For days the ship had been plying the lonely winter waters of the extreme north.
The seas and weather made life unfit for man or beast. Only deck watchstanders,
beneath heavy layers of foul weather apparel, subjected themselves to the endless
punishment of the elements. One watch over the phone circuit came the following:
"Lockouts, this is Combat; is it still snowing out there?"
"Lockouts, aye," came a muffled reply, "Wait one."