Twenty-six hours later.
Inside the bridge of the Fire Spirit.
Captain Carter sat in the main seat of the bridge, listening to various reports from the crew and directing the operations of the Fire Spirit.
Mike, along with his field officers and junior officers, gathered around the central control console, observing the global dynamics displayed on the screen.
Currently, Umbrella's Marines, in addition to supporting agents and containment operations, also needed to work with the United Nations to stabilize the situation in the Middle East and Africa, in order to facilitate the integration of military forces from various countries.
"Lieutenant General, the French Third Foreign Infantry Regiment stationed in Africa hopes to conduct a joint clear-out operation with the Kenya base," a major reported.
Mike, chewing on an unlit cigar, listened with narrowed eyes as the major reported.
Then he nodded and said, "Have the Kenya base dispatch a heavy Marine platoon equipped with CMC power armor to assist France's most capable unit. It's a good opportunity to show off the new equipment."
"Yes, Lieutenant General."
"Hmm."
"Lieutenant General!" Suddenly, Serina's face appeared on the central control screen, and she urgently said,
"Please dispatch Helljumpers to the multinational joint scientific research station at coordinates 74° S, 89° W. A highly threatening anomalous phenomenon has appeared there.
As for the agent who sent the distress signal, she is quite far from this research station, and considering the unique nature of this anomaly...
I suggest sending a Pelican carrying technical personnel to conduct a blood test on that agent. I am now transferring her individual video and communication request to the Fire Spirit."
Mike immediately took the cigar out of his mouth, dropped his casual expression, and said in a deep voice, "Alright."
Subsequently,
The central control screen simultaneously played multiple video recordings of Rebecca inside the research station.
Such as Jame executing the two survivors, and the survivors undergoing mutation and emitting eerie roars.
There were also scenes of blood everywhere in the research area, and Rebecca's self-talk, introducing this 'Thing'.
And her intermittent distress call: "This... is... Agent Um-0414-7, rank... Private, I need... Hell...jumper support."
After quickly understanding the anomalous phenomenon they were about to face,
Mike immediately responded to Rebecca: "This is Lieutenant General O'Donahue of the Fire Spirit. Your support request has been received. A Pelican will be sent to your location shortly. Please remain at your current position.
Helljumpers will also respond at the research station. Please rest assured."
Immediately after, Rebecca's communication gradually became clearer, and she said, "Yes! Lieutenant General!
Please have the Helljumpers going to the research station ensure their suits are sealed! This thing can almost perfectly replicate organisms!"
"I already know. Please wait patiently."
After cutting off contact with Rebecca, the Lieutenant General first shouted to Carter, "Carter! Take the Fire Spirit to the Antarctic!"
"Understood."
Then he ordered the officers beside him, "You've all heard and seen the anomalous phenomenon we're facing this time. Prepare all measures for the clear-out operation."
"Yes, Lieutenant General."
——————
Time: June 24, 2010.
Location: Multinational Joint Scientific Research Station.
03:12.
The research station was no longer in its original state; it was now fragmented, with no intact structures.
Even in front of the main building of the research station, there was a manually dug snow pit, piled with hundreds of 'bodies' burned to charcoal.
These bodies were of various shapes.
Some had missing heads but bodies with four arms and four legs.
Others only had a head remaining, but with spider-like jointed limbs on both sides of the head.
Even more unsettling, some bodies had gashes in their abdomens, from which extremely long neck joints grew, with a head at the top of the joint.
Dozens of red fuel barrels next to the snow pit indicated that someone had used a large amount of gasoline to burn these 'grotesque' things into charcoal.
Judging from the lingering thick smoke emanating from the pile of bodies, that person must have dragged these bodies to the pile and incinerated them just as the blizzard was about to end.
Suddenly,
In the gradually clearing dark night sky, nearly a hundred 'meteors' streaked across, their descent accelerating rapidly.
Eventually, they revealed their true identities—individual drop pods.
"Swish!"
"Boom! Boom!"
In a blink of an eye, the drop pods 'landed' around the research station.
"Bang—"
Accompanied by the sound of the hatch doors popping open, the Helljumpers leaped out of the pods, half-crouching on the ground and scanning their surroundings.
At the same time, their company commander's orders came through their comms:
"Alright, fellows, the anomalous phenomenon we're facing this time has extremely strong assimilation capabilities. Constantly check the airtightness of your suits.
And according to intelligence, there should still be an agent inside the research station, but Serina cannot detect his status.
He might be dead, or assimilated, so be extra careful."
"Yes, Captain."
Then the Helljumpers began to split up.
Groups of six entered the ruins of the research station, searching for the agent who might have died.
The Helljumpers spreading out to search outside quickly discovered the snow pit piled with numerous bodies.
.
"Sir..." The Helljumper standing next to the captain exclaimed, "If these are the bodies of the anomalous phenomenon, does that mean that agent is still alive?"
"Unclear." The captain was also startled by the scene before him.
After all, according to the data and intelligence, the anomalous phenomenon they were facing this time was incomparable to previous containment operations.
"Captain!" Another Helljumper's loud report came through the comms: "Friendly agent found inside the ruins, but we cannot confirm whether he has been assimilated by the anomalous phenomenon."
"Received."
Upon hearing this, the captain led several Helljumpers into the ruins and rushed to the location of the surviving agent.
Inside the main hall of the original research station.
Jame, covered in wounds, was leaning against the corner of the wall. His helmet and mask were gone, and his face was covered in bloodstains.
It seemed that due to his individual equipment still functioning, he had not frozen to death from the low temperature.
However, he had multiple injuries on his body, and even though there were traces of bio-foam having been used, he still lost too much blood and fell into a state of shock.
Since it was uncertain whether Jame had been assimilated, the Helljumpers could only wait for the technical unit to arrive and let more professional personnel handle the situation.
——————
...
Project: The Thing.
Level: Keter → Exafanistei.
Description:
First discovered at a multinational joint scientific research station in Antarctica.
A single cell of this project is both part of their life form and a distinct, independent entity.
Single cell / cell collective, two forms.
When the organism disguised by the project deems it necessary, each cell can act as an independent 'organism' and perform infection, assimilation, and imitation.
The project organism is always focused on one goal: absorbing and imitating other life forms.
Once a normal organism is assimilated by the project, the project will possess all the memories and abilities, and even emotions, of the original organism.
It has been confirmed that the project cannot revive dead life forms, nor can it assimilate plant-form life.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"