(Note: The information depicted in Azriel's log reveals information about certain game enemies you may or may not wish to know prior to playing Xidia)


Azriel's Log book: dated 5/25.....I've decided that the end may be near for me. I've accepted that fact now and isolated myself from the others. They think me to be crazy, but I merely am preparing myself for death, which I am convinced will be upon me shortly. In the event someone should find me dead somewhere, I have included this Log book to touch on all the creatures that have emerged from within the depths of our Mines. I hope the information I provide serves as some help to a weary survivor desperate for guidance. If your reading this, it probably means I am dead. No matter, below is a detailed description of the encounters I have personally had in the days since the attack.

Derelict creatures:

The Pupae: The Pupae first appeared in our ventalation systems. For a long time we simply thought they were scout beings for the warriors....but McCaleb thought differently, and told the doctor to examine certain bodies of the ones we killed. There were different sizes of the Pupae discovered and it was concluded that the pupae are infact the larger creatures in infancy stages. No telling how long maturation takes, but we have seen Pupae as the tiny, tarantula sized nuisances...the more common, more mature pupae which is 3/4 the size of the average person...and even the rare ( I've only seen one) large pupae, I call them ''Brood''. Not counting the small spider ones, which can be merely squished or vaporized with a single shot of the dispersion weapon, the Pupae and Brood attack in similar styles, they lunge when close and don't stop pursuiting you until they are killed. The Pupae usually come in groups, although the Brood are almost always found alone. I've found shed skins, which leads me to believe they evolve shortly after reaching the Brood level. I have yet to see this change over. One thing is for sure, I always keep my mining tool loaded with some additional ammo for when these bastards pop out of the shadows itching for a taste.

The Warriors: These were the first creatures that emerged from the Derelict spaceship and fought their way through our Mine. The species itself is unknown to any of us, but from what I've gathered, they are territorial and seriously savage, as well as highly advanced technologically. Physically, they appear at first glance to be reptillian, although insect-like traits are present as well. The warriors are of a particular caste, and breed in several levels of rank. All levels fight the same, they possess long, retractable claws that seem to grow from inside organically. They also emit some sort of deadly energy pulse from the same wrists that project the claws, McCaleb believes it's a natural defense mechanism...but others disagree. They move faster than anything I've ever seen, and can dodge most of our weapons quite well. Taking one down is difficult and close to impossible if your alone. By myself, I've killed 4 and wounded another before he cut me bad. The wound is infected and will probably kill me eventually if I'm not careful. In any case, the best way to take one on is with a powerful, close ranged weapon. Aim high and for the head. 

The Praetorians: I've only seen one, but I've heard alot about them. They are the highest rank of the warrior class, but I felt the need to devote an entire section of my log just to these bastards. They are extremely rare, although I've heard they populate the Derelict spacecraft in large numbers. I think there has only been one of these things anywhere near Outpost Pheonix, the one that got Deckard. These guys are pure blood warriors, they exist to slaughter. All other castes seem to answer to these things. Like I've said, I've only seen one and that wasn't for long. But from what I did see, I saw it rip apart 4 armed miners in less than 15 seconds. And it didn't even flinch or show signs of injury.  To whoever encounters one of these things, my luck goes to you. Run if possible and use your best weapon to get away. 

Trooper/Soldier: Instruments of the Derelict spacecraft's secret technology. The creatures regarded by many of us as "Troopers", "Soldiers", and "Commandos", seem to be a different caste of the same species of the warriors. It is known by us that they are the same creature, but the Soldier and the Warrior seem to have been bred under different cirumstances. While the warrior is more of a ferocious prodigy of physical cunning and strength...the Soldier is basically a creature meant for more of a uniform military enforcer. The soldier is like a grunt, to put it bluntly. A single Soldier, when compared to the Warrior, is physically weaker and not as agile. BUT, the Soldier is probably more of a threat, especially when in numbers. The soldier's are easy to reconize, unlike the exposed warriors, Soldiers wear a full armor combat suit. The suit is metallic, but also very moveable, letting the creature move well dispite it's bulk. Most of the soldier's I've seen wear the dark black armor and are almost impossible to spot in the shadows or at night.( I've heard that there are a few Soldier's who wear brightly colored armor, but are extremely rare....they are probably scouts). Their suits provide certain ''attributes'' for defense purposes, such as a wrist mounted forcefield that seems to deflect most of our smaller fire ( it doesn't protect the creature from everything though). Each Soldier, unlike the clawed Warrior, wields a weapon. The weapons they use are testiments of their superior arsenal. The razor spitter weapon, fires fast moving blades that slice through anything. These things can cut your finger off just by rubbing it along the side of the blade itself. They also use the rocket launcher weapon which can store 6 rockets at once and then a payload of grenades for well ( most of our teams die fast when in battle with these guys.) They also use our own weapons, and since they raided the storage depot in the mine, most of these guys have either familarized themselves with all our defense....or they carry our guns with them. While the warriors mainly attacked us in the dark, in a stealthy style of assault.....the Soldiers are a brute military force that attack us as such. In the big battle at Anchor Head, near the southern Dock off Area D....there must have been at least 40 of these things attacking that compound ( which now lays in ruins). I know, I was there. They slaughtered us...60 miners dead in 20 minutes of combat..the other 30 were either wounded or fled. Those 30 were picked off as they chased us, 17 of us escaped. I think I killed 6 soldiers...but I can't be sure. I do know from personal combat, that these things have a particular agility handicap....while they are still faster than us, they can't dodge as quickly as the warriors. High calibur destructive weapons work best, I personally used my flak weapon, firing mortars off from above. 

"The Shadow Demons": Richie saw them first, but nobody took the little stoner seriously until it was too late. I saw one of them kill Deigo in the mine, when I tried to help.... just teleported itself away using some advanced escape technology. But as far as any of us know, there are three of them. Correction, WERE three of them. Supposedly, before the Northern peak was destroyed ( my hand is shaking as I write this, I'm losing blood fast) Somebody, I think Lori said it was Judd's team probably, took on the trio in the hangar. Two were confirmed killed, while the third one was assumed to be killed ( we aren't sure). The third, the gray one they called the "Darklord" was believed to be the leader of the species...but if he is dead ( IF)....why are all the creatures still attacking as if following a organized attack, are they simply independant killing squads who don't need central command....or did the Darklord survive? OR....is their another being leading them. Who knows, but don't be surprised if one of these things pops up somewhere and crossed your path. I haven't seen one in actual combat ( The one I shot vanished before I could enage 'standard operating combat procedure') but from what I've heard.....surivival is almost laughable.....we aren't marines after all....certain things are just impossible....if you see one, run. Thats the  best advice I can give you.

The Behemoths: Some of our guys call them "Brutes" or "Jaberwocks". The origin of these creatures is a mystery to us, but there loyalty and intentions are not. They, as far as I or anyone else can tell, are not of the same race of the Derelict spacecraft's creatures. If the build, structure, intelligence, and combat tactics weren't enough evidence, our scientific proof is. While the Derelict warriors and soldiers are both of the same reptillian/insect species, the Behemoths are mammal-like, their form and movement is like that of a sluggish, upright walking gorrilla. The way they are treated by the Derelict warriors is like that of a slave being ordered by a master. The Behemoths are probably of a subjagated race that has been either conquered or genetically manipulated by the Derelicts. They are juggarnauts, carrying a huge rocket launching weapon in both hands ( we tried salvaging them from killed ones, the weapon is too heavy to carry, even with several men...just not designed for human beings to wield). Many of the others believe the control is more straightforward, like the creatures are simply bred that way. But I believe they are mentally manipulated at birth ( or growth, whatever) and formatted to serve specific hunting or patroling purposes....perhaps they can be rebellious if somehow freed from their mental prison? I do not know. There aren't a whole lot of them left now, we've actually killed a great deal.....for unlike the Derelicts, these Behemoths can't dodge or avoid our hit and run ambush tactics very well. Only some of the heavier ones remain, freelance patroling through war-torn areas. They seem to appear whenever the Outpost's power consoles have been operated on, the Drelicts no doubt have infiltrated our system, ro any irregularity in the system the hacked is changed, say one of our guys unlocks something, the Behemoths are usually the first ones to show up to investigate.They also show up shortly after a battle scene, where one or a more Derelicts are killed. How they know when and where to arrive is beyond us, but since it's no secret these things have a basic intelligence, they MUST be being controlled through ''some other means''. If there had been more of them Maybe we would have  cared more about who controls them, but they have become a rare sight in the last few days. In total we have 18 confirmed Behemoth kills. If your alone and one is lurking about, either run ( they can't outrun you) or if you have to take it on, use it's bulk against them. I'd tell you to aim for the head, but it's skull is as thick as it's hide.

Cyborgs: I actually can't speak much on this, I haven't seen a single ''active'' one of them yet. Word of cybernetic humanoid hunting parties was first heard several days ago, but then died down when most of our teams were killed. But while I was in the caves not long ago, I found the remains of what I can only describe as a Cyborg. It was smashed, didn't work....I think it fell or was caught in a rockslide underground, I don't know. But it was ''dead'' when I found it. It is the only one I've seen, or any of us have seen ( all the talk about them was rumor till now, nobody can say for sure they exist, except myself of course now that I've seen one with my own eyes). I hope what I found wasn't some sick experiment by the Derelict's to mimic our own Human bone structure and create a mock-human decoy that could fool us from afar with it's seemingly human like stance and movement. The robot looked human, from what I saw....joints and limb size and shape, all human. If they are mock human hunters, and there ARE more of these things.....then we are totally fucked. 

Other creatures:

Tentacles: Bastard parasites that grow off decaying surfaces, usually in the mines. We carried their spores here on a shipment we think, ever since they have been popping up everywhere. We almost always catch them in mid growth and burn them up before they get a chance to mature, but since the attack by the Derelict creatures, we haven't been paying attention to our daily work habits, and as a result these bastards have been popping up everywhere. Matured they can be dangerous, firing venomless spines at any target and they may even attempt to grab you. They come down rather easily, so use your low power weapons to clear them. So far they haven't been known to carry any poison in their spines, but then again, we've never seen a fully mature specimen either...

Razor Fly: Large insect usually found near the bay, close to the Outpost's dock. They are quite rare but have a habit of sneaking up on people. They are huge flys that will sting you on sight, take them apart by firing a few rounds in their direction. 

Eel Shark: aka, ''devil shark'' or fish, these eel sharks hunt in packs and can be quite dangrous. They are so eager to kill they may even jump out of the water to snap at you, beaching themselves. We were setting up a underwater cage which got damaged in the attacks and hence, alot of eel sharks got loose. There are supposed to be two larger specimens which were in the bay, twice the size and speed. Avoid at all costs, never underestimate a water dweller. I always hated seafood.

Squidys: They move and behave like squid, but a scientific autopsy showed reptillian physiology in the creature. These things are more common in Xidia's lakes, but a few have rumored to have been caught in the pump station drainage pool, and a few eggs made it past the screens and into our water exchange facility. The facility is too complex to search out every pipe, but so far 4 half-matured squidys where found. Only one fully matured squidy has been spotted, and it was when Reilly was cleaning the valves, the thing nearly killed him but he got away with minimal injuries. As far as I know, the thing still lurkes in the pipes, although I recall hearing of a squidy sighting in the flooded sector of Outpost Pheonix...

"Spinners": Spinners, or cave arachnids are half scorpion/spiders that dwell in our lower mines. At early ages they stick to the shadows and are like large tarantulas with a vicious nature toward aggression, a group of spinners will attack a working miner minding his own buisness. A few weeks older they stop being a nuisance and become deadly. A matured spinner is enormous, and is capable of launching acidic defensive projectiles at enemies. When Clarence first got attacked and nearly died because of a group of 3 or 4 of these things, non of us would go to E sector for weeks. Finally the teams came in from the north and cleared them out, but still they continue to breed, we don't know from where. They have become less of an annoyance than the tentacles, simply because they stopped investigating our Live mines, but since the Derelicts have begun attacking, our security watch of these creatures, as in the case of the tentacles, has failed and they have begun re-emerging. They have a hard exoskeleton, which lets them take alot of punishment when matured. Watch out for their acid.

" The Controller": What I tell you now...is the encounter nobody believes me about. I have tried many times to warn the others, but I am afraid I have become an outsider to them....they think I am completely ape shit...and maybe I am. I have spent the last week and a half in the caves...all by myself....although it feels like much longer. I've grown distant, distorted, maybe a little insane. But I am not hallucinating, nor am I delusional. I first saw the structure in an isolated cave.....must have been there for centuries, undisturbed by any form of life...the soil on the ground was fine and rich, as if untampered with for generations. The hole was uncovered in a quake, and I crawled my way into the clearing. I saw a temple, which is the best way I can describe it. It was old, and in ruins...stones pieces lay everywhere, most of them half buried in the rock or gravel. I entered, at the time I admit, I was not myself. By then I had gone...a little crazy. Sure, I may or may not have imagined the voices I heard, calling me inward, like whispers on the back of your neck....to this very moment I cannot tell you if what I heard was real....or if it was my own fantasy, though it may have been the latter ( and for your sake I hope it is). But I traversed deep inside...and found the chamber. It was like a church, nearly...but not quite. I saw it then, on the alter, floating in a meditatation. At first I didn't disturb it, I watched as it hovered there...for all I knew I had completely lost it, or maybe it was really there and was floating there in a trance for years. If you asked me now, I couldn't tell you why I did it...but I approached it. I got very close to it, only a few feet away....I saw all of it, up close and in the flesh...it was indeed an organism, and not my imagination. It looked tall, 8 feet maybe, and gray skin...humanoid, with four arms. It was tattooed, and was making a soft chant which filled the entire temple with sound. I reached out my hand...and touched it. The moment I did, it awoke and made this sound....this sound that will haunt my soul for the rest of my life ( as long as that may be). I jumped back as the creature continued to shriek, I knew then that I had set foot where no creature was allowed...I had tresspassed into his world, his domain. I had brought my impurity into his chambers and polluted it....all this I knew the instant It made that scream. I ran, behind me webs of what I can only describe as electricity ( or energy) sorrounded the creature, like a forcefield. Before I realized what was happening, felt the very ground shake beneath me. I saw it emerge, that horrible Dragon. It the servant of this, "Controller" monk creature.....and he was the Controller's guardian, "Minion" if you will. I fired every round I had at it....nothing had any effect. That four armed thing...the ''Controller'', did something to it....made  it strong...or maybe it evolved on, this I cannot say. But I ran, I ran for my life, and somehow I got away. The screams of the "Controller" still ring in my ears. Nomatter where I go now, I hear his whispers in my head...sometimes I see him, here in Outpost Pheonix....walking around, vanishing into shadows when the light touches him. Is this my illusion? My fantasy? My insanity? Or has this creature...who has now been disturbed....seeking vengeance on it's intruders? Is he perhaps simply curious about us, and attacking me was simply out of it's own fear of my species or the fact I had startled it? I do not know it's intentions....But I have seen it various times in the Outpost, for only a moment or two before it is gone.....I think it is simply studying us...but maybe it wants to disturb our world like I disturbed his.Whether he is friend or enemy....I can still hear his screams echoing in my head......



--------additional entries

10/16: My birthday. I love Xidia in the fall, It really is beautiful. It reminds me of all those old pictures of Earth, before the pollution got so bad. I'm really starting to get cozy here, I admit that it was difficult at first.....But I'm getting used to it. It's growing on me. Work is hard but we really get along, everybody missess home the same as the next guy, and that sorta bonds us. The pay is good at least, and things run very smooth here. Supplies are shiped and exported every rotation, some guys take leaves when they arrive, and we also get our mail from home then. I'm anxious to hear from my brother.

1/7: Winter would be cold usually, but not here. No snow on this side of Xidia all year long, only toward the southern bluffs. We celebrated the new year with a party. It was really great. Douglass and Kathryn's relationship has really grown over the last season, we are all glad to see them together, they make a good pair. I've heard Doug talking about possible marraige plans in the summer rotation when he and Kathryn end their contract. He really is happy, and she really loves him. It amazes me, how people meet under such circumstances. Deckard came back yesterday, he was not with us over the holiday because of his family emergency back home. His son Connor died in a fire, a very sad thing. I cannot fathom why he requested his contract reinstated for January. it's only been 2 weeks and hes back to work. He doesn't say much about it, and while we all gave him our condolences he doesn't seem to be very broken by it. Alot of the other guys think it's because he never knew his kid, but I am Deckard's friend, I know how much he loved that boy. Deckard bewilders me, he was in the army once, but was discharged about 7 years ago....he doesn't mention it and we don't ask, but the army style cybernectic optic implant over his eye tells me it was from a battle wound. Rumors persist that he has several medals, but nobody has proof. Anyway, his son's loss must be tearing his heart apart, but still he works like nothing has happened, he is a tough bastard....not because he needs to be, but because he simply is. Hes a leader, that much is for sure. Judd tried to talk him out of returning so soon, the two of them go way back. Deckard requested back anyway, and Judd accepted. I think Judd knows Deckard's personality better than anyone, they might as well be brothers. Well, this season has brought tears and joy to our working community. I hear news that a new caveran has been opened under the V sector.

2/3: Accident today. The kid, Spencer, tried to tell Ecks about driller 4's loose fuel cell. Eck's doesn't like Spence, mainly because Ecks is an older guy who feels ''kids'' like Spence run through life with ease and ignorance. I rather like Spencer, though he doesn't speak to me much. Anyway, as fate would have it, the cell feel loose in a drill routine in J cell. There was a spark and the driller exploded. Barry was operating it at the time, thank God Spencer was nearby, he managed to pull Barry out before he got too badly burned. They have him in emergency now, he'll live but hes got a road of pain ahead of him till that ship arrives next week to take him home. There was an argument later about the incident, Ecks was rather angry at Spencer for not fixing the faulty device, though the kid ain't a mechanic....Spencer, being the hotshot he is said something rather unpleasant to old Ecks and Ecks took a nice hard swing and then they fought. We broke them up, Deckard suspended Ecks for the rest of the shift while I took a cleanup team to clear the ruble. Upon cleaning the wreck, we uncovered a hollow airpocket in the rocks near where the explosion occured, sure enough there was a new caveran behind it. They will start digging in that area next shift, since the Tarydium detectors went off on full needle. Looks like we hit gold, maybe we all just might get the summer rotation off for Doug and Kat's wedding this summer after all.

2/15: New area uncovered. I'm fucking sick, fuck Spencer and his Mexican imports, little punk might as well poisoned me. Well I'm in sick bay for the next few days till my swelling goes down. I'm anxious to hear about the new area, but I can't leave the barracks. But I hear they are finding odd sediment in the soil deposits....several unknown elements, metals and such. Fragments mostly but cut too neat to be natural. No telling what we are digging up yet, but I for one am interested. Liandri is apparantly as well, and last rotation he got a new science research team. Doctor Ashleys was amongst them, hes a thin man who is rather quiet. I have spoken to him on occasion ( he was rather interested in me when I first became ill, but when it was determined that I didn't have anything dangerous nor contagious, he lost interestl). Ashley certaintly looks good for his age, I found out. He looked in his late 30's when I first saw him, he is infact 57 years of age. I don't even want to think of what kinda of health crap this guy is on, but it pays off. Nikita, the young Russian, found the good doctor facinating as well, and Ashley earned the respect of nearly every man in the Outpost when the good doctor made it with her. Guys have been trying to get her attention since the tough 22 year old arrived last summer, especially young Spencer. I want to know what the Doctor's secret is. The only one who calls him by his first name, Jack, besides Nikita, is Judd. I suspect they know each other, by how they interact...as if Judd and Ashley share this huge joke nobody in the world knows about. I'll ask Judd when I'm better. Oh fuck, goddamn Spencer and His mexican imports....

2/??: More areas uncovered. I'm better now. Not much happening lately, more sediment metals are piling up and confusing the new doctor and his staff. Richie, the stoner has been having nightmares again, hes such a freaking wierd guy. 

2/17: Party twonight...i'm abit drunk. Jack is mack..fucking Aye. I dun even know where my legs are.

3/2: Liandri went apeshit when we told them, ship fragments. We found large pieces this morning, some sort of Derelict spacecraft thats been here for God knows how long. Bits and pieces of it are scattered under the surface, We just begun find the more significant portions recently. All the sediments we found lately originated from the ship. One thing we know,  it is Alien. It's very exciting, none of us could have ever known such a formation lay hidden in the rock. The Northern Peak marines have the area secure, and main mining crews have been transfered to a seperate area while a special mining crew is slowly being escorted inside to retrieve artifacts. I have been selected for Team D. I go in tommorow for a first run, I am anxious to see what I will find in there....an ancient ship untouched for centuries....I am very excited.

3/4: Couldn't get an entry in yesterday, wanted to write this down as soon as possible. I must say....It certaintly felt strange going into the Derelict spaceship. The moment we set foot inside, we knew we are entering a forbidden realm. Nothing in the architecture said ''Human'' in any way, shape, or form. We entered through the lower tunnel canal, there had been a twisting pipe embedded in the rock, led straight through to a underground canyon, the Liandri guys must have built it. We entered through a sealed door, managed to unlock it somehow, got inside. Dark in there, used flares and flashlights. Didn't take much out initially, just searching through. Very dry inside, airtight. But a few hours after we entered, there was sign of some sort of internal leaking....Morse was worried because some of the other guys in Team C said they heard some sort of muffled "churning" sound from deep inside the walls. Nobody else heard it when we investigated, either it was something from outside or they were just creeped out. Alot of the guys in our team were too, I think I was the only one too facinated by everything to be scared shitless. I don't understand whats there too be afraid of, by the look of the place nothings been alive for a long time. Tommorw we go back inside, I can't wait to see what we pull out.

3/7: All hell has broken lose. Been 3 days since my last entry, seems like weeks. I don't know if I'll have enough time to tell about the accounts of the last72 hours, but I will try....for every bit of information may be useful later on. It started when Team A and B were cracking open a new sealed section in the uncharted chambers. Team C was researching the explored region and my team was searching out these passages under the floorwork. Very dark and confusing down there, lots of things to get equipment caught on, pipes of some sort....like a maze. I got seperated from Lewis, who was my search partner, I was looking for this shining thing that reflected off my flashlight. I crawled in between these two pipes and got my gear caught, tried to wrestle free and dropped my flashlight, it shattered. I heard Lewis call me some where back...and then I heard this other sound....it was strange and didn't sound like a person. I called out to Lewis but didn't get an answer, I tried my radio but there was interference. I gave up and lit a flare, and while I was trying to pull myself back the way I came, the floor beneath me gave away under my weight. I fell, hitting and cutting myself on jagged edges on the way down, my gear spilling and scattering everywhere. I remember my Mining tool going off in the fall. I blacked out when I hit the ground, and when I came too I was laying in sumthing soft and moist. Smell was the first sense that returned to me, and it was horrid. Next was sight, but that didn't help me any since I was in total darkness. There was light above me in the hole I feel through, my flare, but it was very dim and very distant. I tried to stand but was pierced by pain, my leg was bleeding and there was a bad punture ( At first I thought it was from the fall, I found out later it was my Mining tool that had gone off in the fall.) I clawed around after bandaging my wound with my torn shirt sleeve, my other wounds were superficial. As I felt around, thats when I found my flare stachel, but It was ripped apart and only two flares were inside. I lit one and finally I could see, there was strange webbing all around me, I was in a strange chamber that was made of organic matter, very soft and stuck to my suit. It was then I rubbed up against this large garbage can sized ''thing''....I didn't realize what it was till I was actually rubbing the surface. My heart froze in my chest when I realized it was a big egg. My fear turned to curiosity, and I got closer, examining it.....when it burst apart. Bits of shell and warm wet contents splashed at me and blind me, holding my flare still, I limped away not knowing where I was going. I tripped and stumbled down, dropping my flare. Continued to illuminate the cramped tunnel I was in, and when I rolled over to look back at the egg that opened, ''things'', I thought they were tarantulas at first, or big spiders the size of my foot...lots of them, covered me. I felt their teeth prick my skin all over....I must say, at that moment I was flipping out. Rolling around thrashing, I beat one of them against the wall, it's body crunching and ozzing goo all over me as it's head still bit at me. Stamped at the others till they crawled up my leg and kept biting. I finally rolled into another egg, which fell over on top of me as it broke upon and this time all it's contents blanketed me. Covered in warm slime and hard shell fragments as well as spider things crawling all over me biting into my skin ( one was on my cheek) I made a run for the hole I fell through, I had enough light from my flare and the previous one to see my way up and the next thing I know I was climbing up jagged metal pieces, I must have cut myself severely on the way up, and beat apart more spiders that were embedded on me ( the one on my cheek I pulled off, it's head still attached to my face squirting thick blood all over me) I must have climbed for 20 minutes, in my battered state and with my leg injury, as well as stopping every so often to pound at the spiders....I must have had at least a dozen on me. I dropped my flare at some point, made the rest of the climb in darkness. Made it to the top and just lay there amongst the blackness, gasping for breath. I was so happy to be alive I just lay there, exhausted and sweating, covered in dust, dirt, goo, and dozens of bites, bruises, and cuts. I finally had to bandage my leg since I was losing alot of blood. I must have laid on that spot for a solid 40 minutes before I limped back the way I came. My last flare lit the way, I had gotten a little lost and it took me a long time to get back. I called back but all I heard was silence. I even shouted for Lewis, but still I got no response. I would have checked my radio but I lost it back in that hole. Finally I made it back to the main corridor. Dizzy from blood loss and worn from exhausting myself, I barely noticed the blood at first. It took me a moment to realize that the blood stains and torn up flesh bits laying  around on the walls and floor were a bad sign. I continued a little farther and found the others....all dead. It was so sickening I could help but vomitting all over myself. They were hanging off the walls, laying on the ground in pieces. Spent shells and bullet holes riddled the floor. I stood there in a trance, not believing my eyes, and then the static kicked in. I heard white noise from a radio. I carefully  moved through the remains of my friends, by then I was scared shitless, I didn't know what was around the corner. I picked up a metal pipe that was laying around and silently peeked around the corner. The light the hall was cracked, flickering everywhere. But I could see it, this thing...this big fucking thing was standing there. It  has claws and teeth and muscles, I thought it was reptillian at first but then I noticed the insect-like traits. It had it's back to me, and was "touching" something near the wall. It was Logan, or what was left of him, impaled on some metal pole that was loose off the wall. The creature was examining him, as if looking for something. Finally it found the radio, which was making the noice I had heard. Over the radio I heard Lewis's voice, all scratchy, he was upset...yelling. Then I could gunfire and than just static. The creature seemed bored and tossed it aside, continuing it's study of Logon's body. I looked down, I saw a gun laying next to someone's hand ( even if I had known them, I wouldn't have reconized them). My first instinct was to shoot the fucker and thats what I did, I grabbed it and fired three rounds. The First shot nailed the fucker in the back of the neck as the other two may or may not have, after the first shot it was up and running and vanished into the shadows. I didn't bother following it, I ran for my life. Anyway, to sum up the next few hours which were long and uneventful, other than me limping through caves, I eventually made it back to the Western mines. I found signs of battle along the way, more bodies. I never did find Lewis. Finally I did find Spencer, he had been with Ecks but they got seperated. Me and him made a journey away from where the fighting could be heard, it sounded like the marines up North had been sent down. Me and Spence met with a bunch of others, including Doug and Kathryn. All radio channels were failing, we decided to split up. A small bunch of us would go up to the outpost, the rest stay in the Barracks. We drew straws, It was decided Hank, Spencer, Doug, Jamal, Anderson, and Polis would go up, the rest of us stay. That was the last time I heard of them. 13 hours ago the creatures from the Derelict Spacecraft came our way, lots of them. We had no weapons, I myself had lost my gun the day before. Anyway, we all paniced. Some huddled where they were, some made a stand. I fled with 4 others. By the time I stopped running, I was alone. I took the lift upstairs and now I'm at Area D, Outpost Pheonix. I am making this entry in power shed 12-K. I have to stop now, I hear a noise.

4/17: I found my journal at long last, lost it a few weeks back when our barricade fell. Where the Fuck is USM? Not many of us left now. Judd and Deckard are leading us, they think we should split into two main teams, Judd wants to raid the arsenal depot but there really isn't a way up. The creatures are smart, intelligent lifeforms with advanced technology, They even have 4 jet fighters and a legion of sentry mammoth things. They took the Mines first, then the Northern peak, and we are losing the Outpost section by section. area A and B has been shut down to keep the creatures from using our transmitters. We are held up at Area E, Deckard plans to make a move to Area C as soon as the monthly storm is over. There seems to be no point, they keep killing us one by one, we lose 10 men to their 1 warrior, we can't go on with no food and ammo.  I don't know whats going to happen to us.

5/20 or 21: Deckard and Judd made the split, Deckards team at C, Judd is headed to the arsenal depot. Spencer and the others are with him, but I am making the trek through the mines with the freelancers, our plan is to serve as a decoy. I haven't slept in 2 weeks, I think I'm going insane.

5/?: Entry missing.

5/26....New day...the sun rose, unexpected. Northern peak is gone now, only a cloud in the distance. I think I hear a train. Maybe it's just the Controller....picking apart my mind again. I won't let him. I have a chainsaw....I found it in a wooden shed. It is very strong, I can seperate living material with it...make one living thing into two smaller things or three even smaller things, only less alive. Funny how much power it makes me feel good. Fletcher came to see me earlier, saying Jenkins is dead...shot by the shadow man. Who is he? Don't ask me, I only work here. Tea?

5/26 Again.....sooner than later. feel dark and far. away. dont wanna sleep, Controller here now...wants his secret back....i finally found what it is he wants from me, why he speaks to me all the time. he cant get enouf of the juice, wants more from others...feeds on men now, our minds. all my fault i brought him here. i wait for him to take me, gonna make him eat chainsaw. head hurts, feel like breaking neck. wanna go home so bad now, maybe dying isnt such a good thing. seemed like good idea at the time. dont want to i have no must have to stop...

26;5 m0r..ro....giv...s...t..j




(Azriel Madicks, Miner section A1, serial# 90-1123-24)

