Logic Masters Deutschland e.V.

This puzzle is a gift to fryguy as part of the CTC server's Secret Santa event. We decided to share this puzzle with you all but with a warning that it may not be easy.

The following voicemail transcript is shared with expressed consent from Nicholas
Hello madeyalook, I know you are on vacation, but there has been an incident at The Game that requires immediate action, and no one is as qualified as you. The head of operations has disappeared without a trace, and the rest of the crew has gone silent after their initial MIA report. Please contact me at your earliest convenience; I fear we do not have much time.

The rules are as follows:

• Place the digits 1-9 once in every row, column, and region.
• Navigate from Base A (Row 1, Column 1) to Base B (Row 9, Column 9) and then back to Base A.
• Your Deep-Sea Vehicle must always go to the orthogonally adjacent cell with the greatest digit, though it is unable to detect cells on the other side of deep-water corals (~) or reverse into a cell it just came from (in either case finding the next highest digit instead). If two cells under consideration have the same digit, it always prioritizes vertical movement. You must take the shortest path to Base B by keeping the DSV from moving up or left, but no need to rush on your way back. Your return trip may enter cells already visited but still cannot reverse into a cell it just came from (including the cell you entered Base B from).
• There is one Anomalous Cell in each row, column, and region that radiates an unknown frequency able to travel through corals. They will make the DSV malfunction, so make sure the DSV does not enter a cell orthogonally adjacent to them. Fortunately, the previous expedition neutralized the AC in the top-middle region, so it is safe to approach and enter. The digit in an AC, including the neutralized one, counts how many of its diagonally adjacent cells are visited by your path.

The puzzle is available on SudokuPad. Please come back alive!