Cascade Laboratories

Cascade Laboratories is a large sector of the GATE Cascade Research Facility devoted to advanced study and containment. It spans multiple levels and combines laboratories with small offices, recreational areas, and specialized containment infrastructure. The sector serves as the epicenter of research into advanced technology, anomalies, xenoforms, paranormal phenomena, arcane entities, and important artefacts, and it provides secure immurement for entities rated up to Thela level.

The public face of the sector is the Wildlife Pens, the only area that is openly mapped. Beyond that, Cascade Laboratories is divided into multiple sub-sectors centered on containment, advanced studies, and field research. The Containment Blocks hold immurement subjects brought back from various Anteverses, as well as subjects discovered on Earth, and are organized into separate blocks with different levels of access and security. These blocks are named after notable scientists, and the facility’s layout includes a tram-like lift system connecting the main hallway, different floors, and other laboratory areas.

The sector shows extensive signs of combat and damage. Compared with earlier sectors, there is far more evidence of fighting in the walls, equipment, infrastructure, and casualties left behind from both GATE personnel and the Order. The Order’s assault targeted the Labs and, specifically, the Dark Lens used to control perforation events to various Anteverses. Removing the Dark Lens caused a complete containment failure, allowing multiple entities to escape their cells and triggering perforations throughout the facility. Even so, most inanimate subjects remain contained.

Notable areas inside the sector include:

• Wildlife Pens, the second-floor public area, which contains pens for Sow Peccaries and occasionally an Alpha Peccary, plus an alien aquarium.
• Containment Blocks, a multi-floor structure for Immurement Subjects, with the main hallway accessible by lift and separate blocks for different classes of contained subjects.
• XR Containment, a special containment area for the Leyak.
• Adjustment Wing, which contains laboratories, a cold storage room, a laser lab, and converter devices that can transform certain resources into Refined Carbon, Anteverse Gems, Liquid Crystal, or Greyeb Seeds.
• Particle Lab, which connects to Canaan and requires a Snag Vine Seed, Night Essence, and a Keypad Hacker (Tier 3) to open.
• Lens Epicenter, where the Dark Lens is found, along with the portal to Rise once activated through the Laser Lab in the Adjustment Wing, and the blocked entrance to the Vacuum Chamber leading toward the Security Sector.

The Containment Blocks themselves include several important cells and access routes. Some areas remain inaccessible, while others contain useful items and high-security doors leading deeper into the laboratories. Specific blocks include Dirac, Helmholtz, Baird, Curie, Anning, and Enders, with Anning holding the Tarasque and Helmholtz heavily guarded by defense turrets to prevent infected subjects from escaping.