We made two very startling discoveries in this frozen lost realm: the first was the existence of mammals.

Lazing about across the snow-covered banks by the thousands were a Miocene species of elephant seal. The males we spotted were few in number, but massive—thirty feet long and easily weighing more than six tons. Each bull perched upright on its blubbery hind quarters and was surrounded by a harem of females, their hides as white as the snow they were nesting upon. Every so often one of the males would jut its head back and bellow a primordial call throttle toward the ice-capped ceiling, the sound echoing across the valley.

The elephant seals were not the only mammals present. Before I could even contemplate their existence, the sub was swarmed by a greeting party of twelve-foot-long albino Weddell seals. Within minutes the carnivores went from curious to aggressive, bumping the submersible with their one-ton bodies, forcing Ben to take control of the Barracuda from Vostok Mobile Command and guide the sub into deeper water.

He had to alter our course again when a gray-white tornado of krill rose from the depths directly beneath us. The presence of these alabaster crustaceans quickly attracted a stubby species of dolphin, their muscle-bound hides completely black, giving them a decided advantage in this albino-dominated ecosystem.

“Guys, this makes no sense. Mammals can’t survive in Vostok; they possess air cavities. The extreme pressures would burst their lungs like a ripe tomato.”

“Zachary, what about those sea cows we saw in the southern basin?”

“Check the video, Ming. You’ll see the species had evolved gills; they were breathing underwater. These mammals are clearly breathing air.” I glanced at my control console. “Ben, what’s your exterior pressure gauge reading?”

Ben shot me a look that translated into play along. “My gauge must be broken. It’s reading two atmospheres, which we both know is impossible.”

“Maybe, but it does explain how these mammals are able to inhabit this section of Vostok.”

“Vostok Mobile One to Captain Hintzmann.”

“Hintzmann here.”

“Captain, we need you to restore control of the Barracuda to our remote pilot.”

“As soon as we feel it’s safe. Seems the wildlife down here are getting a bit frisky.”

I flipped the toggle switch on my radio. “Mobile One, this is Wallace. Colonel, we’re approaching a magnetic anomaly that appears to be responsible for equalizing atmospheric pressure. Assuming it’s the magnetized remains of an asteroid, I’d prefer to give it a wide berth. You never know how these things might affect the sub’s controls.”

“We concur with your theory, Dr. Wallace; however, we feel the risk is minimal, and there’s only one way into the northern basin. Just out of curiosity, Doctor, what makes you think the magnetic interference is coming from an impact zone?”