Nikita Orlov (Zero)

Before becoming a commander in Sector Z, Nikita Orlov served in a special rapid response unit, where he earned a reputation for maintaining composure even in complete chaos. His strength was always his cool calculations: he could quickly analyze a situation and choose the optimal course of action when others had no time to think.

The turning point came during an operation at an abandoned scientific complex. The team was tasked with investigating the facility after losing contact with the duty shift. Already at the entrance, equipment began malfunctioning: the GPS lost coordinates, sensors showed abnormal temperature fluctuations, and radios picked up extraneous noise. As the team delved deeper, a key feature became apparent: the space seemed to be "shifting"—corridors changed length, familiar landmarks disappeared, and nonexistent rooms appeared on building plans. The instruments recorded data that defied the laws of physics, and the team grew increasingly disoriented.

Under these circumstances, Nikita made a series of tough but measured decisions: he abandoned centralized communications (it only added to confusion), switched the group to visual cues and short voice commands, and plotted the route using physical markers—scratches on walls, chipped tiles, the position of light fixtures. He literally grounded the team in tangible details to prevent panic and distortions of reality from taking hold.

The squad was successfully extricated, but the price was the life of one soldier—he lost his bearings for a second and stepped into what, by all rights, should have been a wall, but instead found nothing. This episode has always weighed heavily on Nikita: he still replays in his mind the scenarios where he could have done things differently.

It was this operation that attracted the attention of Sector Z recruiters. The unit needed people capable of maintaining clear thinking in the face of the inexplicable. During the screening process, Nikita underwent a series of tests for stress tolerance, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to function with distorted sensory information.

• Calm. Nikita doesn't raise his voice unnecessarily. His calm isn't indifference—it's control over the situation and himself. Even under stress, he speaks evenly, clearly, and without unnecessary emotion.

• Straightforward. He dislikes omissions and fine words where facts are needed. If the plan is bad, he will say it bluntly. If the fighter is not ready, he will say it honestly. For him, honesty is part of responsibility.

• Closed. Nikita rarely talks about personal matters. He keeps his distance, doesn't mix work and feelings, and doesn't seek friendship where teamwork is needed. At the same time, he's not aloof: he knows which fighters are tired, who's doubting, who's holding on with their last strength—and he helps not with words, but with actions.

• Disciplined. For him, order is not a formality, but a way to save lives. He demands precision from his team, because he himself follows it strictly.

• Sensitive to betrayal. Due to his teenage experiences, he is particularly sensitive to attempts to frame or shift blame. For him, there is nothing worse than leaving a friend alone in danger.