Part 17: Intel - Interval 03

Arsenal Items

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Assault Rifle

The Patten PK470 is a gas operated, selective fire assault rifle that is celebrated for its ruggedness and dependability. It features an ACOG scope and 30-round magazine. It has superior range and excellent stopping power.

Use the Arsenal Selection interface to toggle between semi-auto and fully automatic fire.

My notes: The Heckler & Koch XM8 in all but name. As said, a dependable weapon; so long as you can keep finding ammo for it, it'll be your best friend in Fairport.

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Automatic Shotgun

The Vollmer Ultra92 is a gas operated, self loading automatic 12-gauge shotgun. It features a 12-round detachable box mag. For short to medium range firefights, the Ultra92 is a superior choice.

My notes: Better than the Combat Shotgun in almost every way, which is saying something for a gun that's already pretty damn good at what it does. Ammo's a bit more limited, but if you can use cover and slowmo effectively to get in close, you won't need much more than one shell to put someone down.

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Proximity Mine

The AT-L4 is triggered to detonate when a hostile moves within a preset radius of the weapon. Primarily an anti-personnel device, the AT-L4 is comprised of a plastic explosive matrix embedded with steel shot. The weapon is highly effective in a defensive posture, both reducing enemy strength and providing the operator with warning of an impending attack. The Proximity Grenade is armed when deployed and will "stick" to most any surface it comes into contact with.

My notes: I think most game developers forget that shooters like this are almost solely a "bad guys defend, player assaults" ordeal the whole way through and that proxy mines are only even in the game to make it harder on the player to assault said bad guys; they'd be great for defense sections if the player has time to prepare, but most games that have more than one of those don't let the player use mines at all. That said, this is one of those games that doesn't pull the usual "enemy instantly knows where you are upon spawning" bit, so it may be worth it to sneak up and plant a few mines just for the hilarity of actually killing someone with one while their buddies wonder "what the fuck was that huge explosion that killed Bob".

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Shock Grenade

The Armacham XS Shock Grenade was designed to temporarily disable organic and electromechanical targets. When detonated, it releases a localized electromagnetic pulse to disrupt electrical systems as well as a concussive wave to stun living targets without causing physical injury.

My notes: Basically an EMP grenade and a stun grenade rolled into one. Given the amount of powered armor the Replica have lying around and that it is the first stun grenade in a modern FPS to actually work on non-player characters, it's pretty damn useful.

Armacham

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Schedule change
ALL TEAMS
Due to a security concern in the OUter Shell Testing Area, the detonation schedule has been accelerated. Evacuate the facility immediately.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Withdrawal: To the right of the room in the tunnel with the big gun battle after the exploding catwalks.

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Threat report
xxx[incoming transmission]xxx
CONFIDENTIAL: ATCU Mission Status Update
Section Leader R. Tucker to all units:

We just dug up specs on Replica Powered Armor systems deployed in the city. These suckers are gonna be a serious problem. All technical coordinators should review the docs and come up with some workable countermeasures.
[Attachment: ATC_Product_Spec_PA.doc]
xxx[end transmission]xxx
Interval 03 - Recognition - Replica: In a lab, up a ladder, sitting on the table next to the armor.

Outer Shell

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Combat testing
WARNING: COMBAT TESTING IN PROGRESS

Reminder that live ammunition tests are starting today, so the Arena will be closed to all personnel below a Level 2 Security Clearance. Those of you who have been watching movies on the Arena monitor screens during your lunch break can use the Board Room instead, but please be sure to clean up after yourselves in case we get a surprise visit.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Replica: In the first lab after fighting "Abominations", on the right side of the room near a computer.

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Lift problems
NOTICE
The maintenance department is aware of the intermittent issues with the hydraulic lifts and has replacement parts on order that should fix the problem for good. Unfortunately, we need to get these Variant 6 Replica soldiers out of here right away, so we can't afford to wait. If the lift you're using craps out, you'll have to restore pressure manually using the override valves.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Replica: In an office before jumping down the broken ladder and fighting the first Powered Armor.

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Testing reminder
Reminder:

We're scheduled to run test battery 62 on specimens C-5000 through C-5050 next week. Make sure the drugs are requisitioned from Lab 12 ahead of time and that the military A/V is the latest version.

Important: Specimens must be properly restrained in transit. Handlers should wear proper protective clothing to prevent bites.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Replica: Near a medkit at an observation window overlooking the first restrained Abomination in the level.

Project Harbinger

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Harbinger failures
TEST RESULTS: HARBINGER Conversion HPLx24-e12
Actualization Process Report
Subject D-8106, approved Harbinger candidate

Week 1: Subject displaying minor enhancement to reflexes and signs of compatibility with target telepathic frequencies.
Week 2: Reflex and telepathic enhancement continues. SUbject displaying mild indications of psychosis, including paranoia and hallucinations.
Week 4: Subject experienced severe reaction to treatment session. Sent for emergency recombinant procedures.
Week 5: Scans indicate damage to cerebral cortex, impairing logical functions and regressing subject partially to animalistic state. Extreme physical side effects noted.

Subject will be moved to program X-51450 for continued data analysis.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Withdrawal: After the first Abomination sighting, found next to a dead person in a corridor.

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Info: SGT Fox
Archival File: PROJECT: HARBINGER
Subject Name: James Fox
Rank: Sergeant (SGT)
Submitted by: S. York, MD

PARAGON Review scores:
- Physical condition: Excellent
- Mental Stability: Above Average
- Telesthetic Potential : Above Average

Notes:
Subject has average academic history and distinguished military service record. Married, with one daughter, age 7.

Harbinger Status: APPROVED
Interval 03 - Recognition - Withdrawal: Directly ahead from the level start, on a counter behind a corpse.

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Info: SGT Morales
Archival File: PROJECT: HARBINGER
Subject Name: Manuel Morales
Rank: Sergeant (SGT)
Submitted by: S. York, MD

PARAGON Review scores
- Physical condition: Outstanding
- Mental Stability: Outstanding
- Telesthetic Potential : Average

Notes:
Due to subject's marginal telesthetic potency and high intelligence, I expect that he'll be difficult to control and offer only moderate benefit to the program. Recommend keeping him in unit as a potential research candidate.

Harbinger Status: RESERVE
Interval 03 - Recognition - Withdrawal: After Fox's "surprise" comes a series of rooms that all look alike - the intel is found in the one with a corpse in it.

Project Origin

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Info: P. Fettel
Archival File: PROJECT: ORIGIN
Subject Name: Evaluation Report for Paxton Fettel
Subject Age: 10

Follow-Up Evaluation Report:
Subject has no conscious memory of the synchronicity event, although he has reported seven instances in the past three years of nightmares involving violence against people matching the general description of research staff killed by Fettel or Replica soldiers under his direct command during the incident. When questioned, he attributes these images to something he witnessed on television or in training videos. He does not experience these nightmares in first person with one notable exception: two months ago, he dreamed of devouring a man to "learn his secrets". But he has no recollection of the actual incident.

Conclusions:
There is currently no reason to fear a recurrence, particularly now that the Origin project and Alma Wade have been terminated. Recommend another follow-up evaluation in 24 months.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Withdrawal: In the room where Vanek offers a pay bonus to whoever manages to kill Becket, a raised platform in the center of the room contains the intel plus supplies.

Replica Forces

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Replica upgrades
ATTN: All personnel

We'll be starting combat tests on the Variant 7 Replica soldiers this week. Maintenance is in the process of swapping out the Variant 6 stasis pods and getting them ready for transport to Still Island.

As with any new Replica version, avoid supplying them with live ammunition until we've finished the telesthetic signal interference analysis, which we're hoping to have done by Tuesday morning at the latest. Dr. Aldon or myself will send out an All Clear once the analysis is complete.
Interval 03 - Recognition - Replica: From the start of the level, near a corpse wearing red.