There’s the short story “A Colder War” by Charles Stross. Among other things, there’s a reference to a real-life nuclear weapon concept called Project Pluto. In the story, it turns out it was built to try and kill Cthulhu.

So… maybe that’s the goal of Sundial? Cthulhu would be a valid target for a weapon that ludicrous.

Otherwise, I agree. “The fuck is wrong with us” is the only valid conclusion.