Chapter 33 — Breach Containment
Location: Sector 7D - Ukrainian Water Facility
Time: 11:19 | Day 14 of Infection Collapse
Rhino Two idled just outside the flooded perimeter, steam hissing from its radiator grill as the mechanized infantry disembarked in full combat kit. Phantom Bravo fanned out in disciplined formation, boots crunching over gravel and exposed rebar. Their objective loomed ahead: a crumbling concrete facility surrounded by cracked retaining walls and pools of stagnating rainwater.
Wraith led the forward pathfinder unit, his drone buzzing high overhead.
> [Recon Drone Link Active – No Hostiles Visibly Positioned] [Thermal Scan: NEGATIVE – Shielded Structure Confirmed]
They reached the rusted bulkhead doors leading into the subterranean facility. Hammer's utility drone met them at the threshold, sparking as it cut through the last electronic seal.
"Breaching," Wraith announced.
The door gave with a loud metallic groan, revealing a dark, narrow corridor beyond.
Lights flickered to life. Long-dead fluorescents buzzed overhead.
Logan moved with Phantom Bravo into the depths.
---
Location: FOB Echo Point - Quarantine Bunker 03
Time: 11:21
Sofia was reviewing medical telemetry on Omega-014 when it spasmed violently in its restraints.
Dr. Moraru rushed forward. "Heart rate's spiking! Neural activity increasing!"
The creature's eyes rolled back, and then it whispered something, almost inaudibly: "Signal... response... reactivation... initiate..."
The lights dimmed. Static roared across the intercom.
> [ALERT: INBOUND HOSTILE DETECTION – VECTOR: NORTH/NORTHEAST] [ESTIMATED ETA: 7 MINUTES – 27 INFECTED MOVING IN TIGHT FORMATION]
Reaper One stepped into the command center. "They're coming for it."
Sofia looked up. "Then we move it or we hold the line."
Logan's voice cut through on the internal comms. "Hold the line. Do not let them near it."
---
Location: Ukrainian Water Facility – Sub-Level 2
Time: 11:33
The team moved through dim, damp tunnels. Rusted lockers, scattered medical kits, and ruined data terminals lined the walls.
"Got a sealed archive door," Wraith said. "Fingerprint scanner intact. Keypad has deep wear… use pattern looks recent."
Petrescu knelt beside the frame. "We're not alone."
As if summoned, gunfire erupted behind them.
> [HOSTILE CONTACT – TYPE: INFECTED MILITARY | CLASS: CHARLIE]
Infected in camo charged down the hallway, one wielding an old Makarov, another using flashbangs. Phantom Bravo reacted instantly, taking cover, returning precise fire.
The first wave was cut down, but more followed.
"Fall back to secondary breach point!" Logan ordered. "We secure the intel and exfil before we're boxed in."
Wraith planted a breach charge on the side door.
> [CHARGE DETONATED – ACCESS GRANTED TO SUB-ARCHIVE]
Inside, they found it: server racks, mostly dead. But one still flickered.
> [MILITARY HARDWARE IDENTIFIED – ORIGIN: RUS/UKR – ENCRYPTED BLACKBOX ARCHIVE] [DOWNLOAD BEGUN – 27%... 32%...]
"Cover us!" Petrescu shouted.
---
Location: FOB Echo Point – Northern Perimeter
Time: 11:36
Sofia stood behind the reinforced gate, rifle tight in her grip. Reaper One manned the mounted .50 cal above.
The infected came out of the tree line in perfect formation: two spear groups, one support.
"Like a damn fireteam," Marcel muttered.
"Hold them back!" Sofia shouted.
The guns roared. Reaper tore through the first line. Sofia dropped two sprinters that got within ten meters.
> [+52 WAR CREDITS Earned]
One infected threw a flare. A signal.
Behind them, the treeline shifted.
> [NEW CONTACT – ESTIMATED 19 INFECTED – UNDETECTED UNTIL FLARE]
"They're drawing our fire," Reaper said. "Secondary wave incoming!"
Sofia keyed the comm. "We need help on the wall!"
---
Location: Ukrainian Facility – Extraction Point
Time: 11:44
"Download complete!" Hammer announced. "We got the payload!"
"Move!" Logan ordered.
They fought their way up, gunning down elite infected at close range. Two Phantom operatives fell, one screaming, one silent. Wraith hauled a wounded soldier to the surface.
Rhino Two was waiting with the ramp down.
"Fall back by squads!" Petrescu called. "Suppress and move!"
A grenade bounced behind Logan. He kicked it into a side hallway.
Boom.
They reached the APC and sealed the door.
---
Location: FOB Echo Point – Command Room
Time: 12:08
The attack on the base had just ended. Infected dead littered the northern fence. Smoke drifted from bullet-riddled trees.
Logan and his team returned with the intel.
Dr. Moraru plugged it in.
The first message decrypted slowly.
"Blackroot containment failed. Command nodes compromised. Hostile vectors aware of human command frequencies."
Logan stood frozen.
"They're not just evolving. They're intercepting."
The war had changed again.
> [CHAPTER END]