Issue 15 September-October, 1998

Free!

Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wills Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE MIRACLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

Way Down Atlantis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

58

Old Enemies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

78

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Information
Editor, Writer and Art Director: Michael C. LaBossiere, ontologist@aol.com.
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Wills Island 1998

By Michael C. LaBossiere
Ontologist@aol.com
Call of Cthulhu
Legal Information
This adventure is copyright 1998 by
Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere. It may be
freely distributed for personal use
provided that it is not modified and
no fee above the normal cost of
distribution is charged for it. Visit my web site at
http://user.aol.com/ontologist/index.html.
Call of Cthulhu is Chaosium Inc's registered trademark for their game of horror
and wonder in the worlds of HP Lovecraft. For more information, contact
Chaosium Inc., 950-A 56th St, Oakland, CA 94608 -- or call us at 510-547-7681. Visit
Chaosium's web page at http://www.sirius.com/~chaosium/chaosium.html.

Introduction
This adventure takes the intrepid investigators to a small island off the coast of
Maine. The adventure is set in the 1990s, but with some modifications it could be set
in another time period.
This adventure is relatively short and is suitable for one session, provided the
players do not get too bogged down. It is, however, reasonably dangerous if the
investigators are not careful.

Getting the Investigators Involved

Prior to running the adventure, the Keeper should arrange for the investigators to
meet Dr. Carl Becker, an expert on the nautical history of New England. Becker
should either be a professional associate of one of the investigators (if one of the
investigators is a historian or other academic type) or a personal friend.
The investigator who knows Becker will receive a call from him, asking the
investigator either to help him with his current project or simply to come for a visit
to catch up on old times.
If the investigators agree to go, Becker will arrange to meet the investigators in Bar
Harbor, Maine. He will have lunch or dinner with them in town and then they will
go to the island on Beckers boat.

Keepers Background
Untold years ago, a human sorcerer delved into matters best left alone. This

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sorcerer learned of the existence of Fire Vampires and similar creatures, but
considered them unsuitable for his needs. Researching further, the sorcerer learned
of a race he dubbed Sachonian (this is how the word sounds when pronounced by
an English speaking person, the sorcerers own language is long lost). He
summoned a dozen Sachonians from the stars and used his power over them to
take control of an ancient kingdom.
These creatures eventually turned against him and he bound them into twelve
gold statues. The statues were carved with intricate symbols which served to keep
the Sachonians from leaving. Over the centuries the statues passed through many
hands and every great while a intelligent (but foolish) was were able to unlock the
secrets of the bindings and free a Sachonian to serve him, at least until the creature
turned on its master.
One of these statues eventually ended up in the orient, where it was acquired by a
Yankee trader, Captain Harold Wellsmith of the Fortune. Wellsmith was fascinated
by the statue and became obsessed with the patterns engraved in the metal. Over the
course of his long voyage, he was eventually able to free the Sachonian and use it to
increase his wealth.
Unfortunately for Wellsmith, in 1842 the Sachonian soon got the upper hand and
began to feed on the crew of the Fortune. The crew thought they had been hit will
the plague and bravely decided to stay out of port until the disease passed. The
Sachonian, eager for fresh food, forced the Captain to set sail for the nearest port.
Fortunately for the rest of the world, John Reeves, the first mate of the Fortune
and a God-fearing man, became aware of the Sachonian. Quickly learning he could
not confront the Captain openly (men who angered the Captain soon ended up
dead), he plied Wellsmith with rum and learned that, ironically, the Sachonian
feared water.
Suspecting that the Sachonian would spread its evil if it were allowed to reach
land, Reeves came up with a plan and acted on it. Reeves and the few healthy
crewmen set the Fortune on fire. Unfortunately, the crew controlled by the
Sachonian managed to ground the Fortune on an island off the Maine coast before
the ship sank. Reeves and the few surviving crewmen were picked up by a nearby
ship and told the crew a tale of madness and plague so no one would go near the
island. Reeve, in the hopes of keeping people away from the island, also said that
some of the crew had thrown the cargo into the ocean.
The Sachonian, unable to find any intelligent beings, unable to leave the island,
and in great pain from its need to feed, was forced to re-enter the statue it had been
trapped in. Shortly after it entered the statue, a storm hit the island, sweeping the
statue out of the wreckage and burying it.
Over the years Reeves kept watch on the island and did his best to encourage
people to stay away from it. Some local people reported seeing strange lights (at first
the Sachonian drifting about the island and later people just thought they saw lights
on the island at night, which lead them to call it Will-O-Wisp island, which later
became Wills island. The official name of the island is Plesade Island, but
everyone calls it Wills island.

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10

For over a century the Sachonian was trapped on the island, waiting for someone
to find the statue and free it. Eventually its patience paid off.
Becker, after a few years of research, managed to find the remains of the Fortune
(Becker is doing a book on historical ship disasters). In his initial investigator,
Becker and his assistant Bill Jones found a few silver items in the burnt and buried
wreck. Becker and Jones returned with more students, including Randy Kesk.
Unknown to Becker, Kesk had gone massively into debt. Seeing the gold and silver
items that Becker had turned up, Kesk decided to get out of debt by selling out the
expedition. Kesk quickly got into contact with Michel LaBeau, a notorious scavenger
of historical sites. When Kesk told LaBeaus agent about the large amount of
valuables that Beckers expedition was finding, LaBeau dispatched Anthony Park
and his team to secure the site and steal all the artifacts.
After Becker leaves to go meet the investigators, Parks team will move in (several
people will go with Becker for lunch in town, giving Park his best opportunity).
When Becker and the investigators return, they will be met by Parks people.

Investigation
The situation will not permit the investigators to do much in the way of
preparatory research. However, they will have a chance to talk to Becker over lunch
and on the trip to the island.
Beckers Information
Becker will be able to provide the investigators with the following information:

He believes he has found the Fortune.

The Fortune was a trading ship operating out of New England.
The Fortune was supposed to have picked up a valuable cargo in the East,
including some items of historic interest (cultural artifacts mainly).
According to the First Officer, John Reeves, the crew was infected with some
sort of exotic plague that fevered their brains and they threw most of the
cargo overboard, thinking it had made them sick.
After the death of Captain Wellsmith, according to Reeves, he grounded and
fired the ship to prevent the plague from spreading.

If the investigators ask if there is anything unusual about the island or the ship,
Becker will smile and say almost everything about New England is unusual. He
will be able to relate the following information:

According to some legends, the Plesade Island was haunted after the Fortune
went aground there. According to these legends, some night fishermen and
passing ships saw lights on the island. No one landed because the lights were
thought to be either the souls of the crew looking for their ship or desperate
thieves looking to pick the bones of the ship.
The legends about the lights caused the locals to refer to the island as Will-O-

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11

Wisp Island and finally as Wills Island.

The lights have not been reported for years. The last reported sighting was in
1852.
Becker has a letter Reeves sent to a relative. The letter is fairly mundane, but
does contain some passages that should interest the investigators.

Reeves Letter
If the investigators ask about Reeves letter, Becker will be able to print them a
copy from his portable printer (he has all his documents scanned into his notebook
computer).
May 7, 1872
Dear Henry,
I trust this letter finds you well. It was good to hear that you are in fine health and
that Sarah wishes to accept your marriage proposal. I only wish I had good news to
share with you.
My health is fading and I feel that I shall not be long of this earth. Because of this, I
feel the need to divulge to you certain facts (for though they shall appear dubious,
you know I am scrupulous as to the truth).
As you know, in the 1840s I sailed with Captain Wellsmith. The Captain was a
good man, but a bit eager for profit. I suspect that this was the hubris that brought
him low. In the East we came across a Chinaman who sold the Captain a small
statue of gold. The Captain was pleased by the price and thought it would bring him
luck.
At first, it seemed that it had. Our next few voyages were extremely profitable. A
bit blinded by the wealth, I did not think to wonder at our good fortune. If only I
had, things might have turned out differently.
Early on our last voyage, I suspected that something haunted our ship. One man
went missing and the crew complained of bad dreams and of hearing things. The
second mate also reported that he had heard the Captain talking to himself in his
cabin. Over the next few days, two more men went missing and the second mate
decided to press the issue with the Captain. The next morning the mate was not to
be seen. Fearing to take direct action, I plied the Captain with Rum. In that sorry
state he whispered to me that something had come out of the statue. At first, it had
served him well, but now he feared it was the master. He called it a sackonian or
sachonian. He said that it fed on the souls of men and even now stalked his ship.
Before fear stayed his tongue, he revealed to me that the thing feared the sea.
Meeting quietly with those of the crew who accepted Jesus as their savior, we
agreed to fire the ship when we neared the coast to prevent the thing from escaping.
We would then jump into the sea and hope to reach shore or another vessel.
We acted on our plan, but the Captain was able to run the ship aground. Thanks
be to Jesus that the ship still burned to the water line.
Though we were tiring in the water, none of us thought to make for the island
were the Fortune burned. Fortunately, the Whippet saw the smoke and came to our

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12

rescue. I told her captain that the Fortune had been struck with a plague and that we
had to set her afire to protect the rest of the world.
After my rescue, I decided to stay in Maine and keep a watch on the island. When
people said they saw lights on the island, I was horrified and urged people to stay
away, saying that the plague could still be present on the island.
Thank God that no one ever went to that haunted island. I believe that God
Himself has been watching over us, guiding people away from the island. However,
as they say, God helps those who help themselves, so I am writing to ask you to
occasionally check on the island. But, for Gods sake, never go there.
Your Uncle,
John Reeves

Map
The map shows the details of Plesade island. The island is approximately one mile
off the Maine coast. It is a small island, with some scrub vegetation and a few
stunted pine trees. The beach area is fairly rocky.
Remains of the Fortune
The Fortune is much the worse for wear. The ship burned to the water line,
leaving only blackened timbers visible. Tides and storms have further worn the
wreckage down, leaving little that is recognizable. Around and in the wreckage is
scattered some of the surviving cargo of the Fortune, including the statue. The area
has been marked off with strings, indicating the various grid areas for the digging.
Camp
The camp consists of three six person tents, one of which is used to store gear and
supplies. There is also an awning set up to protect the work area. The camp has a
short wave radio, a flare gun, a generator, TV, radio, lights and such. There are no
weapons, though.

Action
The following suggests the events
that should take place during the
course of the adventure. The Keeper
may, of course, alter the events as
needed.
Arriving in Maine
The investigators will, if all goes as
planned, meet with Becker in Bar
Harbor. If the investigators need to
purchase any items, they should be
able to find most of what they need in

Plesade Island

Camp

Remains of
the Fortune.
100 Feet

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13

the area (provided that they are looking for legal, readily available items).
Becker will tell the investigators that he has located what he thinks is the wreck of
the Fortune and will be able to provide them with the information specified above.
Becker will also tell him that he will need to go back to the island soon, to pick up
most of his team and take them back to town so they can have a chance to get decent
showers and food.
After the investigators eat and take care on any business they need to take care of,
Becker will want to show them the island. He has a good sized cabin cruiser that he
will use to take them to the island.
To the Island
The island is a relatively short trip. When they get to the island, Becker will
introduce the investigators to the team and show them the site. After the boat is
loaded, they will depart for Bar Harbor, leaving behind Kesk, Jones and the ranger.
After Becker drops off his team, he will remember that he left some photos and
other material on the island that he needs to get to the university right away. He
will ask the investigators to go back with him. If the investigators chose to stay in
town, Park and his fellows will ambush Becker, take the valuables from the site and
leave. The Sachonian will be freed and do a fair amount of evil, but the
investigators will probably never learn of it. Alternatively, the Keeper can arrange
for them to go after the missing items and develop an adventure around that.
Back to the Island
While the investigators are on their way back to the island, Park will also be on his
way there. Kesk told him that Becker takes most of the people back to the mainland
before dark, leaving only a couple people. Dealing with only a couple people is
much easier than dealing with many, so Park decided that night would be an
opportune time to do his work.
Park and his men will arrive on the island and, aided by Kesks treachery, quickly
secure the island. They will then go through the wreckage with metal detectors.
They will find the statue and some other valuables.
Just as Parks men are turning up several valuables, his look out will spot the
lights from Beckers boat. Park will decide that he needs more time and will set a
trap for the investigators. He will move his boat, the Shark, behind the island (so
the tents will block any sight of it) and he and his men will conceal themselves.
When the investigators get off the boat, they will be facing several men armed with
SKS carbines. Park will tell them that it is just business, so if you cooperate, it will
work out best for everyone. Park will be true to his word. If the investigators realize
they are in a hopeless situation he will take the valuables and leave. If the
investigators try anything, Parks men will open fire on the trouble makers.
If all goes as Park plans, he, his men, and Kesk will depart the island. Before he
leaves, he will break the radio and sink Beckers boat.
If the investigators manage to defeat Park and his men, the Keeper will need to
decide how to continue the adventure. One possibility is to have some other

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14

member of the team free the Sachonian, or have it taken back to the university and
freed by someone else.
The Return of the Shark.
If Park gets away with the valuables, Kesk will start looking at the items,
anticipating the wealth that will be his. He will find the statue strangely compelling
and will pick it up. After staring at it for some time, he will make contact with the
Sachonian. He will be startled by the experience, but his greed will urge him to free
it. The investigators will be able to see this as a bright, but sickly looking, green flash
out on the water. The Sachonian will be very hungry when it is freed and will
immediately go after Parks men. In the ensuing confusion, one of Parks men will
shoot several holes through the hull and the engine, causing the boat to begin to
sink. Panicked, the Sachonian will stop its attack and try to force the survivors to
take it to the mainland. Kesk will realize that the boat will never make it to the
mainland before it sinks and will be able to convince the Sachonian to go back to the
island until repairs can be made. Kesk will, of course, use his new found ally to take
over and he will plan on keeping all the valuables for himself.
Park will quickly realize that guns will not be effective against the Sachonian. He
will suspect that Kesk will feed them all to the Sachonian, so he will be busy trying
to find a way to either deal with it or escape.
While any mechanically inclined people are forced to work on the boat, Kesk will
have the others start digging for more valuables. The Sachonian will also select
some victims to satisfy its hunger. Kesk will give it Jones, whom he has never liked,
as well as some of Parks men.
If the investigators are unable to stop the Sachonian, the boat will be repaired and
Kesk will depart with Park, intending to sell the valuables directly to LaBeau. Kesk
will initially plan to simply strand everyone else, but the Sachonian will talk him
into letting it kill them all. Hence, the investigators will eventually have no choice
but to try to fight for their lives.
The investigators might decide to grab Kesk. If they can get a hold of him, they can
force him to order the Sachonian back into the statue. If they kill or disable Kesk, the
Sachonian will be free to do as it will. In this case, it will force the survivors to
repair the boat. Then it will kill everyone but one person and then it will force that
person to take it to the mainland.

Conclusion
The adventure comes to an end when the investigators defeat the Sachonian, are
themselves defeated or they give up.
If the investigators provide a temporary solution to the problem (such as forcing
the Sachonian back into the statue and securing the statue) they should receive a
modest (1D3) Sanity Point Award. If they permanently destroy the Sachonian, they
should receive a 1D6 Sanity Point Award.
If the investigators are defeated or simply give up, then any survivors should
receive a Sanity Point Loss based on the magnitude of their defeat, but no more than

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15

1D4. With the investigators out of the way, the Sachonian will be able to reach the
mainland and feed regularly on people. Surviving investigators might decide to go
after it again, but it will have built up a base of operations by finding greedy and
weak minded people to serve it.
If the investigators are able to protect the items found at the site, such as the statue
and other items, they will probably get some small measure of fame (coverage in the
local news) and Becker will be very willing to help them out in the future. Of
course, LaBeau will be outraged that his plans were thwarted and might be
motivated to take action against the investigators if he learns of their involvement.
Very unscrupulous investigators might decide to sell the items at the site. The
results of such misdeeds are left to the Keepers discretion.
The investigators will also have to decide what to do about Park and his men,
assuming the survive. If Park survives and has the upper hand, he will take the
valuables and leave, then radio for a boat to rescue the investigators after he is safely
away.
If the investigators have the upper hand, they might elect to turn Park over to the
authorities. He is wanted for several thefts and the investigators could receive a
reward for turning him into the proper authorities.

NPCs
Dr. Carl Becker, Historian and Archeologist
STR: 13 CON: 13 SIZ: 14 INT: 15 POW: 12 DEX: 12 APP: 11 EDU: 20 SAN: 60 HP: 14
DB: None
Important Skills: Anthropology 25%, Archaeology 55%, Drive Auto 30%, Geology
10%, History 70%, Law 15%, Library Use 55%, Natural History 35%, Navigate 20%,
Latin 20%, German 20%, Pilot Boat 50%, Swim 45%
Weapons: None
Description: Becker has brown hair and brown eyes. He has a full beard and
moustache and favors turtlenecks and brown sport coats. His main area of work is
in the nautical history of New England and he has published several books and
articles on the topic. Becker is an experienced diver and boat operator. He has read
many ghost stories but does not really believe in the supernatural. However, he is a
rational man and when he is confronted with the existence of the Sachonian he will
do his best to aid the investigators.
Bill Jones, Student
STR: 12 CON: 11 SIZ: 13 INT: 14 POW:13 DEX: 11 APP: 10 EDU: 16 SAN: 65 HP: 12
DB: None
Important Skills: Archeology 35%, Geology 5%, History 35%, Library Use 45%, Swim
50%
Weapons: None.
Description: Jones is a slightly overweight young man. He has black hair and brown
eyes. He mostly wears jeans and sweaters. Jones is working in archeology and is

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pleased to be on Beckers project. Jones is an experienced diver, but despite his

regular swims he has trouble keeping the weight off. Jones does not believe in the
supernatural, but will help the investigators.
Randy Kesk, Treacherous Student
STR: 12 CON: 11 SIZ: 12 INT: 13 POW: 10 DEX: 12 APP: 11 EDU: 15 SAN: 50 HP: 12
DB: None
Important Skills: Archeology 25%, History 35%, Law 15%, Library Use 35%
Weapons: None
Description: Kesk is a thin man with long brown hair. He wears glasses and
generally wears jeans and sport coats. Kesk is addicted to gambling and has gotten
himself into a great deal of debt. Since he subscribes to the view that a person should
look out for number one, he decided to sell out Becker to get the money he needs to
pay his debts. Kesk will work with Park to get the valuables and he wont be adverse
to hurting people to reach his goal.
David LaBrett, Ranger
STR: 14 CON: 14 SIZ: 15 INT: 13 POW: 12 DEX:13 APP: 12 EDU: 14 SAN: 60 HP: 15
DB: +1D4
Important Skills: Dodge 34%, First Aid 45%, History 30%, Mechanical Repair 35%,
Natural History 35%, Pilot Boat 35%, Track 25%, Handgun 35%
Weapons: .357 Magnum Revolver 35% Damage 1D8+1D4 Range 20 Attacks 1 Shots 6
Mal 00
Description: LaBrett is a tall man with brown hair an brown eyes. When on duty he
wears a ranger uniform. LaBrett is an experienced ranger and has often worked
guarding archeological sites (it gives him a chance to catch up on his reading, since
most sites are fairly isolated). LaBrett is Catholic, but does not really believe in the
supernatural outside of his religious beliefs. However, his religious background
does keep him fairly open minded about the possibility of evil supernatural beings.
LaBrett will be willing to help the investigators.
Anthony Park, Treasure Stealer
STR: 14 CON: 14 SIZ: 14 INT: 14 POW:13 DEX: 14 APP: 13 EDU: 15 SAN: 65 HP: 14
DB: +1D4
Important Skills: Anthropology 15%, Archeology 17%, Painting 25%, Bargain 45%,
Climb 50%, Computer Use 25%, Conceal 45%, Fast Talk 45%, First Aid 45%, History
35%, Hide 35%, Law 25%, Listen 35%, Locksmith 25%, Martial Arts 25%, Mechanical
Repair 31%, German 15%, Japanese 12%, French 14%, Persuade 25%, Sneak 20%,
Spot Hidden 30%, Swim 35%, Rifle 45%, Submachinegun 35%
Weapons: 9mm 60% Damage 1D10 Range 20 Yards Attacks 2 Shots 15 Mal 99,
Fighting Knife 45% Damage 1D4+2+1D4 HP 15
Description: Park is a tall man with blonde hair and grey eyes. He appears to be in
excellent health. He dresses well, favoring expensive (but comfortable) clothing.
Park was in the British military for several years and then attended college. After

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college, he worked for a while as a businessman. He soon found that boring and
decided on a career as one who acquires valuable items for a suitable price. Park is
quite good at what he does. He considers his operations to be business, nothing
personal and prefers to avoid violence. To this end, his main strategy is to act
quietly or put people into situations in which they will decide to simply give him
the valuables without a fight. Park is a practical man and has no real belief in the
supernatural. However, he is intelligent and will recognize the Sachonian as
something very nasty. If properly persuaded, he might be willing to aid the
investigators. Park will not willingly reveal that he is working for LaBeau, but will
not risk his life to conceal LaBeaus involvement.
Parks Boys
STR: 14 CON: 13 SIZ: 15 INT: 11 POW: 10 DEX: 12 APP:10 EDU: 10 SAN: 50 HP:14
DB: +1D4
Important Skills: Dodge 30%
Weapons: SKS Carbine 50% Damage 2D6+1 Range 90 Yards Attacks 2 Shots 30 Mal
97, Punch 1D3+1D4 65%
Description: Parks men are people he has hired to act as muscle. Most of them are
small time criminals looking for some easy money. They would prefer not to shoot
anyone, but will do so if they have too. Their main concern is getting their money.
When things go bad, they will try to get away and save their own skins. There will
be a number of boys equal to the number of investigators plus 1D6.

Mythos Beings
Sachonian, Lesser Independent Race
Description: Sachonians originated on a far away world and once possessed
conventional material bodies. When their world was threatened by a terrible
disaster, a mysterious stranger appeared and presented a plan for the survival of
their race: hundreds of chosen Sachonians would be transformed into creatures of
almost pure energy and, in their new forms, the Sachonians would be able to
survive the disaster that threatened them.
Unfortunately for the Sachonians, the mysterious stranger was Nyarlathotep. He
neglected to tell the Sachonians that the process of transformation required the
consumption of the life energy of living beings. Millions of Sachonians perished
when Nyarlathotep guided the chosen ones through the ritual that transformed
them. Seeing their fellows perish in horror and pain drove most of the transformed
Sachonians mad and the horror of their new existence drove the rest insane. To
complete his torment of the Sachonians, Nyarlathotep developed an enchantment
for summoning the Sachonians from their dead world. Nyarlathotep taught this
spell to other races, including humans.
Sachonians appear as balls of pulsing green light, with the center brighter than the

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outer areas. When they move, they leave a faint, swirling trail of greenish mist.
Sachonians are intelligent, but are insane. They are also driven by a horrible need to
feed on the life energy of other living creatures. Sachonians feed by coming into
contact with other creatures. Such contact causes cellular damage (1D8 of damage per
attack) and drains one Magic Point. A creature drained of Magic Points in this
manner will die, leaving behind a corpse with strange neural and cellular damage.
Most armor will not protect a target from a Sachonian attack. However, protective
items (such as insulated gloves or special clothing) that would stop electricity would
block the discharge damage and Magic Point Drain.
Sachonians cannot regenerate Magic Points on their own, but they can store a
number of Magic Points equal to twice their POW. Once a Sachonian is full it can
no longer drain Magic Points, but it will still inflict damage.
In combat, Sachonians can attack by contacting their opponents (as described
above). A Sachonian can also project pieces of itself. These pieces fly from the body
of the creature and look like tiny, brighter versions. These pieces can travel up to 100
yards before dissipating harmlessly. They inflict 1 point of damage for ever Magic
Point the Sachonian puts into the attack. Most armor will not protect the target.
Protective items or armor that can stop electrical discharges can block such attacks.
Because of their nature, Sachonians are effectively invulnerable to most weapons,
such as firearms, poisons, fire, and physical attacks (anything striking a Sachonian
will sustain 1D8 damage from the discharge). They can be attacked with water or
other things that can cause an electrical discharge or disrupt their integrity.
Sachonians have some abilities that have made them appealing to sorcerers. First,
Sachonians can render themselves invisible to the naked eye. This costs them 1
Magic Point for every ten minutes they stay invisible. If an invisible Sachonian
attacks, it will discharge energy and be visible. Since Sachonians can see and hear,
they can serve as invisible spies. Second, Sachonians have the ability to see the
life energy of other creatures. They can use this ability to see how the creature is
feeling and can even use it to tell when a creature is lying (based on the changes in
the life energy). Third, some Sachonians know spells that they can use and teach to
others.
Their nature also gives Sachonians some limits. First, they do not heal damage
naturally and have to expend Magic Points to heal themselves. Each Magic Point a
Sachonian expends heals one point of damage. Second, Sachonians need to feed
fairly regularly. Every nineteen hours (one day on the Sachonian home world) a
Sachonian loses one Magic Point. If a Sachonian runs out of Magic Points, it simply
dissipates. Sachonians can only acquire Magic Points from intelligent beings (those
with at least 2D6 in INT). Sachonians feel unimaginable pain when they go without
feeding, which has forced even the best of them to feed.
Because of their condition, all Sachonians are insane by human standards. Their
constant feeding on other intelligent beings has also made them rather evil and they
regard other creatures solely as food and diversions from the boredom of their
existence (Sachonians are effectively immortal and will exist as long as they can
feed).

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The Sachonian in this adventure has only ten magic points at the start.
Characteristics Rolls

Averages

STR

N/A

N/A

N/A

CON

3D6

10-11

14

SIZ

INT

3D6+3

13-14

15

POW

2D6+8

15

17

DEX

4D6

14

17

HP

CON

10-11

14

Move: 10 Flying
Damage Bonus: N/A
Weapons: Touch 85% Damage 1D8 energy discharge and magic point drain. Energy
Attack 65% Range 100 yards, Damage Variable
Armor: Sachonians are beings of nearly pure energy and are not harmed by most
material weapons. They are harmed by things that can cause their energy to
discharge faster than they can control it. Large quantities of water harm them and
they sustain 1D3 for every gallon of water that strikes them. Exposure to other
things that could cause their energy to be drained away or disrupted (such as
powerful electric currents or large explosions) can also harm them.
Spells: A Sachonian has a chance equal to its POW X3 of knowing 1D3 spells. The
Sachonian in this adventure knows Implant Fear (12 Magic points to cast, causes
0/1D6 Sanity point loss), and Mental Suggestion (8 magic points to cast, last 1 round)
Sanity Loss: Seeing a Sachonian causes no Sanity loss.

Items
The Statue
The statue is composed of gold and weighs 2.5 pounds. It has been made in the
shape of a ugly human figure with a serpent wrapped around it. The figure is
squatting, with its arms crossed in front of it. The gold is deeply engraved with
symbols. The symbols are not in any known language and many of them appear to
be geometric diagrams. The statue is normal gold, but the engravings transform it
into a vessel for holding a Sachonian. If an intelligent being holds the statue and
studies the symbols (for at least five minutes), they will appear to swirl into strange
patterns. If the being keeps hold of the statue, he will come into mental contact with
the Sachonian (assuming it is in the statue, of course). The Sachonian will plead to
be released, promising wealth and power. If the Sachonian is released, it will be
unable to directly harm the person who freed it and will have to serve him (even

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returning to the statue if so ordered). However, the Sachonian will do its best to plot
against its master by corrupting him, making him paranoid, making him despair
or anything that will free it from its servitude. The Sachonian is, of course, free to
harm others and to do anything that it is not expressly told not to do.
While in the statue, a Sachonian will not lose Magic Points. However, it will not
be capable of doing anything, except contacting a being who holds the statue and
studies the symbols.

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Players Handouts
Handout #1: Reeves Letter

May 7, 1872
Dear Henry,
I trust this letter finds you well. It was good to hear that you are in fine health and that Sarah wishes to accept
your marriage proposal. I only wish I had good news to share with you.
My health is fading and I feel that I shall not be long of this earth. Because of this, I feel the need to divulge to
you certain facts (for though they shall appear dubious, you know I am scrupulous as to the truth).
As you know, in the 1840s I sailed with Captain Wellsmith. The Captain was a good man, but a bit eager for
profit. I suspect that this was the hubris that brought him low. In the East we came across a Chinaman who sold the
Captain a small statue of gold. The Captain was pleased by the price and thought it would bring him luck.
At first, it seemed that it had. Our next few voyages were extremely profitable. A bit blinded by the wealth, I did
not think to wonder at our good fortune. If only I had, things might have turned out differently.
Early on our last voyage, I suspected that something haunted our ship. One man went missing and the crew
complained of bad dreams and of hearing things. The second mate also reported that he had heard the Captain
talking to himself in his cabin. Over the next few days, two more men went missing and the second mate decided to
press the issue with the Captain. The next morning the mate was not to be seen. Fearing to take direct action, I plied
the Captain with Rum. In that sorry state he whispered to me that something had come out of the statue. At first, it
had served him well, but now he feared it was the master. He called it a sackonian or sachonian. He said that it
fed on the souls of men and even now stalked his ship. Before fear stayed his tongue, he revealed to me that the thing
feared the sea.
Meeting quietly with those of the crew who accepted Jesus as their savior, we agreed to fire the ship when we neared
the coast to prevent the thing from escaping. We would then jump into the sea and hope to reach shore or another
vessel.
We acted on our plan, but the Captain was able to run the ship aground. Thanks be to Jesus that the ship still
burned to the water line.
Though we were tiring in the water, none of us thought to make for the island were the Fortune burned.
Fortunately, the Whippet saw the smoke and came to our rescue. I told her captain that the Fortune had been struck
with a plague and that we had to set her afire to protect the rest of the world.
After my rescue, I decided to stay in Maine and keep a watch on the island. When people said they saw lights
on the island, I was horrified and urged people to stay away, saying that the plague could still be present on the
island.
Thank God that no one ever went to that haunted island. I believe that God Himself has been watching over us,
guiding people away from the island. However, as they say, God helps those who help themselves, so I am writing to
ask you to occasionally check on the island. But, for Gods sake, never go there.
Your Uncle,
John Reeves

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THE MIRACLE 1998

Ricardo J. Mndez
rmendez@geocities.com

Damn this season.

Harry rubbed his hands together and tried not to feel the cold. Hell, if at least it
wasn't this darned rainy too. Freaking weather. No wonder the plane had taken so
long to get here.
Just to have something to do, he took out again the color printout of the two
images he had received on a encrypted e-mail message. It had been signed only
Ingrid, DG and came with precise instructions on how the message should be
wiped and the printout shredded. He could only assume that it was the same
Ingrid that had called him once to his very own home phone shortly after Mr.
Quirs heart attack (about two years ago!) and said a lot of mumbo jumbo about a
secret US government project called Delta Green with whom Mr. Francisco Quirs
had been working and that now needed a new contact here. Apparently, Mr. Quirs
had put the word in for him after an incident somewhere called Rincn de la Vieja,
so when he died she decided to contact him. She also explained that, appearances
being what they may, Francisco's death might or might not had been natural and
that he shouldn't tell anyone about this call unless he wanted to put both him and
his family in danger. Not from Delta Green, of course, but from some people
conspiring against the US government.
Of course, he would be glad to help. The only problem was that the time he had
allotted for secret agent matters was already full, so that she would have to wait
until the Mossad relieved him from his duties he replied, wondering which of his
friends might be pulling his leg this time. There was silence on the line for a
moment and then she hung up after a brief We'll be in touch.
The lady had no sense of humor.
He didn't give it much thought afterwards. Some time later he went to the US
Embassy to renew his visa and it turned out that he was given a permanent one,
with a resident option if he so desired. But that must have been a clerical mistake,
and a nice one at that. What wasn't a clerical mistake was when that stern man
from the CIA knocked on his hotel door in Orlando and introduced himself as
Martin, from Delta Green. Ingrid sent me to have a word with you, if I may.
The pictures Martin took out of his briefcase had blown him away. They showed
several beings that looked like flying polyps with spidery legs and a mass of

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somethings where a head would be. Things that looked just like those he had
managed to convince himself were just a bad dream.
***
Harry climbed up the last stretch of barely visible green and landed suddenly into
what could well be a lunar landscape. As far as the mist allowed you to see there
were only rocks. Volcanic rocks; small, gray rocks; light brown rocks; whatever size,
shape or color you wanted, but only rocks and not a small hint of anything alive
except the moss on some of them.
He turned and signaled Francisco to come forward. Why Francisco had insisted so
badly on coming to the Rincn de la Vieja instead of just going to the more
accessible Turrialba was beyond him, but it was worth the sight. For the last part of
the ascent, the whole scene changed every 200 meters or so. Everything: the
vegetation, the insects you saw, the sturdiness of the ground, the thickness of the
mist.
He hadnt understood the expectant look on Mr. Quirs face until he saw the
beauties that this area had in store for them.
Later, when Francisco had insisted that they went just a little down into the
crater because he thought he saw something he started worrying. What the heck
could he have seen with this mist? Is not like he has x-ray vision or whatever. And
they shouldnt be going down into the crater anyway, so why did he insist on it
But then he heard the flapping, and out of the mists the thing came at them. He
stood mesmerized, just looking at that impossible something that defied everything
he had learned all these years with its very presence, looking at how the mass of
tendrils that it had for a head changed color when it approached them with its
constant flapping and how that weird rod it had on its hand glowed oh so softly. At
least he did until Francisco tackled him and they both rolled downslope into the
crater. They tried to regain their balance and stop their slide, but both kept getting
on the way of each other. When they finally managed to use a large rock to stop, he
had to check himself to stop shouting. He didnt even know when he had started.
Someone kept telling him to shut up and finally he did, only to hear that flapping
coming again but this time at least from two different directions. Francisco had
finally stopped chastising him and was taking a big mother of a gun from beneath
his jacket. A .45, Harry observed with weird detachment, like the weird sound
wasnt coming towards them.
On a whirl, Francisco turned and fired two quick shots into the mists. Something
shrieked just after the second, and he heard something soft hitting the ground and

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the accompanying slide of rocks. But then a flash came from somewhere in ahead
of him and the rock against which they had stopped rolling vanished. Just like that,
it was gone in an instant. Francisco whirled again with a speed Harry didnt know
he had and fired once, twice, three times. The flapping intensified, and the thing
came at them with a suddenness that he didnt expect from such a frail body.
Francisco fired twice again, and the thing collapsed to the ground.
Still in shock from the whole thing, Harry looked at the being on the ground. It
looked a lot like some kind of winged fungi with legs taken from a spider and it
clutched something on them.
Just what the hell is this? he wondered out loud.
He could have stared at it forever, but suddenly everything went black.
When he came back to his senses his shirt was covered in blood. Mr. Quirs
explained that he had slipped and hit his head, and by the time when he had fished
him out of the crater and stopped the free flow of blood from a small cut on his scalp
he was mumbling something about flying things. And that was the end of it, since
Francisco wouldnt go back down into the crater (it was a stupid idea in the first
place, sorry), had never owned a gun, didnt even knew how to shoot one and
would remember if he had seen something like what Harry described.
So the things were for years a product of his imagination, maybe what you get
from reading too many of the wrong kind of books.
***
Until Martin explained that Francisco had been with them for over five years
when the small incident at Rincn de la Vieja had occurred. Them being, of
course, Delta Green, a covert inter-agency project of the US government working to
investigate and whenever possible contain an alien threat that has been with us for
longer that you can imagine.
Contain?
Terminate.
Sure, those things you saw there were aliens, or at least something inhuman.
Sure, you did see them. From what I read at his report, Mr. Quirs hit you with the
gun and made up the story to avoid more explanations than necessary at the time,
but when you both returned to the city he gave us your name and you have been
listed as someone to contact if need arises.

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Those things you saw are members of one of the races were dealing with, Mr.
Randall
Harry.
Harry. They are dangerous, and they have technology that is way ahead of what
the human race has developed, even giving that the public doesnt see the latest
advancements. Delta Green was created to contain the threat, but we cant reach
everywhere so sometimes we need people to be our eyes and ears for things you
dont see on CNN. Mr. Quirs helped us in Costa Rica, and now we need you to
help us. You are the ideal recruit, since you already had an encounter with them.
Harry had looked from Martin to the pictures, back and forth, back and forth, until
he came to the conclusion that he was way out of his league here. Hell, he did know
how to shoot but didnt own a gun.
Well provide you with the material you need, but we dont expect you to work as
an agent. Your job would be mainly as a local contact.
How would I do that?
There will be an e-mail address where you can send secure messages, and a local
phone that will be forwarded to your contacts phone. We may get in touch from
time to time, but you will be mainly a watcher.
That doesnt sound a lot like what Mr. Quirs was doing over at the volcano,
does it?
Martins face tightened a little bit more. Mr. Quirs sometimes took things into
his own hands. The volcano was one of those times.
You shouldnt even have
been there. We are very strict about our methods.
Oh hell. What if I say no?
Ill just walk out of here and you will never hear from us again.
Did you have to do anything with my visa?
Indeed. That is a little token of good faith. And by the way, not that anyone would
believe you, but whatever you chose to do, you cant ever tell about this
conversation, Delta Green or what happened at the volcano to anyone.
Or what?

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Or you would be a threat that needs containment.

***
So Martin had taken his pictures and walked out with his suitcase full of secrets
and left him with only a disk. The disk, apparently, had a text file with an e-mail
address and a PGP public key for his contact so that he could safely contact him, her
or it. It didnt take him too long to decide, and he had sent his agreement in first
thing when his vacation was over.
He never heard of them again until two years later, when a message from Ingrid
asked him to meet at the Juan Santamara airport the two agents whose
photographs were attached, and to destroy the message after reading it.
He did, of course. You dont mess with people that call you at home, can get you a
visa and locate you at whatever hotel youre staying on a random vacation. But the
price to pay was that he was freezing his butt off while trying not to get his feet
stomped by the multitude of people coming out of the airport with their kids,
luggage and assorted imported goods. It seems that most costarricans never travel
just to visit someplace, but had instead to make a thousand purchases. And they say
the country is on a bad economic situation.
He took another long look at the printout, to make sure that the agents hadnt
appeared yet. What kind of person does it take to fight an inhuman race? he
wondered. How can it affect you to have to chase over whatever things it is that
could be a whole evolutionary path so far unknown to science?
***
Circling above somewhere called Alajuela on which the captain had assured them
they would be landing soon, Richard Mller, NSA analyst, Delta Green operative
and known as Joseph Bierce for whatever anyone including customs were
concerned looked again at Harry Randalls profile. 27-year-old costarrican, had been
studying law for some time but had seen the light at some point and switched to
anthropology. Apparently he and one of his anthropology professors had had a run
in with the fungi on a volcano over here in Puerto Rico. Scratch that, Costa Rica.
Puerto Rico is an island. His professor was a DG friendly but had died some time
back, and then Mr. Randall had been contacted.
His encounter, the
recommendation from Quirs and Mr. Randalls reported interest in weird
occurrences and occult matters had made him a typical friendly case.
A short grunt from his side told him that his travel companion had awakened.
His DG name was Jonathan, Jonathan Adams for this trip, really a DEA agent whose
name Joseph didnt know and who had been on this longer than Joseph. That, of

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course, made him a little bitterer.

Is that the friendlys profile? Jonathan asked softly so that he was not overheard.
Uhu.
How much does he know?
Joseph quickly looked at the security note. Apparently not much. He thinks that
DG is a sanctioned agency trying to study and contain some recently discovered
inhuman races.
Sanctioned. Study. Ha was Jonathans humorless comment. Delta Green wasnt
sanctioned at all. For the past 30 years it had been working as an underground
organization, channeling funds from wherever they could and covering up for the
agents they reallocated as best as possible. And you could bet that they werent trying
to study as much as contain, especially with high caliber containment. That was his
specialty, in fact. Full metal jacket containment, which was all you could do to stop
those beings from taking us over. Joseph here, he seemed to care a lot more about
the endless
possibilities studying them would offer than doing what had to be done.
But then again, I suppose thats what you can expect when you confront hi-tech
types with the kind of toys these fellows have. Thats when you have to be careful,
when the temptation shows its innocent-looking face.
What was that again, Joseph?
According to Ingrids notes, we should be careful when handling this case. Since
the news has already made international headlines, it is possible the MJ-12 is already
on the track.
See, there you have some people that succumbed to the temptations.
MAJESTIC-12 was a branch of the US government (a sanctioned one, but secret too)
that dealt with the things for their technology. They believed that the beings were
just friendly aliens from another planet and gave them animals and people
(people!) in exchange for trinkets. MJ-12 also made sure that the things could fly
over our world without being bothered by the military and what not. And MJ-12
took special care that everyone they knew to be from Delta Green was terminated.
I said that your mind is wandering too much today, Jonathan. You know that is
not a good sign.
Sorry. Fucking airplanes. Dont know why they have to keep us up here.
Stop bitching, there are kids around. Its descending now, you see?

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Jonathan looked out the window. About fucking time.

***
The landing had been uneventful, which could be counted as a blessing with all
this rain.
The project wouldnt send them in first class, since it might raise too
much of a suspicion, so they had to wait until the droves of people got out of the
plane to even start recovering their handbags from the compartments.
The
possibility existed that they were being tracked, so the small papers important to DG
security were on those bags.
The person at immigration didnt almost check their papers. He was examining
them thoroughly as if they wanted to stay in Costa Rica as illegal immigrants and
work on a supermarket, but apparently he noticed the hundred dollar bill that was
inside the folded DEA letter politely requesting that the agents here present would
have all the help they needed. Jonathan was sure the guy hadnt read the bloody
letter, but he turned, called in a short man who was lugging bags around and told
him to help the gentlemen and make sure they dont get bothered. They are here
on an official trip. Jonathan also saw him pass the little guy a thousand colones
bill, which if he was correct was about five bucks. Talk about an earnings
percentage.
But anyway, the money was well spent. They didnt go through customs and so
didnt have to flash their fake IDs to explain the guns and the rifle on their suitcases.
***
Lacsa anuncia la llegada del vuelo 644 proveniente de Orlando y Miami

Well, they are here at last.

Not a long time later, Harry saw the two men come out of the terminal area. The
one in the front, one Joseph Bierce from the message, was a man of about 30 years,
somewhat thin and with short, well kept hair. He was scanning through the crowd,
most likely looking for him, but it was the other man who saw him first. Quite
possibly in his 40s, Jonathan Adams was a bulky man who obviously worked out
regularly. His hair was cropped short in an almost military fashion, and he
advanced with a sureness and economy of movement that the more active Joseph
didnt seem to have. Jonathan tapped the shoulder of his companion and they were
soon with him.
Joseph and his eager attitude got first to where he was.

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Seor Randall?
Mr. Joseph Bierce? Harry replied, shaking the offered hand.
S. Hablo ingls, seor Randall?
Harry smiled at him. If he was going to be at the airport on a rainy Saturday, he
would at least have some fun at it. I truly hope so, because you dont seem to speak
Spanish.
Jonathans laugh shook Joseph out of his bafflement.
What? What did I do wrong?
You asked him if you spoke English, Joseph. Jonathan shook Harrys hand.
Jonathan Adams.
Joseph blushed. Im sorry, Mr. Randall. Your profile didnt mention you spoke
English, so I tried my hand at Spanish. That should teach me.
Dont worry, and just call me Harry. Are you planning to rent a car or will you
move around by taxis?
How did you get here?
I took a bus.
So well be renting a car. I suppose we can do it around here, right?
Sure, right this way.
Twenty minutes later they were on their way to the capital, somewhere called San
Jos. Joseph was driving and had been questioning him about Costa Rica for awhile,
but with a special slant towards all matters pertaining Limn.
So youre here about the Mason business.
From the passenger seat, Jonathan took a long stern look at Joseph. Luis Mason
was a man from Limn of about fifty who had been on the costarrican news for the
last two weeks. According to what had been sent by Randall, Mason had stigmata on
his hands and side that matched those that are usually associated with Jesus and
some saints. As usual on these cases, the wounds bled a little but didnt get infected.
But that was just the beginning. Reportedly, Mason had the power to cure the ill if

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they left them with him for a while by just imposing his hands on them. The
persons who had so been cured reported only a quick, momentary dizziness, were
paralyzed for a couple of minutes and walked out of there without their diseases
and maladies. Common colds, heart conditions, AIDS, even cancer. You mention
it, he cured it. Several cases had been reported where patients who had been with
Luis for a night showed a marked improvement on even the worst of conditions,
and after a week the diseases were just gone.
Subtlety to question has never been one of his strong points, Mr. Randall.
But you didnt answer his question either. Yes, Harry, were here to look into it.
Bear in mind, Mr. Randall, that this is a secret operation. You are not allowed to
comment this with anyone and you are in a need to know basis, which means that
for your own safety you will be informed only of what we or the command consider
you need to know.
Harry stiffened at that.
Here, Jonathan, no need to deal with things like that. What do you know about
the matter, Harry?
Well, what I have sent Ingrid which I assume you already have. There was some
newspaper coverage when it started, but right now only one sensationalist tabloid is
still reporting on the news.
Why do you think that is, Mr. Harris?
story. Jonathan asked.

It would seem like a rather important

Harry didnt know if to go for it and voice his opinion. Lets face it: they were
experienced investigators for a secret agency and he was an anthropology student.
But what the heck.
I believe it is because of Mr. Masons religious convictions.
Catholic Church is killing the story.

I believe that the

The healing power wasnt the end of the story. To begin with, Luis Mason was
black. That wasnt bad at all from the churchs point of view, since they had black
saints too. The real problem was that Luis wasnt catholic or even from some side
sect, but practiced a mix of Santeria and Hoodoo and insisted that the healing had
nothing to do with Jesus, Krishna or whatever, but instead came directly from a Loa
that wanted to turn enough people to the true faith.
The answer seemed to be what Jonathan was expecting, and Harry would wonder

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later if he was being tested.

Joseph took his eyes from the road. And has the Church in Costa Rica taken any
active measures to conceal the story?
Like what? Threatening TV executives? I wouldnt know. But I can tell you that
several priests that appear on TV and have articles on newspapers have issued
warnings so that the faithful beware of the Beast that will want to lure them by
posing as a son of god. That hasnt stopped many devout Catholics to go visit Luis,
but they make sure that their local priest doesnt find out.
Are you a catholic, Mr. Randall?
No, Im an atheist. Are you?
Im not. Joseph said.
Jonathan didnt even turn to him. Do we have any pictures of Mr. Mason?
No, since he hasnt allowed himself to be photographed. He believes the camera
will steal his soul.
Yeah, I saw that once on a Twilight Zone episode. Joseph cut in Something
with a camera and African hunters coming out of it
Too much TV, Joseph. What about medical examination?
details about what doctors have reported?

Do we have any

Not about him, at least. He claims not to believe in medicine as we know it and
believes that doctors will only harm him, since his Loa might get angry at him.
How long has he been active?
Its hard to tell. He came into the public eye about three weeks ago, but rumor has
it he has been helping people around Limn for anything from one month to three
years, depending on the source.
Jonathan browsed through his printouts. Any chance that we might be dealing
with a scam?
I wouldnt think so, since he reportedly has refused several offers of money and
lives on a simple hut.
So hes just a crackpot and we should be going back home.

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A crackpot doesnt cure AIDS or cancer by laying hands, Joseph. was Jonathan
last comment until they got to the hotel.
***
It turned out that Ingrid had already made a reservation for them, so Harry left
them at the hotel and took a cab home. Against Jonathans best complaints, Joseph
insisted that Harry came with them to Limn. It would help them blend in better if
they looked like two tourists with a guide instead of just two guys asking questions,
and Jonathan had to give in to the sound reasoning.
But I cant stay for long. I have to go to work on Monday and I have classes on
Tuesday.
You can. Well make sure you get whatever papers you need if it will help the
assignment. Money is an universal language.
So he came back for them early in the morning and they left for Limn with Harry
driving this time around.
***
Three days before, Dr. Lilly Thomas, microbiologist, had sat on a nondescript office
on one of MAJESTIC buildings in Quantico. She had been summoned there by one
Robert Geller of whom she had never heard about, but the summons had come on a
paper envelope that included a classified file that had really gotten her attention.
So, Ms. Thomas, what do you think about the file?
Im baffled. When did this happen?
Over three years ago. Its stated right there on the file.
Im sorry, everything happened in such a hurry that I concentrated on the
scientific parts. Why Im I being given clearance now?
We believe that the Messiah might have resurfaced on Costa Rica, and we want
to send you with a team to investigate and if deemed convenient recover the
subject.
I appreciate it, but Im not a field agent. I
Geller waved her excuse away. We believe that you are the most qualified person

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available at the moment. We need to send a scientist there, because we dont want
the cleaning team to get too trigger happy.
Cleaning team?
Yes. Were sending you with a military detachment in case something goes
wrong. Part of the job will be a recovery operation, but we consider it correct to send
a cleaning team in case things get out of hand.
She thought about it for exactly two seconds. You just dont turn assignments
down at MJ-12, especially if whoever assigned you insisted.
When do we leave?
In six hours.
***
When Lilly came back with whatever few things she had packaged for the trip, a
helicopter was waiting to take her to the airport. From there she left on one of the
MAJESTIC planes that would take her and her team, four men in suits that
looked like anything but science personnel, to Costa Rica.
After they took off, one of them came to her seat. He was a man of about 35,
blond, green eyes, clean cut and clean-shaven. A poster boy for the army. She closed
the dossier hurriedly, since she didnt know what kind of clearance these men had.
Dr. Thomas?
Yes?
How do you do maam. Im Lieutenant Meyers. I was instructed by Mr. Geller
that you should be protected at all times.
She was going to start protesting that she could take care of herself, but then she
noticed that he was extending her something. A nickel-plated handgun. She
looked at it like he was offering her an alien artifact.
Its a 9mm automatic. Keep it with you at all times, but use it only if need arises
and if you use it on a civilian return it to one of my men so that we can dispose of it.
I understand that you have formal training.
Yes, I do when I was on the FBI Use it on a civilian? Why would this
protection be needed? This is merely a scientific operation. And who is in charge,

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anyway?
Meyers seemed to think things before answering. This is mainly a scientific
operation, but we dont know the state of things were were going and we dont want
one of our agents being mugged and the information appearing on the news, since
we would have to cover up why you were there. Also, from what Ive been
informed the bunch surrounding the subject has become something of a religious
mob, and mobs are always to be thread around lightly.
She took the gun as offered and checked the clip. It was fully loaded, and Meyers
was already handing her a spare. As he turned to go back to his men, she said,
You didnt answer my question.
Pardon me?
You didnt answer me who is in charge.
Meyers returned to her and bent down so that he could almost whisper to her ear.
I have instructions that you are to be obeyed as a superior officer in all matters
pertaining the scientific operation, but if things get hairy this will become a military
operation and Ill be in direct command. No buts about it and it will be my call.
But what if I disagree?
He smiled a predator smile and she understood that all his niceness was just a
faade. I would seriously advice against doing it.
***
Does it always rain this much?
No, but were in winter. Even if the weather wasnt as screwed up as it is lately it
would be raining.
Joseph turned away from the window at the shabby Limn motel. I dont know
why you insisted that much in this place, Jonathan. There must have been places
with a lower rat count than this, Im sure.
Maybe, but we got to keep a low profile. And I havent seen any rats yet.
Why would that be, Mr. Adams? Harry interrupted.
Maybe there arent any.

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I meant, the low profile. Why do you guys have to keep everything secret?
Im afraid that youre not cleared for the information, Mr. Randall. Lets just say
that there are factions that would want to interfere with Delta Greens operations.
Joseph stepped in to try to put things a little more diplomatic and less true to
reality.
Basically, Harry, the US government doesnt want other countries to know that
Uncle Sam is either interfering or prodding around their business. We cant afford
to be seen nosing around this case by anyone who might be tracking the arrival of
US officers to the country.
So thats why Delta Green is inter-departmental.
What?
Thats why Delta Green is an inter-departmental effort. Its harder to track and
make relations about people from different departments than two CIA agents, or
two FBI men.
Er right.
But why are you interested in this Luis? I thought that you were concerned about
inhuman races. Do you think this guy is from another planet?
Thats classified, Mr. Randall. It just happens to fall in our range of interests.
Hmpf. Whatever. I was going to get the food anyway. Im surprised to see that
you secret agents eat.
After Harry had left, Jonathan resumed his watching out the window.
Joseph who broke the silence.

It was

Dont you think that you are being a little too hard on him? The guy is a friendly
that takes time for a five hours drive under this rain and agrees to help us as a
cover.
Security matters, Joseph. Hell be treated as any friendly until someone upstairs
says so.
But Jonathan, for all we know, we both might get killed on this action and he will
be offered a promotion into the group. Shouldnt he at least know what the hell
hes dealing with? That way hell be able to fill the report better if were gone.

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He doesnt need to know the facts about DG to write a report about what happens
here, and he will be debriefed if he is promoted, as you call it. Right now we just
know hes a contact who hasnt even been under close scrutiny lately. He might be a
MAJESTIC agent for all we know.
Sure. The MAJESTIC recruiting students in Costa Rica. Theyre not as desperate
as DG, you know? They could bribe their way into a more influential place if they
wished.
Thats beside the point.
But what isnt beside the point is that he should know what hes up against. At
least he should know about MAJESTIC. Joseph was rising his voice now, an
uncommon occurrence Hell, he might be being bloody followed right now by
them, or getting run over or kidnapped for interrogation or begin munched by
Whats the matter?
He was sure Jonathan had flinched. By the time he tried to make sure it was gone
already, but he was positive he had seen something. Now the only thing that
remained was Jonathans usual expressionless mask, and the mask told him more
clearly than words that it was time to shut up.
You should rest, Joseph. Tomorrow well go see this Luis.
***
Even after the seven-hour trip to Limn, they still had to drive another half-hour
to get to Masons place. It was way off the tourist routes, just over some terrain a
banana packaging company had left unused and that had been filled with squatters
(precaristas, they call them here) in no time flat. Apparently Mason had been
living in this precario for some time before manifesting his abilities, or at least
talking about them in public.
Despite the rain quite a crowd had assembled to see Luis Mason, and there was a
line of people over two hundred meters long and at least three persons thick, and
since Mason spent anything from twenty minutes to one hour per patient, it didnt
seem like they were going to get anywhere near him today. Joseph steeled himself
for a night under the rain.
From what Harry had told them, he almost never came out in public, but instead
stayed inside his house (more like a hut, and a shoddy one at that, Joseph thought)
and people were brought to him. They were here since six a.m. and he had appeared
in public only once, and just barely. Jonathan could say anything he liked, but from

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this distance the man looked like a nutcase to him. Too bad Jonathan hadnt had a
chance to see him and change his mind.
There were all kinds of people waiting in line: well-dressed people, poor people,
old people, young people, even tourists.
Jonathan came back, reported that he
heard some guys speaking in French down the line, and a couple that looked like
Germans or maybe Dutch, and decided to have a look at who had arrived since they
had gotten here.
Who knows, maybe his fame spread on the few days that the news was on.
Harry offered when he left Or maybe hes being used as a tourist attraction.
Further down the line, Harry saw a business-like woman of about his age, or
maybe a little older. She looked like a tourist, but appeared to be doing her
damnedest best not to show it. Most likely she is afraid that someones camera will
take a picture of her and then shell have to explain her priest just what the heck she
was doing there.
She looked quite good, in fact, which was what had caught his attention first. Her
short, well kept hair told him that she was a woman not to waste too much time on
trivialities, and that make her even more attractive. Best of all, she seemed to be
alone.
Harry decided to try his luck and started walking away from Joseph.
Hey, hey, were are you going?
Nowhere. I mean, I saw someone I want to have a word with.
Sure. And what Im I supposed to do if someone approaches me huh?
Just look like the tourist you are and say No hablo espaol. They usually get
that as a go away, even if they speak English.
Joseph saw Harry walk away like without any specific direction at all. Further
down the line, he stumbled on something and stopped his fall on a lamppost. The
lady that was beside the lamppost made a movement to help him, but he had
already straightened up and was beaming a smile at the woman.
Damn it, it
apparently had been planned.
This guy would make a nice undercover agent, he thought.
***

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38

Are you alright? Yes! She bought it.

Sure, sure. Thanks for coming to my rescue. It surely seems to put a twist on the
damsel in distress situation.
She smiled at him and extended her hand outside her umbrella. Lilly Thomas,
my pleasure.
Harry Randall. he took it on a businesslike manner So, what are you doing
outside on this rain?
She looked around her for someone. Damn, most likely a boyfriend. Or husband.
Oh shit. And she was thinking her answer over. Definitely a husband.
Well, same thing as everyone.
himself.

Just waiting to see if I can get to see the man

How long have you been here?

Two days. Well, my companions and I take turns at waiting. In fact, they insisted
that I go rest and theyll stand in line and let me know when were near, but it didnt
seem fair since its I who wants to see Mr. Mason.
Im sorry. he felt rather embarrassed. Is it some illness?
No, no, thanks goodness. Im just well, curios. Professional curiosity. Im a
doctor. A microbiologist, to be exact.
Wow. Im studying anthropology here at the Costa Rican University.
Nice. Taking out a masters degree?
Er no. Just my bachellors.
This time it was her who felt embarrassed for raising the degree question. Sorry,
me and my mouth. I
Hey, hey, dont blush. I understand. Its just that Ive been more at work than at
school lately, and I also studied law for two years before I decided to switch over to
something I really liked.
What do you like about anthropology?

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Well, I dont know. Digging out history and finding about things long gone has
always had an appeal to me. I really wanted to study archeology but they dont teach
it here, so anthropology with an emphasis in archeology was the next best thing.
And why here? Why didnt you study in the US?
Its hard to get a student visa.
Are you a costarrican? I didnt notice. Your English is really good, then.
Thanks. I got the last name from a British ancestor somewhere and I learned
English by myself. Yes, I know youre not asking. Just showing off. he smiled
Listen, how long are you going to stay in Costa Rica?
I dont know That depends
Well, Im staying at the ltimo Camino motel with some friends. he turned
and waved to Joseph, who waved back. Funny, something seemed to be eating him
up. Whatever. Maybe I can give you a tour of San Jos later and you can explain
me if this Luis is a fake or what.
Her face tightened at the offer. Sorry, I dont think I can Im very busy, you
see
Is everything alright, dear? The voice had come from behind him. Harry
wheeled around to find himself in front of a massive chest. Someones chest. Oops.
The husbands chest.
Topping the soldier-like body was a Sargent-like face that clearly stated that he
wasnt on his place on the line, a military haircut and eyes with a stare that told him
that he was wasnt safe doing whatever it was that he was doing with the lady. So
he did what anyone reasonable would have done in the situation.
Hi. he said to the chest and turned back to Lilly Well, remember, the
drugstore is one block east and two blocks north, and if you do catch a cold just ask
the man for something for gripe. Hell understand. See you. And he walked back
to where Joseph was, all the while feeling the mans eyes burning a hole on his back.
Jonathan had already returned, and apparently he wasnt happy. He took Harry by
the arm and dragged him away from the crowd. Harry didnt like his attitude, but
his grasp was firm and he couldnt free himself.
Just what the hell do you think you are doing, Mr. Randall? he hissed.

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What?
What do you think you are doing? You dont just walk to anyone in the line and
talk to them. You could be endangering the operation.
Harry wriggled his arm free and decided that the best way to handle this was to
stare the man down. Listen, Jonathan, Im not a part of your bloody operation. Im
here to help you and Joseph, but if I damned well want to speak to a woman I like I
will. And unless you or the full fucking Delta Green are going to come to my rescue
when the husband shows up, I dont think that you have any right to say anything.
Husband? I dont think thats her husband, you nitwit.
Nitwit? So who would he be, smartass, her bodyguard?
Jonathan was looking at something over his shoulder. Harry turned, trying to
single out what it might be. On that corner. And there, a little behind her on the
line. The man with the umbrella. Almost the same haircut, all with faces that
mean business and all exchanging glances now and then. See them?
It took Harry sometime to notice what men Jonathan was talking about. They
blended perfectly with the rest of the men, but once you noticed the pattern it was
clear that the three were aware of each other, and most likely working together.
Who are they? he asked not a little embarrassed.
I dont know, and thats exactly the point. You dont speak to anyone without my
permission unless we know who they are and have a complete file on them,
understand? Jonathan started walking back to the line Even if you are not a
fully debriefed operation member you can still endanger us. What did you tell
her?
Nothing. My name and that I was from San Jos.
anthropology. I think that the world is safe.

Oh, and why I studied

Dont play a smartass with me, Mr. Randall. I wont think twice about getting rid
of you for the sake of the operation.
Harry was considering raising another complaint, but this time it seemed to him
that even Joseph had a long face.
***

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Who was that, Ms. Thomas?

Just a guy from San Jos.
Lieutenant.

Whats this honey deal?

Dont get too personal,

And you dont get your hopes up just yet. again that darned smile I
assumed that he would go away faster and with less questions if he took me for your
boyfriend, which apparently he did.
And why would you want him to go away?
Because this is a serious operation, Ms. Thomas, not a field trip to collect samples.
You dont mingle with the natives unless you have to.
You make it sound like he just climbed down from a tree to greet me.
***
At about 8:00 at night Lilly had gotten in to see Luis. Harry wasnt able to get even
close because of her entourage, but one thing he knew was that Mr. Nice Haircut
had gone in with her. They had been in for about ten minutes, the shortest visit so
far. Most likely she had tried to get him to agree to tests of some sort and he hadnt
liked it.
Judging from the line in front of them they would be getting to see him tomorrow.
***
Lilly had hoped that the visit would be more fruitful, but she should have known
better. What was worse was that she expected exactly what Meyers had taunted her
with afterwards: that he would talk to her about his abilities and would allow her to
get some samples. Yeah, right. Hi, Im a scientist and I know that you dont trust us,
but would you allow me to get some tissue samples? A fingernail or a femur would
do.
Well, she had gotten them anyway, or at least partly. She hoped that the thin
gelatinous stuff that she had found on her hands after Luis had taken them would
shed some light on the matter.
All in all, she was amazed. She had seen his wounds and they did look natural
and werent infected at all. Of all the dirt and crap on the house, nothing stick to
them. But then she had noticed the little girl that lain on a mattress on one corner
of the room. She had approached the peaceful body and had seen the gangrene on
the leg, receding before her very eyes.

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She had read about it on the file, but it was quite something else to see it on the
flesh, so to speak.
Well, after all her wondering the report was done. Lieutenant, Im signing and
encrypting the report and sending it to you so that you can digitally sign it too and
send it to whoever it is that we report to. Since we werent able to talk to Mason
about tests, Im requesting instructions as how to proceed.
Meyers was printing something out. I just received a message from HQ. It might
be our instructions. He took the last page from the printer. Frigging hell, I knew
it. Too much of a bloody coincidence. Rickles, come here right now.
Whats the matter? Lilly asked. She didnt like the tone on Meyers voice.
This message has a list of US government agents that had left for Costa Rica since
this matter got global publicity. This guy looks familiar?
She couldnt be sure, but the picture that Meyers was pointing at looked a lot like
the man Harry had waved to earlier.
What is this supposed to mean? Harry is an agent?
We dont know, but certainly his friends are.
So what? What if a US government official wants to see Mason for himself.
This man is an NSA guy, and he left the US in the same flight as this DEA agent.
He never entered Costa Rica. Doesnt that sound strange to you? Because it did
sound strange for HQ and they want us to keep an eye out for them. Luckily they
screwed up.
What is this here Delta Green? What does that mean.
Meyers had already turned to the only one of the agents that wasnt guarding
Masons hut. Rickles, call McConnell and Jimnez. Tell them to leave their posts
and come here. We have some things to mop up. He was then back to her. Do
you know where they are staying?
What?! What do you think youre going to do?
Im taking over, and were eliminating them. Since they entered the country
under an alias they will be just two tourists getting mugged. Right now I cant argue
with you. I have to make plans and acknowledge to HQ.

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Like hell you are! Im not three men to get killed for no reason whatsoever.
she racked her mind for some reason he would understand This is still a
scientific operation and Im still in command unless HQ says Im not!
But something was blinking on his screen. There was a new message.
She saw everything in slow motion.
seemed to be hours and turned to her.

He opened the message, read it on what

Well, now you are not.

To: Magdalene team
Command has decided that, given the visibility of the subject and the possibility of
Delta Green agents on the country, extraction of a live subject isnt worth the
trouble. Command doesnt wish to have a subject running free. Deal with the
matter as you see fit, Lieutenant, but see that samples are taken.
R.G.
***
Its about fucking time I was getting close, Jonathan thought when he had just one
group more before him. Taking advantage of the small cover that the hut provided
from the rain, he decided that it was a good time to start smoking again.
It was early the next morning and Jonathan had come to substitute Joseph who
had volunteered to stand on line all night. Pretty nice for a chap who doesnt seem
to take this seriously, he wondered while taking a pull of his cigarette. Then again,
Joseph wouldnt be in Delta Green at all if someone didnt think he had what it
took.
Jonathan had to wait another half-hour and then the black lady who seemed to
assist Mason came out with the couple. Both looked like locals, and the woman was
helping the man walk out. He looked a little wobbly, most likely from the dizziness
that had been reported after Luis had used his touch.
As the couple passed him, Masons assistant told him to please wait a couple of
minutes and hed be brought in. Something about Mason being tired. No, he
thought to himself, Im going away right now after waiting here for two days. Sure.
So wait he did. He just hoped that Ingrid was wrong about this one.

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***
Lilly paced the confines of her hotel room like a caged cat. She wasnt happy at all
with how the things had developed. Meyers taking over wasnt good on itself, and
the bunch of people who were about to get killed didnt sit well on her stomach
either. But what was she to do? Geller had been quite specific about what was to be
done and he had sent the letter directly to Meyers, which meant that she was out of
the loop as far as command was concerned.
Of course, she could make an anonymous call to the police and tell them what was
about to happen, only she didnt speak Spanish. Or she could try to call the front
desk and let them know about the complot, but then they would have her name
and she would have to answer too many questions.
And then again, was she sure that she wished to sing like a bird on something
were MAJESTIC was concerned? She wouldnt be able to re-enter the US without
being noticed, that was for sure, or at least she wouldnt last for long. You dont
betray MAJESTIC.
So she could at least try not to expose it.
The only other option available was getting in contact with that young man who
appeared to be with the two agents. If whatever Delta Green was could forge
identities for its agents, maybe it could do the same for her if she cooperated.
She opened the door just a little bit. That hulking troglodyte called Rickles and his
scarred chin had gone somewhere, most likely to substitute one of the guards.
Turning back to her briefcase, she took out her passport, laptop, all her money and
the thick file she had been handed by Geller and headed towards the elevator.
***
Back at their ratty motel, Harry woke up slowly from his slumber. Something had
recalled him from his sleep. On the bed next to him, Joseph snored like it was the
last chance he would ever have. Poor guy deserved it after spending the whole
night out in the rain, anyway.
There it was again. Someone was knocking on the door.
Coming! he yelled with a raspy voice while he lurched towards the door.
Looking through the peephole, he saw that Lilly Thomas was standing outside on
the porch. His porch.

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He took some steps back from the door to try to give the impression that he hadnt
yet seen who it was, and turned towards the far wall to displace a little the sound of
his voice. Give me a second, Im coming.
Joseph made an attempt at waking at that, but he just turned on the bed and
stopped snoring. Harry ran to the bathroom and smoothed his hair as best as he
could, unsuccessfully trying to hand-iron the wrinkles out of his shirt at the same
time. Five seconds later he was opening the door and wondering what might have
happened to the husband.
Hey, hi! What are you doing here?
She stepped into the room quite decisively and didnt seem bothered at all at the
sight of the sleeping man on the bed.
We need to talk, Mr. Randall. Where is the other agent?
What? he closed the door Agent? How did you get here?
You told me you were staying at the ltimo Camino, remember? I just asked for
your name at the front desk. I need to talk to you all. Its a matter of life and death.
***
The shack were Luis lived was damp and dark, and there was a strong smell of
spices in the air. Slowly helping himself in, Jonathan removed his glasses and tried
to get his eyes used to the dark. Masons nurse (he couldnt think of her in any
other way) started saying something to him in Spanish but switched to English
almost immediately.
Come in, sir, come in. Were sorry about the lack of light, but it bothers Luis.
Keeping the windows boarded also helps with keeping the reporters out.
Dont worry, Im fine. It just takes a little time to get used to it.
Good. What is your problem?
Excuse me?
Why are you here?
Id rather discuss it with Mr. Mason, if you dont mind.
Oh, no, sir, I have to make sure that you have a legitimate reason. Mr. Mason is

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a very sensitive man and he has been bothered by reporters and doctors who dont
believe in him.
Jonathan looked at his feet. Shit, he wished she hadnt made him throw that
cigarette away. Well, there was an idea.
Its my lungs. he lied Even with the physical training and the exercise, there
is still something wrong with them. The doctors best guess is a tumor, but they say
that it could be cancer too. Hell, where am I getting all this from? And I well,
they want to take a biopsy and I dont like operations. So I figured I dont know,
maybe I should go back.
Oh no, sir, please dont. Im sure Luis will be able to help you.
He tried to look embarrassed.
pleasure.

Thanks, many thanks.

Jonathan Adams, my

Kirsha Tucker.
Are you a relative?
No sir, Im just a friend.
Old friend?
Not that old. she paused He helped my husband with a terciopelo snake
bite, a deadly bite, and Ive tried to return the favor to him in this way. Ill go tell
him youre here.
With his eyes a little more used to the dark now, Jonathan tried to take stock of the
place. It was small and judging from the dimensions of what he had seen outside
there could be only too rooms: the almost furniture-less lobby where he was
standing, and the room behind the curtain behind which Kirsha had disappeared.
Most likely that was were Mason received his visitors.
On the far side of the room, there some kind of makeshift bed and a sleeping girl
laid on it. Jonathan took a closer look, but nothing was visible from the girl except
her face.
He felt someone approaching and turned to find Kirsha staring at the figure.
Shes a girl from around here who cut her foot with barbed wire, and her parents
didnt want to bring her to Luis because of all the things the priests have said about
Luis. I got them to bring her here when her foot started getting bloated and dark.

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Gangrene?
Yes, I believe so. A lady yesterday called it that. Luis will see you now.
Listen, mind if I ask you a question?
It depends.
Doesnt he ever sleep? I was out all night and they kept bringing people in.
another lie, but Joseph had told him so it was pretty much the same thing.
No. Luis insists that one imbued with the true faith is able to forget about the
physical needs, and can concentrate only in the spiritual needs. He eats only rarely.
her tone changed, as if she was either embarrassed or ashamed of something
Im striving to follow his faith, but since he doesnt believe himself to be a teacher
it is hard.
Dont worry, and thanks for telling me. Lets go in.
***
Kirsha moved the curtain and showed Jonathan in. The room was darker than
the living room, but his eyes were used to the lack of light by then. The room was
almost bare, except for a dirty rug on the floor and a shelf on the back of the room,
which was filled with at least a two dozen burners filled with incense and who
knows what else.
On the rug, there was thin, black man who wore only something that looked like a
long loincloth and several bead strings on his neck. His hair was haphazardly cut
(or maybe like it fell off in patches), which didnt help the look of the skin stretched
over his bones. He looked like a cross between a black Ghandi and a heroin junkie.
Mason appeared to be staring at his feet, but his eyes were closed, so Jonathan sat
down on the filthy rag that covered the floor to a better view of the mans face. It
was hard, given the almost total darkness and the fact that the spices were getting to
his head. There might be some opium in there too, he thought.
Masons back straightened slowly, but he didnt open his eyes.
Seeker, how may we help you? a voice worn by tiredness called to Jonathan
from the body that was in front of him. Have you come to request our help?
Yes. I have a lung problem.

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We can help you. Mason nodded But we have only a request. We request
that when you go, you spread the word that mans religions arent true. he swept
the room with his arm That it is only through nature that we can be saved. Man
must know that Catholics, evangelics, popes, Mormons, Krishnas, all are wrong;
that religion is only a fabrication, that
Masons voice sounded familiar, and the fact alone that Ingrid might be right
distracted Jonathan from Masons ravings. The man was clearly insane, but that
didnt affect the fact that he was here on a mission.
Jonathan leaned a little closer to Mason. Slowly, out of the mist that the drugs
were causing on his head, the mans face took form. With his mind, Jonathan tried
to imagine Mason as he might be if he fed at all, to find the resemblance between
him and his old friend.
He wished he hadnt. Suddenly, Masons head stopped moving and his closed
eyes seemed to stare at Jonathan, who sat back with a start.
What happens, seeker?
There was a lump on Jonathans throat. He didnt want to face this situation; he
didnt want to be the one who had to cope with it. It wasnt fair that Ingrid had
assigned him to this, and no matter how many times he repeated himself that it was
just another assignment, the fear was still coiled inside him, just waiting to jump
up and strike. Was this what awaited him? Him, and Joseph, and all the others?
Would they end up like this instead of the more merciful death?
Lewis, its me, Logan.
Logan? Do you know me?
Jonathan looked beyond the curtain, to see if Kirsha had left.
appeared to be waiting outside the shack.

As usual, she

Yes, Lewis. Its Logan, from Delta Green. he paused for a moment, guilt
making speech harder We I thought you were dead.
Masons lids rolled back slowly, revealing to white balls criss-crossed with dark red
channels. It was only through all the small veins that Jonathan could locate the
pupils, which were almost as white as the eyeball.
But the worst part was that if Lewis appearance was shocking, his stare was
infinitely worse. The eyes stared at him with an unidentifiable look, something that
seemed a mix of madness and pain.

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Logan My name is Luis Mason, not Lewis. Please leave.

Jonathan refrained himself from leaning forward to reassure Lewis, since he didnt
know how he might react. His mental state was obviously fragile. Lewis, please,
listen to me. DG sent me to see if it was you, and to help you.
Leave!
Jonathan was afraid that someone outside might hear them, and it was the first
time he was grateful for the incessant rain. Lewis was mad, but he might still be able
to talk some sense into him.
Please, Lewis, remember me? Remember Largo? He was killed in the mission
where we lost you. Dont you remember? Im here to help.
For the first time, there was something in Lewis eyes that he could identify.
Recognition.
Logan Long time ago. he paused to catch his breath, which came only in
sudden gasps Help? Delta Green wont help me. We never helped anyone, did
we, Logan?
We did, Lewis, we helped a lot of people. Maybe the things would have taken
over if it werent for us. Lewis?
Jonathan didnt like the look in Lewis eyes. Something had suddenly come over
them, and he was leaning towards Jonathan, arms outstretched.
Look at me, Logan. he hissed turning his palms to him, where the stigmata
were clearly visible They did this to me. MAJESTIC did. he pointed at a
wound on his right side This is where it entered, and it just wont come out and
it wont let me die. Now I only have the faith On a moment, Mason lurched
forward and grabbed Jonathans shirt, pulling him close. Now Im one of the
things we hunted, Logan, and I know you are here to take me out like we did many
times before. he let go and stood up, his emaciated body tensing with the effort
But I wont let you. Go away! Lewis screamed GO AWAY AND LET ME BE!
Jonathan was going to say something, but he saw Kirsha coming back into the hut.
Hopefully she would have been the only one to hear, so he prepared to make a calm
exit.
What is going on? Are you OK, Luis?

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Lewis had slumped back to the floor, motionless.

Sir, you have to leave. What did you do to him?
But Jonathan was out on the rain again before she could ask anything else.
Trembling, he lit a cigarette and stumbled on to the rain, a mass of confusing
feelings going through his mind.
The worst thing is that hes right he wondered Most likely command will want
him taken out.
***
About a hundred yards from Masons home, Meyers watched the DEA man walk
under the rain without an apparent direction. Something had gone wrong wit his
interview, he was sure. The man had taken only about five minutes, and right
behind her the black woman had come with an apologetic manner.
Maybe if we act now hell be to blame, he thought with a smile.
***
Jonathan fumbled with the keys to the room, they fell to the damp welcome mat
and on a fit of rage he started kicking at the door. Almost immediately Joseph
opened and he entered the room dripping all over the cheap carpet.
Jonathan? What is going on? How did it go?
Just as he was about to answer, Jonathan realized that there was a woman sitting
on the far bed. Just the same woman he had seen Harry talking to the other day, the
woman who was constantly watched.
Just what the fuck is she doing here?! he yelled Who the hell brought her
here?
Joseph closed the door behind him. Startled as she was by his outburst, Lilly was
the one to answer. I came here myself, sir, I have to
You dont have to do anything. What do you mean you came here yourself?
Stop yelling, Jonathan. I told here where I was staying when we spoke yesterday.
You hadnt told me anything about this secret MAJESTIC group and all that crap!
I hadnt what? How the fuck do you Shes a MAJESTIC agent and you told her

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where we were staying? You idiot! Jonathan took out his gun and pointed at
Harry. Im going to fucking shoot you both right here, right now.
Harry raised his arms on a reflex, and Lilly followed his example. The man was
visibly altered, and it was best not to upset him.
Hey, Jonathan, hey, stop it man. What is happening to you?
Jonathan whirled and aimed at Joseph. Do you want to know what is happening
to me? Luis Mason was one of my fucking companions from Cell L. His fucking
name is Lewis, and hes all fucked up because of something MAJESTIC did to him.
They did to him! he screamed, pointing at Lilly with the silencer-equipped
weapon.
We know, Jonathan, we know. Harry interceded without lowering his hands
She came to tell us. She also came to tell us that the people who came with her
know about us and are going to eliminate both us and Luis.
The news had startled Jonathan and he finally appeared be running out of steam.
What do you mean, she told you?
Well, she didnt know that he had been with Delta Green, but she told us what
happened to Luis.
She did? he sat down tiredly on the bed, the gun in his lap What
happened?
Mr. Adams, is it? Lilly started, lowering her arms Im a microbiologist. I
worked two years at the FBI before being recruited by MAJESTIC, where I was for the
past five years. This week, someone who is apparently my superior gave me this
file. She slowly extended it to Jonathan.
What is it about? he asked I dont have time
Its about something MAJESTIC calls the MESSIAH. Its some kind of creature.
They dont quite know what it is, but on its most basic form looks a lot like a three
inch slug, or a small moving pile of goo.
What the heck does it have to do with this? Jonathan asked, losing his
patience.
Well, the MESSIAH is a parasite. It uses the human body as a carrier, entering by
the side and burrowing directly into a rib. From there, the MESSIAH starts eating

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through the bone marrow and extending itself inside the bones at an incredible pace.
I know, its rather disgusting. Somehow, it manages to substitute the functions of
the marrow like the production of platelets and red cells, and masks itself so that the
human body wont reject it. she pointed at two x-rays that Jonathan was looking
at See the bones here, how they look a lot more well defined at the center than
they should? See how all the bone looks the same color, like it was metal or all
bone? Thats the MESSIAH, that for some reason behaves like that under x-rays.
What are these prongs that extend towards the palm of the hand?
Having explained it once today already didnt make it any simpler, and Lilly
wondered exactly how to phrase it. Those are part of the MESSIAH, its contact with
the outside world. Through there it sort of stings its would be victims and injects a
prion it generates that, on certain amounts, can quickly remove anything that
doesnt belong on a human body like viruses or even renegade cells like cancer and
almost magically restore tissue, breaking down afterwards. Unfortunately, we
havent been able to synthesize it. They. At MAJESTIC.
Thats his healing ability. Joseph put in.
Jonathan had been hit with more than he could digest and his expression showed
it. But I dont understand Why does it do that?
Well, the MESSIAH slowly feeds on a human body, usually wearing a person
down in a period of three to seven years, depending on how strong they are, and
apparently instinctively injects the prion on humans to clean up possible new hosts.
When the host dies, the MESSIAH consumes the body with a chemical and
dissolves most of its own mass, going back to the basic form to look for a new host.
Youre telling me that this thing assumes that his current victim will come into
contact with other persons once they have been infected?
It doesnt. Usually the MESSIAH takes control of the body, turning it into a
walking feast. All human aspects are lost, of course, but the person moves around
as an almost normal but wild human until the body just gives up and is fully
consumed.
Usually?
Yes. In a couple of cases it was observed that the host could retain his will. Thats
what happened on Masons case.
Jonathan looked straight at her, the strong grid returning to the gun. How long
did you people have him?

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I didnt, Mr. Adams. I didnt even know about him a week ago, I assure you. I
was sent here based on my expertise.
You didnt answer Me. he pointed the gun at her.
Jonathan, easy man.
About one year, judging from the report. He was kept on a chamber and
purposefully infected with the MESSIAH, but before the MESSIAH wore out the
body the group decided to gas him. He apparently died, but later the body
disappeared when it was scheduled to be cremated. My best guess would be that the
MESSIAH managed to repair the damage done to the body and escape.
You should have seen him. Jonathan said to nobody in particular Hes mad,
you know? This whole thing must have driven him crazy.
Harry was the first to break the silence. You said you knew him?
Yes, he was on the same cell as me for a year. He got captured at a raid, and I
thought they had killed him.
So thats why Ingrid sent us? Joseph asked Because she thought that it
might be him?
Jonathan nodded. Lewis Mason was one of the names he used. He must have
remembered it through his madness. So when a person of the description, apparent
age and a similar name popped up on a weird circumstance, we got sent here. Dont
ask me how he got to Costa Rica, I dont know.
How does it reproduce, Lilly? Harry wondered.
As far as we know, it doesnt. For all we know this same thing could have been
around for thousands of years. It might well be the reason behind all those healing
cases. Even Jesus Christ himself, who knows.
Jonathan turned his back on them and went to his suitcase to start packing. Well,
first we move. Then we go to get Lewis and ship him out of the country to DG
where someone can get that thing out of him and he can retire.
Silence fell behind him, and he turned to find them all looking at him like he was
mad. What?
We cant take the MESSIAH out, Mr. Adams.

Masons marrow is all gone by

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now, and without it a human body cant survive. We also dont know how many of
his organs are still functional. He might be dying as we speak. She tried not to
sound like a doomsayer, but there was no other way. It just cant be done.
Jonathan covered his face with his hands. When he removed them, his face had
turned into a mask of purpose. He went to the bed, picked up his gun and removed
the silencer. Next, he checked the clip and put it back on his holster.
Well, then the least we can do is alleviate the pain.
***
A thousand confusing thoughts raced through the person that had once been
Robert Fulton, then became Lewis at the service of Delta Green and finally ended up
being Luis Mason, the Messiah-like person in Costa Rica. For hours he had sat
alone in the darkness, images and feelings mixing freely in his head. The images of
his torture at the hands on MAJESTIC; the hideous feeling of the thing as it entered
his body and tried to take over his mind as it extended throughout his whole being,
trying to relegate his personality to a dark corner where nobody listened; the gas
coming out of the vents in the floor of the room, bringing blackness and blissful
oblivion with it; and the awakening in a body bag. All the mixed scenes on
somewhere that could be Mexico or could well be anywhere else on this damned
continent, as he tried to run away as far as he could from his captors, trying to
consume himself in peyote and other natural drugs as he tried to forget the thing
inside his body, the thing that tried to force him to submit somebody else to the
same fate he had; the thing that, even if unable to fully control him was able to stop
him from ending his own existence.
Then the madness took over again, returning him to his new persona. It just
oozed over his conscience, slowly digesting the traces of the memories that
tormented him and returning him to a peaceful oblivion.
But something
remained: the strong feeling that the man who was with him earlier, whoever he
was, had come here to kill him. For some reason, Luis Mason was sure that he
would have done the same thing if the tables were turned, which was a confusing
feeling because his faith didnt allow it. But he knew what he had to do. He had to
tell the seekers outside that his time with them was coming to an end.
***
Seth Rickles stood waiting on the line of people outside Masons hut, just about
ten groups from getting in. His instructions were to get inside to see Mason, take
him out and take a few tissue samples for the white coats back at home. Only one
person behind him, Jimnez waited to make a diversion and convince everyone
that some rabid catholic fanatic had murdered Mason.

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The only problem was, the crazy old coot hadnt received anyone for the last
twelve hours, and Rickles was starting to get restless.
Then, slowly, the door opened and the black woman came out, helping a man that
seemed more like a walking corpse. The sorry excuse for a human being let go of
the woman and helped himself walk along to the first post that held the shaky tin
roof. Everyone fell silent as he made a sign, beckoning them. People started
approaching slowly, as if afraid of the man they were so eager to see just moments
before.
When he had enough people close to him, Mason started speaking to them on a
clear, strong voice, with the black woman translating to Spanish as he went along.
Seekers, the end of my time here is at hand. Im going to die at the hand of
strangers, strangers that want to remove me and my message. I wont be able to see
any more of you, and Ill just wait for my destiny.
A murmur of disappointment swept through the assembled crowd, but Rickles
couldnt believe how lucky they were. The Delta Green man had come in earlier,
Mason had stopped receiving people afterwards and now he was saying that he was
about to get killed. Surely people would think that he was an accomplice of the DG
operative, and the man would be to blame.
Apparently it was the same thing that Lieutenant Meyers thought, because his
earpiece cracked with static. Rickles, take the man out and try to get a part of the
body like a finger or a tooth or something. Jimnez will provide cover for your
escape.
Rickles started moving closer to Mason, who had kept on rambling.
I know that you will expect me to see you, and if I am wrong I will. But my time
left here is too short and I dont want to endanger any of you by having you with me
when it happens.
Rickles, now at the front of the crowd, took out his .38 gun, pointed it at Mason
and shouted HEATHEN! DEMON! The first line of people receded with the first
shot, which hit Mason squarely in the chest and send him crashing to the floor.
Rickles jumped forward, screaming Die in the name of the true god! Die, pagan!
and emptying the rest of the five shots on Masons head and chest. He bent down,
picked up and handful of the mass that had been Masons cranium and turned to
see what Jimnez was doing.
What he saw was Jimnez jumping towards him, brandishing a cobra metal baton.

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Asesino! Jimnez shouted as he hit Rickles on the jaw. Rickles dropped the gun
and his mind reeled with confusion as he spat blood and teeth, to the floor, and
then the mob was upon him, all punches and kicks and broomsticks, hitting him
with whatever they could.
***
Just 150 feet away from Masons hut, Jonathan and Joseph were coming towards
Masons hut. Harry just hovered nearby, wishing he could help but feeling that this
time he should stay out of it.
It all happened too fast. They saw Mason come out and start to address the crowds,
and saw the man they believed to be from MAJESTIC jump forward and kill him.
Seconds later, another man led the mob to attack the shooter.
Jonathan couldnt believe what he was seeing. When he reacted, he screamed and
tried to run towards the crowds. Joseph and Harry tried to stop him, but didnt reach
him until he was trying to punch his way through the mob.
Jonathan, stop it! Jonathan! Listen man, easy! Theres nothing we can do now!
Jonathan!
They subdued him as well as they could before the crowd turned on him, and
ended up holding a shaking, sobbing man to the ground.
***
It is really disgusting to see a mob in action, especially if they are any sort of
fanatics. After having started the attack on Rickles, just as the Lieutenant had
instructed him, Jimnez detached himself from the bunch that was tearing Rickles
apart and went to Masons body, as if to check if he was alive. He knelt besides it,
picked up a small mass of gray tissue and bone that was spread on the floor, and
quickly disappeared into the other huts after picking up what was left of Rickles
earpiece.
***
Three days later, Jonathan Adams, Joseph Bierce and one Janet Robinson were
saying farewell to Harry Randall at the Juan Santamara airport. DG had considered
it prudent to send a private jet to pick them up, given the situation.
Well, sorry it had to end like this. Harry said.

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Nevermind. said a taciturn Jonathan who shook his hand and turned towards
the jet.
Sure, man, we did all we could. You helped a lot, if its any consolation.
seeing you. Joseph said with his permanent smile before following Jonathan.

Be

What about you now, Lilly? Harry asked Janet. What happens to you?
I suppose that MAJESTIC isnt going to be all too happy about me turning on
them, so Delta Green is just going to hide me for a while and then Ill resurface
somewhere else with my new identity. Most likely Ill join in, if theyll have me.
Even after this?
Specially after this.
***
That same day, Mauricio Gonzlez, an intern at the morgue of the OIJ opened up
the freezer compartment where the remains for Luis Mason were held. And to
think that it had taken the police to remove this loony from the crowds, he
wondered taking out the tray that should hold the body.
Only the body wasnt there. The only thing on the tray was the white sheet that
had covered the corpse, set now over a small pile of colorless slime mixed with a
little of something that looked like blood.
What the hell?
Mauricio removed the sheet and looked at it. It just fell out of his hands as he ran
towards the exit, looking for a security guard.
There was nobody at the room when a glob of slime detached itself from the rest
and oozed towards the floor, passing over the white sheet that held a perfect image
of Lewis body as he was when he had been laid on the slab, and then oozed on
towards the small drain at the center of the room.
Ricardo J. Mndez
June, 1998
Published by arrangement with the Delta Green Partnership. The intellectual property known as
Delta Green is and the Delta Green Partnership, who has licensed its use here. The contents of
this document are Ricardo J. Mndez, excepting those elements that are components of the Delta
Green intellectual property.

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Way Down Atlantis 1991, 1998

By Michael C. LaBossiere, ontologist@aol.com

Dark Conspiracy
When the navy boys finally found the shattered hull of the missing American
submarine, they found something else, too. The UFO people and the other fruit
cakes think the navy found Atlantis, and the academic types have more theories
than you can shake a stick at. I didnt care what it really was, it was just another deep
job for me and
Leviathan Deep
Operations. At
least it started
out that way...
Leviathan 01

Legal
Information
This
adventure is copyright 1991, 1997 by Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere. It may be freely
distributed for personal use provided that it is not modified and no fee above the
normal cost of distribution is charged for it. Visit the Opifex Phoenix web site at
http://user.aol.com/ontologist/web/opifex.anchor.html.
This item is not authorized or endorsed by Tantalus Inc. and is used without
permission. The item is for personal use only. Any use of Tantalus Inc.'s
copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge
to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, this item cannot be republished or
distributed without the consent of the author.

Introduction
Two weeks ago an American submarine on a routine patrol was lost during a
rather odd incident. Ships in the area reported a bright flash of light as well as
disruption of the electrical systems. When the USS Washington failed to report in
US Naval vessels suspected she might have suffered a disaster. Search vessels soon
found the shattered vessel and a rescue submarine was dispatched to the area.While
diving to the Washington, the rescue submarine found vast undersea ruins and
retrieved a golden vase from the ocean bottom. The vase was composed of a
complex alloy that was obviously of advanced manufacture, and the navy assumed
that it had either come from the submarine or had been lost from another vessel.
When experts tried to identify it, they were baffled and were soon shocked when
one of the experts tested it age, on a whim, and found it to be over 11,000 years old.
Once its age was verified and verified yet again, a shockwave went through the
scientific community. News of the discovery soon reached the press, who billed it as
a discovery from the lost continent of Atlantis. The site of the discovery was soon

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swarming with those seeking Atlantis (or just its legendary gold). To prevent the
site from being sacked or damaged, the scientific community pressured the UN into
placing the area under its protection. The funds were soon raised to conduct a
thorough exploration and the famous Leviathan Deep Operations Company was
selected to do the job. Much of the funding was provided by Stephen Jordan, a
reclusive and eccentric millionaire who is best known for funding various famous
undersea operations.Because of his experience (and the fact that he donated the vast
majority of the money) he was selected as project director.
The PCs may be brought into the adventure in many ways. Characters with
experience in deep operations or archaeology may be hired by LDO or assigned by
one of the involved governments or universities. Other PCs may be hired as
computer operators, electronic experts, mechanics, or security experts. Those hired
will be told that possibly artifact laden ruins have been found (which may or not be
of fabled Atlantis)and that the mission is to survey the area and to recover material
and artifacts for examination. Those hired will be told, in the strictest terms, that
this is a scientific expedition and not a looting spree. Theft and destruction will
simply not be tolerated. LDO has also been hired by the United States to recover as
much of the Washington as possible, especially any surviving nuclear weapons.
Referees Information:
Thousands of years ago a Dark Minion race, the Domsquids, entered earths
dimension and constructed a base from which they could exploit the native life,
including humans. These beings caused a great deal of suffering and their activities
gave rise to many legends of sea monsters as well as providing a basis for some of
the legends of Atlantis. Fortunately for humanity, the Domsquids gateway
mechanism suffered a terrible accident resulting in the death of most of the
Domsquids. The few survivors were scattered in a hostile world and were never
able to regain their lost power.
Thousands of years later, a US submarine blundered near the Dosquids
pyramid gateway. The metal hull of the vessel triggered the gateway mechanism,
releasing thousands of years of stored energy. The release tore the Washington apart
and generated the electrical disruption which affected the ships in the area. The
rescue submarine found the twisted and melted hull of the Washington, as well as a
vase from the Domsquid ruins (the vase was not affected, because the energy was
channeled towards the Washington and away from the ruins).The rescue
submarine detected substantial amounts of radiation in the area (from the
Washingtons reactor) and the government assumes that the Washington suffered a
nuclear accident of some kind.
Jordan learned of the events though his connection and decided to become
involved. This is due to the fact that he is actually a Domsquid and his support of
underwater exploration has been due to his desire to find the base of his ancestors,
so that he might reopen the gateway for his people. To that end, he has funded the
current mission and is confidant that he has found it.

Initial Survey & Recovery Operations

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Prior to the commencement of the Atlantis expedition, LDO will conduct an

initial survey of the area and undertake the recovery of as much of the Washington
as possible, using the Leviathan and four Minnows. LDO will recoverer several
large sections of the Washingtons hull and they will be brought to the States for
examination by experts. The initial survey will turn up a few more metal artifacts
and an initial map of the area will be made. The LDO survey will also determine
that the area is safe enough (in terms of radioactivity) for a long term operation. The
referee may wish to have the PCs participate in this operation, so as to introduce the
PCs to the LDO people and to familiarize them with deep sea operations. If so, the
PCs should be given the chance to face a crisis or two. For example, one of the
Minnows may suffer a systems failure and the PCs may have to locate and rescue it.
During the initial survey, the pyramid should not be found and there should be no
Dark Minion encounters. Once the initial survey and recovery operations are
completed, LDO will begin setting up their sea base.

The Site and Sea Base

The Site
The ruins are located in a deep section of the Atlantic ocean. The exact location
is left up to the referee so that the adventure can be integrated into the referees
campaign. The UN will have at least one frigate sized vessel on the surface at all
times to keep unauthorized vessels outside of the area (with force, if necessary).
There will also be various scientific and support vessels in the area, including the
LDO command ship. This vessel, a converted supertanker, was used to carry the sea
base to the site. The LDO submarine Leviathan has also been assigned to the project.
The sea floor of the site is very rough, as if it were subject to a tremendous
upheaval or a massive explosion of some kind. Visible amidst ancient slabs of rock
and protruding from the muck are badly damaged ruins of various structures.
Strange fish dart among the ruins and the entire area seems somehow alien and
frightening to human observers. Most people will think that the structures look
somehow wrong but will not be able to describe exactly what it is about them that
makes them react so.
LDO Sea Base
The LDO Sea Base is constructed of highly advanced materials and is designed
to handle immense amounts of pressure. Those assigned to the base will be brought
down gradually, to acclimate their bodies to the pressure. In order to return to the
surface from the base, people must undergo several hours of decompression to
avoid severe injury or death. The interior of the structure is actually quite
comfortable. The atmosphere of the base contains a special gas which replaces the
nitrogen of air (and it doesnt make people talk like Donald Duck).
Deck One Map
Sub Docks: There are two submarine docks on the base, one for personal and the
other for cargo, which can be sued by any sub with the right docking mechanism (all

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LDO submarines are so equipped). These ports also serve as air locks and have a
safety feature which prevents both the external and internal doors from being open
at the same time.
Prep area: This area contains the cargo handling equipment as well as six Personal
Submarine Suits (PSSs).
Mini-Sub Bay: This is the bay for the bases mini-sub and it can also function as an
airlock, with the same safety feature as the larger docks.
Storage: This area is currently used to store supplies and the survey drones. As
artifacts are found, they will be stored here.
Lab/Repair: This area has been refitted as a lab and has been equipped with all hat is
needed to clean and examine artifacts. Some of the standard repair stations are still
in place.
Engineering Deck One: This area contains the bases nuclear power plant, life
support equipment, and so forth. The room is open to the second level and is kept
locked, both mechanically and electronically, to prevent accidents.
Deck Two Map
Head: A bathroom
Quarters: Each room is designed to hold two in comfort and four in less comfort.
Each room is equipped with bunks and other space saving furniture.
Kitchen: The food preparation and consumption area.
Rec: The recreation area. It contains entertainment consoles as well as exercise
equipment.
Engineering Deck Two: The engineering section which has catwalks extending
around the equipment, but no floor on this level.
Control Center: This room contains the base control systems as well as the remote
stations for operating the various drones. There are for Telepresence Operation
Stations (Draktek, p. 89) and six standard control stations (TV screens, joysticks, and
buttons). Three of the TOS are used to control Probe/Repair TORs (Darktek, p. 88)
and one is used to control a Recovery/Construction TOR (Darktek, p. 89). The other
six are used to control Underwater Probe Drones (UPDs), which can also be
computer directed. The control center also contains the bases weapons locker
(undersea piracy is rare, but is has happened and LDO never takes any unnecessary
risks). The locker contains four M9 Berattas, 2 MP-7s, and one Armalite AR-12
Stormcloud as well as spare clips and ammunition. The locker has both mechanical
and electronic locks, the keys for which are kept by the watch officer and the base
director. The bases hull is strong enough to sustain small arms fire, but not all the
equipment is.

On the Job
Once all personnel are on site, the exploration will begin in earnest. The plan is
to use the UPDs to make a photo map of the area and this initial survey is to be
followed by a finer exploration of promising areas using TORs and PSSs. The initial
survey, which will involve the laying down of a luminescent marking grid and

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light arrays, is expected to take about a week and the rest of the exploration will take
months or longer. LDO is willing to keep the operation going as long as the money
keeps coming in.

Events
The initial survey and associated grid laying will be extremely tedious.
Fortunately, there will be the following events to liven things up for the PCs.
Event #1: Giant Squid
During the course of the survey, contact with a computer operated UPD will be
lost. A check of its film records on the base will reveal that the last image recorded
was of a looming black shape blocking its camera array. Naturally, those PCs able to
operate PSSs or the mini-sub will be given the task of investigating. Be sure to
describe just how dark it is and just how many big and hungry things could be
lurking in the dark. The UPD will be found lying on the bottom, its camera array
buried in the mud, with some sort of particularly ugly fish stuck in its water jet
intake. Removing the fish and cleaning off the array will put the drone back in
operation.
A short while later, contact will be lost with another UPD in a similar fashion.
This time, when the PCs are sent to investigate, they will find the crushed drone
lying on the ocean floor, near a large mound of debris. The debris conceals a hungry
giant squid which has been drawn to the area by the lights and activity. The squid
will consider the arriving PCs its next meal and will pursue them back to the base if
they escape and will wait outside to attack anything that comes out, unless it is
killed or driven off. If the PCs do not come up with a plan, the base director will
send out a UPD loaded with explosives to blow it up. Once the squid is dealt with,
operations will continue.
Giant Squid
#Appear: 1
Initiative: 2
Agility: 5
Attack: 60% Strength: 40
Skill/Dam: 3/4D10
Move: 8/15/30
Constitution: 25
Hits: 75/150
See Dark Conpsiracy, p. 198-199 for full details.
Event #2 A Deadly Find
After the squid problem has been solved and the survey has restarted, a UPD
will find a metallic cylinder protruding from the muck of the bottom. The PCs will
be dispatched to examine the item. When they arrive, they will find it to be a
slightly damaged torpedo from the Washington, which will turn out to have a
nuclear warhead. When informed of the situation, the government will ask LDO to
salvage it for them and the PCs will be told to bring it to the Sea Base so it can be
brought to the surface on the next cargo run by the Leviathan.

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Event #3 A Find
While the PCs on the survey team are going about their business, they will
uncover a life sized elaborate golden alloy statue of a squid like being (a domsquid)
atop the back of a human figure. The figure, which is missing an arm and a foot, is
on all fours and has a look of hopeless fear on its face. The squid thing on the statues
back is positively sinister and will make almost everyone who sees it
uncomfortable, except Jordan (who will rejoice at its discovery) and Taggert (who
sees it as her chance at fame).
The PCs will be directed to bring it into the base where it will be tested and
examined. It will turn out to be of the same material of the vase and will be found to
be over 11,000 years old, if not older. The examination will also reveal that the
statue is coated with a complex chemical substance that has kept it free of muck and
plant growth. Speculation will run rampant as to the origin of the statue and as to
its meaning.
UPD Down
The survey area will gradually extend outward until it encompasses the area in
which the pyramid structure is located. One of the UPDs will approach the buried
pyramid too closely and be shorted out by another discharge from the pyramid,
which has been building up since the discharge that destroyed the Washington.The
discharge will generate a bright flash of light, which will be observed by another
UPD in the area. The discharge energy is from the pyramids energy generation
systems (primarily hydroelectric and thermal). Normally, this energy would focused
and used to power the pyramids systems and to generate the proto-dimensional
gateway. However, the ancient accident severely damaged the focusing controls and
now the pyramid discharges its stored energy whenever any large metal object gets
within range. Fortunately, due to the damage to the pyramid, the collection rate is
rather slow and the PCs will not have to wory about another major discharge.
The PCs will be sent out to recover the missing drone and will find it lying on
the ocean floor. Its casing seems to be melted in places and the camera and light
lenses are cracked. There are also many dead and dying sea creatures in the area.
Visible in the distance, will be a faint blue glow. This glow will also be noticed by
one of the UPD operators who will inform the base director. She will ask the PCs to
investigate the glow.

The Pyramid
The pyramid is partially covered with stone, but (unlike the stones) the
pyramid is free of any muck or plant growth. Several of the stones on it seem
slightly melted, as if they were exposed to great heat. The exposed parts of the
pyramid are obsidian black and arcs of blue energy dance fitfully across the exposed
surface. If the surface of the pyramid is touched by a PSS arm or a sub or drone
manipulator, there will be a bright flash of blue light and the touching device will
experience a brief (but possibly frightening) loss of power. Those in manned vessels
touching the pyramid will experience mild (but painful ) shocks. Since the pyramid

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is partially buried, the PCs will not be able to gain entrance to it. It will prove
resistant to cutting torches, lasers, and small explosive devices, should the PCs try
these methods.
The PCs will be contacted by the base director and asked to map out the area,
then to return to the base with their data. Once the PCs return, the data and film will
be downloaded for examination.
Excavation of the Pyramid
After the data is examined, Jordan will suggest that the pyramid structure be
dug out from under the rubble for examination. If asked about the danger from the
discharges, he will recommend that a grounding device be attached to the pyramid
to drain of the charge harmlessly. He will make arrangements for heavy equipment
to be brought in as well as more lights.
The equipment will be brought in over the next few days and the first piece set
up will be the drainer. The drainer will work perfectly and prevent the dangerous
discharges from threatening the crew. During this time various teams from the base
will be going over the exposed areas of the pyramid. Jordan will join in himself and
will spend his time looking for a way into the pyramid, which he wont be able to
find since it is buried. Once all the equipment comes in, the pyramid will be
excavated. Three of the sides of the pyramid will be found to have three entrances
and the fourth is blank. The three entrances are set up with one at the top and the
other two an equal distance from the top entrance and from each other. All of the
entrances except one will be found to end in collapsed passages. The one intact
entrance leads to the area detailed on the pyramid interior map.
Once the pyramid is excavated and the entrances exposed, Jordan will lead a
team into the interior of the pyramid. He will know for sure at this point that it is
the pyramid gateway mentioned in the myths of his race and he will begin planning
how to reopen the gate to his races home dimension. During the investigation, he
will urge the humans not to touch or harm anything and will be willing to use force
if necessary (and cover it up as an accident).Once he reaches the globe chamber, he
will be aware of the presence of the survivors and begin making plans to awaken
them and provide them with hosts.
Pyramid Interior Map
Entrance: The three meter wide entrance tube is made of the same black material as
the exterior, and is large enough to admit a UPD or PSS. Any metallic object passing
down the tube will be encased in harmless blue sparks that will extend out from the
walls. The passage ends in a semi-transparent swirling field of bluish energy, which
will resist if pushed, but can be forced through.
Empty Chamber: This water filled chamber is empty, but the walls are illuminated
by a pale red glow and are adorned with odd markings that look like writings and
mathematical symbols of some kind.
Collapsed Passage: These areas may be entered via the energy fields at their ends, but
they terminate in collapsed section.

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Globe Chamber: The field to this chamber will prove particularly resistant. The
interior is suffused with a pale red light and the walls are plain, except for a silver
strip running along the walls about a meter from the floor. Taking up most of the
chamber are three spheres that are made of the same sort f material as the pyramid.
One of the has been pushed forward by the collapsed section. This sphere has a thin
line running all the around it and the bottom has broken silver connectors that
were attached to the floor. If the globe is pried open with a tool, the interior will be
found to contain a thick reddish fluid, numerous silvery protrusions, and the
remains of a Domsquid. All that are left to it are its bony parts. If the remains are
brought back and examined (Jordan will permit this, but will not like it) they will be
found to be the remains of no known terrestrial life form. The other two globes
contain Domsquids in stasis and these globes cannot be opened with anything short
of explosives or Darkling Empathy. Jordan, who has Darkling Empathy, will be able
to free them.

The Domsquids Plans

After the initial exploration of the pyramids interior, Jordan will return alone
and awaken the Domsquid survivors. After he informs them of the situation, they
will tell him how to reactivate the gateway and they will demand host bodies.
Jordan will first make arrangements to have the equipment he will need to reopen
the gate brought in. He will order several specially modified generators and have
them shipped to the site as well as a variety of electronic equipment. Since it is his
money and most of the equipment could be used in the operation, no one will
question what he is doing. Once these arrangements are made, he will have the
interior of the pyramid pressurized.
Once the interior is pressurized, he will lure an NPC into the globe chamber
on some pretext. He will use a paralytic gas on the NPC and one of the Domsquids
will take over his body. The pair will then select another member of the crew and
bring them in for the other Domsquid. While the ancient Domsquid do not speak
human languages, they will use their empathetic abilities to get by.
Over the next few days, the trio of Domsquid will undertake repairs on the
pyramids control systems and will attach the generators to the pyramid. They will be
very careful not to be caught and will use their intelligence and empathetic abilities
to the fullest. Given the amount of equipment that will be on and in the pyramid, it
is unlikely that anyone will be able to tell what is going on.

The Gate Opens

When the Domsquids preparations are complete, Jordan will invite a
delegation from the UN to view the structure. These delegates will come down on
board one of Jordans submarines. When the sub arrive at the sea base, Jordan and
the two Domsquids will board it and subdue the crew and delegates with a paralytic
gas. They will then steer the sub towards the pyramid.
While they are heading towards the pyramid, Jordan will trigger the gateway
system and the following will happen. First, the pyramid will begin to glow a faint

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blue color and the strength of the glow will steadily increase. Second, sparks of blue
energy will extrude from the pyramid causing all mobile marine life to flee the area.
Third, the blank face of the pyramid will become outlined in blue energy and then
the surface will vanish, revealing a gateway into an alien sea. Pale red light will spill
from the gate. In the distance, the ruins of various structures will be visible on the
bottom of the alien sea. Dark and evil looking shapes will be seen moving in the
alien sea.The submarine will head towards the gateway and will pass through it,
into the sea.
Saving the Day
When the submarine passes through the gateway, the PCs should realize that
something is wrong. If they dont the base director will and the Leviathan will be
called in. The PCs will be asked to board the Leviathan which will be going through
the gate and into the alien dimension.
The Leviathan will cross through the gateway and into the alien sea. Strange
and horrifying life forms will be visible on the monitor and the other submarine
will be detected by the Leviathans sonar. There will be ruins around the ship which
appear to be centuries old. As the Leviathan enters deeper into the dimension, its
sonar will detect that the other submarine has come to a stop.
The three Domsquids will be in a state of shock at this point, for they will have
realized that their race has been extinct in this dimension for thousands of years.
The PCs will be able to take advantage of this situation to close with the submarine.
The captain of the Leviathan will suggest that the two Minnows and any PSSs be
sent out to disable the submarines drives for boarding. If the PCs are quick, they will
be able to do this with little difficulty. If not, the Domsquids will regain control and
attempt to flee. Their submarine is a fast as the Leviathan and they will lead the
Leviathan deeper and deeper into the alien sea and will use their empathetic
abilities to call Pseudo Squids and Hell Sharks to attack the Leviathan. Unless the
PCs board the submarine quickly, the Leviathan will be forced to turn back or be
destroyed.
If the Leviathan is docked to the submarine, the PCs will be able to board it. The
Domsquids will fight and will be armed with MP-7s from the submarine. However,
they will eventually be killed and the Leviathan will be able to tow the submarine
back through the gate.
Death From Beyond
Once the Leviathan returns through the gateway, the PCs will be dismayed to
find that various denizens from the alien dimension have intruded into earths sea.
Hell Sharks and Pseudo Squids are loose in the water, battling it out with terrestrial
life. If the gateway is not closed soon, more and more of these beasties will come
through looking for meals and within a few days, the current dominant race of the
proto-dimension, the Ampharks (see Challenge 61, p. 35) will find the gateway and
begin coming through using heavier versions of their Shell Suits. They will attack
vessels in the area prior to heading inland.

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It is likely that the PCs will want to shut the gate down. If the detach the
generators, the PCs will find that the gate is drawing enough power from its own
systems to keep going.Sealing the gate by piling stones on the pyramid will be a
temporary solution, since the Ampharks will eventually break through. A more
permanent solution will require that the pyramid be destroyed. The pyramid will
prove quite resistant to conventional explosives, but the PCs might remember the
nuclear torpedo that is still aboard the base.
The torpedo itself is damaged, but any of the drones or TORs could carry the
warhead. The warhead is a 5 kiloton nuclear weapon whose detonation will destroy
all vessels within 4.2 nautical miles and damage all vessels within 6.1 nautical
miles. As such, the PCs will want to set the timer to allow them time to escape. The
warhead has a computer safety lock on it. Cracking this lock requires a roll against
half the characters computer skill if the bases computer is used, one eighth if it is
not. Rigging the warhead to a UPD is an easy task using the mechanic skill. If the
roll fails, the warhead may fall of at some point. A TOR can carry it in a medium
manipulator and a PSS or minisub can also carry it. Rigging the warhead for
detonation with a timer is an average task using the electronics skill. Failing this
roll may result in a late detonation, early detonation, or no detonation at all. If a
UPD or TOR is sent , it will have no trouble reaching the pyramid and placing the
warhead. However, crewed vehicles will be attacked by predators from the
proto-dimension, since they will empathetically sense the presence of prey.
Successful detonation of the warhead will destroy the pyramid as well as the ruins.
The PCs and others will want to flee the area before the explosion. The base is
designed to reach the surface on its own by releasing its ballast and inflating lifting
balloon. This process will take about 20 minutes and the base can then be retrieved
by the LDO vessel. If the base cannot escape (for example, Taggert sabotages the
controls), those on board can escape via PSS and mini-sub as well as via the
Leviathan. There is also an escape pod on top of the base which can hold up to 24
people in extreme discomfort. Naturally, LDO will want t save the base if at all
possible.
Most of the other human NPCs will be willing to go along with the PCs if they
suggest using the warhead (and Briggs will suggest it if the PCs do not). Taggert sees
the gateway as a scientific gold mine and her ticket to fame and will do anything in
her power to preserve the gate. She will begin with persuasion and will talk about
the incredible economic and scientific value of the gate, not to mention the
environmental impact of detonating a nuclear weapon in the ocean. Depending on
the circumstances, she may be able to persuade some of the NPCs to join her. If
persuasion fails, she will resort to more extreme measures, even violence.
Finish
If the gate is not destroyed, creatures from the protodimension will continue to
pass through it and will cause a great deal of trouble. If the Domsquids escaped with
the submarine, they will begin breeding and will eventually return at some point in
the future.
If the PCs save the UN delegates, they will be most grateful and the PCs will be

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able to use them as contacts later on. If the PCs close the gate with the nuclear
warhead, they will have to justify their actions to the authorities. Of course, if the
PCs save the UN delegates, they will be fully exonerated by the testimony of the
delegates (who are extremely grateful for having been saved from a fate worse than
death).

NPCs

LDO Project Director Sally King

Level: Experienced
Skills: Small Arms (pistol) 3 Mechanic 2, Swimming 9, Vessel Use(submarine) 7,
Vessel Use (PSS) 5, Electronics 2, Willpower 6, Business 6, Computer Operation 3,
Leadership 7
Initiative:3
Physical Description: Director King is a tall woman with short black hair streaked
with gray. She appears to be in her mid forties.
Personality/Motivation: Director King is the LDO Project Director for this operation
and as such she is considered the captain of the sea base, with all the associated
authority. She has been working for LDO since its begining and it has been her
inspired leadership that has helped make LDO what it is today. Her loyalty is to LDO
and the people on her team. While she is not aware of the extent of the dark
conspiracy that threatens earth, she has brushed against it on occasion. She will be
favor destroying the gate.
Equipment: Wildey Wolf with two clips
Captain John Briggs
Level: Veteran
Skills: Heavy Weapons 2, Melee Combat(unarmed) 2, Small Arms (pistol) 2,
Swimming 5, Vessel Use (submarine) 7, Navigation 4, Willpower 5, Computer
Operation 3, Leadership 6
Initiative: 4
Physical Description: Captain Briggs is a tall, heavy set man with short gray hair. He
appears to be in his mid 50s and is in excellent physical condition.
Personality/Motivation: Captain Briggs is a former United States Navy officer who
was forced to leave the US Navy under circumstances that he will not discuss. The
incident involved the infiltration of the US Navy by Dark Minions and Briggs,
though innocent of wrongdoing, was forced to resign his commission. Briggs
became an alcoholic soon after and went on a spiral of decline that ended when LDO
hired him. Once he was back in command, he returned to being his old self, a highly
competent officer Since he hates Dark Minions, he will be all for destroying the gate.

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Briggs is currently the captain of the Leviathan.

Stephen Jordan
Host Body: Treat as a a veteran NPC
Domsquid
Strength 2
Education 8
Move 10
Constitution 2
Charisma 3
Skill/Dam 7/1D6
Agility 8
Empathy 10
Hits 6/12
Intelligence 8
Initiative 6
Skills: Melee Combat (Unarmed) 4, Small Arms (pistol) 4, Small Arms(rifle) 4,
Swimming 4, Vessel Use (Submarine) 4, Forgery 5, Psychology 3, Computer
Operation 2, Business 7, Animal Empathy 5, Human Empathy 5, Darkling Empathy
5, Project Emotion 6, Willpower Drain 4
Physical Description: The host body the Domsquid currently occupies is that of a
middle aged man with brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard. The body is in good shape.
Personality/Motivation: Jordan is a Domsquid. It is descended from the small group
of Domsquids that survied the desctruction of the base. Jordan is 174 years old and
has been through many bodies and hence is very experienced at playing the role of a
human. It has been funding undersea expeditions for years in the hope of finding
the ancient gateway its people constructed. Over the years, Jordan has developed
some human characteristics, but it still is a Domsquid and considers humans
primarily as hosts. It has no qualms about doing anything at all to insure the
opening of the gate.
Dr. Jennifer Taggert
Level: Experienced
Skills: Melee Combat(unarmed) 2, Small Arms (Pistol) 3, Small Arms(Rifle) 3,
Swimming 3,Observation 2, Archeology 8, Biology 2, Computer Operation 4,
Initiative: 3
Physical Description: Dr. Taggert is a muscular woman of moderate height, with
light brown hair and brown eyes. She appears to be in her mid thirties.
Personality/Motivation: Dr. Taggart earned her college tuition in the military and
she stays in shape and gets to the firing range once in a while. She doesnt
particularly like people, unless they are dead and part of some archeological find.
Her consuming passion is to go down in archeological history and she sees this find
as a golden opportunity to do so. Because of this, she will oppose anything that
might damage the site.
Equipment: She has a Walther PPK hidden in her Laptops carry bag.
Dive Leader/Security Chief Jake Fortran
Level: Veteran
Skills: Melee Combat(unarmed) 4, Melee Combat (armed) 4 Small Arms (pistol) 6
Small Arms(rifle) , Swimming 9, Vessel Use (submarine) 4, Vessel Use (PSS) 7,
Demolitions 2, Willpower 4, Language(English) 4

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Physical Description: Fortran is a short, wiry man with dark hair. He constantly has
a pleasant expression on his face, especially when he is in the water.
Personality/Motivation: Fortran is a political refugee from a third world country
whose secret police he once worked for. When his father recently passed away in
prison, thrus breaking the governments hold on him, he escaped the country by
swimming out to a passing vessel and requesting asylum. The ship was an LDO
vessel and he was hired soon after and has been with LDO ever since. He is
suspicious of people he does not know (since they might be secret police from his
former country), but conceals it under his genuinely pleasant demeanor. His wife is
a computer programmer for LDO and he chose his new name for her.
Equipment: Fortran always carries a dive knife.
Calvin Heltner
Level: Novice
Skills:Swimming 7, Vessel Use (Submarine) 3, Forgery 3, Psychology 4, Computer
Operation 6, Act/Bluff 4, Bargain 5, Persuasion 6
Physical Description: Heltner is a tall, thin man with blond hair. He has a carefully
trimmed beard. When he looks at anything or anyone, it strikes perceptive
individuals that he is looking for peoples price tags.
Personality/Motivation: Heltner has been assigned to the project to look after the
interests of the various sponsoring corporations. His loyalty is to money and power
and he is completely amoral. He is a good enough actor to come across as a friendly
and concerned individual, and he seems easy to talk to. He uses this ability to learn
individuals secrets and weaknesses so that he might use them to his advantage.
While he is a master of emotional violence, he has no taste for physical violence.
Everyone on the project knows he is present to watch the corporate money, but he is
competent enough that they tolerate it. He will be all for keeping the gate open,
provided it doesnt endanger him or his profits.
Other NPCs
The PCs are intended to replace the NPCs whose jobs they are qualified to do.
Name
Job
Experience
Affiliation
Dr. Justin Welson
Medical doctor
Novice
LDO
Janet Terez
Diver(PSS)
Novice
LDO
Dave Hastings
Diver(PSS)
Novice
LDO
William Schact
Diver(PSS)
Experienced
LDO
Carol Jones
Diver(PSS)
Novice
LDO
John Jones
Diver(PSS)
Novice
LDO
Pam Olson
Mini-Sub Pilot
Novice
LDO
Rick Olson
Engineer
Experienced
LDO
Carl Keffer
Engineer
Novice
LDO
Tia Smith
TOR Operator
Experienced
LDO
Sherry Wickett
TOR Operator
Experienced
LDO
Nathan Dregga
TOR Operator
Experienced
LDO

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Anne Weyman
Ty Wescott
Dr. Henry Smith
Dr. Sarah Dieter
Dr. Diane Townsend
Dr. George Slade

71

TOR Operator
Programmer
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Archaeologist

Experienced
Novice
Novice
Novice
Novice
Novice

LDO
LDO
Harvard
Oxford
Harvard
Harvard

New Equipment

Costeau Class Submarine

Just before the economic collapse, the United States Navy contracted with Bath
Iron Works in Maine to produce a nuclear powered, water jet propelled submarine.
BIW completed three of the power plants and propulsion systems before the Navy
canceled the contract. Luckily for BIW, LDO purchased the plants and propulsion
system and ordered three submarines built using them (the Costeau, the Leviathan,
and the Behemoth). Each vessel is equipped with docking ports that match those on
the LDO sea bases as well as two Minnow class minisubs. Each vessel is also
equipped with extremely advanced sensor equipment, including military grade
sonar and is capable of operating at extreme depths due to its special reinforced alloy
hull. The vessels are used in a variety of roles: mobile undersea bases, underwater
cargo vessels, underwater cranes and so forth.
Displacement: 2400
Fuel Type: Nuclear
Cruise Speed: 15 knots
Propulsion: Water Jet
Armament: None
Minimum/Optimum Crew: 10/60
Minnow Class Minisub
The Minnow class minisub is a standard two person, deep water mini-sub. The
minisub has an extremely strong hull and its diving performance capacity exceed
that of main line military submarines. Minnows are equipped with two medium
manipulators and two small manipulators as well as a light array, a camera, and a
sample basket. Power and life support are good for eight hours of operation. The
mini-sub looks very much like a small jet fighter with stubby wings.
Cruise Speed: 5/5
Price: $960,000 (R/R)
Fuel Cap: 220
Armament: None
Fuel Cons:5
Length: 1
Fuel Type: Battery Pack
Draft: 1m
Config: Flush Deck
Speed: 3
Tonnage: 10
Turn: 4
Hull Armor: 2
Pumps:1
Waterline Armor: 2
Night Vision: White Light spotlights
Propulsion: Water Jet
Load: personal gear, can carry 3,000 kg
Size: 1
Minimum/Optimum Crew: 1/2

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Damage Record
Full Speed: 10
Dead in Water: 10
Sunk: 10
Personal Submarine Suit (PSS)
A PSS is an armored suit constructed out of advanced alloy materials that enable a
person in a PSS to operate at depths of 400+ meters. It includes a complete, self
contained life support system with air and power for six hours, a distress beacon, a
75 kilometer radio, and lights. The suits arms and legs are servo equipped and the
arms can lift almost 100 kg each. Each suit comes standard with a propulsion
system(including depth control) that can propel the suit at a cruise speed of 2/2.
Some models replace one manipulator arm with a specialized tool arm. Such
modifications are custom built. A PSS, with its advanced servo system, is actually
easier on its operator than a Hardsuit. A PSS operator can use his or her PSS for
CONX30 minutes before becoming exhausted. Like the Hardsuit, all AGL and
STR-based tasks are increased one level in difficulty while using a PSS (of course,
crude brute strength operations will be much easier in a PSS). A PSS has an armor
value of 2.
Wt: 100 KG
Price: $200,000 (R/R)

New Beasties

Hell Sharks
#Appear:1
Initiative: 5
Agility: 5
Attack %:95%
Strength: 20
Skill/Dam:7/2D10
Move:13/25/50
Constitution:22
Hits:25/50
Empathy: 2
Special: Empathetic detection ability.
These creatures are horrid shark like beings which are even more vicious than
the worst terran sharks. They are shark shaped, but have what appear to be plates of
armor on their bodies. They are jet black on their dorsal side and on the ventral side
they are dark gray and their eyes are dull red in color. Hell Sharks will attack any
living being that they detect. Their empathetic ability enables them to detect living
creatures within two kilometers. Because of this ability they will not eat anything
that is not alive (unlike terran sharks, which have been found with beer cans and
license plates in their stomachs). They will, however attack things (like PSSs) with
living things inside.
Pseudo Squids
#Appear:1
Attack %:90%
Move:8/15/30
Empathy: 4

Initiative: 3
Strength: 40
Constitution:35

Agility: 6
Skill/Dam:4/4D10
Hits:60/120

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Special: Empathetic detection ability, project emotion 2.

Pseudo Squids look very much like terran squids, except they have a partial shell
covering their main body and their tentacles have bony ridges and spurs instead of
suckers. Pseudo Squids are also more intelligent than terran squids and they possess
the empathetic ability to detect living things within four kilometers. They are also
capable of projecting emotion, but this is limited to creating fear in the target(used to
frighten threatening organisms) or a feeling of safety (used to lull prey). Pseudo
Squid attacks are handled like normal squid attacks. However, Pseudo Squids have a
taste for humans and will deliberately attack humans in the water or on deck.

New Dark Race

Domsquid
Strength 2
Education 8
Move 10
Constitution 2
Charisma 1
Skill/Dam 7/1D6
Agility 8
Empathy 10
Hits 6/12
Intelligence 7
Initiative 6
#Appear 1
Special: Empathetic skills: Human Empathy 5, Animal Empathy 5, Darkling
Empathy 4, Project Emotion 3, Will Power Drain 3, possession ability.
Domsquids (dominator squids) were a race that evolved from a small squid
like parasite that inhabited a proto-dimension that is primarily water. The
Domsquids look like small squids (10 cm body, tentacles 20 cm long) with oversized
heads. Two of their tentacles end in sharp, bony protrusions which are hollow,
and two others end in scalpel sharp cutting edges. The other tentacles have bony
ridges and spurs on them. Physically Domsquids are weak and would have been
long ago destroyed if it were not for their ability to take control over other life forms.
Domsquids take over a host as follows. First, the domsquid will attempt to stun
the potential host if it is conscious. A Domsquid that strikes a target can release an
electrical charge once every six hours that acts like a Martin Dynatech Pacifier Stun
Gun. If the target loses consciousness, the Domsquid will uses its sharp tipped
tentacles to inject the victim with a paralytic agent (requires a difficult: constitution
to resist) which will last thirty minutes. The Domsquid will then slit open the
victims body and enter. It will then attach itself to the victims spinal column and
cardio-vascular system and extrude a tentacle into the victims brain and disconnect
its higher functions chemically (basically a lobotomy). This process takes about
twenty minutes and when it is complete, the host body is under the Domsquids
complete control. A Domsquid can leave a host by detaching itself and cutting its
way out and this process takes about a minute. The Domsquid has no access to the
hosts memories or skills. The Domsquid is unharmed by damage to the host body
that does not also reach it (the exact details of this is left to the referee). However,
since the Domsquid is tied into the hosts nervous system as well as its
cardio-vascular system, it will be affected by drugs and toxins the host is exposed to.
The host body retains its physical capabilities (strength, constitution, and damage),
while the agility of the body can be no higher than the Domsquids own agility while
the Domsquid is controlling it. Domsquids are extremely difficult to detect in a

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human host if the Domsquid is experienced but they are easily detectable by such
means as X-rays and other medical means. Removing a Domsquid surgically is a
difficult task using medical skill (this assumes that the Domsquid is unconscious).
Simply killing the Domsquid will also kill the host body. Restoring the host to
normal is possible using advanced surgery and biochemical treatments. Such a
restoration requires the proper equipment and is a task that is rolled against one
fourth of the surgeons medical skill.
The Domsquids had an advanced civilization in their home dimension and
eventually developed gateways that enabled them to reach other dimensions. They
went in search of new knowledge (they are extremely curious) and new host bodies.
Domsquids are evil and they consider most other life forms only as potential hosts.
Like Ampharks they derive great pleasure from the suffering of other beings,
though they do not require it like the Ampharks do.
The race of Domsquids became nearly extinct when an incredibly virulent viral
disease was brought back from another dimension. This virus killed the entire
Domsquid race within weeks of the initial exposure. Though the disaster that befell
the Domsquids gate on earth wiped out nearly all terrestrial based Domsquids, it
did prevent the virus from reaching earth. There are still other isolated enclaves of
Domsquids in other proto-dimensions.

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Key
Water Tight Hatch
Normal Door

Deck One

Machinery
Controls/Equipment

Sub Docks

Prep Area
Storage

Elevator

Mini-Sub Bay
Engineering
Deck One

Lab/Repair

Deck Two

Kitchen
Rec

Head

Head

Quarters

Quarters

Engineering
Deck Two
Elevator
Control
Center

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76

Pyramid

Sea Base

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Pyramid Interior

Empty Chamber

Collapsed Passages

Entrance

Globe Chamber

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Old Enemies 1998

2300AD
Michael C. LaBossiere
Ontologist@aol.com
Legal Information
This adventure is copyright 1998 by Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere. It may be freely
distributed for personal use provided that it is not modified and no fee above the
normal cost of distribution is charged for it. Visit the Opifex Phoenix web site at
http://user.aol .com/ontologist/index.html.
This item is not authorized or endorsed by Tantalus Inc. and is used without
permission. The item is for personal use only. Any use of Tantalus Inc.'s
copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge
to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, this item cannot be republished or
distributed without the consent of the author.

Part I Starcruiser Scenario

Mayday. This is the Forty Niner, we are under attack from the second moon of
Apollo. We have suffered severe power plant damage and have internal fires.
Mayday. This is...(Transmission ceases).
Year: 2301
System: Mu Herculis
Background: A mayday was received from a prospecting vessel of American registry
in the Mu Herculis system. The vessel reported being under attack from one of
Apollos moons. An American military vessel was sent to investigate and
encountered an unexpected adversary.
Set-up: Place a planet counter in the center of the map. This counter represents
Apollo. The American vessel enters from the fire side of the map. The alien
weapons are set up within four hexes of the planet.
Victory: The American wins if he destroys all the alien weapons. The alien wins if
he destroys the American vessel.
Intruder: America
Concord Class System Defense Boat (use the statistics for the British Exeter) (CQ+1)
Native: Alien
Four Sphere Missiles
Combat Performance Data
Movement: 8, Radiated Signature: 1 Radial Reflected Signature:1, Radial Target
Profile: -5 Lateral Target Profile:-5, Hull Hits: 1/1/1 Power Plant Hits: 1/1,
Armament: One unlimited shot 1x1 laser, or one detonation attack as a 5x2
detonation laser, Active Sensors: 10 Passive Sensors: 5 Screens: 3
Note: These alien weapons consist primarily of energy bound within a magnetic
containment field. At the center of the weapon is the power plant and field
generator. The weapon forms its components by rearranging the energy within its
field. Fortunately for the American vessel, the weapons have been severely

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weakened by the ravages of time.

Part II 2300AD Adventure

The military had quarantined the area of space immediately around Apollo after
the Forty Niner incident. Rumor has it that they brought in some experts on
xeno-archeology. If so, they probably found something old and alien on the moon
that the Niner mentioned in her last transmission.

Introduction
This adventure deals with a mission into the asteroid belt that rings Mu Herculis
at 4.5 AU distance. The purpose of the mission is to locate an alien base in the belt.
This adventure is intended for a group of experienced characters.
Information:
The PCs will have heard about the destruction of the prospecting ship Forty
Niner near Apollo. They will have also have heard about the encounter between
the Wheston (the SDB) and an unknown force. (the exact details depend on the
outcome of the above scenario). They will also be aware that the American
goverment has closed of the area of space around Apollo.
PCs with friends in the military or government (or who are in the military or
government themselves) will be aware that the Forty Niner was destroyed by alien
weapons and that the SDB Wheston engaged the same alien weapons. According to
the reports, the weapons were not the product of any known races technology.
Because of the potential danger, the area has been sealed off. PCs with access to high
level information will know that an alien base of great age has been located on one
of Apollos moons. No one is sure why the base launched an attack on the Forty
Niner, since other ships have been through the area without being attacked.
Naturally, there will be speculation that the base was somehow involved with the
disappearance of the Carolina Dream.
Finally, all the PCs will hear about a second tragedy that will strike the Forty
Niner Prospecting Company (the company that owned the Forty Niner). The orbital
station used by FNPC will explode a day after the destruction of the Forty Niner,
killing all of the surviving FNCP personnel, except for Rosco Jones. He was aboard
the companys other vessel, the Gold Rush, when the station was destroyed.

Getting the PCs involved

The PCs will be contacted by Rosco Jones, a well known and respected prospector.
He will tell the PCs that he is part of the mining company that owned the Forty
Niner.
He wants to hire the PCs to help him investigate what happened. He has access to a
Mammoth- class Freighter(with two CargoDevil Freight Handlers) if the PCs dont
have a ship of their own. The vessel is carrying custom made modules that make
the vessel, the Gold Rush, into a fair prospecting vessel. The vessel has a special
sensor module, a module containing a geological laboratory, a module containing

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digging and sample taking equipment, a base camp module, and the rest of the
modules are standard cargo modules.
If he hires the PCs, he will tell them that his partners sent a message from the belt
saying that they had made a very important discovery along their prospecting route
and that they were going to proceed to Apollo. They finished by saying that they
would be bringing a big surprise back. Jones will explain that his partners didnt go
into details because they did not want to broadcast the details of their find until they
were able to stake a legal claim on it. Jones will say that he knows the prospecting
route they were following when they made their discovery. He wants to hire the PCs
to go with him into the belt to retrace his partners movements and locate what they
found that sent them to their untimely deaths. He will offer pay appropriate to the
PCs experience, reputation, and abilities. If asked, he will say that he suspects that
the two events (the destruction of the Forty Niner and the destruction of the FNPC
station) are connected and that he is worried about his own life.

The Real Story

The Forty Niners crew discovered an alien base in the belt. While investigating
it, they accidentally re-activated the computer. The computer captured the crew and
replaced their brains with robotic brains. The computer then sent its servants to
destroy its old enemy, the computer based on one of Apollos moons. The asteroid
computer was thwarted in its plans when the Apollo computer noted the approach
of the vessel and scanned it. The scanning revealed the presence of the robotic
brains and the Apollo computer sent its weapons to destroy the vessel. Prior to the
destruction of the vessel, the Apollo computer captured one of the robot-humans
and replaced the asteroid computers brain with one of its own. This robot-human
was sent (via a one use vessel, similar to the alien weapons) to gather a force to
attack the asteroid computer. The robot-human was detected by the other FNPC
personnel and it was forced to kill them, to avoid being exposed. The robot-human
is, of course, Rosco Jones.
The robot-human Jones functions as a veteran NPC with an initiative of 7.
The robot brain is programmed with Sidearm 3, Combat Rifleman 3, Computer 3,
Pilot 2, Prospecting 2, Demolitions 2. He is armed with a Muller-Rivera P-3 and a
Mueller-Rivera F-19. The robot brain is programmed with a personality that is based
on the information the computer was able to acquire from Jones brain. It can pass as
a human being, provided it does not engage in long conversations. Unfortunately
for the computer, Jones was legendary as a non stop talker. If asked about its
quietness, it will say that the tragedies have made it not want to talk. Naturally, it
will avoid people who knew Jones well. Its mission is to locate the asteroid
computer and destroy it. To this end, it has a large supply of mining explosives
aboard the Gold Rush.
To notice that Jones is not human: Difficult. Psychology. 10 minutes. A successful
roll will reveal that whatever Jones is, he is not a human. The roll should be made
secretly for all characters with psychology skill.

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Into the Belt

The asteroid belt is 4.5 AU from the sun. It is quite dense and contains
radioactive ores and other valauble commodities. It is only recently that small,
independent mining companies have begun to exploit the belts resources. There
have several lucrative finds in the belt. One expedition found several pieces of a
manufactured alloy on an asteroid that turned out to be very, very old and not of
human manufacture. No other such finds have been made.
Going over the Forty Niners prospecting route will be a long and tedious task.
There are a total of 32 asteroids on the route. The asteroid the PCs are looking for is
the 28th asteroid (the Forty Niner Crew only prospected that far). Asteroids 1
through 28 are marked as being checked, so 29-32 can be ignored. Task: To examine
an asteroid Routine. Prospecting. 30 minutes. The time roll is reduced by 1 for each
person who makes the task roll. Minimum time is thirty minutes, however. This
roll should be made in secret. That way, the players will not be certain they have not
missed something.
Stalker on the Rock
Once the PCs have been lulled into a false sense of security, it will be time to
spring a nasty surprise on them. The previous expedition disturbed a robotic
combat unit that was laying dormant beneath the asteroids surface. It was slow to
recover from its long rest and the first expedition left before it could take action
against them. Now it is alert and ready to deal with any invaders.
The unit looks somewhat like a dull gray praying mantis. It is four meters in
length and has four legs and two arms. Armor value: 3 Life Level: 25 Initiative: 7
Hit: Routine
It is considered a veteran NPC and moves like a human. Its arms are equipped with
extendible blades (Melee Range: short Melee Skill Modifier: +2 DP: .4) and laser
weapons (treat as Mueller-Rivera P-3s, with 40 pulses). The unit is also equipped
with two chest mounted plasma guns. Fortunately for the PCs, its ammunition
hoppers are empty. The robot is extremely sophisticated and will act intelligently in
combat. The robot (or parts of it) would be very valuable to human scientists or a
robotic company as the units CPU and batteries are highly advanced relative to
human technology.

The Alien Base

Asteroid #28 contains the alien base. A visual inspection of the asteroid at close
range (or using magnifying viewing devices) will reveal the existence of an airlock
as well as the existence of a metallic protrusion from the lower side(relative to the
arrangement of the base) of the asteroid. The underside of the asteroid has a broken
metallic pylon sticking from it, which indicates the asteroid was once part of a larger
structure. The asteroid is also oddly scarred in places (from laser and particle weapon
hits).
Level 1

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Access can be gained to this level via the airlocks on the top of the asteroid or via
the airlock on the side. All the airlocks are operational and will open when the
controls are touched. The interior of the base is lit with white light and everything is
scaled to human size. These facts indicate that the base personnel were about the
same size as humans and probably lived under a yellow sun. The base is very old. If
the age of the base is checked scientifically, it will be found to be several hundred
years old (at least).
The interior has a very thin atmosphere, not quite enough to breath, however.
1. Storage Area: This area contains plastic containers. Some of the containers contain
mechanical and electrical parts, but most contain remnants of organic material
(food). The organic material would have been somewhat toxic to humans when it
was fresh, now it would be very bad to consume. The containers are badly dented in
places and some of them are smashed open, as if they were thrown about the room
(they were, when the base was smashed from its pylon).
2. Empty Chamber: A shredded and bloody human vacc suit with the name
Holtsen is drifting about the room, orbited by globules of blood.
3. Equipment Room: There are numerous empty lockers hanging open. Broken
pieces of equipment (weapons, scientific gear, etc. ) are floating about the room. The
pieces would be valuable to researchers. There is a single vacc suit in the chamber,
which indicates that the crew was evacuated from the base. The vaccc suit is human
sized, but the gloves are six fingered. The beings had an opposable thumb, four
fingers and a fifth digit , possible a claw like structure, extending from the pinkie
side of the hand. There is still some air in the tanks. The mix is primarily
oxygen-nitrogen.
Level 2
1-3. Crew Quarters: These spartan quarters contain two bunks, lockers, and a
terminal each. The lockers are empty.
4-5. Quarters: Like the above quarters, except there are four bunks, four lockers, and
no terminals.
6. Multi-purpose room: This room is equipped with exercise equipment, electronic
games, and medical equipment. The medical equipment can provide information
about the chemical composition of the base personnel. Their biochemistry is similar
to that of humans, but there are several important differences. This room is fully
pressurized and the automated medical equipment has been in use recently. There
are bloodstains on the table and on the door of what appears to be a disposal unit.
7. Galley: There is a broken Muller-Rivera laser pistol floating in the room along
with globules of human blood. A vacc suit helmet with a shattered face plate also
floats in the room. The wall between 6 and 7 bears marks from laser fire.
Level 3
1. Control center: This room contains the controls for the bases weapon systems.
Several of the control panels have been destroyed by weapons fire recently and
there are globules of blood in the room.

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2. Computer Access: The base computer is accessed from here. The computer is very
advanced and is intelligent (capable of intelligent actions and self direction) but is
not self aware. It is programmed to defend the base and destroy its enemy, the
computer on Apollo. The computer can be destroyed by explosives or other violence
directed at it from this area.
Level 4
1. Power Plant/Manufacturing/Weapons Access: This is the access area to the bases
power plant, manufacturing systems, and its weapon systems. The power plant is a
highly advanced fusion reactor, the manufacturing systems are designed to produce
replacement components (including robotic brains), the weapon systems are
advanced lasers (two of them) that would fire from the rectangle that extrudes from
the asteroid if they were still operational.
Dangers
There are three Stalker robots active on the base that are computer directed. Their
plasma guns (treat as Quinn-Darlan Mk 2-A2 PGMPs) are fully loaded. They will
attempt to capture the PCs alive in order to replace their brains with robot brains.

Finish
If the robot-human Jones destroys the computer, he will attempt to report back to
his controlling computer on Apollo. He will do anything to complete his mission. If
the PCs survive, and inform the authorities about the base, the base will be
confiscated by the government, but they will receive some compensation. The base
itself is of great scientific value and the equipment in it, especially the computer, are
of great value.
If scientists have the opportunity to study the base, they will conclude that it
actually is not a base at all, but part of a ship. The computer located on one of the
moons of Apollo was once also part of a larger vessel. It will be speculated that two
enemy vessels entered this star system, fought and crippled one another in the belt,
and have been lying in wait, ready for another round. This speculation is correct.

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