RPC-348

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Area of initial seismic activity (yellow) with epicenter (orange).

Registered Phenomena Code: 348

Object Class: Beta-Purple Beta-Black

Hazard Types: Geological Hazard, Regenerative Hazard, Titanic Hazard

Containment Protocols: RPC-348 is to be levitated within a 5 cubic meter room in Site-084. A holding apparatus is to be affixed to the eastern wall of the containment chamber, and will act as a scabbard for RPC-348.

Testing Parameters: A specialist in seismology must remain on site at all times, and will be granted any equipment requested within reason. If any of prior containment protocols are not met, earthquake warnings are to be given to every population center within a 300 km radius until containment protocols are restored.

_

Testing is allowed with permission from a regional director. Apropos to Incident Log RPC-348-C₁₂, and the subsequent Directive 203.32A, data from experimentation cannot outweigh the risk presented by RPC-348. As such, all testing is hereby prohibited. Engagement with RPC-348 may be approved by 3 concurrent Level 5 ranking members, and with in coordination with the Executive Branch of [DATA REDACTED].

Description: RPC-348 is a 1.4 meter long-sword that carbon dates to around the 7th century AD and is chronistic to swords of the Tibetan Empire. RPC-348 features a molten blade, the temperature of which typically ranges from 1320°C-1340°C, when not heated further. The hilt consists of a black leather grip, beneath which are Tibetan inscriptions that translate roughly to “Destiny Be Answered”. The pommel¹ is mineral-like in composition and is fashioned in a triangular shape, reminiscent of a mountain. A second inscription is found upon the pommel that roughly translates to “[The] Reckoning's Palm".

No materials of the sword, nor any surrounding materials,² are affected by the extreme temperature. The heat generated by RPC-348, while quantifiable, is non-causative. Serial readings of RPC-348's temperature indicate that it waxes and wanes³ in predictable, rhythmic cycles that last approximately 50 years.⁴

When in contact with the ground, RPC-348 produces significant seismic activity. This effect is mitigated if RPC-348 is elevated off of the ground through contact-less means, such as a wall scabbard, though mild tectonic perturbations in the surrounding area can still be detected.⁵ The percentage of RPC-348 touching the earth has no effect or relative negation of its seismic capabilities.

RPC-348 exhibits additional properties when heated. However, the means by which RPC-348 is heated is causally anomalous. The blade will not absorb additional radiation in the form of heat or be affected by increases (or decreases) in ambient temperature. Instead, the blade increases its temperature when in the presence of certain individuals of Tibetan ancestry, and returns to its native temperature range when not.

When RPC-348 reaches a temperature exceeding the threshold of its native range, the blade drips its molten contents, and onto the ground unless in its containment apparatus. These sloughed droplets are designated RPC-348-1 and mimic the effects of RPC-348's contact with the ground, but to a lesser degree. However, RPC-348-1 is by no means seismically insignificant.

The creation of RPC-348-1 does not reduce the mass of RPC-348. Because of this, RPC-348 has been labeled as a Regenerative Hazard.

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Discovery: RPC-348 was obtained on ██/██/████ at the epicenter of ten major earthquakes around Qonggyai, Tibet. After the initial detection, Authority seismologist Peter Maltineau requested an expedition to the region along with seismology/geology/vulcanology specialists MST Zulu-12 "Red Hot Hand". Once the team arrived at the coordinates, the well-known Chongye Valley, or the "Valley of the Kings", further reconnaissance identified the epicenter of the seismic activity as a previously unknown burial mound near Taktsé Castle.

After gaining entry to the site, RPC-348 was quickly identified as an object of interest and deemed likely causative to the surrounding seismic activity. Following the request of a small, mobile forge, RPC-348 was successfully contained, and its immediate anomalous properties were ascertained and ceased with relative ease.

Photo of excavations subsequent to RPC-348's discovery. Taktsé Castle can be seen in the top right, upon the hill.

The specific tomb from which RPC-348 was recovered features insignias and hallmarks of Tibetan royalty, consistent with the purpose of the valley. After this discovery, additional such chambers adjacent to the major burial mounds in the valley were also discovered and were subsequently excavated.

While no second instance of RPC-348 was found, the tombs featured an identical scabbard and housing apparatus intended for a sword of RPC-348's exact proportions. This construct is present in royal tombs dating back to the earliest ruler of the Tibetan empire, Songtsen Gampo. The tomb RPC-348 was discovered in was that of the latest of the Tibetan empire's major rulers, Langdarma. This indicates that RPC-348 may have had a cultural and political role in determining the succession of rulers in the area.

RPC-348 was discovered outside of its scabbard. It is unclear by what means or for how long RPC-348 had been in contact with the ground.

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Addendum: Incident Log

Incident Log

Type: ___Testing___

Date: ___██/██/██___

Test Number: ___RPC-348-C₁₂___

Supervisor: ___Dr. Hawthorne___

Subject(s): ___CSD-1378___

Relevant Testing Procedure: Subject CSD-1378 is asked to grab the hilt of RPC-348, speaking the phrase on the hilt in the native Tibetan language.

Incident/Result: [DATA REDACTED]

Notes: All individuals affected by Test Number: RPC-348-C are to be administered Class A amnestics.

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Addendum: Selected Documentation - Enter Level 3 Credentials

Intercepted Message —1

Before the CSD touched the sword, it behaved in a manner I’ve described to you before. It "heated" up and the place started to shake a bit more. When he grabbed it, the pommel started to glow from no source of the light as far as we can tell. He shouted the words in the inscription. I don't know if we really believed it to be an incantation at the time; I think we just had run out of ideas to try to figure this out and a report deadline to Research Lead was just around the corner. Believe me, those of us running the experiment felt more silly about the instructions than the CSD probably did saying them. But we’ll try almost anything we think of, as usual.

Then, the CSD suddenly maneuvers the blade downwards with a finesse I don't think I've seen in the most polished choreography. It seemed like he had wielded that sword every day of his life, but of course, he couldn't have. He lunges the blade into the containment cell floor, it sinks to the hilt, and we hit the emergency alarms almost reflexively.

The quakes… about 3.4 on the scale… were centralized on 5 cities in Tibet, some of which we had seen in testing before: Ngari, Nagqu, Chamdo, Nyingchi, and of course in Shannan near the Valley of Kings. Miraculously, no significant damage was suffered as far as we can tell. Perhaps part of the anomaly.

As in most places in Tibet, each of these spots feature incredible, absolutely towering mountain ranges. Magnificent to see.

We haven't reported the following information to our supervisors… and who else but our team would notice, or think to look? Others may have made the same discovery, but the amnestics post-event make that likelihood a remote one.

After the event and earthquakes, a clever member of our team figured out that all of thes mountain ranges in the affected cities had become taller; much taller. There was also something strange about the distribution of the cities. They coincide to scale with the general spacing of the human hand; the distances between each of the cities in question are about the same distances in ratio. If you superimpose images over the coordinates, it’s clear as day. Pretty coincidental, but I've started to take it more seriously, and I think you should too.

We've argued for testing to cease, and I am fairly sure that will be seen as a good idea. That will leave the sword vulnerable and with less attention on it. Then we can make our move.

I believe this information is exclusive, and therefore, more valuable than what is stipulated in our initial agreement. If a proper modification of the payment is not made, then consider this arrangement and any future advantage done with.

再见⁶
— ████████

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Intercepted Message — 2

They've published the first of our messages in the actual anomaly's file. They have been listening!

I've reconfigured the encryption in this message. But we have to cancel the move. It is too risky now. We will have to hope the GDs don't ever find a reason to use the royal blade. Anything further and we risk overt war with [DATA REDACTED]. We can't have that. Not yet, not without the blade.

This must be done in secret, behind the curtain. The people of Tibet remain gullible. They must believe that this is the prophesied return of Ihase.⁷ Otherwise, it will not gather the willing support of the nation, which we are doomed without.

Speaking of which, what are you going to do with the POWs now that we won't have the blade for them to use for us? My advice is to release them back into Tibet. I can provide some amnestics. We don't want unnecessary malice from the locals, who might be impassioned to ask more questions and go looking for the answers. But knowing your methods… maybe you have something more "efficient" in mind.

I'm going into hiding. It hurts to say after all our struggles, but we can't be the ones for this. Not now. It has to wait. Next time. Maybe our sons. We ruin it all if we become impatient.

This serves to end our agreement and correspondence for good. Keep a close eye on the Americans; they are doing the same to you.

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Addendum: Enter Level 5 Credentials

Thankfully, we didn't intercept the second message until after we lowered the credentials to Level 3. Could be worse. We believe it to be someone embedded in EASTCOM.

As for the object, it is tempting. Something we can always keep as insurance.

For now though, we've decided to not continue this line of testing. This is about the justice of the downtrodden many upon the elevated few. We are a clandestine organization of revelatory knowledge that denies that knowledge, and so power, to the people of the world.

Whatever is reaching out for vengeance is reaching out for us too.

Footnotes

1. The lowest point on a sword.

2. Including human tissue

3. ~20°C

4. RPC-348 has been increasing in temperature since containment.

5. These are resolved when RPC-348 is fully levitated with enterprise-grade magnets. However, this has been deemed impractical for containment, primarily due to cost.

6. "Goodbye" in Mandarin.

7. "Divine Son."

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