That sleep really took me out, and now looking at everything I totally forgot I signed up for that Anartica expedition. I really hope they didn't start without me!! I am on my way guys, do not fret!

These Mummy Civilization folk are pretty nice, when you get to know 'em. Esmerelda, one of the mummies from school, introduced me to Ahmose at the dance. We've been hanging out every day since then, out on the windswept Antarctic plains, and it's been pretty amazing. I've never met someone like her, living or undead. Sure, there's an age difference, but we connect on a very "real" and "now: kind of level.

Ahmose says they've seen these checkered blimps on and off for centuries. But their scriptures say maybe now's the time they break free. I have no idea what she's talking about, but she's talking about we could sneak back to their encampment...

The Valentine’s Day dance is really just diplomatic cover to allow both sides to talk to each other—The Lodge and the Ice Mummy civilization.

Sure, it was a little awkward at first, but the Snowball Dance really got things loosened up.

The Lodge has a balloon division. Captain Martin is in charge. She says they usually take them up in winter but would be happy to take us up for a look around.

She only laughed when I asked about any airships in the area. But maybe we can at least make some visual contact....

So we're mostly trapped, here at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, on account of the teleportals being down. Sure they're environmentally friendly but how do they work, anyway?

We could always rig up sleds on the giant Japanese huskies and make for McMurdo (do they have portals there?) or just take a boat or a plane to wherever, but what's the matter with our portal? Because I keep seeing that orange checkered blimp just over the horizon. Or may there's more than one, just like back at the school. That can't be a coincidence. Is that how you make portals? Are those the portal generators or whatever? Or is that what the problem is about? Some kind of jammer?

The giant Japanese huskies are great at bounding, but how do we get up into the sky?

The mummies have been pumping their special glycol out of the ice since time immemorial. It's what keeps them operating in the coldest months. See, their ability to move is all based on hydraulics--the ichor getting pumped around inside them--and the glycol keeps it from freezing up. It's how they move around, and sometimes show feats of tremendous strength. Their "Ice Pyramids" are the covers for the glycol wells and pumps and whatnot. That sphinx-looking structure is a storage tank.

We keep their perimeter under surveillance. The Ice Rangers that is, and our giant Japanese huskies. We couldn't do it without them. Sometimes a new Mummy King will arise and get all the mummies riled up about heading to the sea, stealing some ships, and ice-pirating their way to warmer climes. We keep an eye on that and make sure they stay penned in.

Col. Robert Plume
D.S./D.O./M.P.
The Lodge, Amundsen–Scott

It’s worth it to come to Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station just to be able to play with the dogs. The Japanese huskies are bigger than you, but they are super gentle and careful not to hurt you even when you’re rasslin in snow. And their fur is so warm when you’re riding them.

They’ve got their own base at a pace called The Lodge but you gotta know a dog to get invited.

Toby the Ice Worm is big enough to ride and seems to enjoy it, so we’ve been snorfing and hurling ourselves across the Antarctic plain. And what do we run across but an Icy Mummy Civilization! Out there in a hidden valley. Building pyramids, worshipping old gods, going about their mummy business.

It looks like they’ve been here for centuries.

Of course, the mummies got loose in Antarctica. They wandered through the portal and now it's anybody's guess.

Well, ok, it's MY guess, I suppose, since thankfully I put AirTags on the alphas, and with the satellite sim cards the school gave us I can track them. They mostly travel in flocks. And are naturally resistant to the cold.

To a point, that is. They have a very low freezing temperature, but once you reach it, they freeze right up. Regular mummies freeze when water does, but animated mummies are a lot more resistant. These guys won't freeze up for months.

I could just wait it out, but these rascally mummies have a nose for trouble. I don't expect them to start some mummy civilization out on the ice, building ice pyramids or whatever. More likely they'll end up harassing the station, trying to drum up acolytes. So I'm working with the station scientists to track them and see what we can do.

When I sent away for them from the back of the comic book I certainly didn't mean for it to come to this.

Happy upcoming Birthday to @Kyle!

Sheesh! What is it about birthdays and this generation? What happened to "ask forgiveness, not permission?" Feels like it was just @Scaramouche's birthday. Can't anybody keep a secret anymore?

So, the deal with birthdays. The same rules apply for anybody having a get together:

1. Clean up your own mess.
2. This includes carpet stains; broken light fixtures; holes in the drywall; fire repair; and damage from acid, ooze, and poison from creatures terrestrial and otherwise.
3. Keep the noise down. While I may be at the Antarctic research station this month, I have ears EVERYWHERE.
4. No lycanthropy shots.
5. Seal any dimensional rifts thoroughly.

Best advice: Don't get caught! It will save everyone a lot of trouble.

Sincerely,

A. Hazeltine
Student Activities Coordinator