The week following the claiming of Sub-Station Epsilon was one of relentless, focused labor. Under Roric's strategic eye and Kai's increasingly confident on-the-ground direction, the derelict facility began to transform. The gaping southern breach was now a reinforced plasteel wall, thanks to Breaker's strength and Zip's salvage runs. Shift had coaxed more of the station's auxiliary systems online, providing stable lighting to key sectors and even restoring a basic atmospheric filtration unit in what they'd designated as the primary crew quarters – a series of surprisingly intact dormitories on a sublevel Kai had personally (and grimly) ensured was clear of any "stragglers."
Kai's Anima Core Stability was a constant concern. He'd managed to keep it hovering around 60% through careful exertion and the slightly enhanced Nutrient Pellets from his Daily Quests (which now often included tasks like "Perimeter Patrol Simulation" or "Small Unit Tactical Drills" using the training drones Roric had acquired). The System's reminders about "Tier 2 Sustenance" were less frequent but always lurked. He still held his 8 undistributed attribute points, but he'd used his remaining skill point on "Improved Anima Concealment (Rank 1)," making it even easier to suppress his draconic features, a vital necessity as their numbers were about to grow.
[Skill Acquired: Improved Anima Concealment (Rank 1/5). Passive Anima signature further reduced by 10%. Conscious suppression of minor manifestations now requires minimal focus. Involuntary manifestation chance under stress reduced by an additional 5%.]
One evening, as Kai, Shift, Breaker, and Zip were gathered in the now functional control room – their de facto command center – Roric made an announcement. "Epsilon is secure enough for Phase Two," he stated, deactivating a holo-display showing their fortified perimeter. "It's time to expand our numbers. A Coil with only four active operatives and a leader is hardly a threat, or an enterprise. I've been… networking."
"Networking?" Shift asked, her cybernetic eye glinting. "With who? The usual District 7 bottom-feeders?"
Roric allowed himself a small, almost condescending smile. "Not exclusively. Kai's victory over Crusher sent ripples further than you might think. There are individuals with… unique talents, currently unaligned or poorly utilized by their current affiliations, who are looking for a more promising banner. People who value discretion, efficiency, and ambition."
"So, you've got a shortlist?" Kai asked. He felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. More people meant more complexity, more potential threats from within, but also more strength.
"I have a few select candidates I wish for us to approach," Roric confirmed. "Individuals whose Anima profiles, according to my sources, would complement our existing team. But the final decision to extend an offer, and the manner in which it is extended, Leader Kai, will be yours. You are the face of The Crimson Coil, the one they need to believe in."
Kai noted the careful phrasing. Roric sourced, Kai approved and recruited. The dynamic of their leadership was becoming clearer, if no less complex.
"The first candidate," Roric continued, bringing up a new file on the holo-display. It showed a grainy image of a woman with striking white hair, her face obscured by shadows, but her posture exuding a dangerous grace. "Goes by the street name 'Whisper.' Her Anima is rumored to be Banshee-kin – sonic manipulation, disorientation, perhaps even localized auditory illusions. Extremely rare. Currently a freelance 'information extractor,' works for the highest bidder, trusts no one." [System Intel Update (Roric Source): 'Whisper' – MOD (Potential C-Grade Anima: Banshee – Sonic Manipulation). High stealth/infiltration/incapacitation potential. Volatile. Trust issues documented.]
"Second," Roric swiped to another image, this one of a wiry, heavily scarred man tinkering with some kind of explosive device. "'Scrap.' A demolitions enthusiast. His Anima is believed to be Bombardier Beetle-based – he can excrete and ignite small, volatile chemical compounds from his palms. Unpredictable, but undeniably effective at creating chaos or removing obstacles." [System Intel Update (Roric Source): 'Scrap' – MOD (Potential D-Grade Anima: Bombardier Beetle – Bio-Chemical Explosives). High demolition/area denial potential. Poor impulse control. Collateral damage probable.]
"And third," Roric presented a final image – a surprisingly young man, almost boyish, but with eyes that held an old, weary look. He was shown sketching intently in a battered data-slate. "Known only as Trace. His Anima is perhaps the most unusual: Cartographer Wasp. He can mentally map any area he traverses with perfect, three-dimensional accuracy and can project these maps as faint light constructs. Invaluable for navigation, infiltration, and escape planning." [System Intel Update (Roric Source): 'Trace' – MOD (Potential D-Grade Anima: Cartographer Wasp – Mnemonic Topography, Spatial Projection). Extreme utility/recon/planning potential. Non-combatant. Reportedly seeks stable environment.]
Kai studied the profiles. Three very different MODS, each with unique, non-combat-primary Animas (except perhaps Scrap's destructive capabilities). This was a different approach than just recruiting muscle.
"They're not fighters, not like Breaker or… me," Kai observed.
"Precisely," Roric said. "A crew that aims for Apex-level influence needs more than just fists. We need subtlety, information, specialized skills. Shift provides tech and intel. Zip provides speed and recon. Breaker provides resilience. You provide the decisive edge. These three would add entirely new dimensions to our capabilities."
"How do we approach them?" Kai asked. "Especially someone like Whisper, who 'trusts no one'?"
"That," Roric said, a rare deferential tone in his voice as he looked directly at Kai, "is where your leadership comes in. You're the one who defied expectations in The Pit. You're the one building a legend. They need to hear it from you. I can arrange the meetings, ensure they are… secure. But you will be the one to extend the hand of The Crimson Coil."
Kai felt the now-familiar weight of responsibility. Each new member would be a gamble, a new variable in their dangerous equation. But Roric was right; they needed more than just a handful of operatives.
"Alright," Kai said, taking a deep breath. "Let's prepare to meet them. Shift, I want you to do a deeper dive on any digital footprints these three might have, cross-reference with Roric's intel. Breaker, Zip, you'll accompany me to these meetings as discreet security. We approach them one by one. Carefully."
The System pinged: [New Faction Objective: Recruitment Drive (Phase 1). Target: Whisper, Scrap, Trace.] [Leadership Challenge: Successfully integrate new, diverse Anima types into Faction structure.]
The Crimson Coil was about to grow, or fracture. Kai hoped his judgment, and his increasingly strained Anima, were up to the task.