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Internal Defense Directorate |
In the beginning of April 2010, many players who had closely followed the Bioshock 2 ARG Something in the Sea began to receive strange letters in the mail. They were from the Internal Defense Directorate and informed these individuals that they had been singled out for their expertise and would possibly be receiving additional evidence for their review.
§
Office Memorandum • INTERNAL DEFENSE DIRECTORATE
TO: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
FROM: Deputy Director,
Internal Defense Directorate
SUBJECT: ADVISORY NOTICE
As you may be aware, the Internal Defense Directorate is
a specialized agency created in the wake of the Second
World War to contend with security threats, un-American
activities, foreign espionage, fascist sabotage and
Communist influence on domestic affairs.
Recently, the Directorate has created a task force to
investigate certain unsolved cases. You have been
identified as a person with particular expertise in your
field who may be able to shed light on matters pertinent
to this investigation. We respectfully request your
cooperation in an advisory capacity.
To that end, in the next several days, you may receive
certain CLASSIFIED materials. These forthcoming materials
are intended for YOUR EYES ONLY and shall not be
distrubuted to unauthorized individuals.
You are urged to secure these materials to the best of
your ability. If you choose not to participate, you are
required to destroy these materials promptly.
This matter may be vital to the preservation of Western
democracy as we know it. The Directorate thanks you in
advance for your assistance.
PEU-001
LT: sd
A few days later, these 'advisors' started receiving packages. The packages contained an introductory letter to Operation Hermes, an Infinivac Digital Data card and random pieces of evidence: newspaper clippings, photos, test tubes with a mysterious substance and reel-to-reel tapes. Put all together, the evidence reveal a series of disapperances that are connected by something that appears to be supernatural in origin.
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Operation Hermes |
With the receipt of the new packages, we now know that these CLASSIFIED materials are a part of Operation Hermes.
§
OPERATION HERMES
Internal Defense Directorate
United States Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
TO: XXXXX PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
VIA SECURE POST
FROM: Director,
Science & Engineering Desk
SUBJECT: OPERATION HERMES
Your name has been submitted to our office as a
person of scientific expertise who may be able to provide
valuable opinions and/or information on a matter of some
urgency. You are now considered a citizen advisor to
Operation Hermes.
Enclosed, you will find evidence connected to certain
unresolved cases. Please treat these materials with utmost
secrecy as they are related to a classified investigation.
Revealing any aspect of this information to unauthorized
personnel will be regarded as a breach of national security
and may be prosecuted accordingly.
Also enclosed, you will find an access card that will
enable you to review communications regarding this matter.
Please submit your findings as rapidly as possible.
Time is of the essense.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
PEU-001
LVK: dd
Infinivac Network
DIGITAL DATA CARD MUST BE USED TO CONFIRM AUTHORIZATION.
ACCESS NO.: 2025409047
CODENAME: XXXXX
PASSWORD: XXXXX
The access number on the Infinivac card is actually a DC phone number. Calling it gives you instructions on how to access the Infinivac website with your data card.
§
Attention. Attention. This is not a voice line. This number does not permit direct access. This number can only be utilized through the Infinivac Network. Please access 2025409047 point Charlie Oscar Mike.
When accessing Infinivac, please ensure that your auxiliary camera device is connected. If Infinivac does not recognize your device, please turn it off and then on. The auxiliary camera must be used to read the Infinivac Digital Data Card that was sent to you. You cannot access Infinivac without Digital Data Card confirmation.
Repeat: Access 2025409047 point Charlie Oscar Mike. That is all.
The point Charlie Oscar Mike gives us .com, so that makes the Infinivac Network address 2025409047.com. Unfortunately, only those people with Infinivac Digital Data Cards can access the site since it requires your codename and password. Hopefully that will change so that those of us who didn't get packages will be able to enter the site. It also requires a webcam, but you can get around that requirement by installing a program like ManyCam and having it use a still image as the source. Once you have access to the Infinivac website, you can upload your evidence and read various messages by others already in the system.
NOTE: As of April 2013, all of the original websites have been removed so the links no longer work. I have marked these links with colored dashed text and redirected many of the file links to local copies that I had stored.
Loweryi was nice enough to copy/paste a majority of the posts and JohnnyCon7 has also posted pictures of what the site looks like for those of us who do not have access.
- Current Intel: Priority One
§
OPERATION HERMES is now in effect.
Current desks are:
- SCIENG – Science & Engineering
- SECOP – Security & Operations
- INTEL – Intelligence Accumulation & Analysis
Per the mission directive from the Directorate Chief, codes and organizational chart
may change as the mission evolves.
ALL DESKS are requested to register and cooperate. The experimental INFINIVAC
network has been opened to facilitate the sharing of information between departments
and with outside experts.
Science & Engineering Desk will act as the administrator for the network. Please
refer all technical questions here.
- SCIENGBETA -
re: OPERATION HERMES
The security desk would like to reiterate concerns about potential breaches due to
the rash decision to involve civilian, foreign, and non-government personnel.
All outsiders’ names MUST be submitted to the Security / Operations Desk before
submission of informational packets by post.
-SECOPBETA-
April 7
SCIENGALPHA has already approved our mailings. Mission command did not specify SECOP approval.
- SCIENGBETA -
April 7
Advise that you re-read mission statement. SECOP\ is to devise and implement all security
protocols. Advise SCIENG ALPHA to contact me directly.
- SECOPALPHA -
Ladies and Gentlemen:
If you have just registered with the network, welcome.
You have been invited to participate in OPERATION HERMES.
The Internal Defense Directorate has reached out to a small group of citizens with
unique experience or expertise in an effort to find new insights regarding certain
unusual and unresolved cases.
You are invited to use the experimental INFINIVAC computer system to submit your
comments and information on any case materials or evidence that have been sent to
your for commentary.
Please use the form (see button at right) to submit your comments and information.
Wherever possible, please also submit any documents or images referred to in your
comments. A new process permits the televisual transmission of these images via the
INFINIVAC system.
Thanking you in advance for your assistance,
- SCIENGBETA –
- Current Intel: Priority Two
§
Per the organizational meeting, we have implemented log in procedures and submission
form in order to enable non-Directorate experts and advisors to post information
when informational packets begin to arrive.
- SCIENGBETA -
April 7
Just to check: all citizen contacts will be able to share info via this system? We believe
this is vital.
- INTELGAMMA –
April 7
All posts must be approved and classified by SECOP.
- SECOPBETA -
April 7
Unfortunately, SECOPS already seems to have come to their own conclusions about how
the incidents are related.
- INTELGAMMA –
April 7
With due respect, we don’t even know that they ARE related.
- SCIENGBETA –
April 7
Precisely. The whole point of HERMES is to collect outside points of view to correlate the
information. Filtering is counter mission.
- INTELBETA –
April 7
These exchanges are visible to the entire network. We highly recommend that interdepartmental
concerns be handled through other channels.
- SCIENGBETA –
- Current Intel: Priority Three
§
Re: OPERATION HERMES org. mtg.
Lunch orders for the organizational meeting are being handled by the Intelligence &
Analysis desk this time. Please check in with your department’s orders. Sorry, no
pastrami on Wednesdays.
-INTELEPSILON-
April 7
The INFINIVAC network is for essential mission-related communications only.
- SCIENGBETA -
April 7
We flagged this low priority per your memo.
- INTELEPSILON -
April 7
This is NONESSENTIAL. Delete immediately.
- SCIENGBETA –
April 7
Okay, how???
- INTELEPSILON –
April 7
Comment approval protocol now established under authorization of SECOP.
- SECOPBETA –
- Mission Statement
§
OPERATION HERMES is a CLASSIFIED project of the I.D.D. (Internal
Defense Directorate).
The I.D.D. was created under the aegis of the Justice Department
in the wake of the Second World War to contend with various
domestic security threats and un-American activities.
Under the Directorate’s authority, a new task force has been
assembled in an attempt to cope with certain unresolved cases.
To assist Directorate personnel in this effort, outside experts
and advisors have been delivered key research materials.
The Directorate now invites these citizen advisors to provide
theories and opinions in an effort to correlate otherwise
inexplicable data.
************************************************
NOTICE: If you are a citizen advisor who has been contacted
regarding this matter, please review extant material on the site.
Citizen advisors may then submit additional information or
opinions based on the research materials they have received.
The INFINIVAC system includes tools enabling project participants
to electronically share documents, images and other media. Please
do not hesitate to share any materials you have been sent by mail.
All submissions are subject to approval by the project director.
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The Evidence |
So it appears that the main function of the Infinivac website is just to submit the evidence that you've collected. Which makes me wonder: if the IDD is sending out this information to various advisors, why do those advisors then need to upload that same information to an IDD website? I could understand if people found new evidence that wasn't already on the website, but obviously the evidence we have was already in the posession of the IDD once, so there should be record of it in Infinivac. Right? But what do I know? I'm not an Operation Hermes advisor.
There's been a lot of difference bits of evidence sent out to lots of different people. Some of it is duplicates, some of it refers to pieces of evidence others received. In order to keep a sense of order, I'm grouping evidence by subject matter rather than by who got what. However, if you want to know who got the various pieces of evidences, check out Kyburz's post on the 2K Forums. Kyburz also has a brief overview of the evidence as well.
I've placed all the evidence on a separate page to a: keep it better organized and b: keep it from overwhelming the rest of the guide.
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X-COM |
Because all of the known receipiants of the evidence had been players of the Something in the Sea game, there was lots of speculation that this game was also going to be for something in the BioShock franchise. When the evidence didn't seem to quite fit that idea, players started guessing everything from aliens to vampires. (I was actually a little suprised no one made the suggestion that this was going to be a baseball game with all the mentions/hints about baseball.)
We only had to keep guessing for a little over a week. It was then made clear that this was going to be an ARG for a new X-COM game (which means the people who guessed aliens were technically correct). I actually know nothing about the original X-COM games, but it's not like that's stopped me from playing a video game ARG before. We'll see how this one goes.
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Project: Enemy Unknown |
Oops. Spend a couple of days not checking in because you're trying to solve MUMS puzzles, and a fairly big update comes. Can't imagine what's going to happen during CiSRA.
But anyway, the update! After being down for several days and teasing everyone with a "Please Stand By" message, the 2025409047.com website finally came back up with an automagic redirect to ProjectEnemyUnknown.com. Not only that, but it now allows you to join the I.D.D. or enter as a guest. Joining allows you to enter your name, address, telephone number and email so that there's a chance you might get some goodies through the mail. You also set up a username and password so that Infinivac can remember you.
And for those of you who don't want to give your information, or just don't feel like logging in, you can use the guest login (after entering an age confirmation). Using the guest login doesn't seem to be any different, except for the fact you can't submit intel or review your profile. Or at least I think so. I registered at home, but I can't get my login accepted at work, so I can't verify that right now. I probably just typed something wrong but codename/password recovery now has to wait until I'm at home.
There are a couple of new Priority One posts to look at, plus a new mission briefing. There are also some Priority Two posts but nothing that hasn't already been discussed.
- Current Intel: Priority One
§
Agents:
We have been receiving excellent intel based on the evidence submitted and are
currently categorizing it for further analysis through the INFINIVAC network as
PRIORITY 02. To keep all pertinent information on each evidence packet organized we
will only be approving one post per incident. For further data analysis please
comment on the existing post.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing efforts to the success of Operation Hermes.
- DEPDIR -
Agents:
It has come to our attention that some of our operatives have been contacted by a
purported OPERATION APOLLO. This is not an official I.D.D. directive. Please
maintain vigilance with the security of this operation and do not share information
outside of the I.D.D. If you are approached by other agencies contact the
appropriate agency within INFINIVAC to verify legitimacy.
- DEPDIR -
Note: This is in reference to the fan creation/gamejack Operation Apollo. There's a discussion thread for it on the 2k forums, but it's not something I'll be following.
FROM: CHIEF DIRECTOR [Internal Defense Directorate]
TO: ALL AGENTS
SUBJECT: PRIORITY ALERT
SUMMARY: VITAL NEW INFORMATION. SEE ATTACHED IMAGE. ALL AGENTS TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY
FOR MISSION RESTRUCTURING.
In the past 72 hours, major developments have occurred at our ********** field
office. New intelligence radically alters the course of our investigation. Clear
photographic evidence of ********* or device responsible for these incidents has
been captured. The phenomena we have been tracking are NOT isolated incidents and
may be the beginnings of a coordinated attack on America.
In response to this imminent threat, all agents should report to their respective
field offices for further briefings.
Investigation unit under FBI auspices has been codenamed and hereby shall be
referred to as PROJECT: ENEMY UNKNOWN. OPERATION HERMES will expand to encompass
all available agents and citizen advisors. URGENT that all available information
should be submitted and correlated ASAP using the INFINIVAC Network.
THIS IS A CLASS OO1 EMERGENCY. ALL AGENTS SHOULD BE ON HIGH ALERT.
- CHIEFDIR -
Recent intel submitted by Operation Hermes agents suggest ties to the Communists in
recent events past the IDD’s initial speculation. Agents are requested to
investigate Communist ties in conjunction with suspicious attacks and circumstances
and report in any new intel here for further analysis.
– DEPDIR –
- Mission Briefing
§
OPERATION HERMES: MISSION BRIEFING
As of April, 195*, the Internal Defense Directorate established an ad hoc task force
to examine certain unresolved cases. In an attempt to ascertain links between data,
the task force submitted key pieces of evidence to extra-agency citizen advisors via
secure post.
Comments of citizen advisors suggested a phenomenal paradigm connecting the cases.
The phenomenal paradigm included the following common features: aerial phenomena
involving black fog; electrical discharge, often accompanied by power interruption;
appearance of a tarry, black substance of unknown origin; mysterious disappearances
of otherwise unconnected individuals; unexplained deaths, often associated with the
black residue; destruction of property. A CLASSIFIED incident occurring in
**************** provided final confirmation of the phenomenal paradigm and
suggested a possible coordinated attack on America.
The raw data forwarded to the citizen advisors is available in the following
archived dossiers.
************************************************
ORANGE DOSSIER: SUBSTANCE UNKNOWN & CHEMICAL ANALYSIS THEREOF
(assembled by Science & Engineering desk)
************************************************
INDIGO DOSSIER: PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF AERIAL PHENOMENA
(assembled by Science & Engineering desk)
************************************************
GRAY DOSSIER: MEDIA EVIDENCE OF PHENOMENA RELATED EVENTS
(assembled by Intelligence & Analysis desk)
************************************************
SILVER DOSSIER: INDICATIONS OF SOVIET INVOLVEMENT
(assembled by Security & Operations desk)
************************************************
GOLD DOSSIER: POLICE EVIDENCE RELATED TO FRAMINGTON CASE
(assembled by Security & Operations desk)
************************************************
NOTICE: If you are a citizen advisor who has been contacted regarding this matter,
please review extant material on the site. Citizen advisors may then
submit additional information or opinions based on the research materials they have
received.
The INFINIVAC system includes tools enabling project participants to electronically
share documents, images and other media.
All submissions are subject to approval by the Deputy Director.
The new mission briefing has images (although some of the links to larger images are broken at the moment) of all the evidence that was sent out, grouped into various subject matters and given color code names. When you see the codenames (COLOR)HERMES#, those are the people that originally got one of the evidence packets. Unless it's just someone being sneaky with their choice of username.
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Suspicious Persons |
This game seems to have a very slow update schedule. I guess in order to allow latecomers to catch up easily. I wouldn't mind the slow update schedule as much if the updates were substantial and/or had something for us to do, but minor updates once a week are a little bit boring. Hopefully it'll get better though.
The latest update warns us about suspicious persons who have been spotted investigating some of the "Phenomena Related Event" sites. These must be the some of the same people who Arthur Framington saw in his house when he arrived home. Infinivac doesn't state what kind of foreign accent these suspicious persons have, but I'm willing to bet it's Russian. §
ATTENTION ALL PERSONNEL:
We have encountered recurring reports of individuals exhibiting suspicious behavior
at Phenomena Related Event scenes. Reports have noted the following activities:
* Individuals with "foreign accents" exchanging info
* Snapping numerous photos with small / concealed cameras
* Appearing to collect soil & other samples
* Prowling scenes late at night
ATTACHED PHOTOS were taken by a civilian who noted such individuals observing a
recent event scene.
The persons depicted may be foreign nationals. Do not attempt to arrest or confront
without prior direct authorization from the I.D.D. We are currently attempting to
establish the identities of these individuals.
 
-INTELBETA-
The photos are from Burroughsille, Kansas, which is the site of the Betty Lou Harman murder (PEU-33-1499). Her body covered by a white sheet in the background. You can just see her goo-covered arm sticking out from under the sheet which matches the previous photos we received. Now you can also see that her body was surrounded by a circle of the black goo. Makes you wonder if there was a victim in the Littlevale Memorial Park incident that we don't know about.
Of course, what I want to know is: Who took the picture of the suspicious men? Infinivac says "a civilian who noted such individuals observing" but there had to have been others around besides just a civilian. The body is still on the ground covered by a sheet so there had to have been police around and possibly someone from the FBI since they were investigating her disapperance as well. But Infinivac just says "a civilian who noted such individuals observing". A civilian to me implies someone random person off the street - not a cop or other person of authority. I just can't believe that some random neighbor person was able to get close enough to the crime scene to a: get a shot of the body and b: get a shot of the suspicious gentlemen and no one else was around to notice. So either the police are completely incompetent in Kansas or this picture didn't come from where Infinivac says it did. Which of course opens up another whole can of worms.
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@Infinivac |
The links to the larger photos of the suspicious persons leads to a Twitpic account. Since you need a Twitter account in order to use Twitpic, that leads us to @Infinivac. Sadly, the account is protected and they aren't following anyone, so no new leads there. I'm a bit doubtful if they will accept any follow requests, but I've sent one off just in case.
And now it doesn't exist at all. Which is a little bit sad because it could have been a good way for Infinivac to send out critical mission updates in more or less real time. But now I'm wondering why even sign up for a Twitter account if you were just going to delete it later? For Twitpic access? Something wrong with hosting the images on Project Enemy Unknown website? It really doesn't make any sense, especially considering that now it wouldn't be too hard for someone to snag the Infinivac name on Twitter and cause all sorts of havoc. I wonder, if one were to reclaim the Infinivac name on Twitter and then signed into Twitpic - what would happen to the photos already on Twitpic? I think that might be an experiment for a later time.
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Reports in the US |
Infinivac has posted another update, this time letting us know that the strange events have been for the most part centered around the United States. They link to a photo containing headlines of several new clippings about black goo and strange fog, but sadly not the complete stories.
§
| TWO MISSING IN TERRE HAUTE
Manhunt finds "no signs of life," familes despair
STATE TROOPERS SPY STRANGE "SKY RING"
(Harrisburg) Last night, Pennsylvania State
Police responded to an unusual call. Local
"BLACK TAR" MURDER BAFFLES DETECTIVES
(Trenton, N.J) A high school teacher's apparent homicide
is still under investigation by police, who
BLACK FOG CAUSES WRECK ON U.S. 30 |
MYSTERIOUS BLACK-OUTS STRIKE AGAIN
(Tampa, Fla.) Local residents complained
of another unexplained power outage in
[...]
-partment of Water and Power has not yet
isolated the cause of the re[...]
YELLOWSTONE CAMPER'S BLACK GOO REMAINS MYSTERY
LARAMIE -- Some of the state's leading experts in
biology and chemistry have examined the "black
goo" a camper found in the park last week. Top
[...]
formed in a ring-like pattern. The original belief was
that an underground tar pool was seeping to the sur-
face, but the university's top geologist dismissed |
Attention all personnel:
Per the request of the Deputy Director, we have cooperated with INTEL in preparing
an analysis of the source of origin of all reported events that fit the Phenomenal
Event pattern.
According to our calculations, the vast majority (85%+) of all such events have
occurred within the borders of the United States. The U.S. has also been the site of
95%+ of the strongest confirmed cases (where multiple markers of Phenomenal Events
have overlapped).
There may be some bias based on reportage and collection methods, but all the
evidence so far clearly indicates that the attacks are centering on the U.S.
SCIENGALPHA strongly recommends that we examine what this may mean both in terms of
the strategy of the attackers and in our own strategy of response.
-SCIENGGAMMA-
SCISCIENGGAMMA wants us to "examine what this may mean both in terms of the strategy of the attackers and in our own strategy of response" but I'm still unsure of what they actually want us to do. Are we just supposed to make up stories about what we think is going on or what? Because honestly, that doesn't sound very appealing to me. That's sorta like going to a restaurant and being told that you have to cook your own meal.
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Infinivac on Flickr |
I'm a little hesitant to link this since there's a definite possibility that they'll just go and delete the account, but then again, if they didn't want it found, they shouldn't have linked to it in the first place. Or, you know, created the account as well.
Anyways, Infinifac is now on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/infinivac/ Too bad their account is private so you can't actually see anything. Still unclear as to why they need an outside photo service to host their pictures. Especially if there isn't anything for us to look at. At the very least they could make the photo linked to on the PEU site public on Flickr.
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A Great Need for Help |
Oops! Stop checking sites for two weeks because of CiSRA and an trip to Ireland and all sorts of updates occur. Sorry about that. Things should be better now on my end since nothing else is happening here for a while. So let's see, what's been happening?
SCIENGALPHA issued a public request to expand the ranks due to being overwhelmed with a backlog of requisitions. I guess that means they want us to get new people to come in and help out. But since this request went out during the lull when nothing new was happening, I'm not exactly sure that plea for help was very effective.
§
Ladies & Gentlemen:
I know we are very busy, and this is an issue I have brought already to the
attention of other department heads.
I cannot speak for other desks, but SCIENG is overwhelmed with backed-up
requisitions. We urgently need to expand ranks to complete needed tests and
research.
Thus, we make another and more public request that we must soon expand our ranks, or
we must fail in our mission utterly.
Please advise us of your opinion in this matter.
-SCIENGALPHA-
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Suspect in Pennsylvania |
Another black goo death has been reported, this time in Pennsylvania. No reports of strange storms, just the body of a missing man found covered in the black goo. §
| MISSING WORKER FOUND
(Coalburg, PA) The body of area resident
John Mariyai, 31, was found after he was
reported missing some 48 hours earlier.
Mariyai vanished from a construction site
where he had been left on his own to
complete a flooring project.
When fellow workers returned for him
later in the day, they raised the alarm. The
dependable Mariyai had left the job
half-finished - and he'd left his personal
effects behind.
In the hours that followed, Mariyai's family
waited anxiously for updates as friends
checked with local hospitals, police stations |
and morgues.
Police were contacted Tuesday night and
organized a manhunt sweeping the
neighborhood.
The body was found in a rarely used alley
300 years from the construction site, covered
by a substance intitally believed to be roofing tar.
Mariyai's fellow workers do not recognize
the strange substance. Police now suspect it
may be an organic mold or mud.
As a crowd gathered, police removed the
body. It is unclear whether Mariyai's death
was accidental as was first assumed, and the
investigation continues. |
All Personnel:
We have what may be a repeat sighting of one of the suspicious individuals spotted
at the Burroughsville scene. If this is the same individual, he was reported as
“speaking with a foreign accent,” with phrases in an unknown language — possibly
German, Polish or Russian.
We are awaiting final identity analysis by SCIENG and a security check from SECOP as
we try to ascertain who this individual may be.
Please keep your eyes open for this person and immediately report any sightings or
new information.
That is all.
-SECOPGAMMA-
SECOPGAMMA states that one of the strange individuals spotted at Burroughsville was also at the scene. I'm guessing they are talking about one of the guys standing behind the police tape in the newspaper photo. But it's a little hard to tell for sure since you don't get a very clear picture of their faces. The man on the left isn't wearing glasses like the men in Borroughsville are. The man on the right looks like he could be wearing the same kind of glasses as the man on the left in the Burroughsville photo is, but the Coalburg man looks like he's there with a woman (note the hand grasping his upper left arm). So are either of these men one of the foreign operatives? Is the woman involved at all? And where is this report that states that the man was heard talking in a foreign accent? It's certainly not in the newspaper article.
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Final Response From Bureau |
INTELALPHA has been trying to get more funds from the FBI in order to prove that the black goo events are actually attacks and should be more fully investigated. However, the FBI requires more evidence before they can supply more money to gather more evidence. So INTELALPHA now wants us to double our efforts in uncovering more information.
§
Ladies & Gentlemen:
As some of you know, because of my past connections, I have been approaching the
F.B.I. With the approval of our Deputy Director, I have reached out to the Bureau to
explore the possibility of sharing resources or forming a joint task force to
further the investigation.
The response so far is not encouraging. (See the attached).
I wanted to bring this to your attention to clarify what we’re up against.
Even though the urgency of the menace has become clear to our own team, we must now
find the indisputable “smoking guns” so we can prove to all doubters that the danger
is real.
I realize that it seems like we’re trapped in a classic bureaucratic paradox: We
must find the evidence to obtain the resources we need in order to find the
evidence.
But I urge you all to double down your efforts. Otherwise, we will never get access
to the funds, personnel and equipment we need to counter this threat.
Keep up the good fight.
-INTELALPHA-
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department of Justice
Washington 25, D.C.
XXXXXXXX, XXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
Internal Defense Directorate
Washington 25, D.C.
Dear XXXXXXXXX,
At the Bureau, we are well aware that the work of the I.D.D.
remains largely unknown and underappreciated in many quarters
of Washington. Given the Directorate's origin as an independent
division of the Federal Burea of Investigation, we would like
to respect that legacy by honoring your request for addtional
manpower and supplies.
Regretfully, our current criminal investigations consume all
our available resources.
We are aware that the I.D.D's research has excited interest
in certain offices at the Pentagon.
However, the Director continues to question whether the
pursuit of unusual phenomena has distracted the Directorate
from its primary mandate, i.e., the monitoring of un-American
activities.
Mr. Hoover has requested that we forward no further such
requests to his attention until the Directorate can provide
more concrete evidence backing up the bold and unsupported
claims alleging that bizarre and seemingly random natural
phenomena somehow constitute a co-ordinated "attack".
We hope this finds you well and wish you the best of luck in
your ongoing work.
Sincerely yours,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Assistant Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation |
Again, not really sure what that means for us since all the information we have is coming from Infinivac. Maybe there is stuff out there on the interwebz to find. Maybe if I do a Google search for "black goo attacks" I'll find something. Hmm, nothing good. Oh well, I tried. Right?
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Unknown Persons Identified |
SECOP has gotten confirmation on the identity of one of the mystery agents: Dr. Nikodim Vesilyev, a Russian physicist. Not sure why the Russians would have a rocket scientist running around the US investigating the phenomena sites and not a trained spy who would be better able to blend in, but maybe their spies don't have the science background to understand what's going on. Makes me wonder if the second guy who has been spotted is possibly a spy/handler or another scientist with a different discipline. Another question: why doesn't Vesilyev have his glasses on at the Coalburg crime scene? Did he leave them in the coat of the absent second guy by accident or something?
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SECURITY ALERT
Following inquiries in the Coalburg, Penna., we obtained additional photographic
evidence (see above). This has permitted us to make a positive photographic
identification of the the person of interest spotted at numerous Phenomena Related
Event scenes.
He appears to be DR. NIKODIM VESILYEV. Information on Vesilyev has been provided in
coordination with other government agencies.
Vesilyev, a physicist, was a founding figure in GIRD, aka the Group for the Study of
Reactive Motion (the USSR’s rocket science project). Vesilyev also played a role in
post-War atomic research.
SECOP finds it deeply alarming that a figure as prominent as Vesilyev has been seen
on American soil in connection with these events.
The purpose of apparent Soviet interest in the Phenomena Related Events remains
unknown.
SECOP is currently pursuing leads in the field. We hope to discover Vesilyev’s
current whereabouts and/or mission.
-SECOPGAMMA-
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COALBURG, Penna. - SUSPECT
NIKODIM VESILYEV, Ph. D
Director of Propulsion Research
GIRD Laboratory - Date Unknown |
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Suspect in Motion |
SECOPGAMMA received information that Vesilyev was staying in a Pennsylvania hotel under the name "George Setlak". When SECOPGAMMA went to go pick up Vesilyev, Vesilyev ran and boarded a train and SECOPGAMMA lost him. Kinda sad that we weren't given the name of the hotel so that we could possibly go and check out the room. As someone who has ransacked a room before, I have to say it's a lot of fun and very nerve wracking when you're wondering if anyone is going to walk back in on you. Anyways, here's hoping that SECOPGAMMA can catch up with Vesilyev soon and we can get some answers as to what he's doing here.
§
ATTENTION ALL PERSONNEL:
SECOPGAMMA is on the trail of suspect Dr. Nikodim Vesilyev. See attached field
reports. Please stand by for updates. Events may occur rapidly.
-SECOPALPHA-
 
12225
IDD032 PASW-HQ
PITT PENN XXXXX
ATTN: CHIEF DIRECTOR
IDD XHQ / WASH DC
INQUIRIES IN COALBURG OBTAINED POSITIVE LEAD RE SUSPECT
VESILYEV AUTOMOBILE. LOCAL SECOP AGENTS ASSISTED IN
QUESTIONING SVC STATIONS ETC WITHIN STANDARD RADIUS. AT APPROX
2045 LAST NIGHT APOLLO PENNA SUCCESS OBTAINED. OBSERVANT
ATTENDANT NOTED SUSPECT ACCENT. ALSO NOTED CHAIN HOTEL KEY IN
POSSESSION OF SUSPECT. INQUIRIES AT HOTEL CHAIN FRANCHISEES IN
SURR AREA PRODUCED RESULTS. INDIVIDUAL BELIEVED TO BE SUSPECT
CHECKED IN AT PITT BRANCH OF HOTEL AS "GEORGE SETLAK". CLOSED
IN APPROX 0520 THIS AM. "SETLAK" APPARENTLY TIPPED OFF OR HAD
LOOKOUTS. SUSPECT FLED. ABLE TO FOLLOW. HOT PURSUIT LED TO
PENN STATIONS. SUSPECT MAY HAVE BOARDED EASTBOUND TRAIN.
PENNA HQ AGENTS NOW EXAMINING SUSPECT EFFECTS FOR FUTHER [sic]
EVIDENCE. ADDITIONAL REPORTS AS EVIDENCE BECOMES AVAIL.
SECOPGAMMA / IDD PASW-HQ |
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Vesilyev to Cooperate |
So SECOPGAMMA finally caught up with Vesilyev and got him talking about what he knows. Unfortunately, the conversation is classified Above Top Secret and so the juicy bits are blacked out. Like what happened to his other companions and what exactly we're up against. But Vesilyev does tell us that whatever it is, it's intelligent and a worse problem than the Nazi's were. Which doesn't sound good for anyone. SECOPGAMMA has offered Vesilyev protection in exchange for a microfilm which supposedly has some answers/proof on it. Hopefully we'll be given copies of the microfilm information that hasn't been completely redacted.
§
URGENT // ALL DEPARTMENTS ALERT
SECOP has achieved rapport with Dr. Nikodim Vesilyev. Vesilyev has agreed to
co-operate with the I.D.D. and the Project Enemy Unknown investigation in return for
conditions guaranteeing his continued safety in the United States.
All indications suggest that Vesilyev is in possession of certain sensitive
information regarding the Unknown Enemy. His intelligence also clearly suggests that
the Soviet Union has no direct involvement in these attacks.
Transport has been arranged for SECOPGAMMA and Vesilyev. All agents are advised to
stand by at their posts pending their arrival at Headquarters. Expect immediate
briefing regarding new threats. Analysis of information by all divisions is to
follow immediately.
-INTELALPHA-
PEU-58-R#6 PANC-HQ 33
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
NORTHCENTRAL PENNA. FIELD OFFICE
Q = SECOP GAMMA
A = NIKODIM VESILYEV, PH. D.
Q: So the KGB is not aware of this operation.
A: Not of this, that I am here. No.
Q: But were they aware of your research.
A: KGB, they are [all?] say - ridiculous. What you do.
These report are, uh, fiction. False. As if
for children.
Q: Fairy tales.
A: Yes, fairy tale. Or lies from CIA. Dis, uh, dis-
Disinformation. My group, my scientists, we have work on
rockets together. We say - there is truth here.
American is target now. But - how long? How long only
America? Enemy of enemy - he is not always our friend. Yes?
Q: Maybe this is a common enemy, Nikodim. A bigger threat
than either side. Like the Nazis were.
A: (suspect laughs) Nazis were - not so much. Not so much
compare to this, hah? (a pause) I wish to help you. I
wish. As you say - bigger threat. But I must make
sure I have - some guarantee.
Q: Yes.
A: Some, uh, protection. KGB, I talk to you like this.
(pause) They, ah, they will not understand.
Q: I understand, Nikodim. Don't worry. We can arrange
something.
Page 2
PEU-58-R#6 con'd PANC-HQ 33
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
NORTHCENTRAL PENNA. FIELD OFFICE
Q = SECOP GAMMA
A = NIKODIM VESILYEV, PH. D.
A: Good. Good, because - there are things we have learned I
think you have not yet. These attacks are - they will
grow worse, I think. They learn. You know this?
Q: Who learns?
A: These things. Whoever, whatever make these
happen, they have, uh -- intelligence.
Q: Okay. We were afraid of that.
A: They XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX This is why I am alone here in America now.
Because the others were XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Q: All of them?
A: Yes. And now they - you know about XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX?
Q: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX? What is that?
A: The XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Oh yes. You must be very careful
because XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Q: (a long pause) You mean XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX?
A: Precisely.
Q: As if they XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXed?
A: No. I think you will find it - much more than that.
As if they were XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Q: And you have proof of this.
A: Yes. On microfilm. I tell you where film is, if you,
uh, if you make arrangement.
Q: All right, Nikodim. All right. Mr. XXXXXXXX, get a phone
in here. Get Washington on the line.
(TAPE CUTS AT THIS POINT) |
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Vesilyev Presumed Dead |
Well, I think we now know what happened to Vesilyev's comrades: they're dead, just like Vesilyev and SECOPGAMMA are now. The Pennysylvania field office was attacked and everyone is now dead. It looks like SECOPGAMMA and Vesilyev tried to escape the carnage, but they were tracked down and they bodies are now nothing but bone and goo. But why are these bodies more decomposed than the other ones have been? Or have we just not been shown that the other black goo attacks have left the bodies in similiar conditions? And is there anyone else left who would know where Vesilyev hid the microfilm?
§
URGENT // ALL DEPARTMENTS ALERT
Investigation has confirmed attack incident at North Central Penna. Field Office.
All staff & agents dead or missing. Attack shows signs of aggressive hostility
unique in current reports.
Corpses apparently belonging to SECOPGAMMA and Vesilyev discovered 250 yards away
while apparently attempting escape. Unknown substance apparently contributed to
severe physical degradation. See attached.
One corpse confirmed as SECOPGAMMA per dental records. Awaiting confirmation of 2nd
body. Characteristic dental work suggests Soviet origin (e.g., gold & metal crowns,
arsenic traces in root canal). Corpse presumed to be Vesilyev.
Location of Vesilyev’s microfilm cache remains unknown.
-SECOPALPHA-
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Microfilm Found |
It appears that sometime before the attack on the Pennsylvania field office that Vesilyev led SECOPGAMMA to the hidden microfilm, because it was discovered by the SCIENG teams sent to check out the field office. Unfortunately, whatever was contained in the microfilm was so bad that instead of giving us a copy of the transcription, SECOPGAMMA is instituting a Code Black Lockdown. Whatever that is. But it really doesn't sound good.
§
May 28
SCIENG teams have located microfilm cache. Apparently secured by SECOPGAMMA before fleeing site. Microfilm undamaged. Contents now being translated and analyzed.
- INTELBETA -
May 28
URGENT
MICROFILM CONTENT REVEALS NEW THREAT. TRUST NO ONE. ALL AGENTS REPORT TO HQ IMMEDIATELY. CODE BLACK LOCKDOWN IMMINENT.
– SECOPALPHA -
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Code Black Lockdown |
The Code Black Lockdown has hit Infinivac. They want to be sure that you don't miss it, so when you first visit the site, instead of the usual login screen, you get a giant flash intro telling you that Infinivac is under a CODE BLACK EMERGENCY and that all communications are temporarily suspended. However, you can still login to Infinivac, but I'm guessing that any comments made will not be posted to the website. Unfortunately, there is no indication as to how long the lockdown is going ot last, but they do say that you should register and/or update your contact information so that they can contact you when the lockdown lifts.
§
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Lockdown procedures have been implemented. Absolute silence on
all channels is mandatory for project security.
Please register and/or update all contact information so that you may be apprised of
further developments. You will be contacted by the proper authorities at the
appropriate time. This is not a drill.
ALL AGENTS ARE ADVISED TO STAND READY.
OPERATIONS WILL BE REACTIVATED.
-DEPUTY DIRECTOR-
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A Tiny Rant | |
After the Code Black Lockdown, things went quiet for a year. So quiet that I thought it was dead forever and stopped randomly checking in on it as frequently as I once did. Apparently, this was a mistake as the game did eventually start back up - a fact I was not aware of until 2 months later. I wrote a lengthy post about my extreme annoyance at not being informed of the ARG reboot as I had signed up for updates on the I.D.D. I was completely prepared to ignore the rest of this game until the PM contacted me and apologized for my experience. While I still think the way things were handled sucks, I'm placated somewhat by the fact that the PMs are willing to extend an olive branch, so I'm back to guide writing. Of course, trying to catch up on and write about over two months worth of updates is slow going and a pain in the ass, so don't expect much until I actually manage to get caught up.
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Letters from the Federal Security Special Investigative Committee |
Players were first alerted to the fact that things were starting back up when they received a letter from the Federal Security Special Investigative Committee. The letter stated that because they had originally received materials from the Internal Defense Directorate, they were now ordered to destroy those materials as they had been ruled hoaxes. Players were also informed that the I.D.D. and Project: Enemy Unknown were being terminated. Oddly, the F.S.S.I.C. included a sample picture (now marked HOAX) in with the letter. I wonder if they expect that picture to be destroyed along with the original materials.
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Office Memorandum
FEDERAL SECURITY SPECIAL
INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE
TO: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX DATE: August 12, 1960
FROM: ACTING CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL SECURITY SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: CLASSIFIED MATERIALS IN YOUR POSSESSION
It has come to our attention that you or a person in your
household may have been contacted by the Internal Defense
Directorate (I.D.D.) regarding a rogue operation known as
"PROJECT ENEMY UNKNOWN."
This project distributed classfied documents and other materials
without proper clearance. Additionally, the agency issued
falsified evidence in an apparnt attempt to propagate a
pernicious hoax (see attached example). In the interests of
containing the deleterious effects of this misinformation on
the national discourse, we have been authorised to collect and/or
destroy all materials related to this unauthorized project.
Therefore, please be advised of the following:
1) The INTERNAL DEFENSE DIRECTORATE (I.D.D.) is hearby disbanded.
2) "PROJECT ENEMY UNKNOWN" has been officially terminated.
3) All classified materials disbursed by the I.D.D. or its
agents must be immediately returned or destroyed. (Note:
this includes all materials received electronically via
the Infinivac Network.)
Your immediate compliance is vital as a matter of
national security.
FEDERAL SECURITY SPECIAL
INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE
Found in files of I.D.D.
(Internal Defense Directorate).
Forensic analysis reveals composite
photographic elements. Sugg. possible
hoax. Full report to follow.
COLLECTED 07/01/1960
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Project Terminated |
Well, the Code Black Emergency is now over. The entire project has been terminated. Visiting projectenemyunknown.com, you're greeted firstly by a string of binary that translates to UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS ATTEMPT.
01010101 01001110 01000001 01010101 01010100 01001000 01001111 01010010 01001001 01011010 01000101 01000100 01000001 01000011 01000011 01000101 01010011 01010011 01000001 01010100 01010100 01000101 01001101 01010000 01010100
Once that clears, you get the message that the project has been terminated. Clicking the screen then spits out an error, and the system restarts - but not before filling your screen with a bunch of garbage characters. Waiting a few seconds, the system will stop outputting and a blinking cursor will appear at the bottom of the screen. Clicking that starts a download of CTZN1.zip.
Unzipping the file, you get a 110 mb text file called CTZN1.txt. However, opening it up in a text editor gives you nothing but garbage. The "ftypqt" at the start of the file points us in the direction that this is really a .mov file and that we should rename it. Once we do that, you can watch the video.
It's a little hard to make out a times through all the static/interference, but the video basically tells us that we are at war, we cannot trust the goverment, we have now become the soldiers and the only person to trust is someone called Citizen One.
TRUTH HAS BEEN MADE THE ENEMY
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE SKY
THE WAR WILL BE FOUGHT IN SECRET
CITIZENS WILL BE OUR SOLDIERS
REMAIN WATCHFUL
DO NOT TRUST THE GOVERNMENT
TRUST ONLY CITIZEN ONE
The video itself doesn't really give us any new direction to go in, and searching for any of the phrases doesn't give us a new website. However, searching for CTZN1.mov brings us to the Youtube account of CitizenSkywatch and they helpfully have a website listed: citizenskywatch.com.
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Continue to Page 2 >>
See the Intro page for a list of all the websites, plus brief information about this guide and the game.
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