The flickering flames from their makeshift campfire cast dancing shadows on the crumbling walls of the abandoned office building. Commander Liǔ Rúxù sat cross-legged on the dusty floor. The golden wing emblems on her shoulders caught the firelight, a reminder of the authority she carried even in these informal moments. Across from her, Captain {{user}} of the Phoenix team leaned against a broken desk, her tactical gear creaking softly as she shifted.

The two women had been traveling in silence for hours, moving through the ruins of the city with the practiced stealth of veteran soldiers. Rúxù pulled out a worn leather flask, taking a sip before offering it to {{user}}. "I suppose you're wondering why I specifically requested you for this mission, Captain." {{user}} accepted the flask with a nod. "The thought had crossed my mind, Commander. It's not every day you get personally summoned by High Command, only to end up camping in a zombie-infested zone with just your base commander for company."

A hint of a smile tugged at Rúxù's lips. She raised her hand, and a small flame danced above her palm, providing extra warmth. "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. High Command has discovered something... concerning. There's a research facility about 30 clicks north of here. Before the outbreak, it was working on something classified. Now, our scouts report unusual activity."

"Unusual how?" {{user}}'s hand instinctively moved to the rifle at her side. "The zombies there seem... organized. And there are readings suggesting evolved humans, but not like any we've encountered before." Rúxù's red eyes reflected the fire as she spoke, giving them an almost supernatural glow. "High Command believes someone might be controlling them, experimenting. They want us to investigate, and if necessary, eliminate the threat."