Infiltration, Records, Discovery

After confirming that the abandoned town contained no further valuable intelligence, and after encrypting and transmitting the observation reports on the miserably howling Zombies, their biological signal characteristics, and a map of nearby threat distribution back to the Frontline Base, Leon sent an additional request through his dedicated communications channel:

"Calling base, this is the Kennedy team.

A new high-priority biological sample has been discovered in the target area: a type of 'Zombie' and 'Head Parasite.'

Requesting that the Biological Department dispatch an elite technical retrieval team equipped with standard biological containment gear to secretly infiltrate the area, attempt to capture all Zombies and their parasites alive, and collect environmental biological tissue samples.

Caution: the targets may retain some awareness, and there is extensive activity from unknown Xenomorph organisms nearby. Extreme stealth is recommended.

Over."

After sending the request, the three of them did not linger to await a response.

They continued along the route mapped out by their invisible holographic glasses, heading deeper into the town—toward the city's underground sewers.

The three moved swiftly between collapsed houses and through rubble-filled alleys, their Optical Camouflage cloaks allowing them to almost blend into the surrounding ruins.

However, just as they passed a half-collapsed residence, something changed.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Several alien parasitic creatures resembling ticks enlarged dozens of times over, dark red all over, with smooth "skin," or rather shells, suddenly darted out like lightning from holes in the roof and shadows at the corners of the walls.

Their targets were clear: the seemingly empty "air"—in other words, where Leon and the others stood.

These "alien ticks" had no obvious visual organs, yet they seemed to possess some detection ability beyond ordinary senses, accurately perceiving Leon and the others despite their Optical Camouflage.

"Left."

Leon barked the warning, his reaction astonishingly fast.