the obsidian proxy
The pressure outside was nearly seven tons per square inch, a crushing darkness only illuminated by the sub’s powerful halogen lamps reflecting off the immense, monolithic composite-steel dome of the facility.
Julian, Elias, and Kian were encased in specialized atmospheric diving suits (ADS), designed for emergency deep-sea operations and rated to withstand brief exposure to these extreme pressures. The suits were bulky, the internal comms crackled with static, and the weight of the moment felt heavier than the abyssal pressure.
“Docking clamp secured,” Kian’s voice rasped over the comms, synthesized and metallic. “Marcus allowed us in, Julian. This is not a defense; it’s an audience chamber