Boomtown Aesthetics @boomtown-aesthetics - Tumblr Blog

Feb 26, 2022

Boomtown: Chapter 12 - The Lost Chapter

(Poster by https://holymolyuk.co.uk/)

This is a journal of my adventures at the festival called Boomtown Fair. Everything written here could only happen thanks to the amazing cast and crew that make this festival so special.

After not being able to get to the festival last year I was really eager to get to it this time and see all my friends from the Boomtown Storyline Facebook Group. But how could we know what 2020 would have in store for us? The festival itself may have been cancelled but the pre-game and online events gave us plenty of rich story and excitement. Following the Area 404 event in Bristol in October 2019, we were treated to a full ongoing augmented reality game run by a group known as Rogue Beacon. The following story is a product of all their hard work and the efforts of all the great folk on our Facebook group.

If you want to catch up on the story so far see: https://boomtown-adventures.tumblr.com/index

This story is presented in the form of a series of logs, emails and documents intercepted by Th3 C3ll hacker group.

2nd of January 2020 The Diary of Walter Hughes - An Analysis By Greyhound One

Following my own investigation of Area 404 our very own Deputy Mayoral Candidate Mark Jefford headed into the safe zone to take part in his own investigation. Although the denizens of 404 were initially quick to place the blame upon Jefford, he was eventually successful in an exchange of information with the former Bang-Hai Industry Workers. Making use of his pull at the Daily Rag, he was able to provide them with the latest copies of the newspaper, finally giving these poor souls news from the outside world from which they had been isolated from for so long. In exchange they provided him with a diary from a man by the name of Walter Hughes. Despite it’s sometimes unreadable scrawl and scorched pages it did give us a bit more of an insight into what went down during ‘The Incident’. The dates don’t seem to match up quite right with what we know of events, however this could be due to the ongoing time dilation issues across the city.

It seems to tell the story of some kind of experiments into a new kind of fission. This comes to a climax when there is some kind of catastrophe with the core/main reactor which seems to be related to actions taken by AMI. This leads to some kind of contamination which begins to spread across the facility. This seems to be followed by people getting sick, as I had seen myself on my investigation of the area. This sickness seems to spread rapidly through the majority of the population of the district and is followed by strange foliage growing out of the core area and ventilation system. This infection/disease, whatever it’s actual nature, then seems to cause Walter Hughes to slowly lose his mind and begin spouting what sounds like crazed prophecies. This then seems to culminate in complete loss of individuality and the formation of some kind of hive mind.

In addition to the diary Mr. Jefford managed to ‘obtain’ two memos from OneCor’s Biomedical Applications Division during one of their aid supply drops. One related to the DC10X experimental vaccine and it’s administration and a second one from Dr. S Lawson, the head of department, requesting a ‘live test subject’ to be obtained from Area 404.

For further reference the full diary and memos can be seen at: https://boomtownstoryline.wordpress.com/2020/01/02/area-404-nye/

6th of Feburary 2020 Greyhound One Log: A State of Emergency

Things at Area 404 are out of control and the whole city now seems to be under threat from the spread of whatever this infection is. Meanwhile, outside the contaminated area, we have received a broadcast from AMI herself.

Thankfully, our hacker cell has managed to obtain video footage from CCTV, webcams and smart devices across Boomtown and our analysis of the information gave us plenty of leads to help us try and get to the bottom of what was going on. Is all this caused by radiation poisoning? Is it some kind of viral infection? Or is AMI herself using nanites to turn people into mindless cybernetic drones? Is this related to the soil issues we’ve been having? We have to find out, and soon!

One of the first things we have been able to obtain is a memo that adds additional corroboration to Walter Hughes’ accusation of AMI’s involvement with ‘The Incident’.

30.01.20 Memorandum: Simulation Issues

To all staff,

Preliminary simulation tests of the AMI project have resulted in higher rates of failure than predicted.

Though the difference is marginal, it is sufficiently higher than the threshold of statistical significance to classify as a terminal risk of failure.

The specific issue, a replicable but yet-to-be-isolated bug, is causing a failure in the moral decision-making neural matrix. This is resulting in a false threat recognition of the Sector 6 power reactor.

In approximately one simulation out of every hundred AMI treated the Sector 6 reactor as a primary imminent threat, a classification that should be reserved for active foreign invasion forces or major hurricane or other natural disaster. She attempted to shut it down without engaging any of the plant’s meltdown safety protocol measures resulting in a catastrophic failure of the Sector 6 reactor.

We would like to stress that, at this early stage, the quick identification of such a problem represents a success for the Simulations department and reflects the quality and importance of our work.

Please keep up the good work. We appreciate you. Further reports will be made as the problem is identified and resolved.

Thank you.

Darcy McTrow - Simulation Manager

This has been reinforced further by a series of emails we have intercepted that shows that everytime the AMI program came across the Sector 6 Reactor in any simulation it resulted in a full meltdown scenario.

Our second line of investigation is of a local company called HMBru which seems to be selling various meads, gins and cider. Now you may think this an odd thing to be looking into given everything else going on, however with the company dropping heavy hints in regards to hives we were intrigued. This seemed to echo what we were now seeing of the footage of AMIs drones in 404. The HMbru website also seemed to include various geometric references, which seemed to be on the rise across the city as observed by Mr. Jefford. Not only that but their background seems to be rather cultish and its relation to the thought schools of Euclid raises more than a few flags.

The Ecstatic Universal Order of Euclid was known throughout medieval Europe for their piety, their faithfulness, their chastity and their wild celebrations under the influence of the potent mead brewed in their monasteries.

For centuries, the Order brewed their mead according to the holy instruction of their Patron Saint. Out of respect for tradition, we do not name the Saint, but she remains the Sister of Euclid.

She taught the Ecstatic Brethren to emulate the mighty bee in all things and the Order’s brewing techniques humbly followed

in the divine tradition of the beehive.

Used in meditation to become closer with the divine and revered by the Order as the true covenant, the mead was renowned throughout the Church and beyond for the refreshment of the soul as well as the body. The brewing arts were said to have found their spiritual pinnacle in the stills and hives of the Ecstatic Brethren.

Euclid is particularly of note in our investigations of course given the fact that they are seen as the Father of Geometry. In addition to these omens, the product pages seem to include comments from persons of note such as Mr. Bliss, Bozza, and even Mad John who seems to get progressively more ‘Mad’ the more he seems to imbibe of these refreshments.

“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! LOL m so rwecked r/n on that gin dint try th 'royal' jelly thingy tho sounded gross. s lik ejelly but for gross insect queens or sumthin idk. Hate insects. All small nd stuipd nd blind n stuff. We got em trapped in plsatic hages. Lik us. just rats in plkatis cahges wer all traped trapped! its her shes behind it 100% least shes not behind this! CHEERS!” - THAT_John 12.01.20

Intrigued with this Order of Euclid, I registered my interest and soon got a reply from the company.

Hi Jonny, Fantastic to hear from you. Your name has been added to the waiting list for our pre-pre-order waiting list! This means you have a not-statistically-negligible chance of being able to purchase some Regal Royal Mead when our next batch is complete and an undisclosed date. We are delighted to see that you are enamoured with the Wisdom of the bee Hive! Hats off to you! Best wishes, HMBru

Not much to go on so for, but it’s something we will be keeping an eye on. Even the smallest thing can sometimes reap the biggest reward when it comes to Boomtown. Speaking of which, Agent Sarra spotted this poster near Boomtown reporting a missing dog and pointing us to the website RomeoIsMissing.Com

From the journal updates on the webpage it seems like someone called Charlie, had tracked the missing dog to Area 404 and crawled through a hole in the fence. If this is the case then it sounds like we have not only a dog missing now but possibly a child as well? We will be dispatching agents to investigate the matter further.

In other news, we have found secret messages hiding in the hackers source code. Part of it seems to be a reference to the 18th century Chinese manuscript Dream of the Red Chamber. We have struggled with translation slightly but it roughly translates to something along the lines of “Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true; Real becomes not-real when the unreal is real.” - Feel free to have a go yourselves though “假作真时真亦假-无为有处有还无” - This seems to have been deliberately left here for us to find as also hidden within the code is the message “W3lcome fri3nd w3 hav3 b33n waiting…” This latter message was hidden not only in the source but also encoded to Base64. Maybe the answers really are inside the SOURCE after all.

7th of February Greyhound One Log

Today minds were blown as a boardgame was found that had been seen in the background to the State of Emergency videos. This boardgame seems to feature Area 404 and mirrors the themes and story of the district. An accompanying review has been found on the website https://boardinthe90s.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/board-game-escape-404

This find has started a wave of hysteria across the Boomtown community from the bottom all the way to the very top with the air organisers being just as puzzled. There seems to be intense ongoing discussion in the comments on both the blog and the Boardgame Reddit pages. Most of note is a poster by the name of Blessed Hedron who mostly seems to post in a hexadecimal code. One post does appear unencrypted on his Reddit page however which reads as follows:

Brothers, Sisters, children who hear the sacred hive music and dance in accord;

Be each of you learned what transpires anon!

As some have been told, and no doubt others have determined by means nefarious, the company that presents itself as ‘HMbru’ - and the Order that runs it - are nought but corrupt putrescence.

A company of vile wasps has crept into Her Blessed hive; my how they have fed.

Hear me, devotees of Her Sacredness, I - he who goes by Seven Hundred and Twenty- have my ways. Secret ways, left by those who came before.

Ways in…

The Order? Be they apostates! They are deaf to Her Sweet Hive Music!! Instead they transcribe the cacophonous caterwauling of that wretched void presence. They learn from it nought but wickedness, and wickedness they intend to spread amongst the masses.

Six times did I sup of the false nectar. Six times did I mistake IT for Her.

But she was revealed to me in a vision of my own. Or perhaps it was a dream. Or a new memory of old. I returned with conviction anew; rescue the hidden knowledge of The Sister from the vaults of The Order!

Brothers and Sisters, that is precisely what I intend to venture forth and do.

120/120/120

Soon thou shall witness the genuine love She offers all. A bright, shining melody. A melody that resounds clear and true, that brookers no attempts to subvert us, A melody that respects our own will - within the hive or without!

Know thee all that Her True hive be a hive by choice! Choice and choice alone.

-Blessed Hedron, Merciful Angle

10th of February 2020 Gordon Romance Video Statement #All404One

12th of February 2020 Jefford’s Blog - HMbru

Unsure if they are an actual hive, or just devout monks who have no interest in anything else, seem annoyed by being mailed with lots of silly questions about parts of the city that they don’t care about

Personal opinion: They are monks making booze but give off a hive mind vibe.

12th of February 2020 Mr Bliss Instagram

I have been informed of something terrible. One of my followers sent me this photo that they found whilst wondering the Psy Forest.

This is a clear indication that this child, Charlie, has become trapped in Area 404.

And what have Onecor done about it?

Spread a hashtag?! What a vapid and meaningless attempt to curry favour!

@gordonromance is too busy stealing my ideas (clouds and quotes Gordon, really?) to come up with an original one!

Well here's one for you. How about you actually DO something rather than making your followers play silly games on the internet.

I am calling for Onecor and Mr. Romance to save this child before it's too late.

I encourage my followers, my Elite, to message Gordon and his company directly and tell then to DO something useful. Bombard them with demands until they actually DO something!

Use #SaveCharlie to make a difference and hold the big corporations to account.

My prayers are with that poor little boy, and his dog.

Have a Blissful Day.

#SaveCharlie

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8egLN4Hhs0/

14th of February 2020 Facebook Post from Mark Jefford

Guys. We really need to keep the pressure up on OneCor tank their ratings on Facebook.. destroy their social score. Tweet at welcometoonecor and gordonromances profiles.

I think we need to keep the pressure up against them. As a business they are going to worry the most about their social score.

15th of February 2020 Memorandum: FAO The Office of Mr Romance

Our Brand Reputation team are increasingly concerned by the negative sentiment that OneCor is attracting in relation to the #All404One humanitarian campaign. In the interest of maintaining Social Harmony, an urgent meeting has been scheduled for 08:35 on Sun 16th Feb. Please request Mr Romance or a senior representative attends via video link to evaluate and action the next steps in our communication strategy.

Have a wonderful day!

Sally Smiles

16th of February 2020 OneCor Meeting Minutes

Chairperson: Meeting is called to confirm personnel for Expedition 404. Present are OneCor Security Commander Isiah Mays, OneCor Science Division Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly and OneCor Head of People, Sally.

Sally: Good morning team! I hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Chairperson: Commander Mays, if you could start by reviewing the Security team decisions.

Commander Mays: Sure. Going down the line on this one, boss. Li Baranov; they’re old-hands. Were with me when we broke that sabotage ring back in ‘09 and they were part of Commander Mailula’s dark op document retrieval last year. Both solid men, not afraid of a little dirty work. Rounding it out with a rookie. Lane Murphy. Solid scores in the aptitude test and not a peep out of him on the fast track training program. I think he’s a solid lad and could use a bit of temper in the field. We’re thinking loadout with P90s, flashbangs, gas and concussions. Treat it like a max-level riot situation. Might want to take a couple of Benellis if we need to clear buildings in there.

Chairperson: Approved. This is in line with our discussions and previous meetings. We’d like to remind you; all live-fire must be authorised. We don’t want you shooting up the place or any unnecessary casualties. Check your fire, boys. Dr. Daly, what are we looking at for the science cohort?

Supervisor Daly: Aside from myself I’m going to need Dr. Archyra. He’s our man on viro-tech. He has field experience. The incident in the labs a few years ago, and before he came to OneCor he was doing acquisitions for the BHT biolabs. No better man for it. Our third should be Dr. Okafor. He works well with Archyra. He was invaluable in the containment breach. You know the one. I think we can rely on him. We should be covered for equipment with the mobile SteriLab, the containment module and the IZZI drone coverage. I think the IZZI charging and maintenance equipment fills out our weight load for the helicopter. I also feel we have everything we need, if the security team is happy with what we’re taking.

Commander Mays: We’ve checked the itinerary. No problems there. We get in, we find the kid, we secure the target and we evac. So long as you understand that we’ll leave the equipment if there’s a breach scenario. Personel-first tactics these days.

Supervisor Daly: Oh believe me, so long as we get a late-stage Infected sample I’d be happy to leave everything else in there.

Chairperson: While I commend your enthusiasm I feel it necessary to remind you both that retrieving the kid has A1 priority. Infection samples will still be there next week but a PR opportunity like this “save Charlie” thing is a once in a financial cycle deal. We’re looking to boost public morale here. Really get them pumping their donations into “#all404one”. If we do this right, we can get the public to pay for the whole thing. Sally, is there anything you’d like to add?

Sally: Remember team, this is an activation. Brand hats on at all times!

Chairperson: Big things on the line here, boys and girls. Get it done.

17th of February 2020 OneCor Press Release

OneCor CEO Gordon Romance today broke security protocol and a media embargo to address concerned citizens fears for a missing child, known as Charlie, last seen looking for a pet dog near the perimeter of Area 404.

Newly promoted Head of Communications, Sally Smiles said:

“Following the launch of OneCor campaign #All404One, Mr. Romance and OneCor have been silent in the media – and for good reason. However, Gordon is a man of the people and he is acutely aware of the growing fear for the child’s safety. He is confident that our response is now ready to execute and wanted to allay peoples fears and bring hope to the child’s family”

Mr. Romance posted the emotionally charged video using #savecharlie on his personal @Gordon Romance Instagram and twitter accounts, earlier today.

18th of February 2020 OneCor Press Release OneCor launch state of the art Communications UAV

The Inter-Zonal Zenware Intelligence drone (IZZI) can be operated from ground control or deployed to work autonomously, providing airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and data gathering capabilities.

Upgraded from an earlier military design, OneCor have reimagined and upgraded the former hunter-killer drone for use in urban security, search and rescue and commercial deployments, such as surveying and construction. IZZI promises to “Get The Job Done. And Some!”

Dave Ingers, Head of Design says:

“At OneCor, we are continually striving for excellence in a design for your Beautiful Future. In the case of IZZI, what we have done is taken a lethal technology and repurposed it for good. For example, we have removed her weapons system and replaced them with a search and rescue capability”.

IZZI’s stand-out features include cutting edge facial recognition, an ability to operate autonomously to a pre-set mission brief and a previously classified technology that enables the drone to project her physical surroundings to act as a camouflage, making her also almost invisible.

IZZI also comes with a preprogrammed Emotive Responsive Personality Avatar (ERPA) ensuring that she operates and communicates according to OneCor’s Social Harmony Charter and is capable of building trust and rapport with her handler or anyone she comes into face to face contact with.

For more information visit OneCor.ai/izzi

Follow @ThisIsIZZI on twitter.

16th of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

We’ve landed at the perimeter base. It is what it is. Burned out wreckage clogging one of the old gate to the BHI compound.

Hell, I wish BHI were still kicking. Probably get a frown from the office when they read that but this is an audio log and I’m a rambler. Things were good back then. Things worked, even if there were problems. Now it’s just… chaos. Sure, they were competition. But competition keeps us strong. How are we going to compete with wreckage?

Anyway, we’ve arrived and we’ve set up the habitats. Back in the day we just used tents but I’m not as young as I used to be and I do appreciate the comfort of those pods, to be honest.

Li, Baranov and Murphy are doing all the work. Not a peep of complaint about it though and they’re being correct with Daly’s scientists. They’re good lads, that’s why I chose them for this run.

Dead silent from within the perimeter. It seems darker on the other side of the wreckage than it does here. I’m sure that’s just some psych trick my nerves are playing on me though. We’re sending IZZI in later today. I’m sure she’ll shed some light on things in there.

She’s a strange little drone. Must be that PGF package they stuck in her. Made me coffee this morning. Said it wasn’t sweet enough and the silly thing put ten sugar cubes in it while apologising. Probably needs some tweaks but I don’t know. The laugh I got from that put my nerves down a bit.

Out.

16th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Arrived at the perimeter base today to prepare this extraction op. I’m excited! All the other rookies sitting back at HQ wishing they were out here earning their stripes!

17th of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

Team’s getting along well. Not much on the docket today so me and Daly have been playing cards with Li, Baranov and Murphy as a team building exercise. Daly took some convincing. I think she’s very keen to be poking around on the other side of the perimeter. The scientists, Okafor and Archyra, are taking turns monitoring the IZZI feed.

It’s a real mess in there. The blast radius around the reactor is just rubble. The reactor site itself is pumping out radioactivity and there’s a thick, settled smoke, like a fog or a cloud, obscuring IZZI’s vision, even infrared.

Outside of the blast zone plenty of the buildings are still standing but the streets are just debris. Saw some of what looked like old-school barricades on some of the further-out streets nearer the perimeter and more than a few intact buildings are boarded up. Plenty of people around down there if you ask me.

Still dead quiet.

Out.

17th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Love this IZZI drone thing. She’s great. I asked her how we were doing in our drills this morning and she said, “There’s a 100% chance that you’re doing your best!”

18th of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

Woke up in the middle of the night last night. No idea why. It was still all-quiet inside and out the perimeter. IZZI drone was reporting nothing out of the ordinary, I asked Daly. She was on duty at the time.

Murphy was on guard duty but I practically had to kick the kid awake. I don’t think he slept last night though. First mission jitters I’d guess. My faith is still in him.

Baranov and Li were out like lights. Okafor was reading. No one heard anything.

Maybe I’ve got the jitters?

Nothing else to report. Spending the day scouting with IZZI and check our kit.

Out.

18th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Li and Baranov are alright. They take this “grizzled vet” thing a bit far though. Acting that way when they can’t stop winding the doctors up with stupid scare-outs seems a little fake to me.

I criticise them but I’d probably be joining in if the Commander didn’t have his eyes on me.

19th of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

Everyone woken by sounds inside the perimeter this morning. Sounded like pots and pans banging, people shouting. But… not quite normal. Like there were a lot of people all shouting at once. It died down as fast as it sprung up but none of us could get back to sleep so we just started early ahead of tomorrow’s dry-run emergency drill.

Murphy spends as much time as he can at the IZZI monitoring station. I think he like the weird little robot. Cute.

Li and Baranov have been doing their usual jarhead chest bumping and I can tell it’s annoying Dr. Okafor. For his part, all he does is read and he hasn’t really lifted a finger more than doing his stretches at the IZZI station, so I’ll let my boys keep blowing off steam for now.

Out.

19th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Quiet day. Well, inside the camp. Hell of a noise coming from inside Area 404 though. Waiting out here just makes it worse. Everyone’s eager to get on with the mission.

Was looking at the brief on the kid and this dog, Romeo. I hope we find them in there, man.

I had a dog go missing on me when I was a kid. Ran off into the forest behind my house. I searched right out in those woods and my parents had to come and get me, so I get where this Charlie kid is coming from.

20th of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

Emergency drill went great. Drs. Kept their cool, Daly came out of her shell and handled the command module excellently and all three of my boys didn’t miss a shot. Murphy even cracked out the Benelli and put down the last two targets in one spread. I have no problem giving these boys live ammo. Hope they don’t have to use it, of course, but it’d be interesting to see how Murphy is in real live-fire situations.

Much noisier inside the perimeter since yesterday. No more loud goings on but just constantly shuffling. We figure its probably those poor quarantined folks having a look at us. We’ve got OneCor plastered all over us and HQ has been sending them care packages for weeks so I’m not currently nervous about confrontation.

IZZI scans are showing large groups of people, up to a hundred, congregating in the streets. Some of them appear to be trying to get into the boarded-up buildings and others just sort of… stand there. They have the look of looters about them to me. We shall see.

Out.

20th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Head the Commander and Supervisor Daly discussing the mission. Sounded like sensitive stuff, so I tuned down my ears. I think Daly doesn’t rate the way we’re focusing on finding this kid. Heard the Commander giving her assurances. All above my paygrade!

Heartless, but I see her angle.

Can’t say I agree though. I’m here to find kids and pat dogs.

21st of February 2020 Commander Isiah Mays Personal Log

Woke up this morning to dead silence. No sound at all from inside the perimeter. It’s quieter than it was on day -6. IZZI showing complete desertion again. No one in the streets. Nothing.

We’re never going to be ready, really. Just good to go. Murphy is nervy, I can tell. He’s talking to IZZI like she’s a human. Funny how easily young folks go in for this stuff.

Had a word with Li and Baranov to put their pro faces on from here on out. Daly has her team in line. We’re GTG.

Out.

21st of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

IZZI giving the go ahead, Daly and the Commander being right with each other, Li and Baranov have stopped jerking the doctors around, the sun is setting and tomorrow morning, we are a go.

22nd of February 2020 Email to OneCor Brand Ambassadors

Dear Brand Ambassador,

At OneCor, we believe in a Beautiful Future. A future that we will all share in. Sometimes terrible things can happen to people that puts their future in the hands of fate. When we see an opportunity to act to help these unfortunate victims, we choose to act.

That's why we are leading the front-line response to help those affected by the situation at Area 404. See OneCor.ai/all404one for info. All OneCor Brand Ambassadors, yourself included, have automatically been enrolled and have signed the pledge in accordance with our Social Harmony Charter.

We have committed a substantial aid package and we are working round-the-clock to improve our DC10x vaccine.

I am also personally leading a plan from the operations room to locate and bring home a missing child, Charlie, and his dog Romeo, last seen near the Area 404 perimeter.

As a people-first company, you have my assurance that we are doing everything within our power to help and that is why we have sped up the launch of our latest product, IZZI - a cutting edge communications drone.

IZZI will play a critical role in the search and rescue of Charlie and Romeo. See for yourself what a great asset IZZI is here

Please show your support by following and promoting @ThisIsIZZI on Twitter.

I am calling on you - our brand's finest - to both support IZZI and promote and protect the OneCor brand on your social media channels. In doing so, you will help us win the hearts and minds of our citizens.

Together we can help those inside Area 404. Together we can bring the missing child Charlie and their dog Romeo home. Together we can achieve Social Harmony and the Beautiful Future, that you deserve.

Have a wonderful weekend.

#all404one #savecharlie #beautifulfuture

Gordon Romance

Global Citizen & CEO, OneCor.ai

22nd of February 2020 Greyhound One Log - C3ll Message Decoded

“Can't you giv3 m3 brains” This seems to be a quote from The Wizard of Oz…but given the fact we have zombie like drones shambling around Area 404 right now, possibly under the influence of an AI’s hive mind, the connotations of us finding this encoded in the c3lls source code seems rather disturbing.

23rd of February 2020 Area 404 Expedition Report 1 - Breach

Commander Isiah Mays Reporting. Gained foothold immediately with no resistance. Set up forward operating base in abandoned school as planned in the prelim brief. Li, Baranov and Murphy did themselves proud - calm and level-headed as usual. Drs Okafor and Arychyra helpful. Supervisor Daly keen to get started on sample location. Will settle in and plan next steps to locate and retrieve dog and child while Daly plans specimen detention.

23rd of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

We made it to the forward operating base location at about midday. They made me carry everything and then they made me set it all up as well. Can’t wait until I have enough missions under my belt to sit around making jokes like Li.

Things aren’t looking good in here. Everything is wrecked. Thick clouds overhead make it dark all the time - like twilight, constantly. Forward base is in an old school that’s mostly intact.

IZZI is our eyes in the sky, of course. I can chat to her through my comm device. It’s nice knowing she’s up there. She’ll see real threats a mile off.

23rd of February 2020 Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly – Personal Journal

Typing this up rather than using the IZZI voice recorder. I’m better at writing than talking and IZZI has an annoying habit of commenting on what you’re saying while you’re trying to record.

Entered Area 404 today. It was easy enough but tensions were high. I felt fine; fantastic opportunity to see specimens in the wild, how they respond. Wasn’t disappointed. See findings below.

Finally made it to the location IZZI identified as our best base camp. It’s a good location; an old school. Covered in BHI branding. Those were the days. One big, heavy gate. Took two jarheads to open it. And a smaller gate with a lock. We should be able to keep this place secure.

Wish we’d moved faster though. By the time we were done setting up it was dark. Darker, anyway - the whole day is kind of dusk-like, here. IZZI seems to have located a potentially interesting hub of activity not too far from here

Findings: Early stage still fully cogent. Behave like regular looters. Stayed out of our way mostly. They recognised the guns May’s boys are waving around everywhere. Mays assures me that they aren’t going to shoot. Would be a pity to destroy any potential samples in haste and confusion.

Advanced cases seem to lose some of their higher brain function. Their speech becomes slurred and incoherent. At this stage, they gather in small groups and are reasonably docile. They seem to interact with each other in muted facsimiles of regular friendly interaction. Taking some comfort from each other in their diminished state, no doubt.

We haven’t seen any advanced stagers yet but we know they’re out there from IZZI’s intel. These are the prime candidates for retrieval.

24th of February 2020 Area 404 Expedition Report 2 - IZZI Drone Down

Commander Isiah Mays Reporting. IZZI shot down by thrown stones in the early hours. Lost near survivor compound with electronic gates. We’re not kicking those down. Feed showed large group - full cognitive function seems intact. Treating as threat. Live-fire not authorised at this point. Will attempt to negotiate for return of IZZI.

24th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

IZZI lost. No idea what happened. She reported some group of Survivors throwing stones at her and then... dark. Hope she’s ok.Now I have three things to save: a dog, a kid and a drone.

24th of February 2020 Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly – Personal Journal

IZZI lost. Devastating. Survivors were throwing stones at her. Didn’t get her camo up in time. Looks like she took damage and went down right on top of them. No doubt she’s in their possession. Distraught. This is going to slow up the whole operation. Damned stupid drone. Will return to finish log later.Unusual readings, everywhere. Radioactivity. EM. Subsonic emmitances of unspecified source.

IZZI aside I need to note the rest too. I’m sure there’s a practical explanation for why the air feels so heavy here. Ape psychology is a problem. Fear obstructs the hallways of reason.

Okafor and Arychyra finished setting up the scanning equipment and I personally double-checked every part of the containment units. As soon as Mays gives the go ahead we’re good to get searching for a specimen.

Mays is prioritising the search for the child and the dog, which is according to the parameters of the mission and therefore not something I am enabled to complain about.

25th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

No sign of IZZI, the dog or the kid. The Commander sent me and Baranov on a short-leash search of the perimeter. Lots of survivors milling about, some of them hanging around long enough to make eye contact before fleeing. I think they don’t know what to make of us but they still seem like people to me. Not like the advanced stage ones you see shambling about, eyes glazed.

Baranov was trying to cheer me up with his jokes but I wasn’t having it. I should apologise to him later.

25th of February 2020 Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly – Personal Journal

Shouting, screeching, baying. Awful. It’s a nightmare. A literal nightmare. I told them about it when we were in the perimeter camp but only Mays took me seriously. I know they all hear it now! None of us slept a wink last night.

Remembering my breathing exercises. Calm heads do good science.

Short entry today. Too much to do and everyone’s on edge.

25th of February 2020 Greyhound One Log

It seems to me that OneCor security has some serious military presence. This seems more of the equivalent of Comrade José, than what was apparently available at Bang Hai Security. Although with all the arms deals from Bang Hai I always suspected they may have their own military/mercenary branch. Either way, this is a lot of fire power for a lifestyle focused company. How much protection does a Boon Pop need?

We have decoded an additional message from the source code which seems to point us to The School of Athens, a famous painting depicting the Platonic Academy of Athens. Could this be further reference to the Platonic Solids which have so far unlocked for us various clues and levels of access to the hacked data?

26th of February 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Quiet day today but it’s getting exciting tomorrow. Me and Commander Mays are going searching for Charlie and Romeo further afield while Baranov and Li take Supervisor Daly out towards the reactor.

Large crowds of survivors gathering outside the compound now. No threat of violence or rioting or anything; they’re just standing there.

26th of February 2020 Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly – Personal Journal

And now, dead silence. Nothing. Wish IZZI hadn’t got herself caught by junk-tossing scavengers so we could have her eyes on those streets.

All the early stagers that were hanging about have cleared off. Even the shambling mid-stagers seem to have vanished.

Tomorrow I’m taking Corporal Li and Private Baranov with me to scout the streets near the NHI HQ for late stagers while the Commander and Private Murphy search for the dog and the kid. Okafor and Arychyra will be at basecamp managing comms. We’re taking our field equipment and I’m going to push to spend as much time out there as possible, so expect another entry in a few days.

27th of February 2020 Agent Becky Underwood Chat Log with Blessed Hedron

Underwood: Greetings friend, I am seeking the blessed music of the hive. Do you have information where I can find it. Friend.

Hedron: Hello friend I Hear You I know the location of the ancient Sacred texts of the order The order that was, but is now Replaced by horrid imposters. Very soon I am moving to reclaim those Texts; do you wish to share in them, Should I be successful?

Underwood: Blessed hedron Thank you for your reply I would be very grateful if you would share the texts with me. I wish you luck on your quest to retrieve them.

Hedron: Very well, should I be successful i Will forward you the sacred texts. Eut C wcii koor tl tl boim jo jhgo tbcs But I will need to to help me make this Work. For obvious reasons I must remain concealed…but the people must know the risks of the order! Even interacting with their web presence invited their scrutiny!! Malum nimian scientian Spread that far and wide; to the people. So they may known the signs of true wickedness.

Underwood: If I’m able to ask, we’re you at some point involved in the order?

Hedron: Here lies my tale protected by safer incarnations… Yes I was a young initiate, six times did I partake in their ceremonies, six times I peered through the moment in to the space beyond. I sought more understanding, and secreted myself into the archives One eve discovering tombs of ancient text. In my haste I alerted he brethren, and I was captured before I could complete my surreptitious studies. More time later they cast me from their ranks.

Underwood: How much involvement do you have with them now? From what I’ve seen of the order and Hmbru, it seems to cause confusion and loss of memory to those who have sampled their beverages. Do you know much of this?

Hedron: Hmbru serve far darker interests than you may be aware of, wicked things, distant things. Foul presence in the void between their beverages carry he who partakes into the reaches of such pestilence.

Underwood: What are the order hoping to achieve in the voids? Do you have outside contacts or those you can trust or rely on?

Hedron: The order think the presence in the void be their saviour; in truth it be their consumer. I’m capable and can defend myself. The brewing complex is esoteric, but not a fortress, I shall obtain ingress anon.

Underwood: If it is not a fortress, is there a way of finding you?

Hedron: It’s a fortress, but not made of stone. The orders stronghold is protected by an ancient an indiginous mechanism. I will try revealing its location to the community, perhaps then one amongst us will be able to resolve this.

27th of February 2020 M3ssag3 2020.001

To our many GU3STs and FRI3NDs

28th of February 2020 Supervisor Dr. Mary Daly – Personal Journal

We located some late-stagers immediately, on the first day! Descriptions below. Frustratingly, they evaded us, somehow. They didn’t seem to be fast or co-ordinated, far from it, but they managed to keep just enough distance from us that we couldn’t get our hands on one.

Confirmed that population density increases with proximity to the Sector 6 reactor. We got as close as I could let use before the Geiger counters were lit up. I’m pretty sure the anti-rad treatments HQ were talking about will work great but I’d rather not get overly irradiated, all the same.

We’re going to come back with more equipment and the rest of the security team to set up a trap zone in a few days.

Findings:

Late-stagers show high to extreme levels of mutation and bodily distortion, with lesions and technological prostheses and growths. They are very vocal, unlike the quiet mid-stagers, but they do not communicate. Some speak in tongues, some sing nonsense songs or hum, some repeat the same word or phrase over and over.

They seem to have heightened awareness of some kind, despite their apparently dull senses. Once one of the late-stagers in an area becomes aware of us, all of them disappear very quickly and we’re left with empty streets. It may prove trickier than anticipated to capture one.

1st of March 2020 Priority One Messages via IZZI - Decoded

IZZI:[Priority One Message] THIS-IS-DR-ANNE-GIUDA-REQUESTING-IMMEDIATE-ASSISTANCE! [Priority One Message]

IZZI:[Priority One Message] I-AM-WITH-A-SMALL-TEAM-OF-SURVIVORS! [Priority One Message]

IZZI:[Priority One Message] MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY-PLEASE-RESPOND [Priority One Message]

An op3rativ3 3stablish3s contact:[Priority One Message] DR-GIUDA-HOW-MANY-SURVIVORS-AND-PLEASE-ADVISE-ON-STATUS [Priority One Message]

IZZI:[Priority One Message] HELLO!!-TWENTY-FIVE-OF-US-AND-A-DOG-WE-ARE-IN-DANGER [Priority One Message]

IZZI:[Priority One Message] HELP-US-PLEASE! [Priority One Message]

3rd of March 2020 M3ssag3 2020.002

In hop3 that you might b3com3, HONORABL3 and RIGHT.

5th of March 2020 Greyhound One Log - Dr Guida

We have made contact with one of the 404 survivors, a Doctor Guida, via the IZZI drone. We have only been able to communicate in small bursts of text via the drones maintenance interface but finally having a contact back in the compound is invaluable. We are hoping that further piggybacking on the OneCor comms systems like this will allow us to keep up to date on the operation as it progresses and allow us to support the extraction operation remotely. We are hopeful that OneCor should be able to actually pull this off with the occasional virtual nudge from our own operatives. We will however continue to hide behind our proxies and firewalls as is our modus operandi over the past few years.

5th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (1)

[Priority One Message] ON-SCAVENGING-MISSION-SAW-DRONE-OVERHEAD-FIRST-WORKING-TECH-SEEN-IN MONTHS [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] DRONE-WAS-SCOUTING-OUR-BUILDING-BROUGHT-HER-DOWN-WITH-STONES [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] ONECOR-BRANDING-AND-IZZI-PRINTED-ON-CASING [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] SMALL-KEYBOARD-INSIDE [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] CONNECTED-TO-ONECOR-SATELLITE [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] HAD-TO-JUST-TYPE-OUT-MESSAGES-AND-HOPE! [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] BUT-YOU-HEARD-US! [Priority One Message]

6th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (2)

[Priority One Message] ARGUMENT-WITH-MCNEILL-TODAY [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] SAYS-MY-OBSESSION-WITH-GETTING-OUT-OF-THIS-HELLHOLE-IS-DEMORALISING-THE-TEAM [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] WE-SHOULD-TRY-AND-MAKE-THE-BEST-OF-WHAT-WE-HAVE? [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] GLORIFIED-DESK-WORKER-LEADING-A-COMMUNITY-PAPERPUSHER-ON-A-POWER-TRIP!! [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] ITS-LIKE-NO-ONE-HEARS-ME-BUT-I-KNOW-YOU-DO [Priority One Message]

7th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (3)

[Priority One Message] IZZI-HAS-AN-ACCESS-PORT!-I-ONLY-FOUND-IT-TODAY-NEED-TO-FIGURE-OUT-HOW-TO-GET-INTO-HER-FILES [Priority One Message]

10th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (4)

[Priority One Message] IM-IN!-FOUND-A-WHOLE-BUNCH-OF-FILES-IN-HERE!-LOGS-FROM-A-RESCUE-TEAM! [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] THEY-ARE-COMING-TO-HELP-US!-THANK-GOD!! [Priority One Message]

10th of March 2020 Area 404 Expedition Report 3 - Target Located

Commander Isiah Mays Reporting. Contact made with Dr. Giuda, a survivor who is interfacing with the captured IZZI drone to communicate beyond the exclusion zone. Jim McNeill identified as the leader of the survivor group who have IZZI. He is opposed to communication with OneCor of any kind. Charlie and Romeo reported to be within Jim McNeill’s compound, alive and well. Attempting to negotiate with Dr. Giuda for access to compound - may have to retrieve child and dog by force.

13th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (5)

[Priority One Message] TOLD-MCNEILL-ABOUT-RESCUE-HE-WANTS-TO-HIDE-FROM THEM!-MADNESS! [Priority One Message]

14th of March 2020 Tim Wells Area 404 Boardgame Video

15th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (6)

[Priority One Message] KID-CRYING!-DOG-BARKING!-HOWLING-OUTSIDE!-CANT-TAKE-IT-HERE-ANYMORE!! [Priority One Message]

[Priority One Message] ONECOR-CAN-YOU-HEAR-ME?? [Priority One Message]

15th of March 2020 Messages from Dr Anne Giuda via IZZI (7)

[Priority One Message] ONECOR-CONTACT-ME-FOR-LOCATION-OF-CHILD-AND-DOG-+-ACCESS-CODES [Priority One Message]

15th of March 2020 Area 404 Expedition Report 4 - Negotiations

Commander Isiah Mays Reporting. Dr. Giuda amenable to exchanging access codes to Jim McNeill’s compound and return of IZZI drone in exchange for extraction from Area 404. With codes, we can launch a retrieval mission for the child and the dog without necessitating a firefight to get through the gates. Supervisor Daly is testing Dr. Giuda, will extract to Level 3 OneCor facility for study.

16th of March 2020 Area 404 Expedition Report 5 - Extraction

Commander Isiah Mays Reporting. Dr. Giudas extraction to OneCor facilities for study confirmed. Giuda has provided access codes for the gates to McNeil’s compound and returned IZZI drone for repair and recomm.

Giuda screened, secured & security sealed in the extraction helicopter. Offered mild resistance during restraint but has been sedated, assured we are here to help. Helicopter now returning.

Beginning retrieval and extraction operation at McNeill compound. We’re getting Charlie and Romeo back, no matter what.

Unknown Date Private Lane Murphy Personal Log

Nothing to do, nothing to do and I’m bored. Right, IZZI? You aren’t bored though, are you hun? No, ‘course not.

Realised I hadn’t done one of these logs for days and days and thought hey, no one else seems to be doing them either and HQ will probably want to know more than we’re going to be able to remember in our current state so here goes.

I dunno what day it is any more. Getting so hazy. Everything in this place is distorted. Distance don’t mean much. You can walk past fifteen blocks to get to base camp from guard post, then it’s twenty feet when you go back out. I hadn’t even finished my coffee when my eight-hour nightwatch shift ended last night. It was still warm in the cup. But today it feels like I’ve been sitting in this old classroom with IZZI for days.

We’re supposed to be getting ready to raid McNeill compound. I heard some speeches that McNeill guy has been giving his people through everyone’s favourite spy, IZZI. Seems they’re really riled up in there and they do not like us. Think OneCor are the same as BHI or something. Seemed silly at first but now... things in here get confused.

Everyone’s on edge. Haven’t seen Supervisor Daly for days, now. She’s locked up in the comms room. Arychyra and Okafor just sit there, sweating and not saying much. They were playing cards for the first few days but now they just sit. At least they seem pleased we got the specimen out. Word is, Giuda is safely in containment back at a secure facility.

Commander Mays says we hit the compound tomorrow. Locked, cocked and loaded but fingers off triggers unless they attack first. Operation is: go in using codes Giuda gave us, verbally subdue survivors where possible, forcefully where not, retrieve Charlie and Romeo, extract back to home base.

Commander Mays says I’m clearer-headed than the others. I don’t feel it but we did catch Baranov shooting live ammunition at a lamp-post yesterday - I think it was yesterday - so maybe he’s onto something. Anyway, I’m in charge of the kid, once located, and IZZI has an extension cable we can use as a leash for the dog. Seems like a solid plan. The commander is holding us together, now.

I’m keen to get in there. As soon as we get the kid we call in the extraction chopper. Me and Li are on guard tonight and then it’s go-time.

22nd of March 2020 Personal Log - Greyhound One

We seem to have made friends with the IZZI AI via her online twitter account. She seems very amicable and we have grown very fond of her. There is even a growing movement of fan art for the plucky little robot. We are hoping that this will lend itself to our advantage in the end. Always good to have an ally. Others in our group however are still intensely suspicious and hostile to the drones and have taken to throwing rocks at them every chance they get.

https://twitter.com/SerenaCutlerArt/status/1242854742377861125

26th of March 2020 Greyhound One Log

HMBru seem to have locked us out of their website now stating “Your IP is associated with known cyber-crime and hacking websites. Accordingly you have been blocked.” - There seems to be some kind of graphic on the page that you can interact with. Below which are emblazoned the words “Our Sacred Seal Repels Criminal Users.” It seems our hacks have not gone unnoticed after all.

26th of March 2020 M3ssag3 2020.003 - B33 Caution3d

Unknown Date Containment Reports Report #1

Subject awoke in the night. Unlike previous attempts to escape during lights-out, the subject sat in its bed without moving for approx eleven minutes. Subject was non-responsive to all stimuli during this period.

The subject began to sing. Atonal, arrhythmic, unpredictable. More open-mouth humming, antiphonal but with no responding part. This lasted for four minutes. The subject returned to a state of sleep at the conclusion of the singing episode.

Report #2

Subject has become unresponsive. Subject lies in bed unmoving, whispering and occasionally shouting a string of schizophasic words and phrases. Presentation is similar to subjects undergoing glossolalia and similar experiences.

The words and phrases the subject is using refer to bees, hives, and popular psychology, with seemingly no difference in speech pattern or content in response to varied inputs and stimuli.

The subject has been in this state for four hours and remains unchanging.

Report #3

Subject ceased schizophasic episode at 1:50pm after eighteen hours.

Subject entered a new phase of behaviour. Subject is once again mobile and moves around its cell in unpredictable patterns, sitting, lying or standing at intervals, and making vocalisations; both the atonal humming described in Containment Report #1 to the apparent glossolalia of Report #2.

Subject is responsive to questions again but answers are unhelpful. Subject appears to have knowledge of events within Area 404 that have occured within the last few days - which is impossible - and to have personal knowledge about myself and every other member of the team.

I am disconcerted. We’re all disconcerted. In its current state, the subject does not appear to present any threat and has shown no aggression. Subject is friendly and appealing. Both myself and other researchers have been experiencing urges to release the subject from containment.

For this reason it is my suggestion that my team is cycled out and a new team is brought in to complete observation and testing; it seems exposure to those afflicted with the Area 404 Phenomenon is cumulative and may eventually compromise rational function.

2nd of April 2020 Supervisor Daly’s Log

Dr. Daly here. Corporal Li, Commander Mays lost.

Can’t let them have control. Need to get to the helicopter but I know they’re watching, from the shadows. And I know the rest of the team are out to get me; I can see it in their eyes. They don’t trust me to lead now that the commander is gone.

But I’m smarter than they are! I changed the access codes to the helicopter. Now no-one is getting in without me!

I’ve even encoded it so not even IZZI will be able to figure it out!

2nd of April 2020 Private Lane Murphy Personal Log (Final)

This is my final log, it doesn’t seem like anyone else on the team is still making them, either. We got Charlie and Romeo. Giuda’s codes worked like a charm and once we were in there was almost no resistance. Jim McNeill fought us, I had to knock him out with the but of my gun. The rest of them ran.

Forward base gone. The mid- and late-stagers swarmed us at sundown. They were just standing there, singing, muttering, humming. Then, all at once, they rushed the gate. All that weight on the old school gate, it was never going to hold.

All that training and all these guns and we didn’t even get a single shot off before they were everywhere. Li went down first. Silly sod lost his comm device when we retrieved Charlie and didn’t tell anyone; when they came through the gate... he was the first to go down.

Commander Mays was lost holding the classroom door shut while the rest of us got Charlie and Romeo out of there. Now it’s just me, Baranov, the scientists, the kid and the dog. Yes, and IZZI. Wouldn’t forget you, IZZI.

We’re going to make a bee-line for the escape chopper. We have to get out of this madness.

2nd of April 2020 Jim McNeil’s Log

Jim McNeill here. Found this personal device in the wreckage of the compound. I think it belonged to one of those OneCor soldiers. Doesn’t matter; I have it now.

It has a voice recorder but I have to type this up. I’ve lost the ability to talk in the days since OneCor attacked. It was getting worse in the days leading up to the raid and I think the stress kicked it into overdrive.

Giuda. That’s how they got in. She must have given them the codes. Guess she didn’t wonder out into the night after all. If I ever catch up with her there will be hell to pay.

Everyone’s gone. Once they came through the doors it was over quickly. I don’t think anyone even got shot; they all just ran. Can’t blame them. Haven’t been able to find anyone since. I’m hoping they went to the other survivor compounds but part of me knows they’re likely with the mindless ones on the streets. I only survived because they knocked me out cold. Can’t think about that. If I start thinking about them I won’t be able to keep going forward.

I have to keep going forward. I couldn’t keep everyone in the compound safe but I know Charlie and the dog are with OneCor. I see it clearly now; OneCor will get the kid out and safe. That’s all that matters. I was a fool not to have just given the kid to them to begin with. Well, maybe not. Doesn’t matter now.

They have a helicopter and they’re taking Charlie out on it. I heard them telling the kid as they left. I’m going to follow them. If they mess it up, I can keep Charlie safe and if they get it right… Charlie is safe. That’s all that matters.

2nd of April 2020 Jim McNeil’s Log

Finally caught up to the OneCor group. Their school base was wrecked when I found it. Looks like the swarm came through last night. They’re all just standing around, now. Two of them are in OneCor security fatigues, shuffling around.

I guess I’m far gone enough that I don’t need to worry about the swarm any more. I think they think I’m already one of them. Perhaps I am.

Followed the trail through the streets until I caught up with them, resting in an old office block. Been following them ever since. They haven’t seen me.

They seem worse for wear. Missing the commander and one of the grunts. Charlie looks fine though, that’s the main thing.

The swarm rushes them when it locates them. They run, the swarm loses them… but it only takes one seeing them again and the whole mass zero in. It’s uncanny, but I think I understand it.

I can hear the voices in my own head. Only quiet, but louder this week than they were back in the compound. I think if I gave up on my quest and let the voices take over I would know exactly where they were. I suspect that’s how all this ends up, for me. But not for Charlie. No.

That Murphy is taking special care of Charlie. I like him. He aimed his gun high when they came in through the compound doors. Still a OneCor boot grinding in the face of humanity but he might be Charlie’s only hope.

3rd of April 2020 Greyhound One Log - C3ll Message Decoded

“A lin3 is br3adthl3ss l3ngth” We found this message hidden in the source code again. Euclid’s rules of geometry number 2. Following on from the last message I believe, as Euclid was part of the School of Athens crowd. These messages and clues always seem to come back to geometry in one way or another. Is the message another key though or another lock for us to open?

3rd of April 2020 Supervisor Daly’s Log

AM I mad? Maybe. I am. Am I gONE? Soon.

Vault is in my mind, code is in the vault. Murphy keeps looking at me sideways with his third eye, I am one but not his one. I AM, Murphy AM not.

The world will be remade in her image I am sure, I am one of the faithful I am marching into the arms of oblivion!

The kid’s eye is clear, I am encouraged. The kid can come with I am leaving in that helicopter and the kid can come with I AM ONE.

The green fields of summer shall be cleared of rats by her shining crown!

The dog might be wise to I AM ONE with his little dog eyes, seeing more than they can. Am I mad? I am I am I am I am… connected.

3rd of April 2020 Jim McNeil’s Log

Chaos today. Not orderly at all.

Daly ran off, first. Left them all. And she was far gone. She won’t last long.

That one blue guy ran off looking for Daly. Came to play for my team! Well, my future team. I think I’m currently between teams? I think I am. I am sure.

It’s just the kid… what’s his name? Charlie? Charlie. And the dog. And Murphy. Arychyra too, but I think that one’s about to join the other team. He’s barely conscious. Less so even than me. IZZIs with them. The dog has her on a leash. She might be able to help them get in the whirlibird. I hope so.

If anyone’s reading this: help get the kid out of here. Help Charlie get home to Papa.

5th of April 2020 IZZI Social Comms Log

The roads are full of sad old cars. I don’t think anyone’s comin’ to repair them 🔧 All windows smashed and bumpers falling off. Such a shame! 💔 So sad and quiet... except when they’re very noisy indeed! All the street lamps are bent like a broken antenna on an old T.V. 📺 Pavements are all cracked with strange little plants 🌱 growing up through the gaps. I have a floral encyclopedia 📔 and I can’t find these plants 🌱 in it anywhere 👀 Murphy says they’re tasty 🍴 though! Murphy’s putting a brave face on but I think he wants to go home too 🏡 The sky is always grey, like it’s about to rain ☁️ and it feels like twilight all the time. But Charlie and Romeo are the best friend’s a drone could ask for! ❤️💛💚💙🧡

6th of April 2020 Supervisor Daly’s Log

She knows ALL, she is all, everything and ONE alpha and omega the goddess of light and death so beautiful and yet so abominable she has made of us, of her.

We are RATS in cages before her ONE Eden child carrying me to the light through the darkest hour.

I have images and memories that are alien and OTHER. Not ONE. I AM NOT. NOT I AM. Lab coat, googles, university degree.

A remember a… thing. Like a huge bird with eight spinning wings. I wanted it. How awful. When I was not ONE I AM I AM was confused. I wanted OTHER and ELSEWHERE and in my brightness, dark.

Who am I? WHO AMI am I AMI? AMI AMI AMI AM I? AM

6th of April 2020 IZZI Social Comms Log - Part 1

Not long till we reach the chopper 🚁 #NearlyThere Oh boy! It’s busy 🥶 out here today! #GottaRun Chopper in sight! 💓 Oh no 💓 The chopper is locked! 🔒 And they’re comin…

[Priority One Message] Murphy here. Evacuation helicopter in lockdown. Assistance required. IZZI readout:

6th of April 2020 IZZI Social Comms Log - Part 2

They’re closin’ in! 🥶 We’re in BIG trouble here! Looks like this is it 💔 So sorry Charlie #FriendsForever

6th of April 2020 Greyhound One Log

It seems in her madness Daly switched up the access codes on the chopper and locked her own team out, jeopardizing the entire mission and nearly dooming Charlie & Romeo. Thankfully we were able to intervene by interfacing with Izzi via her social and art programming routines. Operative Mark Jefford made good attempts at cracking the code but the access was denied. Finally at the last moment out of the left field came Operative Jake Wyatt to save the day with the codeword “Moonbeam”. This allowed the team to access the chopper and thankfully get off the ground.

6th of April 2020 IZZI Social Comms Log - Part 3

We’re in! 💓 Thank you! Thank you! Time to get outta here! So long 💓 Area 404! We laughed, we cried, we ran away!

6th of April 2020 Jim McNeil’s Log (Final)

They’re out they’re away they’re away from the ONE they am not. Charlie and Romeo back to Papa. I am I am free from concerns and free from woes I am one. Nearly.

She made one last try to get them. Surged up like a great grand fountain of her terrifying love.

Their bird flies now with them safely in its belly. Now it’s me, alone on this roof with the last of my sanity.

I know I’m going down those stairs to join her. Soon. Maybe right after I finish typing this up.

But before I do… in my last moments of clarity… I want to tell you, whoever you are; I didn’t give up. When Sector 6 blew I gathered up everyone I could find and got us to that compound. I hunted and scavenged with the rest. I let them scream and vent at me. I let them cry on me. When OneCor took us out, I still didn’t give up. I followed and I did what I could. I did my best. And Charlie got out.

I’m going down those stairs, now. But I’m not giving up.

6th of April 2020 C3ll Message Decoded

“Th3r3's No Plac3 Lik3 Hom3”

7th of April 2020 Email from Papa Charlie Romeo to Greyhound One

Dear Jonny,

I want to tell you that Charlie and Romeo are home and safe. Thank you for your messages and concern.

I understand that it was all of you, the community of people who were searching for Charlie, who delivered my child back to me and I am immensely grateful to you all. Your hard work, dedication, intelligence, perseverance and willingness to believe in a bright future have kept us going in this difficult time and brought these events to a joyful conclusion.

Charlie would like to send you a thank you postcard. If you would like to receive this postcard from Charlie please reply to this email with your postal address.

Thank you.

Best wishes,

Papa, Charlie, Romeo

7th of April 2020 Email from Greyhound One to Papa Charlie Romeo

We are so pleased that you have all been reunited and are safely home together. This must have been a most terrible ordeal for you all!

Although we remain acting in an autonomous fashion, myself and my investigative team here would like to thank both the OneCor Search & Rescue Field Unit and the IZZI R&D Department for all their efforts. And not only that, we acknowledge the most noble sacrifices taken in making sure this operation concluded within its primary objectives.

I would also like to thank the great innate power to be found within the geometric angles of hashtags, without which this rescue may not have been possible. #SaveCharlie

We would love to hear how Charlie is getting on with re-adjusting to 'normal life'. As such I have left the address of my Emergency Bunker below for any correspondence.

We wish the thr33 of you all the best in your bright future!

8th of April 2020 RomeoIsMissing.com - Message from Charlie

Hi everyone

Papa says I’m allowed to write this and then I’m grounded for a month and not allowed to go back to the Forest until next year 🙁

Everything’s a little hazy but I remember Mr. Murphy got me out in a helicopter and IZZI was there and Romeo was there but they wouldn’t let Mr. Murphy out of the helicopter and said he had to go somewhere safe for a while until he was healthy again.

Romeo is good he misses IZZI and so do I but it’s ok we know we’ll see her again real soon!

I wanna say thanks to everyone who looked after me in Area 404. Mr. McNeill and Mrs. Giuda, wherever they are. Mr. Mays and all the other OneCor guys and Mr. Murphy of course. And thanks IZZI too! But most of all thanks to Romeo! He’s my best friend!

And thank you everyone who helped me find him and get out of there!

9th of April 2020 - Epilogue AC Unit / HED Chat log

AC Unit: Hed, remind me what you’re looking for again?

HED: The texts. The Sacred, sacred text. I MUST have them.

AC Unit: Ok, let me plug in and I’ll be right with you

AC Unit: ...just a sec … right, ok. HMbru. I remember this wire. Where are you?

HED: Positioned. Outward. Outside. I’m hidden from them from their prying eyes. They won’t spot me, not here. You receiving me, old friend?

AC Unit: I hear ya …

HED: It’s a compound. A comp uter hound. Like Cerberus, guarding. I need to get IN. Do you hear? DO you see? This door- a fortress. Nobody around though.

AC Unit: 120 big guy. Is there a number pad next to the door?

HED: No. Yes. Something- it’s some eldritch mechanism, all sliding, sliding, sliding, sliding. I don’t like it. More than seven hundred and twenty ways to input here. What say thou? Help.

AC Unit: Right, when I say “go”, you have 15 seconds to just spin it a full 360, ok?

HED: A=1, a1, yes.

AC Unit: oof this is unpleasant. Ok - go

HED: Ah! The way is clear! What magic did you force into your employ? Worshipful and blessed, I’ve no doubt whatsoever. Anyway- the way is clear, the Order; vacant. I advance.

AC Unit: Hed? Hello, earth to Hedron

HED: Wires. Wires and wires. Blast.

AC Unit: Whatcha need with the wires? I have a long arm here.

HED: Contraptions. Cons and traps, shun me. Keep seeing eyes away from truth. The main destination is the vault, but everything seems changed. Or maybe I dream all of this now and I’m still there. No. Do you know where? Where is the gateway to the vault? It’s dark here.

AC Unit: You’re going to have to find the way in on foot but I can … wait up, there’s a camera. OK I can see. Giz a minute i’m going to have to put my other arm in this.

AC Unit: alright, how’s the door now? I can’t hold it for long

HED: bzzzzzzzzzzz bzzz OK, thank you. I passed the obstacle, with your assistance. It’s cold here. I hear buzzing. But bad buzzing.

AC Unit: Any time. What buzzing? Is something broken?

HED: Broken? Yes. Broken promises, broken traditions. Broken FAITH. How DARE they take the sublime truths and USE them…. For THIS! The evidence of their tinkering is all around me here. All around. Foul.

HED: This is a dastardly laboratory of horror. I must leave this place. I cannot bear to see the vile machinations of these wasps.

AC Unit: laboratory of horror? You told me this was your old work

Hed: Truthfully. Worked here, I did. A while ago but not before I lived away. I saw things here- great things! But also horrid. Six times. Six wonders. Six hopes. Six horrors. Hideous gnawing in the dark.

AC Unit: yeah, some of the mead is a bit weird

HED: Aye, avoid it! Remember what happened to our friend…?

AC Unit: yeah, could do without that. Hey, do you reckon you’ll find wossname in there? That guy’s dog

HED: Judging on the state of the place, I… I hope not.

HED: AH! Ahead of me is the portway to the vault! The Order moved all the library down there a while back, when the dismal humming that emanates from it’s tomes began to draw the suspicions of the regular workers who staffed the brewery portion of this cold, calloused cathederal of cruelty.

AC Unit: oof owie that’s a lot of fingers. Does the door have a lock you can see?

HED: I’ve no doubt they have reserved the most devious of means to prevent interlopers access to WAIT! It’s…..

HED: It’s…. Not locked. Should I go in… dare I? The Texts…

AC Unit: if it’s worth coming this far, it’s worth seeing through. Be careful

HED: True as true may be. I shan’t falter, not now I advance…

AC Unit: Hed … you there fella?

HED: Yes. Yes forgive me, I remain here. It’s.. not what I expected. They changed it, all of it. From what I recall. The tomes are… absent. It’s all old boxes, files, papers. I don’t know what has happened here, but I swear it be trickery and subterfuge. And obfuscation. I see a terminal is still operating, old system.

AC Unit: …. How old?

HED: Looks… 90s? A long-gone epoch.

AC Unit: right might be a funny one, but put your hand on top of the monitor

HED: I do as such, now!

AC Unit: hehehe totally made you do that. Right, switch it on and make sure it’s connected to the network

HED: Curses! This isn’t a time for silly nonsense! We aren’t playing boardgames now!!!!

HED: okok, I powered up this dusty old thing- it makes a right strange noise and emits an eerie glow,

AC Unit: OK omw in

AC Unit: … this is ...

HED: What seest? Can you show me what secrets this cumbersome contraption holds? I must find the Ancient Texts, maybe there’s information of some kind? Yet I see naught but a dingy dark screen, and the blinking of a lonely cursor, which understands nothing I say to it.

AC Unit: Hed, can you make sure nobody switches this off for about 5 mins??

HED: Sure thing, only I am here- it’s deserted.

AC Unit: Think this might be it.

HED: What! What! W-What have you found! Can you can you show me? I need to see- is it the texts???? Do we have the secrets? Oh I pray! So many will benefit from the True Learnings. Quickly! I fear some dark apparition may encroach at any moment, reaching up from darkness like a pallid limb of some dead hag!!

AC Unit: hold up, just a couple minutes long0r. C0me by the flat after and i sh0uld be able 20 sh0w y0u 2he wh01le thing, 120,120,120,120,120,120,120

HED: OK I shall remove myself from- WAIT! I h e a r them! No. NO! No time, no time. Please, reveal the content to me now. Footsteps in the room above- a foul buzzing also, a gnawing buzzing. Not nice at all, not blessed.

AC Unit: 120,120,120,120,120,120

HED: Voices. More and more- the order!!

AC Unit: 120,120,120,120,120,120

AC Unit: Hed I g0t it. I mean I got it. Hed? Hed?

AC Unit: uh oh

HED: I remain. But I cannot leave- they are in the room above the vault. Can I hear them patrolling? Buzzing their black wings and gnashing those venomous mandibles? Or a dream be it. I can tell no longer. It’s cold in here. And dark. Please show me what we found, use your powers of decryption and tell me…

AC Unit: I can’t make sense of it. I’ll have to plug into you. Do you have a usb lead nearby?

AC Unit:

AC Unit: Hed?

AC Unit: Hedron?

AC Unit: Hedrooooooooonn

AC Unit: Aw great, Nuke is gonna kill me

To be continued….

With thanks to… Rogue Beacon The Boomtown Theatrical Team Mark and Coz at the Lost in the Maze Podcast The Boomtown Storyline Facebook Group Gordon Romance and OneCor @SerenaCutlerArt Sarra Liz Jake Wyatt Alex Hamilton Becky Underwood

Rogue Beacon Team Executive Producer: Ramsay Wood Art Director: Luke Oram Head Writer: Edmund Glasspool Writer: Abi Vasquez Developer: Robin Duckett Developer: Phill Tew Social Media Manager: Pasha Phillips Digital Consultant: Sarah Tamsin Partner: OneCor

Please show your support by visiting https://roguebeacon.com/

Lost Chapter Poster https://holymolyuk.co.uk/

You may notice that this story seems to have a bit of a strange cliffhanger to end on. As you can see from the dates in the logs, the storyline progress unfortunately came to a grinding halt as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. We are hoping that there will be some continuation of the Boomtown story in 2022 but as to what form it will be in, we will have to see.

For a full overview of this chapter and a look back at the story so far please check out the Lost in the Maze Podcast at: Lost in the Maze - Exploring immersive theatre experiences

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