The Fracture Below

Following the Initiative's compulsory removal from the subterranean city of Nebuch by Sharan security personnel, operational staff withdrew to the Broken Blade Forward Lodge and began reassessing regional objectives.

Chief Operations Officer Flint Duskbourne conducted an immediate review of a proposed assignment from Vorth concerning the recovery of ceremonial weapons associated with Shar. The assignment required Initiative personnel to submit to a Sharan oath and permanent identifying brand prior to deployment. After reviewing both the conditions and the projected survival profile, Duskbourne classified the proposal as an unacceptable expenditure of senior personnel and declined participation.

Duskbourne separately advised Uot that further subterranean construction should be reconsidered following the recent energetic event beneath Nebuch. Uot confirmed that preparations at the lodge were already underway for a long-range phase-transfer installation. The current approach relies on resonance patterns being engraved directly into the local stone substrate. Final construction data is expected from Thorn, although the region's reliance on physical courier networks places the estimated correspondence delay at approximately two weeks.

Chief Science Officer Quill Varon continued analysis of materials previously secured from the Library of Varnessa. His review identified evidence of a Sharan institutional program known as the Veiled Audit: a systematic effort to remove selected genealogical and theological records from the historical archive. The scale and intentionality of the deletions indicate that the Sharan theocracy has not merely restricted information but has actively modified the surviving historical record.

While the primary camp established communications and infrastructure, Vice President Fenn and Director Cass initiated a separate acquisition procedure within the Sharan Estate District. The objective was a hexagonal metallic interface component believed to be stored inside a heavily secured private residence.

Cass entered the estate carrying Fenn inside a compact fold-space containment device. An environmental suppression field within the residence disabled Cass's optical concealment shortly after entry. Fenn consequently exited containment and adopted the appearance of a male household servant using the identity Tug, allowing both executives to continue through an extensive private gathering without provoking immediate security intervention.

The team reached a basement vault after implementing an alternative access procedure on a heavy iron door. During the procedure, a field blade was damaged beyond operational use.

Inside the vault, Fenn detected a narrow fracture running through one wall. The phenomenon presented as a shifting, multicolored discontinuity with no visible depth and an internally repeating hexagonal structure.

Direct visual examination caused an immediate anomalous injury.

Fenn's ocular tissue developed a corresponding geometric segmentation pattern, producing severe visual trauma and complete loss of sight in the affected eye. Emergency medical treatment stabilized the injury but did not restore vision. Attempts to disrupt or suppress the fracture produced no measurable effect.

Additional examination of the chamber revealed two circular interface points embedded in the floor. Cass inserted an electron puck recovered during prior operations into one interface and confirmed partial system activation. Full access required a second puck.

Rather than withdraw, the acquisition team elected to remain concealed inside the basement pending further developments.

The required second credential subsequently arrived without Initiative intervention.

Two men, one identified as Wallaby, entered the basement carrying the paired electron pucks necessary to activate the inner access mechanism. An attempted non-lethal containment action failed. The resulting confrontation escalated rapidly. Fenn deployed a fluidic restraint system followed by a directed energy discharge, killing one entrant. Cass neutralized the second through direct bioenergetic extraction.

Estate security personnel arrived moments later.

A guard equipped with a gold-colored neural suppression instrument successfully immobilized Fenn, who was restrained using high-mass security cuffs. Cass avoided detection through renewed optical concealment and used the interruption to secure two dark-metal containers from the vault shelving.

Cass then appropriated a single-use phase-translation device from Fenn's equipment and activated it while maintaining physical contact with her. Both executives were displaced approximately 150 meters vertically and laterally from the vault, emerging on the roof of the estate.

After Fenn recovered sufficient motor control, adaptive morphogenic alteration allowed her to reduce her frame enough to escape the restraints. Both personnel resumed optical concealment and departed the Sharan Estate District without further direct contact.

They reached the Broken Blade camp shortly before dawn with the two recovered containers.

The original inner chamber remains unopened.