Survival Code (Borealis) (Borealis)

The League of Nations thinks it can declare an Arctic Free Zone, and problem solved.

Well, it's been 4 years,

and the big 5 are still scratching and clawing

for control of Arctic resource development,

especially since China bought its way into the argument.

Anyone think last week's ramming of a Danish frigate

by a Russian nuke sub was an accident?

No one's getting the last gas and oil on the planet without a fight.

Violence is bound to escalate,

and as usual, Canada's Natural Heritage Land is stuck in the middle.

What we need is a League of Nations here on the ground.

Off.

Now that the ice is gone,

everyone wants a piece of the Arctic.

Oil, gas, minerals, water.

Everyone fighting for their piece of the action.

That's okay. I don't mind. It's good for business.

See, what really matters is who got here first.

And that would be me.

Would you listen to me, please, Vic?

It's your place. You're the boss! So be it!

Bettina, I just rent the space!

This is your hotel, your bar. You make these rules, so enforce them!

Who else am I supposed to go to? We're at the end of the freaking world here!

You didn't get paid, too bad. But I'm not your pimp.

Fine! But I'm not the one who made the rule

about not taking off rubbers in the ZipGrav!

- He did what?!! - Mm-hmm.

- That goddamn little Brit! - I told him Vic's gonna be mad.

- I'm gonna kill him! - He doesn't listen!

There's a sign on the door in 12 different languages!

You're gonna make him pay, right? You eat half a sandwich, you pay for whole thing.

I told him Vic was gonna be mad, but Clive, he doesn't listen to nobody.

You want to run your business in my place, I don't complain.

What are you talking about? All you do is complain!

- What? No, I don't! - Yes, you do.

- Where the hell is it? - Look in your jacket.

I'm only asking you to take part of the responsibility for once.

You bring these nut jobs in here, I end up having to throw them out!

I shouldn't have to clean up after your clients, Bettina!

Excuse me?

You charge lots of money for this anti-gravity,

and I'm the one who brings you all the business!

You make all this money because I'm here.

I should charge you for all the customers I bring in!

- What? You should charge me? - That's right! I pay for my room!

- Upkeep is for you! - No, you bring your clients

in the ZipGrav. The responsibility's yours.

That's why you brought the ZipGrav up here.

It's for seasonal affective therapy!

Oh, please! You installed a porno program,

of course they wanna go in there! It's not my fault!

Look, there he is!

You dirty little midget! Come on! Come...

- Vic, whatever she told you. - I warned you about this.

- It's not my fault. - See what happens to cheaters?

You signed a contract before going in. No spillage of fluids in the ZipGrav.

- No spillage. - That's right!

- You're gonna clean it up. - I'll clean it up.

- And pay Bettina. - And pay.

Full price.

You busy?

Do I look busy?

I'm not breathing...

I got something to show you.

So what's my surprise? Caribou meat doubled in price?

Found this on Natural Heritage Land.

Looks kinda picked over. How'd he die?

- Old age? - Thank you, Doctor.

You know who he is?

Not from around here. No I.D.

- Anybody see you bring him in? - I knew you'd wanna keep this quiet.

Yeah, you think?

Let's get him inside.

He kind of smells.

I'll turn down the heat.

That your long term solution?

No. I need to figure out who he is.

What you need is an air freshener.

- Hey, Vic, listen,you... - You! Out of my bar!

- No, you should definitely.. - You're banned.

Don't ban me. Come on, please? I cleaned everything up like you asked.

It won't happen again.

Out!

I need the ZipGrav.

I suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

It's party of my addiction transfer program. It's my lifeline.

OK. OK.

It's only that I came to tell you, as a friend mind you, that you're needed outside.

- Why? - International incident at your front door.

Guns, possible loss of life.

- Seriously? - You're gonna need your Customs jacket.

Ms. Freemont, the dump is International Free Zone...

That cub wasn't at the dump.

I've watched this cub since he was 3 weeks old.

He has a tracking chip I put on him myself.

Hey, hey, what's going on?

Vic, tell her.

My men wouldn't go on Natural Heritage land. They shot a bear at the dump.

It's allowed.

I've tracked this cub for the last 7 months.

He was on his home range, and suddenly he's moving at 60km an hour headed for the bar?

You better put that down before you get hurt.

Everyone should put everything down.

You vodka retards killed this bear on Natural Heritage Land.

Clear violation of international Arctic

- Vic, the woman is hysterical. - protocol.

What's the legality, Mr. Carboneau?

At what point am I allowed to detain a Russian criminal fleeing Canadian justice?

Detain meaning dropping him with 80 grams of phenyl-bop-halo.

OK.

I can understand there was an unfortunate accident where foreign visitors,

maybe unaware of Natural Heritage Land boundaries...

You've got to be kidding me.

However,

since the bear is clearly in Canadian protectorate jurisdiction,

I'll have to impound the bear.

The fucking bear is ours!

You're welcome to appeal, of course...

But then I'll have to file a section 17 Endangered Species Ap

which can delay other Customs activities.

They'll leave the bear.

Yeah, I thought so.

That's it?

That's the penalty for killing an endangered species? Vic!

Really? You had to do that?

Hey!

You hurt my crew, you hurt me.

Keep your crew in line.

They don't like to be told how to behave in International territory.

Especially by a washed-up cage fighter and barkeep.

Customs officer.

Anyway,

International "opportunity" zone but Canadian protectorate.

Temporarily. Until the Security Council rules.

Well, who knows what the future holds, right?

In the meantime, it's my signature that you need to take anything in or out.

I'm the rock this little venture rests on.

So the bears

get left alone, okay?

Let's not be threatening and ridiculous.

If I wanted to, I could shoot everyone here and fly away.

And leave all this?

That'd be a terrible waste, wouldn't it?

Yes. Yes, it would.

You're welcome, by the way.

I don't need help from you.

No, you were doing great.

Armed stand off, Russian boot on your throat... You were what? In charge?

You set a precedent!

Now anyone can shoot an endangered animal on protected land without consequences.

At least I did something about it.

Bit of an overreaction, don't you think?

The Russian I shot gets to wake up tomorrow.

My cub doesn't.

What're you gonna do with him?

Put him back so his mother won't keep searching for him.

Document the birds and animals that feed on the carcass and

then put the bones in storage.

That hide's worth something in Moscow.

They might come back for it.

Yeah, I hope they do.

What is that?

Don't do that! Don't override my "off" like that.

You don't answer your phone if I don't. And I repeat, what is that?

It's a drunk. He needs to sleep it off.

I'm glad your alcohol poisoning business is thriving, Vic,

but can you explain to me how it's possible that there's a shooting

on the main street of Borealis - overseen by you- and I get the information

from the Russian consulate?! What do we pay you for?

Yeah, I was gonna call you about that.

Too late. I called you.

First up. Your "shooting"

was a trank dart. No real harm done.

You're there to prevent confrontations with the internationals!

The hothead nut job has been put here by you guys!

Alison Freemont places herself, Vic.

She's an internationally respected biologist with a blog-cast that's seen

in virtually every country in the world. We can't stop her from saying what she says!

Fine then.

But we can try to control her activities,

which is another of the jobs you're not currently doing.

Control her how exactly?

She shot a Russian in the ass!

You want peaceful resource exploitation? Find a way to get rid of her.

The government of Canada is not in the getting rid of people business.

You should be, everyone else is.

I hate this thing.

Fucking hell.

If you're a geologist, you're dead meat.

Hey, you scared the crap out of me! I thought I was alone out here.

Is that so?

To answer your question, I'm not a geologist, OK? I'm an archaeologist.

Really. You're American and you're on National Heritage Land.

I'm not inclined to believe you.

Really. I care what you think because...?

Look, the name's Dan Reardon. I'm a post doc from Berkeley. I can show you my I.D.

Keep walking.

Look, I'm up here on a research grant to look for

remains of early 18th century Russian habitations.