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RPC-132 in its container. NOTE: If you do not see a coffee tin, you are under the effects of "Tea Leaves" this is not a cause for concern.
Registered Phenomena Code: 132
Object Class: Alpha Beta-Orange
Hazard Types: Bio-Hazard, Emotional Hazard, Ideological Hazard
Containment Protocols: Media propaganda initiative “Tea Leaves” is to be iterated and deployed by embedded agents in all major media outlets in the United Kingdom. Agents must deploy two Addams-Meywether Subliminal Memetic Payloads each day. For information on the “Tea Leaves” initiative, see Secure Document #132. Due to the overwhelming success of the “Tea Leaves” initiative, this RPC has been designated Alpha class. (See Addendum 132-4.)
Manifestation sites of RPC-132 have only been confirmed in the United Kingdom, however all Authority staff are to report any instances of RPC-132 found outside of the United Kingdom to their superiors immediately. Due to Authority efforts every country around the globe recognises RPC-132 as contraband, and have been instructed to seize and incinerate any instances found in their respective jurisdictions. Media propaganda initiatives based on “Tea Leaves” are ready to deploy in each current world language.
Authority field agents must engage and terminate any instances of RPC-132-1s on sight. Direct physical contact with a RPC-132-1 instance or any bodily fluids belonging to a RPC-132-1 instance (such as blood or saliva) results in exposure to RPC-132 and redesignation as a Stage 1 RPC-132-1. Any Authority staff redesignated as a Stage 1 RPC-132-1 immediately loses all security clearances, but can request to be put into 24 hour quarantine to make any final arrangements before termination, which is to be granted when feasible.
Corpses of RPC-132-1 instances at any stage are Class 4 bio-hazards and must only be handled and disposed of by properly trained and equipped personnel.
Authority personnel are not authorised to pursue RPC-132-1 instances into any kind of tunnel system. This includes, but is not limited to: sewers, storm drains, subways, and metro networks. (See Addendum 132-1.)
Any non-Authority witnesses to any instance of RPC-132-1 must be detained at Site-014 until amnestics can be administered.
Authority Media Propaganda Initiative #132
CODENAME - "TEA LEAVES"
Infiltrate all news networks and media outlets in the UK. Insert and deploy subliminal messages and memetic agents in all mediums in order to achieve the desired outcome on a country-wide scale.
Originally conceived by Dr. S███████ and his team. First deployed on the 6th of February 190█.
The original focus of the initiative was to implant the compulsion to consume tea products instead of coffee products, and to implant a negative view of the RPC-132 'brand'. However, this resulted in small numbers of the populace acquiring and testing RPC-132 out of spite and stubbornness. The focus of the initiative rapidly switched to implanting a subconscious compulsion to completely ignore all RPC-132 instances, while keeping the compulsion to consume tea products over coffee products aspect unchanged in order to minimise the risk of memetic dissonance.
A government agency was created to continuously locate and sweep up all instances of RPC-132 across the country, then destroy the instances via incineration. To that end, the government agency is provided instructional material and office signage with updated anti-memetic payloads on a weekly basis, so that members of the agency will not be affected by the ignorance aspect of the initiative while employed.
Long term effects of exposure to the initiative have proven acceptable, with the worst recorded side effect being the development and bursting of brain aneurysms in an acceptable percentage of the population.
Additionally, and unexpectedly, the initiative has become a trope of UK citizens as seen by the rest of the world. This trope has been proudly adopted by a large percentage of the UK population, which has boosted the effectiveness of the initiative tenfold.
While this is considerably good for the current scenario The Authority faces, should RPC-132 begin manifesting in other countries and similar initiatives have to be implemented, this trope may have detrimental effects on their effectiveness.
Research, Protect, Contain.
Description: RPC-132 is a brand of instant coffee powder contained within an air-tight 200g red rectangular tin with a yellow lid. The container is emblazoned with a distinctive logo of a large cartoon rodent that makes it easily recognisable. The barcodes found on tins are always the same, and will anomalously be accepted by any scanner machine despite the barcode not actually existing in the store's product list. Price of the unit varies from manifestation to manifestation, but will always be cheaper than all other brands of instant coffee powder (of comparable weight) currently on sale at the store. Other than the barcode the containers are completely non-anomalous. Identical copies made of the barcode do not exhibit any anomalous properties, and will not be recognised by any scanner unless added to the database manually.
RPC-132 anomalously materialises on the shelves of supermarkets and convenience stores all over the United Kingdom, however RPC-132 will only manifest at a single shop every eight hours. Between 3 to 30 instances of RPC-132 will materialise each time, and will neatly fit onto a shelf between other coffee and tea products as if part of the display. Efforts to predict materialisation locations have, so far, been entirely unsuccessful.
Materialisation is instantaneous, and all CCTV footage has been unable to give any useful data. Footage always shows a number of frames of a non-descript store shelf with no sign of RPC-132 instances, then the next frame multiple RPC-132 instances are present. Efforts to capture footage of a materialisation event with an ultra high-speed camera are ongoing.
When questioned, no member of staff from any store has any memory of ordering, receiving, or placing RPC-132 on their shelves. Tests performed on staff, store recording equipment, and the buildings themselves at thousands of manifestation sites has found no other anomalous properties or activity of any kind. Exactly why, how, and where RPC-132 manifests from is unknown.
After the anomalous materialisation (and other than the barcode anomaly) RPC-132 instances do not show any other anomalous properties until an organic entity ingests the powder in some way. RPC-132 can be consumed in its powdered form or mixed with liquids, with the effects remaining the same. Any organic entity that ingests any amount or has direct physical contact with a liquid solution containing RPC-132 is immediately and irrecoverably considered a Stage 1 RPC-132-1 instance.
Upon exposure, subjects (henceforth Stage 1 RPC-132-1s) will exhibit no abnormal properties or behaviour for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed since initial consumption Stage 1 RPC-132-1s will begin to transition to Stage 2 where they become photosensitive, skittish, and more rodent-like in their mannerisms and behaviour. The speed of the transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2 depends on the amount of RPC-132 the subject ingested. The more the subject ingests, the faster they transition.
48 hours after initial consumption all RPC-132-1s will enter the 3rd and final Stage. Stage 3 instances are extremely hazardous as they become feral and aggressive, while showing increased physical abilities. Footage and images taken during numerous incidents have shown that Stage 3's have a very large capacity for physical trauma, and can continue to function long after any normal specimen of their species would have been neutralised.
Stage 3 instances instinctively seek out nearby tunnel systems such as sewers or subways, and will attempt do this to the exclusion of any other goal including self-preservation actions such as eating, drinking, or sleeping. Long term containment and testing is currently impossible due to this, however (See Addendum 132-3) Stage 3 instances will survive for 5 days on average before succumbing to dehydration and dying.
All attempts to communicate with human Stage 2 and 3 instances have been unsuccessful. Stage 2 instances intentionally ignore and resist communication attempts, while Stage 3 instances seem to entirely lose the ability to communicate.
Post-mortem autopsies have consistently reported that all subjects, regardless of exposure Stage, do not differ from baseline physiology or bio-chemistry of their respective species in any way. It is currently unknown how RPC-132 affects the behaviour and mannerisms of any species at Stages 2 and 3, or how it increases the physical abilities at Stage 3.
All attempts to halt or reverse the progress of any RPC-132-1 Stage has met with failure, however testing is ongoing and other RPC objects have been approved for use in tests as of ██/██/20██. Contact Dr. Y██████ for more information.
Addendum 132-1: Due to the events of Incident 132-62, the containment procedures of RPC-132 have been updated. For more information, see Incident Report 132-62.
Brief: On June 6th 19██, 40 members of MST November-14 were tasked with helping Dr. T███████ with an experiment intent on finding exactly where the RPC-132-1s went after entering the local sewers and/or underground tunnel network.
Log: Four CSD personnel were implanted with sub-dermal tracking devices and ordered to consume a warm cup of RPC-132. The RPC-132-1’s were then restrained, fitted with explosive collars, and put into standard mobile humanoid containment cells. After 48 hours, the four RPC-132-1s were transported to four different London Underground train stations that the Authority had closed under the guise of engineering works.
Each RPC-132-1 had a squad of ten MST November-14 members assigned to them, that would track them through the tunnels. All squads were told to report in every 5 minutes, or immediately if anything unexpected or anomalous occurred.
[00:00:00]: Experiment begins. All squads release their respective RPC-132-1, and await confirmation of tracking signal both on their handheld trackers and on Command's systems.
[00:02:06]: All tracking is confirmed, and all squads move out into the tunnels.
[For the first hour, nothing unusual happens. Each squad reports in every 5 minutes as planned, and confirm no problems with tracking their assigned RPC-132-1. According to tracking data, the RPC-132-1s have seemingly moved at random.]
[Around the second-hour mark all squads begin to report minor difficulty keeping up with their assigned RPC-132-1s due to structural designs in the tunnels and maintenance corridors/shafts.]
[02:20:00]: Squad 3 fails to report for two scheduled report times, however, contact is re-established after ~7 minutes [02:27:21] and after a quick equipment check, the squad continues on.
[The four RPC-132-1s appear to be moving towards the same general location, however, due to the distances between the RPC-132-1s, the exact location is indeterminable.]
[Three hours in and all squads begin to report fatigue and increased difficulty in tracking their assigned RPC-132-1 due to the age and disrepair of tunnels, as well as the poor air quality.]
[03:15:00]: Squad 1 fails to report, however, Squad 1's RPC-132-1 tracker remains active. Attempts to contact Squad 1 continue for the remainder of the mission, but no response is ever received.
[03:23:11]: Squad 4's RPC-132-1 tracker stops transmitting. Command attempts to contact Squad 4, but does not receive any response. Attempts continue for the remainder of the mission but just like Squad 1, no response is ever received.
[03:35:00]: Tracking data shows the three remaining RPC-132-1s begin to converge on the same location. The three signals are triangulated and the destination is extrapolated to be roughly 82m (269ft) directly below the popular tourist location [REDACTED] in Central London. Site is designated OL-Site-132/██ by Command.
[03:36:02]: Squad 1's RPC-132-1 tracking beacon stops transmitting.
[03:42:36]: A member of Squad 3 radios Command, screaming intelligibly. [REDACTED] can be heard in the background before the transmission is abruptly cut 8 seconds later. The Squad 3 RPC-132-1 tracking beacon stops transmitting at exactly the same time that the radio transmission cuts out.
[03:42:45]: Command attempts to contact all squads, but does not get any response. Attempts are continuously made for the next 17 minutes.
[03:53:31]: The last functioning implanted tracking device in Squad 2's RPC-132-1 appears to malfunction, as it pulses on and off for the next 3 minutes and 32 seconds before cutting off completely.
Outcome: All members of the MST November-14 squads considered MIA after search and rescue requests were refused by Command. Containment procedures updated. All data and information on the movement and convergence location of the RPC-132-1s is restricted to level 4 personnel. Measures to contain OL-Site-132/██ are being handled by the London Regional Director [REDACTED].
Addendum 132-2: Analysis of Squad 2's RPC-132-1 tracking beacon pulses towards the final 3.5 minutes of Incident 132-62 have concluded that the beacon was not malfunctioning, and was actually transmitting a message in Morse Code. Upon deciphering the patterns research staff found that the beacon had repeated the following message 6 and a half times before abruptly ceasing:
YOU WIN SOME YOU LOSE SOME
Addendum 132-3: Based on events of Incident 132-183, all further testing and experiments with RPC-132 on organic subjects are immediately placed on hold pending Level 4 review.
Brief: On the ██th of ████████ 20██, Dr. K████ proposed an experiment intent on prolonging the lifespan of a Stage 3 RPC-132-1 held in containment. The goal was to see if there were any other Stages, to assess their threat, and to test alternate methods of containment.
Log: Through the use of artificial feeding pipes that were surgically implanted into RPC-132-1 #334 before it reached Stage 3, Dr. K████ and his team were able to keep #334 alive past the average 5 days.
#334 was fed approximately 22 cups of RPC-132 during the first 24 hours of exposure.
Aside from the fastest recorded transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2, the first 10 days of the experiment were uneventful.
After 2██ hours after initial consumption of RPC-132, #334 entered a new phase of development dubbed Stage 4. Before Dr. K████ or his staff were able to perform any meaningful tests [DATA EXPUNGED]
Outcome: Incident culminated in a site-wide Containment Breach. Site-14 reported ██ fatalities, ███ injuries, and █ RPCs of Beta class or higher unaccounted for as of ██/██/20██. Video footage confirmed Dr. K████ and his team were KIA during the breach.
While this resulted in what I can only describe as a horrible tragedy, I feel it is my duty to say that we must try this again, with obviously increased precautions. If Stage 4 or even further Stages are possible out in the wild, then we absolutely must figure out a way to contain or at the very least stop them. - Dr. O████████
Addendum 132-4: RPC-132 has been reclassified as a Beta by the Global Directors, due to events and possible outcomes of Incident 132-241.
Brief: On the █rd of ████ 20██, Mr ██████ ██████ (better known by his online alias: ████████) whom was a popular British streamer on the Twitch streaming website, intentionally consumed multiple cups of RPC-132 during a broadcast. 47 hours later the user broadcast again, while displaying vastly different behaviour to normal, and is seen transitioning from Stage 2 to Stage 3 mid-broadcast. Authority agents successfully terminated the stream 1 hour and 46 minutes from the start.
Log: Video 1 of 2. Transcript of broadcast on the █rd of ████ 20██.
[00:00:00]: Footage begins. A bright purple background with Mr ██████ ██████’s alias and “Broadcast beginning shortly!” front and center can be seen. [A so-called ‘welcome screen’ - Dr. Y██████] Audio in the background identified as a the title screen track from the Nintendo 64 video game Banjo Kazooie.
[00:00:32]: A small amount of rustling can be heard as the welcome screen fades to show the upper torso and face of Mr ██████ ██████ (henceforth RPC-132-1 #1721). #1721 introduces himself and welcomes the viewers.
[For 3 hours and 22 minutes #1721 plays various video games and chats with the viewers about the video games he plays, and upcoming video games.]
[03:22:05]: #1721 announces he needs to take a short break, #1721 gets up from the chair he was sitting in, and moves off camera to the left.
[03:35:41]: #1721 reappears on camera from the left, and can be seen holding a steaming mug of an unknown liquid.
[03:37:02]: #1721 is questioned by a user in chat regarding what he is drinking. #1721 responds with the following: “Ooh well, you know I love coffee, guys! So get this, right? Last night I was browsing the ‘net, as you do, and I came across this site that said it had the best coffee ever!"
[03:37:08]: #1721 takes a sip from the cup and continues his reply; "So I’m hyped as I’m reading this, right? But uh oh, guess what? Apparently, there’s some ‘gubmint’ [sic] conspiracy about how the brand was supposed to be super poisonous, like, kill you dead shit, and I’m— Oh! Thanks for the sub dudewow982!"
[03:37:20]: #1721 gently blows on the contents of the cup twice before taking another sip. After swallowing #1721 continues again; "Anyway, yeah, I dunno guys. I went out and got some, and well, you know me! I don’t trust a damn thing the ol’ ‘gubmint’ [sic] says, so I tested it! Yeah! With one of those food poison detection kit things, you know the uhh- the ones you can get online."
[03:37:39]: #1721 takes a large gulp from the cup and sighs in content before finishing his response; "Here’s the thing guys… I can’t find jack shit wrong with it! No poison at all! Weird, right? Just what exactly are the ‘gubmint’ [sic] hiding this time? Hahaha!”.
[The footage continues on with a few minor remarks about the drink for another 2 hours and 36 minutes before #1721 thanks all the viewers and brings the broadcast to a close.]
Video 2 of 2. Transcript of the broadcast on the █th of ████ 20██
[00:00:00]: Footage begins. Purple welcome screen is shown again. Background audio identified as the "Balamb Garden" music track from the PlayStation 1 video game Final Fantasy 8.
[00:00:24]: Welcome screen transitions to show #1721 sat upright in his chair, with his feet up on the seat and knees to his chest.
[00:00:29]: #1721 meekly greets his audience, and briefly mentions that he feels a bit off, but dodges all further questions on the subject.
[For the following 1 hour and 34 minutes, #1721 quietly plays a video game while the users in the chat attempt to interact with him. #1721 becomes increasingly agitated and angry towards the chat window and the various notification popups for donations and new subscribers, but still does not directly interact with the viewers in any way.]
[01:41:22]: #1721 suddenly screeches at the camera and violently lashes out. The blow knocks the camera off its mount and onto the computer desk facing to the left of the original viewpoint. Viewable from the new position is a closed wooden door and a few meters of nondescript wall either side.
[01:41:43]: More screeching and thumping can be heard before #1721 appears on camera again as it is seen throwing itself at the door.
[01:41:47]: The door cracks but doesn’t give, however, #1721 throws itself at the door a second time, knocking a part of the door through. The hole is not big enough for #1721 to fit through, however, it starts furiously tearing at the hole with its hands and mouth.
[01:42:19]: #1721 manages to enlarge the hole enough to force its way through the door, lightly wounds itself on the splinters on the way through, and disappears off camera.
[More screeching and the sounds of things breaking can be heard for the next 3 minutes and 4 seconds before the footage abruptly ends as Authority agents terminate the broadcast.]
Outcome: All footage has been seized, a media blackout is in effect, efforts are being made to track down the website RPC-132-1 #1721 mentioned in the first video, and all viewer information for both broadcasts is being distributed to their local Authority Regional Directors in order to organise the administration of amnestics. The viewer count at the moment the Authority were able to terminate the stream was 96,513, and is spread over a large number of countries.
How exactly Mr ██████ ██████ came into possession of an instance of RPC-132 is unknown. How or why he was not affected by the “Tea Leaves” initiative is also unknown.
The possibility of the initiative’s effectiveness being diminished or circumvented by either intentional or unintentional means is under investigation. Due to the threat, these scenarios represent; I must recommend that RPC-132’s object class be updated to Beta at the very least. - Dr. Y██████
Excerpt from Dr. Y██████'s personal notes:
The "Tea Leaves" initiative has successfully contained RPC-132 for more than a century. All alternative strategies and methods to contain have long since been forgotten and lost. That is assuming there were alternatives in the first place.
Christ, as far as I know, there is no-one alive today that was alive back then.
We have never had to consider any other methods to contain this, and now after all this time, we have our first failure of the initiative. My research team and I have been holding brainstorming meetings every day since incident #241. As I write this, we still have nothing.
This is way above my security clearance.
