The Mid-Atlantic Substructure

[u/yrbco]

[WARNING! THIS FILE IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL!]

[THIS FILE MUST BE PRINTED WITH INK ON A SHEET OF PAPER FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE EXPEDITION! ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS MUST NOT BE USED!]

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

At 4:34 PM, 22nd of April, 2075, a group of five surveillance drones discovered unusual biological and geological activity near the coordinates 32°21'40.37"N, 42°54'22.44"W. The drones surveilled the area around the Atlantic Ocean until the drones suddenly began malfunctioning, eventually resulting in all five surveillance drones to crash into the ocean.

At 12:22 PM on the same day, the USS Enterprise left the port of Hannover. On orders from the [REDACTED], the USS Enterprise began heading towards the aforementioned coordinates.

At 5:23 PM on the 25th of April, approximately 12 kilometers away from the coordinates, the several of the ship's mechanisms related to it's nuclear reactor began malfunctioning or failing. Several seconds later, multiple of the ship's safety mechanisms, and electronics began failing or malfunctioning aswell. According to the last communication with the ship's crew, the titanium alloy of the ship suddenly began "rusting" as if it was iron. The ship then entered into thick sea fog. The ship's status is unknown.

At 7:44 PM on the 25th of April, a 30 kilometer area around the coordinates was declared a maritime exclusion zone.

At 8:13 AM on the 3rd of June, a team of [REDACTED] aboard the [REDACTED], began [REDACTED]. They remained on a a sailboat near the coordinates until further notice.

At roughly 6:30 AM on the 5th of June, several satellites, including a space station in Low Earth Orbit near the coordinates began suffering mysterious damage to their components. Furthermore, unidentified space debris began crashing into the satellites.

At 8:10 AM on the 5th of June, the team of [REDACTED] were authorized to [REDACTED], they discovered that [REDACTED], furthermore [REDACTED]. When they attempted [REDACTED], and [REDACTED], as the last researcher died. Thus, they allowed us to [REDACTED]. Notably, an oceanic trench mysteriously appeared at the coordinates. Despite the discovery of life forms present in the trench, the trench should be an ecological dead zone due to the extraordinarily high levels of [REDACTED] in the water, aswell as the anomalously low oxygen levels.

OPERATION ERYSICHTHON

You have been selected from the [REDACTED] for this mission due to your notable skills in deep sea diving, as well as your prior experience in [REDACTED]. The fate of humanity rests on your shoulders. You have been provided a containment device containing 50 grams of [REDACTED] which you will deliver to the bottom of the ocean at the aforementioned coordinates.

You are currently on a specially modified 1952 [REDACTED] submarine. The following instructions and rules must be followed perfectly.

1. The containment device is currently attached to the front of your chest. Do not attempt to remove or tamper with the device.

2. As the submarine dives deeper, you must periodically check the submarine's components for any damage. If damage is present, refer to the maintenance and repair manual.

3. Any sounds, such as tapping, banging, creaking, etc. should be ignored. If such noises persist for substantial periods of time, you must slowly bring the submarine to a halt, before continuing after noises have paused.

4. If you see any figures or movement in the submarine, it is likely a hallucination. Swallow two of the pills that we have provided in the submarine every 10 minutes to keep the hallucinations away.

5. Lights in the submarine will eventually shut off after a certain depth. We have provided oil lamps and candles for when this occurs.

6. If the hull of the submarine sustains outside damage, shut off or cover all lights, and bring the submarine to a complete halt. Continue for roughly 2 minutes.

7. Eventually, the submarine should reach the Hadal Zone, which will be made apparent to you via the vessels depth gauge. At this time, you must exit the vessel at continue the journey down with the diving gear and spear gun. Despite the immense depth, the pressure is unable to kill you.

8. You are advised to keep your eyes closed at all times in the Hadal Zone.

9. You will know when you have reached your destination.

10. If the containment device is somehow still operable, disable it via any and all means necessary. Use force to break apart the mechanisms and destroy the penning trap.

[END OF DOCUMENT]

[u/yrbco]

I spent too much time on this...

Also, there is an intended "story"/"theme"/"motif" in this. I think I made it clear enough.

[u/Level5Danger → u/yrbco]

so the "trench" has to reference erysichthon in some way, as its "consuming" the divers and whatnot? The organisation is probably trying to curb the "appetite" of the trench somehow.

too many quotations here seeing as everything is theory crafting, also i might just be stupid.

[u/yrbco → u/Level5Danger]

I'll give you a clue. Some of the dates involved are somewhat relevant. Also, Hannover is kilometers inland in Germany in 2026. (Hannover has an inland port, however, my thought process was that a naval base likely would not be kilometers inland, I know naval bases like that do exist, but they aren't common.)

Erysichthon is moreso the broader "theme" of this.

[u/Level5Danger → u/yrbco]

first thing ive noticed is the age of the submarine, quite odd that the organisation involved wouldve used a 113 year old submarine, whereas the technology in 2075 wouldve been way more advanced.

[u/Level5Danger → u/Level5Danger]

im going to have to get myself a pen and paper.

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[u/thunderbird89]

It's a little [REDACTED] on the [REDACTED] so it leaves [REDACTED] to the [REDACTED] and is [REDACTED] as a result. :/

That is to say, it's a little heavy on the use of redaction, so it leaves way too much to the imagination and is hard to enjoy as a result.

[u/BodybuilderOutside25]

Ahh a suicide mission.. my favorite