tagnone
 #1 Article |
 #1 Joke Article |
 Top Ten Article |
 Active Contributor |
 Contest Winner |
 Contest Runner-Up |
 Challenge Winner |
 Art Contest Winner |
|
|
|
|
{$translationblock} |
 |
Registered Phenomena Code: 531
Object Class: Gamma-Red
| Hazard Types:Additional Properties: |
 Aggression |
 Ballistic |
 Climatological |
 Geological |
 Grouped |
 Invisibility |
 Psychotronic |
 Sapient |
 Sentient |
 Transmutation |
 Bio-Hazard |
 Contact |
 Corrosive |
 Electromagnetic Force |
 Explosive |
 Extreme Temperature |
 Radiation |
 Toxic |
 Destabilization |
 Extra-Dimensional |
 Gravitational |
 Teleportation |
 Temporal |
 Auditory |
 Emotional |
 Ideological |
 Info-Hazard |
 Memory Alteration |
 Mind-Control |
 Mind-Regression |
 Sensory |
 Visual |
 Animated |
 Aquatic |
 Ecological |
 Extra-Terrestrial |
 Immeasurable |
 Incorporeal |
 Mechanical |
 Microscopic |
 Organic |
 Regenerative |
 Titanic |
 Tychokinetic |
 Replicating |
 Newtonian |
 Ontological |
 Divine |
 Hallucinogen |
 High Velocity |
 Proto-Mechanical |
 Proto-Newtonian |
 Proto-Sapient |
Fig.1: Map depicting the epicenter of the Baffin Bay earthquake that occurred in 1933. Dr. ██████ theorised that the location of the epicenter could lead to a possible origin source of RPC-531.
Containment Protocols:
Specimens of RPC-531 (designated RPC-531/1, 531/2, 531/3, 531/4, 531/5) are to be contained inside saltwater Observation Tank-05 in Site-018. A ballistic glass window is used for constant observation. The water temperature is to remain below 0°C at all times, unless approved for testing purposes by Level 4 Research Personnel. Applications for testing must be submitted via authorization to an on-site overseer before testing is permitted.
Daily maintenance is to be performed on the exterior of Tank-05 and its water filtration system. Due to Incident-531-01, Tank-05's water filtration system has been dismantled. The interior of Tank-05 is not to be cleaned, nor are any personnel permitted to open or enter Tank-05 under any circumstances. Any personnel attempting to open Tank-05 will be immediately detained and removed from the observation area.
RPC-531 specimens are to be fed a live cow every 24 hours via secured steel roof double-hatch above Tank-05. In an effort to prevent further escape attempts and further staff casualties, RPC-531 specimens are no longer to be fed.
Should contained specimens of RPC-531 expire due to starvation or contamination poisoning within Tank-05, electrical currents of 4.5 amps are to be released into the water to confirm the specimens' termination. Specimens are then to be retrieved and taken to Site-018's Research Department for post-mortem study. Should any specimen show signs of life during retrieval, on-site security personnel are to terminate said specimen immediately.
Currently, a colony of ██ instances of RPC-531 is being monitored by posted MST Alpha-2 "Charlie's Anglers" coastal units within and around the Canadian Arctic archipelago. Local ocean currents and tide reports are consistently updated and monitored for changes and effects on the RPC-531 colony's behaviour. So far, no instances of RPC-531 have strayed from below 0°C waters and have remained within the current radius of ████ km and 37,00 m below sea level. An exclusion zone around the colony has been established between the Victoria Strait and Baffin Bay. Any instances straying from this current radius are to be reported immediately.
Currently, a colony of ███ RPC-531 instances has been recorded, with possible numbers increasing by unknown means or origin source.
However it has been speculated that RPC-531 instances may have originated from a deeper sea level than originally perceived. Expeditions by MST Alpha-2 "Maritime Praesidio Subvehi" into the Baffin Basin to assess the possible origin of RPC-531 are currently underway.
Reports from MST Alpha-2 coastal units have recently surfaced regarding RPC-531 appearing in coastal waters further from the initial colony zone, in waters with temperatures measuring 1°C to 5°C. Dr. █████ suggests that RPC-531 is beginning to quickly adapt to warmer waters, and containment protocols for wild instances of RPC-531 are being revised.
All sea traffic is to be diverted from the RPC-531 exclusion zone by MST Alpha-2 operatives posing as coastguards. MST Alpha-2 is to be positioned around the exclusion zone and kept in radio contact with other MST coastal observational outposts outside of the immediate exclusion zone. MST Alpha-2 operatives are instructed to exterminate any instance of RPC-531 outside or attempting to leave the exclusion zone with high-calibre firearms, and bodies of RPC-531 disposed of discreetly. Any witnesses to this occurrence or an instance of RPC-531 are to be detained and given Class-G amnestics.
Description: RPC-531 are small aquatic-humanoid entities that superficially resemble human infants, possessing exceptionally long black hair that measures up to 2m to 2.5m in length. Instances have large black reflective pupils and two rows of small serrated teeth. Subjects lack any semblance of a nose, lip, and a pair of ears; which has been theorized to have been a part of their evolutionary process. RPC-531's hands and feet appear to be webbed, similar to other known aquatic animals. Analysis of the skin pigmentation revealed that RPC-531 are suffering extreme hypothermia, despite contradictions of their biological nature of maintaining a temperature around 37°C. RPC-531 has been determined to be genderless based on no visible gentilia on any of the instances, suggesting the possibility of a form of anomalous asexual reproduction, though this has been unconfirmed.
Likewise, is it not apparent if RPC-531 are indeed juvenile forms of an undiscovered adult entity, or merely possess the superficial appearance of infantile beings.
Fig.2: Instance of RPC-531 attacking the keel-side camera of an MST Unit Alpha-2 surveillance boat. Significance behind RPC-531 instance's sudden act of aggression is currently unknown.
Upon autopsy research, it appears that RPC-531 has no internal organs with the exception of a brain, and a heart in the centre of the abdomen. Circulatory system, nervous system and skeletal structure all appear identical to those of a human infant in the early stages of development. However, the digestive and respiratory systems are absent entirely.
In accordance with the baseline biology, RPC-531 should have no means of performing various processes such as respiration, nutritional supplementation and excretion. However, samples of various undigested flesh belonging to various sea-life and several humans seem to run contrary to this observation.
Despite the lack of a true digestive system, it has been observed that RPC-531's main method of consumption is via the hair strands that run directly into their circularity system.
The hair-like structures of RPC-531 are composed of several thick black strands which the entity is capable of voluntarily animating. Said hair strands are utilised by RPC-531 as weapons, grappling appendages, and the primary source of food intake. RPC-531 is hematophagous and uses microscopic feeding tubes within their hair strands to feed off their prey's blood. RPC-531's usual method of feeding consists of their hair strands entering the victim's skin via open pores. Once the skin has been breached, veins and arteries will be pierced with microscopic needle-like proboscises on the end of each hair strand, allowing the hair strand to slip inside the vein/artery and begin the process of draining blood. To maximize the blood intake as well as reduce feeding time, the hairs of RPC-531 will pierce various points all over the victim's body.
RPC-531 are generally ambush predators. Their primary method of hunting consists of instances floating in a seemingly dormant state just below the water surface. The hair/tendrils drift aimlessly against the ocean currents until it comes into contact with a prey item. RPC-531 will then become animated and will rapidly move in an attempt to ensnare said prey with their hair strands. Prey are usually incapacitated before the feeding process begins. The hair strands also appear to be covered in nematocyst glands, which sting ensnared prey until incapacitation or death. Survivors of RPC-531 attacks report the sting of the hair tendrils to be incredibly painful, with one MST operative equating the experience to the sting of a Portuguese Man o' War.
Despite spending a majority of time beneath the water surface, RPC-531 are considered amphibious, as they have been observed surviving outside of water, occasionally observed clinging onto ice drifts or the hulls of nearby boats, though they appear more cumbersome on land as opposed to the ocean.
In both cases, however, RPC-531’s hair remained the primary form of locomotion substituting their infantile hands and feet which lacked coordination. Despite this, the limbs of RPC-531 can still be used for rudimentary movements, such as grabbing onto surfaces and/or prey.
Another important aspect of RPC-531's nature is its method of communication. While initially thought that RPC-531 only vocalises high-pitched cries and shrieks while attacking or when provoked, they collectively communicate with one another via intricately produced sounds at 20 Hz or lower, just outside of the human audible range. It can be speculated that this method of infrasound communication contributes to the coordination of the instances during hunting. This results in grouped attacks on larger prey items when only one RPC-531 was within immediate proximity. This indicates that RPC-531 specimens show a higher level of intelligence while coordinating with other instances.
Incident Report: 'Broken Water'
| Anomalies Involved: |
Research Specimens RPC-531/1 through RPC-531/5 |
RPC-531 specimens breached containment and attacked on-site staff. |
| Incident Type: |
Engage & Contain |
On-site Security forces were dispatched to deal with the containment breach. |
| Incident Location: |
Site-018's |
Observation Tank-05 |
| Cause of Incident: |
Breach through Tank-05's water filtration system |
Maintenance Worker Brian Packard (unintentional) |
| Status: |
Resolved |
Specimen RPC-531/5 neutralised. Specimens RPC-531-1 through 531-4 successfully re-contained |
Contained Specimens of RPC-531 make use of an opportunity provided by Level 1 Maintenance Worker, Brian Packard, who was making repairs to the filtration unit situated behind Tank-05, to breach containment.
21:25: Specimens of RPC-531 remained in a dormant state inside Observation Tank-05, facing downward within the water at a consistent rate of buoyancy 1 m below water level. Researcher ████████ was seated by the desk facing the surveillance monitors showing the interior of Tank-05, drinking coffee, and eating a cafeteria snack.
21:29: Site-018 Maintenance Staff Worker Brian Packard was seen heading towards the water filtration unit behind Tank-05, whistling as he began routine maintenance checks.
21:31: All specimens of RPC-531 seemed to gradually 'awake', and all look towards the direction of the filter system.
21:32: Researcher ████████ noticed this occurrence on the camera feed monitors, quickly putting down his food and drink to begin writing down a log of the unusual movement.
21:35: Brian Packard had momentarily turned off the internal fan of the filtration unit for the standard routine check. All specimens of RPC-531 suddenly swam frantically towards the filter. The hairs of RPC-531 specimens are seen going through the metal grate.
Brian Packard is seen with his hands inside the piping of the filtration unit to make routine checks on the internal fan. Packard is seen suddenly convulsing and screaming as his hand is forcibly pulled into the unit, presumably by the hairs of RPC-531. Packard is then repeatedly slammed into the outer wall of Tank-05, causing major damage to the filtration unit and eventually terminating Brian Packard.
21:41: Shortly after the termination of Brian Packard, RPC-531 specimens tear off the metal grating with unseen strength and take turns to climb through the pipes of the filtration unit. Researcher ████████ is seen panicking and attempts to contact on-site security staff via radio.
21:42: Specimens of RPC-531 all exit the filtration unit pipe. RPC-531/2 stays behind to feed from the body of Brian Packard, as the other four specimens begin to move separately along the utility corridors. RPC-531/5 is seen climbing into the ventilation shaft.
21:44: Site Security Forces arrive on scene to assist Researcher ████████, before the vent above the observation room collapses. Screaming and exclamations are heard from all personnel present as RPC-531/5 proceeds to incapacitate and terminate Researcher ████████ and 3 of the 4 security personnel present.
21:47: Specimens RPC-531/3 and RPC-531/4 are seen within the Site-018 cafeteria, attacking several off-duty research personnel. Specimen RPC-531/1 breached the observation booth overlooking RPC-███, attacking and incapacitating all research personnel present.
21:50: Secondary security forces were called in. ASF proceeded through the cafeteria, successfully incapacitating RPC-531/4 and RPC-531/3 with non-lethal electrical bullets. RPC-531/2 entered the cafeteria but was immediately incapacitated. Specimens were appropriately detained as the security team moved on to apprehend RPC-531/5 and RPC-531/1.
21:54: Specimen RPC-531/5 put up heavy resistance to the security team after exiting Tank-05's observation room. Specimen was observed covering itself within a nest of its hair as a makeshift shield that proved mildly effective at reducing ballistic damage, as additional strands of hair were used to cripple and kill several other personnel present. RPC-531/5 was finally terminated by heavy lethal fire.
21:59: Security team moved on to RPC-███'s observation room while a medical unit was called in to attend to the injured. Specimen RPC-531/1 was discovered standing on top of the monitors and peering through the glass at RPC-███, apparently intrigued by the item within. The security force managed to use this distraction to successfully stun and detain RPC-531/1.
Personnel Casualties:
- Authority Security Force:
- 3 Personnel Lost, 8 Personnel inflicted with serious injury (All full recoveries).
- Authority Research Personnel:
- 7 Personnel Lost, 3 Personnel inflicted with serious injury (2 full recoveries, 1 Personnel nervous system permanently damaged)
- Authority Maintenance Worker Brian Packard:
- Killed by repeated blunt force trauma to the head.
- Assets Compromised:
- 1 Water filtration unit at Observation Tank-05
After the containment of all living specimens, the filtration unit was refitted and permanently bolted to the outer wall, and maintenance personnel were instructed to not attend to the unit even during breakdown. Maintenance is only to be performed if necessary to reduce fire hazards from shorting circuitry within the unit itself. Tank-05 has been deemed officially condemned by on-site staff, and research staff are currently awaiting the termination of all RPC-531 specimens within the sealed tank.
Dr. ██████ reviewed the surveillance footage capturing the incident and noticed the unsettling coordination and adaptive intelligence RPC-531 seemed to display. He was similarly intrigued by RPC-531/1's apparent fascination with RPC-███. Whether these two entities have had any interaction prior to containment, or RPC-531 simply shows awareness outside of the primal desire to hunt and kill is yet unknown.
After reports of RPC-531 migrating from the exclusion zone into warmer waters, with the possibility of straying into more populated coastal areas, containment measures are currently being revised to locate and terminate any and all RPC-531 discovered outside the exclusion zone to reduce public interaction with RPC-531 instances as much as possible.
Recommendations to expand the exclusion zone are being considered.
Evidence suggests the RPC-531 instances may be ascending from a fissure within the Baffin Basin, possibly near the epicentre of the Baffin Bay fault line.
[11/02/██]
MST Unit Alpha-2's first expedition into the Baffin Basin ended in disaster when the submersible was attacked by a swarm of RPC-531 instances, unusually active in contradiction to their usual inert state by the surface. These instances were encountered much deeper below the ocean level when MST Unit Alpha-2 approached the epicentre. The submersible was lost, along with 7 MST personnel on board. The swarm later turned their attention on the nearest MST Alpha-2 surveillance boat (2.5 km from the Alpha-2 submersible's last known coordinates before the attack) and managed to incapacitate 3 MST Personnel before the swarm was disbanded after several instances were terminated via high-calibre firearms. The vessel remained intact save for minor damage to the underside.
Safety and defensive precautions are being revised in case of another attack. Expeditions into the Baffin Basin have been postponed by Dr. ██████ until further notice.
[11/07/██]
MST Alpha-2 coastal outposts have received reports from Kennebunk, Maine, of a "cadaver of a pale naked baby" washed up on Kennebunk beach, whose oddities matched the description of an RPC-531 instance. A cover story was issued and Alpha-2 investigated the body. Evidences points to the RPC-531 instance dying of heart palpitations, possibly due to the rise in water temperatures that the instances were not suitable for.
All Alpha-2 marine and coastal units have expanded with patrol routes to the North-western territories of the United States. Proposal to expand initial exclusion zone is still pending.
[17/01/██]
MST Alpha-2 patrol boat "Arthur Pym" has been reported missing procured by several instances of RPC-531. All personnel aboard "Arthur Pym" are missing. Following attempt be Alpha-2 patrol boat "The Ningen" to reclaim "Arthur Pym" has ended in failure, resulting in the destruction of "The Ningen" and the loss of all 7 MST members on board.
All Alpha-2 patrol units and coastal observation units have been put on alert. Patrol boat "Arthur Pym" is to be located and destroyed as soon as possible.
[03/02/██]
MST Alpha-2 intercepted and detained Norwegian whaling vessel Sjøgjeter that had sailed too close to the exclusion zone's outer perimeter. Upon inspection, only 5 of the 21 crewmen where found alive, including the captain. 2 crewmen were in critical condition and one suffering from extreme mental trauma and having lost his left arm. All three were seen to by MST medics and made steady recovery over the course of three days.
Alpha-2 operatives also discovered multiple RPC-531 instances in various locations around the exterior and interior of the ship, and the body of a dissected female Physeter macrocephalus where several deceased RPC-531 instances where found within the opened stomach cavity. Alpha-2 was able to successfully terminate remaining instances of RPC-531 aboard the vessel without any further incident.
According to the ship's captain (name withheld by the Authority), the initial incident occurred when the crew had successfully killed and hauled the whale witnessed on the deck. When the whale was cut open for harvesting, a swarm of RPC-531 poured from open cavity and attacked the crew who were completely caught off guard. Several instances were killed from the ensuing fire fight, but most of the crew were lost from the initial ambush. The surviving crew including the captain were given Class-B amnestics and a cover story was doctored and released, attributing the deaths to a "pirate attack".
Alpha-2 has since been issued an order to observe local whale pods to determine further interactions between them and RPC-531 instances.
[13/06/██]
Following the incident described in Addendum-05, reports from Alpha-2 indicated pods of whales and orcas avoiding areas inhabited by RPC-531 instances. MST Alpha-2 have also reported several whale and orca corpses that have been dredged from the seafloor around the exclusion zone, with no external evidence of attack or physical trauma that has led to death. The cadavers had been contained and incinerated prior to procedures conducted by Dr. ██████ after the incident of Addendum-05.
Upon the incineration process, several instances of RPC-531 burst from the insides of the carcasses and were observed screaming and frantically attempting to escape the incinerator before been terminated.
It can be deduced that RPC-531 are evolving new methods of ambushing prey, and as the reports of the local marine wildlife has indicated, they have been recognised as a threat to even the largest and aggressive of marine life.
