The Crimson Peaks outpost remains under lockdown following a devastating incident earlier this morning, resulting in the presumed death of operative Lara Vance. Initial reports indicate a meticulously planned ambush orchestrated by a previously unknown faction known only as “The Obsidian Hand.” The circumstances surrounding Vance’s fall into the glacial chasm are shrouded in suspicion and escalating tensions within the Directorate’s internal security division.

At approximately 07:12 GMT, Vance, a veteran operative specializing in infiltration and extraction, was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission within the Peaks’ northern sector. According to preliminary intelligence, she was observed approaching a seemingly abandoned observation post when a precisely timed avalanche – utilizing advanced sonic disruption technology – triggered a localized collapse. The resulting cascade plunged Vance over the edge of a sheer cliff face, depositing her into the notoriously frigid waters below.

“It was… clinical,” stated Sergeant Marcus Bellwether, a member of the initial response team, visibly shaken during a brief press briefing. “No warning, no chaos. Just this… perfect slide. They knew exactly where she’d be, what she’d be doing. It wasn’t random.” Bellwether added that the avalanche’s trajectory and speed were almost impossibly precise, suggesting a level of technological sophistication beyond anything previously attributed to a single operative.

Director Thorne, head of the Directorate’s Internal Operations, issued a terse statement acknowledging the incident and promising a full investigation. “We are treating this as a serious breach of security,” he stated. “The Obsidian Hand represents a significant and previously undetected threat. We will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.”

Whispers within the outpost suggest a possible connection between The Obsidian Hand and a recent surge in anomalies detected within the Peaks’ geothermal vents – anomalies that have been dismissed by some as naturally occurring, but now appear to be deliberately manipulated.

Adding to the intrigue, recovered fragments of encrypted data from Vance’s comms unit suggest she was in contact with a contact identified only as “Silas” prior to her disappearance. The content of those communications remains classified, but sources indicate they revolved around a sensitive operation involving the retrieval of a prototype energy core.

The Directorate has activated Protocol Nightingale, a rarely invoked contingency plan designed to isolate and secure the Crimson Peaks. All non-essential personnel have been evacuated, and a heavily armed security detail is maintaining a perimeter around the outpost. The investigation is ongoing, and the world waits with bated breath to learn the full extent of this chilling development.