Log Transcript: Drift Police Special Forces (DPSF) - Sector 3 Command
Subject: Long-Term Anomaly Analysis, Deadzone #3 (Balkan Sector)
Attending: Chief Tactical Officer Andrei, Senior Systems Analyst Alina
The holographic map of Deadzone #3 shimmered in the dark, sterile briefing room. It was a sea of red and orange, denoting high Drifter density and ambient chaos. But in one specific quadrant, a deep, concentrated purple shined.
"This is the eight year summary," Analyst Alina stated, her voice crisp. With a gesture, she manipulated the hologram. A timeline graph appeared beside it, showing a single energy signature. It started as a faint blip eight years ago, barely a footnote in the zone's chaotic background radiation.
"Subject designated 'Anomaly Epsilon'," she continued. The timeline began to fast-forward. The blip escalated in size. It climbed steadily for years, a smooth, consistent curve that showed no signs of plateauing. "As you can see, the growth is exponential and, most concerningly, stable. This is not the same pattern as regular Drifter evolution. This a proof of sustained power accumulation."
Chief Andrei, a man with a face like granite and eyes that had seen too many cities vanish, crossed his arms. "Give me the notes, Alina. What are we looking at?"
Alina zoomed in on the current data. "The energy signature is draconic in base structure, but it shouldn't be possible... It's orders of magnitude denser than any recorded Great Flame or Frost Wyrm. Not even including the fact this amount of accumulated energy in this short amount of time shouldn't even be possible. Our records of draconic corpses tell us it takes thousands of years to gain this much energy." She highlighted a data stream. "Its current energy output is equivalent to a Category 2 Drift. If it becomes hostile and mobile, it could potentially destabilize the entire containment grid for Southeartern Europe."
Andrei didn't flinch. "Probability of hostility?"
"One hundred percent, sir. Per the Drifter Hivemind Theory, all Drifter lifeforms possess an innate instinct to exterminate humanity. This thing is no different."
"Could it be building an army?" Andrei mused, his gaze fixed on the pulsing purple heart of the Epsilon. "What are our options?"
"Standard protocol is a full battalion-scale cleansing. But given the energy density and unknown nature of the Epsilon, heavy losses are projected."
Alina brought up a new schematic. "I recommend a phased approach. First we deploy a Reaper Squad, our highest tier operatives, for deep reconnaissance. They insert here, at the Epsilon's last known stable perimeter from eight years ago." A point lit up on the map, near a cluster of ruins that old-world maps labeled as a graveyard.
"Their mission is threefold," Andrei said, taking over. "One: Visual confirmation of the Epsilon. Two: Threaty assessment and identification of any subordinate Drifters or hive structures. Three..." He paused, his voice dropping a degree. "If the opportunity presents a high probability with minimal risk, they are authorized for a surgical strike. We cut off its head before it knows we're there."
He looked around the room at his team leaders. "We aren't cleaning up. This is an assassination for the good of our entire continent. I want that signal completely scrubbed from the map."
The War Room was the most securo location in the sector command, a circular chamber where the walls were lined with live feeds from a hundred different drone probes and satellite relays. Andrei stood before the central holotable, the pulsating anomaly of Deadzone #3 its centerpiece. He didn't need to summon them. They arrived on their own.
Three figures entered, their silence more imposing than a battalion's march. These weren't any ordinary soldiers. They were the Reaper Squad.
"Janos, Larysa, Syahrey," Andrei greeted them, his voice devoid of its earlier frustration. Here, he spoke with the respect a commander owes to his most lethal assets.
Janos, stood on the right. He was a mountain of a man, encased in polished, runic armor that seemed to absorb the light. His System was [Moon's Aegle], a purely defensive archetype considered the strongest shield in the European theater. His defense wasn't only individualist. It allowed him to generate massive, tangible barrier fields and, at its highest level, enter a state of complete invulnerability for a short time. His purpose was simple: to stand where others would be vaporized.
On the left was Syahrey. He was lean, his form clad in light, non-reflective mesh. He seemed to blend with the shadows of the room. His System was [Shadow Fury], an advanced stealth and assassination type. It didn't just make him invisible; it manipulated light and sound, rendering him undetectable to most Drifter senses. He could phase through solid matter for brief moments and deliver a killing blow that bypassed external armor, striking directly at the core. He was a scout and assassin.
And in the center stood Larysa. She held herself with an unnerving stillness, her eyes sharp. While Janos was the shield and Syahrey the sword, Larysa was the strategist. Her System was [Oros Appraisal], the highest tier appraisal family skill. It granted her unparalleled sensory abilities, allowing her to analyze a target's energy composition, pinpoint weaknesses, and calculate trajectories with extreme precision. She was the one who pulled the strings behind every fight.
"You've seen the briefing," Andrei began, gesturing to the purple core on the map. "This is Anomaly Epsilon. An energy signature in Deadzone #3. It's been growing, undisturbed for the past eight years. We believe it to be a draconic variant of unprecedented power."
Larysa's eyes were already locked on the hologram, her System passively feeding her data. "The energy density is aberrant."
"That's why you're here," Andrei said. "Your main mission isn't a frontal assault. Your goal is reconnaissance and, if the probability of success exceeds 98%, it becomes an extermination. Syahrey, you get them in and get a visual. Larysa, you analyze the target and determine the kill shot. Janos, you'll ensure nothing interrupts that process."
He looked at each of them in turn. "The Hivemind Theory is clear. Given enough time and power, this thing will emerge. And when it does, it won't be a city that disppears. It will be entire countries. You will be preventing an extinction-level event. Move out."