spencer Duvall (b. October 28; 1943; Houston, TX); MD and forensic anthropologist from UT-Medical Branch and Texas State University; US Army Reserves. Kept on retainer by Kessler for autopsies of unusual creatures.

5) Denzel Rolle (b. August 1, 1948; Nassau, Bahamas); cultural anthropologist from University of Texas - Austin. Expert in Afro-Caribbean religions and traditional magic.

6) Hubert Caron (b. September 23, 1961; Lille, France); biologist (biodiversity, ecology) from Sorbonne Universite. Employed full-time by Kessler (through an oil company) since his graduation, specializes in analyzing reports of cryptids and providing actionable intelligence for investigators.

7) Martin Luther 'Marty' White (b. March 19, 1964; San Antonio; TX); Afro-Caribbean linguist from UT-Austin and Université Paris-Sorbonne. In addition to his formal academic credentials, spent much of his graduate students working on projects that involved research of the occult and supernatural, is a moderately competent ritual magician.

8) J. Garrett Sullivan (b. August 15, 1956; Dallas, TX); post-graduate biochemist research assistant from Baylor College of Medicine; former USASF Medical Sergeant.

9) [Unnamed]; botanist

10) [Unnamed], entomologist

11) [Unnamed]; to be determined.

12) [Unnamed]; to be determined.

---

So, what should the last two members specialize in?

Other fields of biology, maybe ornithology or something else? Marine biology?

Or maybe a positional astronomer?

Physicist of some kind?

Specialist in scientific equipment?

Something else?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Something else?

I presume that they have an ex-military pilot trained in celestial navigation well enough to determine whether the island is on a planet orbiting the Sun and whether it is in contemporary time. Or I suppose that Shackleford ought to be able to do it — seafaring officers were still taught taught celestial navigation in his pre-satnav days, because LORAN-C equipment was expensive.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

I presume that they have an ex-military pilot trained in celestial navigation well enough to determine whether the island is on a planet orbiting the Sun and whether it is in contemporary time. Or I suppose that Shackleford ought to be able to do it — seafaring officers were still taught taught celestial navigation in his pre-satnav days, because LORAN-C equipment was expensive.

Let's call the pilot of the Wilson Global Explorer a former USN aviator (A-4 Skyhawks), Lt. (Ret.) John A. Hill (b. November 23, 1956; Pearland, TX). BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1978.

While Hill wasn't dumb, he was certainly more daredevil than intellectual. On the other hand, random determination has dictated that he was in the top 5% in navigation of his aviator peers.

Shackleford learned navigation in the Navy, but he's also spent several decades doing oceanography surveys and leading scientific expeditions, so Navigation (Sea) is one of his primary job skills (along with such fun stuff as Administration and Mathematics (Surveying)).

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Other fields of biology, maybe ornithology or something else?

My thought early on in this inquiry was that rocks, herps, birds, and cultures represented a series of things that are mobile over diminishing time-scales, so that an anthropologist/prehistorian recognising unfamiliar but related humans/human traces, an ornithologist recognising familiar or unfamiliar-but-related birds, an herpetologist recognising familiar or unfamiliar-but-related crawling things, and a geologist recognising familiar or unfamiliar structures would be able to branch points in different ranges of depth in time. That's also why I thought that sediment cores would be really interesting to the investigation.

But this is actually a search for cultists and cryptids.

Marine biology?

I think a marine-biological investigation would need more equipment and time than you have in mind. Boats, nets, lines, bathyscaphes etc. require heavier logistics and more time to use than is suggested for a mission that is going to race in in seaplanes to beat a hurricane.