Near the city of Norlisk a new problem arises, as many of the miners working a newly establish nickel mine have reported feeling quite ill.
As the KGB agents alongside Faith Briggs were investigating the disease they manage to find corelating links between the victim's internal thermo-regulation ability, or lack thereof, and their ability to handle the symptoms. Those with poor immune systems and that tended to have health issues were less likely to succumb to the solidification of their bodies due to the Rift born illness.
After some more investigation the agents located the source of the infection, a underground cavern that mysteriously appeared near the mine. The military decided to collapse said cavern and bury it while keeping the area quarantined for the near future as the fear of the disease began to spread.