Deep Blue - The Descent

1: The Neptune

It is the most inhospitable environment on the planet. The Marianas Trench lies 36,000ft below the surface of the ocean which is 33,000ft beyond the last rays of sunlight. It's a world enveloped in complete and total darkness, near-freezing temperatures, and unfathomable pressure. And yet, life not only exists -- it thrives.

Small shrimp, flatfish and hundreds of species never before seen by human eyes scurry and dart above the micro-fine, powdery white ocean floor. In the freezing waters, they search cautiously for their next meal, while trying to avoid becoming one themselves.

Over the course of billions of years, they have evolved and adapted to the intense pressure, darkness and cold. They have developed extra senses to navigate the darkness as well as unique offensive and defensive abilities to coexists with both predators and prey. Abilities that might only be described as "superpowers" by those living above the water's surface.

The ability to create light; to see in the dark. Even the ability to transform their very shape, color, and texture to blend in seamlessly with their surroundings in a mere blink of an eye. In essence, the ability to become invisible.

Today the local inhabitants have a visitor, one not as well adapted to the harsh environment. One, much more fragile than themselves. An alien to these unfamiliar surroundings.

The ocean floor exploded in a wash of light as beams from a small submersible cut through the darkness. From the front of the ship, two large spotlights poke their way into the blackness. Smaller red and blue running lights flashed in rhythm and defined the outer contour of the craft.

An array of four circular floodlights are mounted above a large sphere that made up the crew cockpit and nearly half the size of the craft. The front half of the cockpit features a clear glass-like polymer. The two-person crew could be seen inside, sitting single file, bathed in dim blue light.

In the front pilot's seat sits an attractive young woman in her late twenties. She wears a standard blue military flight suit, with her blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun.

Behind her, is a man approximately the same age wearing glasses and a similar flight suit. He appears a bit more disheveled than the girl. His dark hair is unkempt, as if he'd just gotten out of bed, and is flight suit is unzipped halfway revealing a t-shirt that reads "DIVE NAKED: Things appear larger underwater."

He sits comfortably in a small rotating chair, currently facing the aft of the craft. Around him, on nearly all sides, are an array of monitors displaying live camera feeds, system readouts and other various data.

"This is Neptune to Oceanus I.", the female reports into her ear mounted headset. "We're passing 36,000 feet and all systems remain green."

Her voice is feminine but carries a high level of authority. There is a faint hint of a southern accent in her speech.

"Roger that Neptune.", the ~Oceanus' communications officer responds over the headset. "Well Lieutenant Commander, I guess that makes it official. Put it in the books. You two are now the deepest people on the planet. Congratulations."

The communications officer sat in his station aboard the military submarine Oceanus I which was currently positioned 14,000ft above the Neptune.

A small grin grows across the face of the crewman in the back seat. "See there. I always told you I was a deep person.", he says talking more toward the girl than the radio. "Now it's official. By the way, I'll be available for autographs once we get topside."

The pilot rolls her eyes and responds over the radio, "Thanks Oceanus. But you can hold the calls to Guinness for now. Seeing as the mission's classified I'm not sure advertising it would be the best idea."