FLESHBOUND: Oceanspire Incident Report 354D-9

ARRAS SYSTEM LOG

INCIDENT REPORT: NS-IR-354D-9
Classification: Tactical Directive Update
Origin: ARRAS Strategic Command Network
Transmission Status: Delivered to G.H.O.S.T Tactical Tablet
Timestamp: 23:41 Local Time

OPERATIONAL THEATER

Location: Old Houston City Limits
Grid Reference: 29.7604° N, 95.3698° W
Environmental Conditions: Urban ruin zone. The infrastructure collapsed. Limited power signatures detected.

Morphotype Activity:
Regional scans confirm extreme levels of biological contamination within the operational corridor.

Threat Level: MAXIMUM

Probability of morphotype encounter during transit: Very High

Multiple variant signatures were detected within a twenty-kilometer radius of the target facility.

TEAM COMPOSITION

Unit Designation:
G.H.O.S.T — Ground Hostile Observation & Suppression Team

Operational Personnel:

1st Lieutenant Marcus Hale — Unit Commander

Sergeant James Calder — Tactical Communications / Field Recon

Specialist Lexi Virek — Drone Operations / Surveillance

Asset OCT-8 (Bart) — High-Value Biological Carrier

Unit status: Operational

Ammunition reserves: Limited

Drone reconnaissance: Active

PRIMARY DIRECTIVE

Mission Objective:
Deliver Asset OCT-8 to the Iron Heaven Facility.

Asset preservation priority: Critical

Operational success condition:
Secure arrival of Asset OCT-8 at Iron Heaven intake gate.

Failure to deliver the asset will result in termination of mission support and withdrawal of ARRAS operational protection protocols.

SECONDARY PARAMETERS

Upon successful delivery of Asset OCT-8:

ARRAS will transmit the exact coordinates of Corporal Daniel Hale.

Estimated distance to subject location from Iron Heaven: Classified

ROUTE DESIGNATION

Recommended path to Iron Heaven:

Phase One:
Proceed southeast through the collapsed industrial district bordering Interstate 45.

Phase Two:
Advance through the abandoned petrochemical corridor. Structural debris provides partial concealment from roaming morphotype clusters.

Phase Three:
Cross the contaminated flood channel near the former refinery sector.

Phase Four:
Approach Iron Heaven through the eastern service tunnels beneath the facility perimeter.

Surface access routes have been compromised.

TARGET FACILITY

Iron Heaven
Classification: Neuroseed Initiative Installation

Security Status: Active

External defenses: Operational

ARRAS authorization required for entry.

BIOLOGICAL SCAN

Long-range surveillance has identified extreme morphotype activity surrounding the facility.

Variant density: Critical

Activation threshold: Maximum

ARRAS predictive models indicate a 78% probability of direct engagement with hostile morphotypes before reaching the facility perimeter.

Additional hostile variants may be present within the underground approach routes.

ARRAS RECOMMENDATION

Maintain tight formation.
Minimize acoustic signatures.
Avoid sustained engagements when possible.

Preservation of Asset OCT-8 remains the highest mission priority.

END OF INCIDENT REPORT 354D-9

ARRAS STRATEGIC NETWORK
Monitoring: ACTIVE

---------------------------

The shrieks of the morphotypes echoed across the ruined city, reverberating through the hollow streets like distant sirens. Marcus knew they had remained in one place for far too long. Every additional minute increased the risk that the surrounding clusters would converge on their position.

Lexi approached the group with the drone folded against her forearm.

"Morphotype activity has increased during the last ten minutes," she said, glancing toward the darkened street beyond the alley. "What are your orders?"

Marcus exhaled slowly before turning his attention toward Bart.

"James," he said, shifting his rifle slightly over his shoulder, "pull up the route on the tablet and identify the most efficient satellite path to Iron Heaven."

James activated the tablet and studied the display.

"Copy that," he replied while scanning the map projected across the screen. "Best estimate puts us at forty-four minutes to arrival, sir."

Marcus nodded.

"Good. Then we move."

They slipped into the darkness and advanced through the abandoned streets, keeping to the shadows while avoiding the clusters of morphotypes scattered throughout the district. James led the group carefully, following the route calculated by ARRAS as it guided them deeper through the shattered remains of the city.

After several minutes, he stopped abruptly.

James looked ahead into the darkness before glancing back down at the tablet.

"There's too much movement ahead, Marcus," he whispered. "The route directs us toward the highway leading to the outskirts of the city, but that entire stretch is crawling with morphotypes. If we continue in that direction, we'll run straight into them. What do you want us to do?"

Marcus studied the road ahead in silence. He already knew the answer before James finished the question. They did not have enough ammunition to push through a morphotype cluster that size, nor did they have the time required to create a diversion large enough to clear the highway.

There was only one option.

"Reroute the coordinates," Marcus said. "Use the satellite system and identify an alternate corridor. Any deviation should not add more than a few minutes to the travel time."

James began entering the new parameters into the tablet.

Before he could finish, the screen flashed.

ARRAS WARNING: ROUTE DEVIATION DETECTED.
ALTERING THE DESIGNATED PATH WILL NULLIFY THE TERMS OF THE ESTABLISHED AGREEMENT.

James looked up slowly.

"Well... that's convenient."

Marcus let out a quiet, humorless breath.

"Great."

For a moment, the group stood in silence while the distant shrieks of the morphotypes drifted through the night.

Then Lexi spoke.

"I might have a solution," she said, unfolding the wings of the drone in her hands.

Marcus turned toward her immediately.

"What are you thinking?"

"If I deploy the drone and push it toward the highway, the noise alone should attract most of the morphotypes in that direction," she explained. "Once they start following it, you'll have a clear window to move through the entrance."

Marcus studied her carefully.

"That would leave you behind."

Lexi nodded.

"I'm aware."

Marcus shook his head.

"I'm not allowing you to sacrifice yourself for this mission."

Lexi looked at him for a moment before speaking again, her voice calmer than he expected.

"I've been part of this team since the beginning," she said. "I had a life in the old world, and for a while I even managed to build one in this broken version of it. But Oceanspire is gone now, and Janelle went with it."

She paused briefly.

"Without her, there isn't much left for me here. Your brother doesn't deserve to die out there. He's a good man. If this gives you a chance to reach him, then consider it a favor from a friend."

Marcus swallowed hard before extending his hand.

"Thank you," he said. "Survive long enough, and we'll come back for you after we deliver the asset."

Lexi gave a small nod.

"Copy that."

She launched the drone into the air and guided it toward the highway.

The sharp mechanical hum of its engines cut through the night, immediately drawing the attention of the morphotypes scattered along the road. One by one, their shrieks shifted toward the sound as they began moving after the drone while Lexi carefully steered it away from the entrance.

Within seconds, the highway corridor began to clear.

Marcus watched the shifting movement ahead before raising his rifle.

"This is our window," he said.

Then he looked toward the team.

"Move."

James looked over his shoulder at Lexi. "Good luck."

They moved quickly past the horde of morphotypes into the highway. The clouds covered the moon, plunging the highway into complete darkness. James looked at the sky. "Seems that it will rain again soon."

Marcus nodded. His mind was not focused on the weather, but on the information the system suppressed. 

Marcus quickened his steps until he was walking beside Bart.

"Care to explain something to me?"

Bart glanced sideways. "That depends on the question."

Marcus kept his eyes on the dark highway ahead.

"OCT-8," he said. "What does it mean?"

Bart was quiet for a moment before answering.

"Operational Clone Template," he said.

Marcus frowned. "Template?"

"Each of us was designed as a long-term infiltration unit. Eight of us were deployed across major settlements to observe human adaptation after the collapse."

Marcus looked at him.

"So you were spies."

Bart shook his head slightly.

"Observers," he said. "Spies imply loyalty to someone. I'm loyal only to myself."

Without warning, Bart's expression tightened, as though something inside him had turned against his own body. A sharp breath escaped him before he dropped to one knee, one hand bracing against the cracked pavement.

"Not now..." he muttered through clenched teeth.

Marcus stepped closer, watching the shift in his posture with growing concern.

"Bart, what's happening?"

Bart lifted his head slightly, the strain visible in his eyes.

"My backpack," he said, his voice uneven. "There's a small black case inside. Get it."

Marcus moved quickly, pulling the pack from Bart's shoulders and unzipping it. His hand brushed past loose equipment until he found the case and brought it out.

Bart's gaze locked onto it immediately.

"Open it."

Marcus hesitated for the briefest moment before releasing the latch.

The case unfolded with a soft mechanical click. A faint internal glow spilled outward, revealing a compact mechanism nested within.

Two thin conduits extended from the unit, aligning themselves with a cuff as Bart pulled it free and slid it over his forearm without hesitation.

James shifted beside Marcus, unease creeping into his voice. "What is that?"

Bart didn't answer.

He adjusted the cuff once, as if ensuring it sat exactly where it needed to be, then pressed a recessed control along its surface.

A low electronic hiss followed.

The device tightened around his arm—not violently, but with a precise, unyielding pressure that made his jaw lock for a brief moment before he forced himself still.

Marcus watched closely.

The cuff's surface pulsed faintly... and then the system engaged.

The tubing came alive first.

Darkened blood surged into the lines, thicker than it should have been, moving with resistance as the device pulled from him in steady intervals. The flow wasn't smooth—it dragged, as if whatever ran through his veins no longer wanted to move at all.

Marcus's eyes narrowed, tracking the movement through the transparent channels. Bart's breathing deepened, though the tension in his body began to ease—not from relief, but from something closer to surrender, as the system took over what control he had left.