Chapter 0: Understanding the World Before You Begin
Before reading, you must understand this world. This is not a normal universe.
This is a hidden world of anomalies.
The Containment Directorate is a secret global organization. Its purpose is to secure, contain, and protect.
It exists beneath the surface of civilization.
The Directorate deals with anomalies. These are things that break reality.
They cannot be explained by science or logic.
Anomalies can be objects, beings, places, or ideas. Some are harmless.
Some can erase nations or destroy existence itself.
The goal is not destruction. The goal is control.
Humanity must survive without knowing the truth.
[Containment Classes]
Anomalies are ranked by containment difficulty. This does not always reflect power.
It reflects how hard they are to manage.
Stable - are easy to contain. Their behavior is predictable.
Proper procedures keep them controlled.
Variable - are unpredictable. They are not fully understood.
Their behavior may suddenly change.
Catastrophic - are highly dangerous. They are difficult to contain.
Failure can cause massive loss of life.
Extinction - cannot be contained. They are beyond control.
Their existence threatens the world itself.
[Directorate Structure]
The Directorate follows a strict hierarchy. Every member has a role.
Failure carries severe consequences.
Researchers - study anomalies. They analyze origin, behavior, and weakness.
Knowledge is their weapon.
Strike Units - are elite tactical teams. They handle dangerous missions.
They recover escaped anomalies and suppress breaches.
The High Council - rules the organization. They hold highest authority.
Very few know who they are.
Trial Subjects - are used for testing. They perform high-risk tasks.
Their survival is rarely expected.
[Types of Anomalies]
Anomalies come in many forms. No list is ever complete. New horrors are constantly discovered.
Biological entities - are living beings. They possess unnatural traits.
Many are hostile.
Anomalous objects - are items with impossible properties.
Even harmless tools may become deadly.
Reality shapers - alter existence itself. They bend natural law.
Mind hazards - affect thought and perception.
Sometimes knowing them is enough.
Temporal anomalies - distort time. Past and future lose meaning nearby.
Conceptual entities- exist as ideas. They go beyond physical form.
Some can only be understood, never touched.
This is the hidden world beneath mankind. A world where fear is catalogued.
A world where the impossible is locked behind steel.
And now, something has entered it that cannot be ranked, measured, or contained.