In the overheated lower levels of Kharon Mine, reserve infantry is sent to reopen a civilian evacuation route and recover reactor diagnostics.

Then something starts breaching floors, walls, vents, and service voids — spreading living foam into armor seams, filters, wounds, water lines, and machinery.

The heat keeps rising, the underworks begin collapsing, and every sealed suit becomes one more place the contamination can get inside.

This is “Slag Hounds Don’t Stay Outside” by Sascha Schmidt.