Attacked Beneath Antarctica: Doc Vandal Adventures, #3

By Dave Robinson

An ancient evil lurks beneath Lake Vostok! 

When Doc and the team receive a mysterious message from a lost Antarctic expedition they launch a rescue mission only to find themselves stranded in the coldest place on Earth. Their only hope of survival lies in an 800 mile trek across the icecap, and nothing can prepare them for what they find beneath the ice. 

Trapped between an invader from outside space itself and a Nazi expedition seeking secrets humanity was not meant to know the team is caught in a race to save the world from threats it cannot understand. 

Like all Doc Vandal Adventures this is a complete story in one volume. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: KEH Publishing
• Release date: Apr 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223463795

Dave Robinson

I’m Dave, and I write. I’m also a father, a reader, gamer, a comic fan, and a hockey fan. Unfortunately, there is a problem with those terms; they don’t so much describe me as label me, and the map is not the territory. Calling me a father says nothing about my relationship with my daughter and how she thinks I’m silly. It ignores the essence of the relationship for convenience. It’s the same with my love of books, comics, role-playing games, and hockey; labels only say what, not how or why. They miss all the good parts. If you want more of a biography: I was born in the UK, grew up in Canada, and have spent time in the US. I’ve been freelancing for the last seven years. Before that, and in no particular order, I’ve managed a bookstore, worked in a pawnshop, been a telephone customer service rep, and even cleaned carpets for a living. As a freelancer, I’ve done everything from simple web content, to ghostwritten novels. I’ve even written a course on trading forex online. I’ve also edited everything from whitepapers to a science fiction anthology. Right now, I'm working on the next Doc Vandal adventure.

Book preview

DOC VANDAL

in

Attacked Beneath Antarctica

by Dave Robinson

A Doc Vandal Publication

Copyright 2017 by Dave Robinson

Cover Illustration by Carlos Balarezo

Cover Design by Queen Graphics

This is a work of fiction. All similarities to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All events, locales, and incidents are either purely the product of the author’s imagination or used for fictitious purposes.

The Doc Vandal Series

Against the Eldest Flame

Air Pirates of Krakatoa

Attacked Beneath Antarctica

Giant Robots of Tunguska

The Sunkiller Affair

The Ziggurat of Doom (forthcoming)

Collections

The Doc Vandal Omnibus: Volume One

This work is dedicated to the memory of Kim, sadly gone all too soon, without whom I would never have written a word; to Kyrie, and to my brother Neil, who always believed I was a writer even when I didn’t. Also thanks to the memory of my parents, Lyn and Clive Robinson.

I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me on this writing journey from the moment I first decided I wanted to create my own pulp heroes to the last word I typed; especially those who have read my works and given the kind of feedback you need to get the best out of a story: Brittany Maresh, Jules Ironside, S.L. Huang, Vincent Collins, Jaap Geluk, and Ian Gill.

Any errors are mine alone.

Table of Contents

A Lost Expedition

Iceward Bound

Abandoned in Antarctica

Into the Ice

Nazis Beneath the Ice

The Enemy Below

War with Nothingness

Afterword

Cast of Characters

Doc Vandal

James Clark Vandal, born January 1st, 1901 in a 43rd Archonate observation post on the near side of the Moon. Raised by alien AIs, Doc has been enhanced well beyond normal human capabilities. One side effect of his upbringing is that he has difficulty understanding some elements of human motivations. He arrived on Earth on January 1st, 1919. In the eighteen years since then, he has become the foremost scientific adventurer in the world. His most famous invention is an artificial aerogel called lyftrium which has made safe lighter-than-air travel a worldwide phenomenon. He lives with the rest of the team on the 87th floor of the Republic State Building in New York.

Victoria Vic Frank

Countess Victoria Catherine Elizabeth Marie Frank, born March 23rd (March 10th according to the Julian calendar), 1909 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Conceived aboard an airship flying over Siberia at the precise moment of the Tunguska Event, she is the youngest of the core four. After her parents vanished during the Revolution she escaped to England by way of China with her grandmother. Taken in by Doc after her grandmother’s death, she’s a daredevil who serves as the team’s pilot. She’s very much an act first, think later, kind of person.

Augustus Gus Q. Ponchartrain

Gustar was on born October 1st, 1901 in Pongo City West Africa. He walked out of the rainforest after the War and made his way to the United States where he met Doc Vandal at Arkham College in 1921. A polymath, Gus jokes that he has more doctorates than he can count, though in actuality it’s only twelve, and is an expert on hundreds of subjects. In addition to his intelligence and education, Gus also possesses the tremendous strength of full-grown silverback gorilla. He is known to be fond of Earl Grey tea.

Gilbert Gilly Chanter

Gilbert Chanter, born December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The son of a Baptist preacher, Gilly is Doc and the team’s driver, mechanic, and photographer. He’s also a huge fan of pulp magazines like The Shadow. For the most part he tends to sit back and quietly do his job.

Kehla Ponchartrain

Kehla was born on June 22nd 1906 in Pongo City West Africa. Raised to be the First Hand of Vel, a sacrificial priestess of the Eldest Flame, she was also Gus’s childhood sweetheart. After Gus escaped from Pongo City, she rebelled against her fate and joined a guerilla movement, quickly rising to the position of leader. Following the destruction of Pongo City in Against the Eldest Flame, she finally married Gus and relocated to New York.

Li Ming

Li Ming, M.D., born February 10th, 1910 in Semarang, Java, Dutch East Indies. The daughter of a revolutionary known only as Tigress, Ming graduated from Batavia’s GHS medical school in 1933, the first Chinese woman to do so. Trained in both Western and Chinese medicine, she acts as the team’s primary physician, taking the role from Doc. She joined the team after Vic was forced to take refuge from attacking robots in her store. The store was ruined, she wanted to be paid back, and eventually fell in love with Vic.

CHAPTER ONE

A Lost Expedition

HANSEN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION FEARED LOST!

H e never should have tried to winter over, Gus muttered as the newsreel headline flashed on the screen in front of him. Augustus Q. Ponchartrain held twelve degrees, none of them honorary. He was also one of only two gorillas currently resident in New York City, the other being his wife, Kehla. She squeezed his hand, probably to shush him, as the expedition's preparations unfolded on screen. Gus knew all of it; he had been there for most of the preparations, and if it had not been for his work with Doc Vandal, he probably would have gone.

There was just something about Antarctica that appealed to him, perhaps it was the solitude. It certainly wasn't the weather, he preferred his warmth and comforts. Still, he couldn't resist the questions Aldous Hansen brought up, especially when he showed the carvings that were supposedly older than humanity. There were none in the newsreel, but even the rough rubbings were fascinating.

Unfortunately, the news from Europe was much less so, especially Spain. It was a pity there was nothing they could do about it, so Gus just gritted his teeth as he waited through the end of the reel.

The main feature was a comedy called Topper, and Kehla had been looking forward to it ever since she read the book. Movies had very quickly become one of her passions, something that had been unknown in their home city back in Africa.

Gus put his arm around her and settled in to enjoy the show.

It was a quiet Friday night on the 87th floor of the Republic State Building. Gus and Kehla had gone to the movies, leaving Doc alone with the human members of the team. Victoria Frank, his pilot, better known as Vic, sat in her usual corner of the couch swirling a glass of coke while her girlfriend Li Ming made dinner. Vic had tried to help a few times, only to be driven back at the point of a wooden spoon each time. On the other hand, Gilly Chanter, Doc's driver and diver, was clearly welcome in the kitchen, as he sautéed some onions.

Doc shook his head. There was obviously some relationship dynamic between the three of them that he could not quite understand. Oh well, it was probably no different than some of the jokes they made. At least the food smelled good.

He was just about to go back to his journal when the radiofacsimile on the skywave beeped. Putting the journal down, he headed over to the machine, only to find Vic blocking his way.

Vic? Do you mind?

Oh, sorry. She stepped aside so that he could see the printout as it came in. The header page showed that it came from the Hansen expedition in the Antarctic, which had been out of contact for almost a month. The printer paused for a moment, giving Vic time to empty her coke, though she didn't move.

Seconds later, the printer clattered and Vic leaned forward, almost blocking Doc's view. As the page came up into view, the top was entirely black, almost dripping with ink. Then slowly, white lines came into view like a photographic negative. It was a vaguely humanoid figure, with a tentacular head that looked like an octopus, and what looked like rippling wings running the length of the body. Two pairs of tentacles apparently served as arms, while a third pair looked to act as legs.

What struck Doc the most though, was the expression on the creature's face; it wasn't simply alien, it was pure hate. He had never seen anything quite like it, especially from such a crude image.

Vic stepped back, dropping her glass. What is that?

I don't know. Doc took another look at the image. It definitely looks unearthly.

Vic just stared at the image, her normally pale skin at least three shades lighter than normal. After a moment, she shook herself and took a deep breath. Whatever it is, I don't like it; and somehow I know it doesn't like me either.

The commotion must have caught Ming's attention, because she was there too, now. She wrapped an arm around Vic, and then took her own look at the image. Ming didn't say anything, she just bowed her head and averted her eyes.

Vic knelt down and cleaned up the glass, while Doc tried to respond to the signal. Voice was impossible at such a long range, but Doc's equipment could usually get Morse through by bouncing it off the Heaviside layer. Unfortunately, there was no way to tell this time. Doc sent plenty of messages, but there was no response. Whoever was at the other end had sent the one image and that was it. As Doc worked the key, both Vic and Ming just stood there, silently looking at the picture.

I think that's enough, Doc finally said, taking the page and rolling it up so the image was hidden. We can discuss this after we eat.

They made their way to the table, where Gilly had already laid out the food. Here you go, dig in.

Vic, who seemed to have recovered faster, helped Ming to her seat, and dished her out a plate before getting her own. Doc himself stayed silent, putting all his attention to the meal. As usual when Ming cooked, it was delicious, though very spicy. The women ate slowly at first, but their appetites soon returned and Vic had her plate clean in a matter of minutes.

No one talked as they ate, though everyone kept stealing glances at the rolled up printout beside Doc's plate. For himself, Doc focused on the food; the paper could wait and he could visualize it whenever he wanted anyway. Good food was one of the things he had enjoyed most since his original arrival on Earth almost twenty years earlier. The artificial minds that had raised him had done the best they could, but Earthly cooking was not one of their strong points. The Archonate's programming enabled the minds to make nutritious meals, but taste had not been a priority.

Ming had just brought out dessert when the elevator opened to reveal Gus and Kehla.

Chocolate torte? Kehla could be heard from across the room. I'm so glad we didn't stop for a drink.

Can someone put the kettle on? Gus called. I could use some Earl Grey.

He took Kehla's wrap and hung it up while she made a beeline for the table. He unbuttoned his suit jacket but left it on as he followed more sedately. Vic was already up, so she started the kettle.

The movie was great, Kehla told everyone around a mouthful of torte. You really should see it. Oh, and the newsreel had a feature on the Hansen Expedition; I wonder what happened to them.

Ming's face stiffened, though Doc was sure Kehla didn't notice; she was intent on her dessert. Sipping his coffee, he waited until everyone was at the table, Gus with his tea and Vic with her Coke. Kehla had just finished her torte and was following it up with fruit juice.

Moving his cup aside, Doc unrolled the paper, revealing the image. Gilly recoiled immediately, as did Kehla. Gus studied it a little longer before looking up and meeting Doc's eyes.

And what would that be? Gus spoke through bared fangs, though his voice was as even as ever. It looks like some sort of sea creature, although not related to any species with which I'm familiar.

That, Doc told him, is the entirety of the last message from the Hansen Antarctic Expedition. I received it not more than an hour ago.

That's it? Kehla drained her juice in a single swallow. That's the whole message? She kept stealing glances at the picture and then looking away. It's hideous.

Well, it doesn't look like the winter was their only problem, Gus said at last.

Doc flipped it over, so no one had to look at the picture. Everyone seemed to relax a little the moment the image was out of sight.

So, what's the plan, Doc? Gilly broke the silence.

I think you already know, Doc replied. We're going down to Antarctica to find out what really happened to the Hansen Expedition.

Sunday morning had dawned cool. Doc didn't have much trouble with extremes of temperature; his body had been modified shortly after his birth. The others had been glad to get out of the city after Friday's heat. They had taken the train out of the city, first to Albany and then to Utica. From there they had taken one of Doc's cars out to the estate.

He had picked up quite a bit of land during the worst of the Depression years, and none had been more useful than this area outside Utica. With just over two square miles, he had more than enough space for both a major research facility and three of the largest airship hangars in the country.

One of the hangars held the ZL-38, a German destroyer Vic and Gus had captured a few months earlier in Africa. Doc had no immediate use for it, but one never knew. For the moment he had settled for a new paint job, one that bore no traces of the Nazi regime that had built the vessel. They had stolen his technology, so he had no compunctions about holding on to their airship.

The other two hangars held ships of his own design and construction, and it was the largest one that he led the group towards. Opening a small door in the hangar wall, he stood aside so that the others could enter.

Vic was the first in, and she just gasped and stopped, standing there with her mouth open. Ming barely squeezed by her, and then Gus had to pick her up and bodily move her out of the way so that the rest of them could enter.

What is that? Ming asked.

The building itself was huge, well over a thousand feet long and three hundred feet high. Ten thousand candlepower lights were just spots in the darkness, throwing circles of light on the hull of one of the largest airships ever built. The ship within it was a thousand feet long, and its silver grey skin glowed wherever the light touched it. Six engines lined the near side, smooth cowlings hiding ducted fans for propulsion. It wasn't visible, but the ship's lift cells all contained lyftrium, an aerogel Doc had developed from Archonate technology. The simple application of electric current could make lyftrium transparent to gravity, or even reflect it. The aerogel didn't just provide several times the lift of the same volume of hydrogen; it provided controllable, and variable lift.

That is the ship we'll be taking to the Antarctic, Doc told her.

Vic looked to be in a state of shock. She wasn't saying a word, but her eyes said it all. She was in love, and at least for the moment Ming didn't look jealous. Gus had already seen it, he'd helped Doc with the design, so he was enjoying watching the others' reactions. Kehla seemed the least impressed, but Doc knew technology wasn't one of her interests.

That's enough for the outside, he said. Let's get aboard and ready to go.

What about our luggage? Ming asked. I don't remember bringing it from Utica.

It's already aboard. Doc smiled. I had people come in and get everything loaded last night.

Ming looked at him slowly, and then finally nodded. All right, but you're responsible if anything is missing.

Vic had finally started moving; she took Ming's hand and led her to the boarding ramp. Doc let them go ahead, he hung back with Gus and Gilly who were deep in conversation.

You sure this is better than taking a ship? Gilly was shaking his head and waving his arms. Don't want to be blown around with all those winter winds down there.

Of course I'm sure, Gus told him. We've got more than enough power to handle the winds, and this will get us all the way to Hansen's inland base. With a ship we would still have to cross hundreds of miles of ice, possibly on foot. He shook his head. I would really rather not have to do that.

Neither would I, Kehla added. She looked down at her feet. "I do not want frostbitten