Life Before Activation

Operation IAPETUS begins before the selected team are aware that the operation even exists.

"Agent Polo"

Jackie Stevens returns home after another long evening at her yoga studio. What begins as a familiar disagreement with her husband quickly escalates into a bitter argument, fuelled by the emotional distance that has steadily grown between them.

Her husband admits he scarcely recognises the woman she has become since returning from previous work, leaving the house after reminding Stevens that while he understands she has suffered, he cannot continue acting as both husband and therapist.

Roughly an hour later, Stevens receives a message on an otherwise dormant green Nokia phone. Responding with the requested charitable donation confirms her activation.

"Agent Proctor"

FBI Counter-Terrorism Agent Malcolm Smith spends the evening bowling alongside his colleague Carris, an intensely competitive investigator with a particular dislike for imperfection.

Their conversation briefly turns towards an ongoing Tcho-Tcho gang investigation before Malcolm's own activation interrupts the game, sending his carefully selected bowling ball directly into the gutter.

Thomas Anderson

Librarian and conspiracy broadcaster Thomas A. Anderson continues researching obscure reports from his home office whilst exchanging messages with his online friend Electra_47. Anderson receives an anonymous message containing a grainy photograph of a man walking through heavy rain before both the account and image are immediately deleted. Recovering the deleted file, Anderson successfully traces its origin to St Petersburg, Russia.

Moments later, a caller named Mrs Green contacts his programme claiming that a shooting has taken place in Alliance, New Jersey before the incident has reached the media. The conversation is confusing and fragmented, with mentions of Thomas T Dunblane (mayoral candidate), the Amish community, and pumpkins. After the call ends, an anonymous plane ticket to Philadelphia arrives.

"Agent Paxton"

Marcus Dellaroche attempts to enjoy a quiet evening entertaining neighbours alongside his pregnant wife, Arabella. Hidden behind a false picture frame within his office is a carefully concealed memory board documenting previous operations, former comrades and Brandon McGill.

During an innocent game of Pictionary, Dellaroche finds himself disturbed by an image of a child between two larger individuals, forcing him to briefly compose himself before receiving his own activation orders. As usual, he tells his wife he has another work trip and must pack up and go immediately.

Operation Case File Extract

Operation IAPETUS Briefing

The assembled agents receive the following operational briefing from Linus A. Jackson, codenamed Operation IAPETUS.

The team are assigned to investigate the murders of the Ridgeway family in Alliance, New Jersey, committed on 12th October 2019.

Victims

• Malcolm Ridgeway, aged 44.
• Dinah Ridgeway, aged 43.
• Michael Ridgeway, aged 18.
• Clark Ridgeway, aged 16.
• Dean Ridgeway, aged 14.
• Mary Ridgeway, aged 13.
• Alice Ridgeway, aged 12.
• Claire Ridgeway, aged 10.

The perpetrator, Michael Wei, aged 26, was a third-year PhD student specialising in Number Theory at Columbia University. Wei had no known criminal history, no connection to the Ridgeway family and no known affiliations beyond his academic work. He resided in Room 1141, John Jay Hall, Columbia University, New York City.

Wei used a stolen Remington 870 police shotgun to murder the family before pursuing Michael Ridgeway onto Interstate 55, where he completed the killings in view of numerous witnesses before taking his own life.

Immediately before his suicide, Wei spray-painted a hypergeometric numerical sequence onto nearby pavement.

The sequence and it's distribution are the primary threat.

Operational Directives

Linus issues the team's objectives.

• Determine whether Michael Wei distributed the numerical sequence through any medium, including telephone, email or social media.
• Recover and destroy all notes, research and academic work relating to the sequence.
• Destroy every known copy of the sequence itself, including police photography.
• Identify anybody with a mathematical background who has already viewed the sequence.
• Establish a convincing cover story suggesting Michael Wei and Dinah Ridgeway were engaged in a romantic affair.

Possible assistance may be obtained from Trooper Thomas Blanet of the New Jersey State Police.

The Safehouse

The team arrive separately at a Philadelphia safehouse, surrendering their mobile devices before meeting handler Linus A. Jackson.

Linus explains that the organisation has recently undergone significant internal reform. Greater transparency between operatives is now encouraged, with agents expected to use their real names wherever operationally appropriate.

Malcolm Smith is appointed team leader before introductions begin.

Jackie Stevens introduces herself as a former Green Beret and highly decorated marksman. Smith outlines his experience within the FBI Counter-Terrorism Division, while Dellaroche explains his CIA and Navy SEAL background, specialising in navigating bureaucratic obstacles and classified investigations.

Linus reinforces that every individual present has been selected because they excel within their respective fields.

The team are also informed of two external assets available throughout the investigation. New Jersey State Trooper Thomas Blanet may provide official assistance, while conspiracy broadcaster Thomas A. Anderson continues unknowingly serving the organisation as a controlled source of public misinformation. Under no circumstances is Thomas Anderson to learn the existence or identity of the organisation itself.

Operational Planning

Following the briefing, the team establish their operational covers.

Smith assumes responsibility as the FBI lead investigator. Dellaroche joins the investigation under CIA authority relating to classified national security matters, while Stevens adopts the cover of FBI Hostage Rescue Team as armed support.

Smith additionally requests suitable HRT credentials for Stevens, which Linus agrees to provide.

Before departing, the agents retrieve their personal devices, Smith discreetly checking his phone for signs of tampering after it had spent almost an hour inside Linus' duffel bag.

Arrival in Alliance

Travelling by black Escalade, the agents arrive in the small town of Alliance, consisting of little more than two main roads.

Their first destination is the supermarket café, where Thomas A. Anderson waits with his laptop already open. Dellaroche is immediately recognised as the individual from the anonymous photograph recovered earlier that evening, confirming the image had been intentionally sent.

Anderson enthusiastically and awkwardly introduces himself to the group before attempting several pop culture jokes. None receive the reaction he had hoped for.

After receiving only a carefully sanitised explanation of the investigation, Anderson accompanies the team to the Hilton Hotel outside town, where Smith books a suite using his FBI credentials while Stevens hauls a significant quantity of firearms upstairs.

A Channel 6 News crew quickly arrives outside the hotel. Dellaroche deploys a Flipper device capable of disrupting the crew's camera and microphone equipment, although technical interference proves less effective against a determined reporter, who continues pursuing interviews regardless.

The reporter is quickly shut down by Dellaroche as he produces a name tag from Fox News with the alias Andrian Smith on it.

Psychological Evaluations

Jackie Stevens – Demonstrates signs of significant personal strain away from the field. Operational competence unaffected. Recommend continued observation regarding domestic stability.

Malcolm Smith – Displays confidence and analytical thinking appropriate for team leadership. No concerns currently identified.

Marcus Paxton – Recurring manifestations relating to previous assignments continue to present outside operational environments. Recommend continued monitoring.

Thomas A. Anderson – Continued use as a controlled information asset recommended. Exposure to classified material should remain strictly limited.