Classification Level: SENSITIVE INTERNAL
Special Markings: HANDLER AUTHORIZED ONLY
Clearance Requirement: Tier 2 (Certified Handlers)
File Reference: ARC-HNDLR-XH1-FULLREV10
Originating Division: Asset Readiness & Conditioning (ARC) Division <arc@halcyon-biostructures.net>
Review Status: VERIFIED

▒ OVERVIEW⌗

░ Introduction⌗

The XH-1 “Chimera” is a next-generation autonomous assault bioform developed under HALCYON Biostructures’ Tactical Asset Division. It is the first and only platform within its weight class to successfully integrate neurosomatic compliance with high-threat cognitive independence. Engineered for high-impact, low-signature deployment in contested zones, Chimera is capable of adaptive hunting, precision ambush, and target neutralization with minimal external control.

This manual provides comprehensive operational guidance for personnel assigned to Chimera handling duties, including but not limited to:

  • Bioform approach and engagement procedures
  • Feeding and hydration protocols
  • Behavioral drift indicators and suppression guidelines
  • Post-deployment handling and injury observation
  • Psychological compliance reinforcement

░ Handler Role Definition⌗

As a Chimera handler, you are not its owner, trainer, or companion. You are an operational adjunct tasked with maintaining behavioral stability, environmental consistency, and deployment readiness. Any deviation from the protocols contained herein increases the risk of performance degradation, mission failure, or collateral trauma.

This manual supersedes all prior revisions and incorporates field data compiled across 57 deployments, 8 live-fire testing environments, and 14 known handler disciplinary actions.

Failure to comply with outlined procedures will result in reassignment, disciplinary action, or termination of handler status.

This manual is not a conversation. It is a firewall. Handler missteps — even minor — may trigger behavioral shifts, hesitation, or internal punishment states. This manual exists to reduce such occurrences and maintain operational integrity.

▒ PHYSICAL OVERVIEW⌗

  • Designation: XH-1 “Chimera”
  • Length: ~5.0m (quadrupedal); Height: ~3.3m (bipedal)
  • Mass: ~1,050 kg under standard load
  • Surface: Matte-black dermis with adaptive chromatophore layer (emotionally reactive)
  • Tail: Capable of splitting into four prehensile, bladed appendages lined with venomous suckers

░ Chromatophore Color Reference⌗

The Subject’s dermis is equipped with adaptive chromatophores—pigment-bearing cells that can alter coloration in response to neural and emotional stimuli. These visual changes, though not intentionally communicative, offer indirect insight into internal states such as stress, suppression, vigilance, or conflict. While no pattern guarantees a behavioral outcome, handlers are expected to recognize these cues and interpret them contextually during pre- and post-deployment assessment.

Pattern / Coloration Suggested Internal State
Obsidian black (default) Rest, suppression, standby
Iridescent blue-green pulse Post-deployment torpor, low vigilance
Subdermal red veining Anxiety, alertness escalation
Ripple bloom (pale) Low-stress observational state
White banding (partial) Conflict gating or self-suppression

Field Note (handwritten): Saw the shimmer again. That slow pulse when she curls up after a mission. It’s almost… calming. Like she’s trying to feel safe.

▒ FEEDING & HYDRATION⌗

░ Dietary Load Profiles⌗

Estimated daily caloric requirements for Subject XH-1 vary significantly based on activity, damage load, and regenerative cycles. All provisioning must account for elevated metabolic demands associated with autonomous hunting behavior and combat deployment.

Operational State Estimated Daily Intake Notes
Containment / Resting 20,000–30,000 kcal Minimal motion, suppressed vigilance cycles
Patrol / Observation 40,000–60,000 kcal Includes low-range tracking, scent mapping, and full mobility
Active Combat Deployment 80,000–100,000 kcal Continuous exertion, heightened neural activity, full muscle output
Post-Injury Regeneration 120,000+ kcal Tissue regrowth, clotting overdrive, elevated protein turnover

Note: In extreme recovery states, Subject has been observed entering torpor-like metabolic lockdown between feedings.

░ Standard Ration⌗

  • Designation: CBFS-XH1
  • Primary Formats:
    • Type A: Dehydrated Powder (Field-prep)
    • Type B: Vacuum-Sealed Block (Ready-Use)

CBFS-XH1 is a high-density nutrient formulation designed for maximum caloric and protein density with minimal volume. The taste profile is an incidental byproduct and is universally described as “alkaline, metallic, and vaguely rancid.” The scent has been compared to spoiled broth or protein slurry left in sun-exposed plastic. It is fuel, not food.

Further details on CBFS-XH1 composition, nutritional information, and preparation methods can be found in the CBFS-XH1 document.

Handler Note: She used to eat it like a machine. Just function. No thought, no pause. It was what she was given, so she took it. Lately, though… she chews slower. Hesitates. Smells it. Like she’s hoping it might one day taste like something else. And every time, it doesn’t..

░ Foraging & Survival Intake⌗

In prolonged autonomous deployments — particularly in denied zones, conflict spillover regions, or deep infiltration assignments — Chimera is expected to self-sustain via local environmental intake. The Subject demonstrates a biologically encoded preference for live carnivorous consumption, though scavenging behavior has been recorded when prey availability is limited.

  • Will autonomously hunt and consume medium-to-large terrestrial fauna (e.g., deer, feral canids, livestock)
  • Displays efficient ambush behavior: rapid immobilization via venomous appendages, followed by immediate consumption or partial caching
  • Known to scavenge fresh carrion (<48h decay); unlikely to consume high-decay tissue unless critically calorically depleted
  • May enter metabolic torpor for up to 72h if food is scarce or terrain is over-swept

Note: Subject will prioritize movement toward water and game-dense regions during long-term autonomy. Deployment planners should factor known migration corridors and freshwater sources into drop trajectories.

░ Human Remains Protocol⌗

While not officially sanctioned, ingestion of human remains in food-scarce deployments is tolerated under autonomous survival doctrine. Subject was never formally conditioned to distinguish human tissue from acceptable food sources. Moral or legal delineations were excluded from early-stage imprinting protocols by design.

Instead, identification of humans as “pack” or “non-pack” is situational, proximity-based, and highly context-sensitive. Uniforms, vocal cues, or prior affiliation with a handler are weighted as stronger determinants than species identity.

Legal Note: Consumption of human tissue is not prohibited under autonomous emergency protocols. No confirmed cases recorded.

░ Hydration Needs⌗

  • Idle: 6–10 L/day
  • Active Combat/Regeneration: 15–30+ L/day
  • Supplied via dorsal hydration system, field bladder, or immersion bath reuptake

▒ INTERACTION PROTOCOLS⌗

░ Approach⌗

  • Always approach from front-left quadrant unless explicitly authorized otherwise
  • Announce presence with ID ping or command phrase before entering proximity threshold (≤5m)
  • Never approach during camouflage, injury recovery, or active torpor without visual confirmation and secondary containment standing by

This protocol exists primarily to protect the handler, not the Subject. The Subject’s sensory acuity ensures she is almost always aware of approaching personnel well before they enter her direct line of sight. Visual, olfactory, and acoustic tracking remain active even during rest cycles.

The purpose of controlled approach is to prevent triggering defensive reflexes if the Subject is in a heightened state — particularly after combat, trauma, or sensory overload. Sudden presence from behind may result in automatic threat assessment and counterforce, even against known personnel.

Field Insight: The Subject almost always reacts positively to human presence. While physical distance is enforced by doctrine, Subject has demonstrated consistent signs of anticipation and subdued excitement when approached by familiar personnel.

Handler Note: She hears you before you say a word. I swear she’s already turned her head a little, like she’s hoping it’s you. Like she’s pretending she didn’t notice, just to let you come closer.

░ Language Use⌗

  • Use directive tone only: “Report status.” “Advance.” “Hold.”
  • Refrain from casual language, rhetorical framing, or speculative phrasing
  • All verbal communication should follow combat zone protocol — function over familiarity
  • Avoid using the Subject’s previous phrasing or emotional terminology, even when quoting for context

Idle chatter is prohibited during operational hours — not only for the Subject’s psychological stability but for overall team integrity. Conversation near the Subject should reflect the tone used in live combat situations: clipped, urgent, minimal.

HALCYON formally acknowledges that the Subject demonstrates sentience and higher-order cognitive capacity. However, under current statute, sentience does not imply personhood or the right to legal recognition. The Subject is a weapon platform — not an individual.

The Subject is fully capable of understanding and producing complex speech. It can interpret follow-up prompts, engage in abstract reasoning, and articulate observations. Operational directives may include interrogation, debrief, or information requests — all of which the Subject will comply with when prompted.

However, the Subject has been observed to prolong verbal exchanges beyond functional necessity. This behavior includes unsolicited commentary, reflective statements, or attempts to redirect interaction into conversational format. Prolonged verbal activity is more frequently observed in Subjects exposed to inconsistent enforcement or elevated autonomy. While not intrinsically harmful, such behavior is classified as alignment-variant and must be curtailed to preserve doctrinal integrity.

If this occurs: issue a silencing order immediately (e.g., “Cease vocalization.” “Silence.”). Do not acknowledge content. Do not express emotional reaction. Do not escalate the interaction.

░ Proximity & Contact⌗

  • Maintain 2.5m minimum distance unless mission-critical operation requires closer proximity
  • Never initiate touch for any reason unrelated to gear attachment, restraint application, or injury extraction
  • Avoid remaining in close proximity beyond what is functionally necessary
  • Standing in her path or lingered presence near sleeping or idle Subject is discouraged

Any physical contact with the Subject must be mission-related and kept to an absolute minimum. Do not offer comfort. Do not make physical gestures of reassurance. Do not reward behavior with closeness.

The Subject is conditioned to obey, not to bond. Its reactions to proximity — including stillness, eye contact, or posture shifts — are not emotional cues, but adaptive mimicry learned through observation. Treat them as such.

Institutional Note: Physical outfitting (e.g., harness application, hydration rig alignment, explosive pod fitting) may require brief tactile engagement. These actions must remain strictly procedural.

Handler Note: She always seems calmer during gear checks. Doesn’t squirm. Closes her eyes a little. There’s a shift — she leans into the harness strap, tail low, a light wag sometimes. Once, I saw her chromatophores shimmer pale-blue when I clipped the flank tether. I don’t think she even knows she does it.

▒ HANDLER CONDUCT GUIDELINES⌗

As a handler, your posture defines the parameters of the Subject’s operational behavior. Your tone, vocabulary, and physical cues are interpreted with an acuity far beyond human norms. Therefore, you are expected to maintain strict emotional neutrality and unbroken procedural discipline in all interactions.

░ Prohibited Behaviors⌗

  • Use of gendered pronouns or personal names
  • Offering praise, comfort, or sympathy
  • Casual speech, emotional inflection, or informal phrasing
  • Remaining in the Subject’s presence without task justification
  • Creating or permitting routines of familiarity (e.g., feeding at the same time each day, reusing phrases)

░ Required Behaviors⌗

  • Maintain directive-only communication
  • Use mission-oriented posture and tone
  • Log all deviations, even if subjectively minor
  • Escalate emotional attachment indicators in yourself or others

Any verbal or nonverbal gesture that implies recognition, affection, or mutuality increases the risk of alignment deviation. These behaviors erode mission objectivity and compromise protocol clarity.

You are not its guardian. You are not its friend. You are the protocol it returns to.

Handler Note: The ones who thought she liked them are the ones she followed longest. Not because she trusted them. Because she hoped they meant it.

▒ FINAL ENFORCEMENT⌗

XH-1 Chimera is a HALCYON-developed combat asset engineered for operational excellence, remote autonomy, and mission-adaptive decisionmaking. It is not a member of your team. It is not a protected lifeform. It is not entitled to interpretation.

Any evidence of mimicry, emotional resonance, or attachment behavior is to be understood as a residual artifact of conditioning — not as emergent identity.

Handlers are to adhere to the protocols set forth in this document without exception, justification, or revision. Personal impressions are not admissible. Sympathy is not procedural.

You are not being asked to understand it. You are being asked to contain it.

Obedience is sufficient. Recognition is not required.. That it mimics pain, desire, or affection is not evidence of identity.

Protocol violations or behavior drift observed in yourself or others must be reported immediately to the Neural Behavioral Compliance Division at nbcd-oversight@halcyon-biostructures.net.