You call out, invoking the twisted hounds that haunt the ether. Your pair of hounds circle the mannequin and tear into it with their spectral teeth for 1 etheric damage.
The mannequin draws runes with its blood, calling a lupine shape to bite you for 8 direct damage.

EDIT:

"Flesh forces, reaching to grab you" shows up vs

• Aid from Above (8, etheric)
• Encased Gaze (7, etheric)
• Fenris Command (7, etheric)
• Microrocket (8, fire)
• Lucky Shot (7, ranged)

"Flesh forces, tearing into you" show up vs

• Explosive Shot (6, ranged)

You urgently recite an incantation from your tome.
The mannequin shocks you with an icy touch for 1 etheric damage, but your incantation blocks no damage.

The octopus keeps a firm grip on you, smashing you into the rubble for 17 melee damage, but the startling flames prevent no damage.

You give the mass the Evil Eye and it bursts into flames. The malefic green fire deals it 18 etheric damage, but your wheezing breath and understandable distraction allow it to escape all of the damage.
Its wire loop squeezes down on your neck for 13 stealth damage.

You continue to bleed from your jagged wounds, taking 1 damage. Is wheezing breath new?

I'm at a loss as to what is triggering the "surround" message instead of the "force back" message. They seem to be opponent-specific and will always trigger even if you use the technique against a dead opponent / the opponent hasn't used a technique. Here's a list of opponents for each message.
Force Back: Artyom, Dockside Ganger, Dr. Johnson, Gang Enforcer, Ghoul, Living Sludge, Midgard Security, Midgard Scientist, Midgard Worker, Mushroom Scout, Trash Golem, Twisted Hound, Writhing Mass
Surround: Chained Ghoul, Drone Hound, Flying Eye, Helidrone, Horrific Spider, Midgard SD1, Skull in the Flames, Slags Guard, Wall Turret

Ah, I think the test is if they have any Fire Defense. I've gotten both results from Fiery Containment used against me, it looks like "Force Back" is for 0 or less Fire Defense.

You startle the spider with a jet from your flamethrower.
The spider pulls you towards it with the web, biting down into your tender flesh for 15 stealth damage, but the startling flames prevent no damage.

She nods as the floor seems to unfold, expanding as impossible angles twist open. "Of course, you may pass with their blessing."

I had:

Hat: wrapped museum mask
Weapon: containment flamethrower
Offhand: downtown executive ID
Shirt: office suit coat
Pants: office dress pants
Gadget: Optimax PDA
Midgard neural expander

Limitless Justification (16)
Ocean Sight (16)
HQ Alarm (28)
Executive Alarm (44)
Ruptured Organs (84)
Lotus Bloom (233)

I killed an AVP in the operating theatre, and burned down the vines today.

He checks your ID against the database and freezes as the image comes up. The heavily armored guard takes the opportunity to rush forward, followed by the less enthusiastic staff at the desk.

You feel your badge grow warmer as if there's a chemical interaction labeling it a deactivated ID.

You've gained 25 duration of HQ Alarm.

You've gained 25 duration of Executive Alarm.

Fight Midgard Heavy Guard (unarmed) and 2 Internal Security (Baton). Win: ???. Lose: toss you in Maintenance Storage.

• Midgard Laboratory
• Midgard Bioresearch
• Dockside Sewers
• Midgard Warehouse
• HQ Lobby
• Hall of Paintings/Statues

No fixtures ("pull away")

• Gate out of the Slags
• Cellar Door
• Parking Garage
• Waterfront
• Lake Metroplex
• Old Cathedral
• Buried Lab

This seems to be sort of "indoors but not underground"? But Dockside Sewers count.

Nothing for beholding it with Gaze of Hundreds.

It's really incredible the level of audio detail you can get with this helmet. You're sure it's supposed to bring out the best of the Stainless Skulls somehow… you'll just have to pay more attention next time.

Nothing with Orange Juice sample with this. I had Subterranean Delights, lots of Etheric, axe and microphone equipped, Chopping Axe and Metallic Summons. I find it a little odd that it gives a message about "best of the Stainless Skulls" when you have misc music playing.

data so far this run:

Metal combats: 5, 5, 3, 7, 5, 5, 4, 6, 4, 6 (10 special msgs, 50 fights): "The beat is so strong and the barely-understandable lyrics so intense, you can almost see the pile of dismembered corpses left by your axe." Misc. combats: 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 6, 5 (11 special msgs, 52 fights): "It's really incredible the level of audio detail you can get with this helmet. You're sure it's supposed to bring out the best of the Stainless Skulls somehow... you'll just have to pay more attention next time." Emerald comba: 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 4 (10 special msgs, 46 fights): "You find yourself whispering along with the lyrics, creating another set of voices... one of them your thoughts, one the music, and one your own voice picked up by the microphone... but you can't say which is which." MidgardPlayer: 4, 4, 3, 3, 5, 6, 4, 6, 5, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4 -- non etheric -- never got any message after 16, gave up. Punk combats: 6, 7, 4, 5, 8, 4, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5, 5 (16 special msgs, 83 fights): The music in your helmet grows increasingly stranger, as though it's looping over itself, playing several copies of today's sample track slightly out of synch almost drowned out by a horrible mechanical shriek. It might have been some sort of editing mode... at least, there's a new file on your comm that seems to contain the new "music." You found: corrupted Stainless Skulls demo Dance combats: 5, 4, 4, 5, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 6, 4, 4 (17 special msgs, 77 fights): Dance music thumps through your helmet's speakers. This is probably what resting your head against the speakers at a big party would be like. You can see the party in your mind's eye. It's only when you're coming down from the adrenaline rush that you realize you've been singing and dancing. You've gained 50 duration of Center Stage.

She glares at you for a moment, then waves a hand to dismiss you.

Despite her imperious demeanor, you can tell she's weakening. Unfortunately, it would seem she's not too weak to call the guards, who descend on you as you consider your next action.

The pain is unbearable, like needles digging into your flesh, but it soon passes and you find yourself staring at the world with clearer eyes.

Desert Tongue
Experienced Observer
Gaze Beyond
Kingly Favor
Ocean Eyes
Programmed Terror
Third Eye Inward
Undead Scourge

Muffled Sight (9)
Sugar Rush (31)
Dripping with Gore (49)

EDIT: It does seem to be muffled sight.

Nothing for using Focus techniques in chain-5 position:
5-4-3-2-Minute Focus — nothing special
1-2-3-4-Confused Focus non etheric — nothing special
1-2-3-4-Confused Focus etheric — nothing special
7-6-5-4-Personal Focus (non-filler) — nothing special
1-2-3-4-Beginning Focus — nothing special
3-4-5-6-Distant Focus — nothing special
5-6-7-8-Stellar Focus — nothing special

Nothing special for doing a full chain of nothing->minutiae->crowd->unknown->distance->stars->nothing in 7 consecutive combats,
nor unknown->distance->stars->nothing->minutiae->crowd->unknown.

Also I ran up HQ alarm quite a bit previously without seeing the containment burner encounter; may have to do with AVPs slain like the sprouted executive encounter?

With Undead Scourge , no obvious change:

You fire a spread of lead shot at the glass figure for 18 ranged damage.
The glass figure calls up a form of stained glass to strike at you for 5 etheric damage.

Nothing special with focused perception active.

[5]-[4]-You focus on the turret, looking for an opening to strike it for 12 stealth damage.
[1]-[2]-You focus on the turret, looking for an opening to strike it for 9 stealth damage.
[2]-You focus and slip in an attack for 18 stealth damage.-[4]-[5]
[4]-You focus and slip in an attack for 19 stealth damage.-[2]

I've never got the exhalation message in ~40 combats. I wonder if I need to make longer chains?

• A toy pistol appears in your empty hand, sending a bullet into the turret for 26 etheric damage.
• A bullet zips into the turret for 18 etheric damage.

Also, I'm at 44 HP. Do I need dramatically higher and if so what's a good place to grind it?

"You fire with a barbed spear into <opponent> for <X> damage."
Writhing Mass / Drag to Maw (M) — Abovewater Tainted Shoreline
Writhing Mass / Drag to Maw (M) — Underwater Lake Metroplex South
Writhing Mass / Lash with Tentacle (M)
Flying Eye / Focused Gaze (E)
Flying Eye / Beat Wings (Ev)
Dock Security / Short Burst (R)
Dock Security / Dive for Cover (Ev)
Third Eye Ganger / Dive for Cover (Ev)
Painted Woman / Giggle Softly (E)
Skeletal Rider / Swordplay (M)
Call Center Worker / Dive for Cover (Ev)
Standing Car / Spin Ties
Mushroom Scout / Spores

I think "hook" version is for aquatic opponents. (one counterexample is the writing mass underwater fight - might not be flagged as "aquatic".)

Blocking 1 of 2 damage, Reflected Gaze seems to be -1 base power (2-4 dam @ 3 EP).
Blocking 4 of 8 damage, Reflected Gaze seems to be at least 2-10 base power (12 dam @ 4 EP). Definitely something going on there.

Nothing special for Dead Gaze, Evil Eye, Spearing Gaze, Spider Eyes, Withering Gaze

• antique floor mirror probably 1 more technique (9 slots)
• grappler gauntlets / scuffed mining helmet probably 1 more technique (4 slots)
• designer vines one more technique? (4 slots)
• abstract domino mask one more technique and some missing forms? (9 slots)
• Midgard HGS prototype lots to look at (14+ slots)
• lens focused on the unknown / incredibly abused pants?? (20 slots)
• ferry coin / classic writing desk? (5 slots)
• ecofuel flamethrower maybe some more forms of various techniques (11 slots)
• Records office "September 25th, 2015 - It's another day's work in Oldtown" — maybe something? (15 slots)
• Moodlight glove 1-2 more techniques (10 slots)
• mascot adapter / personal tree - various (17 slots)
• wispy hospital pants / other dusty stuff - lots missing (14 with pants)
• Etheric Guns Update - one technique? (9 slots)
• Spider Crafting Update - lots missing, confirmed we're missing a bunch here (14 slots + 40 after)
• Parking Garage Update - lots missing (28 slots)
• 7 more slots between Childish Sketch and Gaze of Hundreds
• spear of the sands chain 8 technique and a few other forms

4 other undiscovered new functions maybe sometime in the last two years (since call center Oct 2023). (I'm not seeing anything hacking with hex equipment.)

You take a swing at (opponent) as though you were carrying a tiny baseball bat, dealing X damage.

with a baseball bat equipped, nor rock weapons