Mr-Calma
This short story follows a 2077 deep-sea expedition by the Global Oceanic Research Initiative (GORI) to investigate the 1997 "Bloop" sound. Led by acoustician Dr. Aris Thorne, the team-including marine biologist Dr. Lena Hanson, geophysicist Dr. Jian Li, and Captain Eva Rostova-descends 10,000 meters in the submersible Triton. They detect a low-frequency hum, magnetic anomalies, and immense, geometric crystalline structures on the seabed, which are later confirmed to be artificial. ROVs capture images of amorphous, sentient entities moving in sync with the hum, which intensifies into a chaotic, reality-shaking force. The encounter drives Hanson and Li to madness, leaves Rostova with severe PTSD, and haunts Thorne, who concludes the ocean's secrets are best left undisturbed.
Part of the Transfinitian Myths Universe.