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Registered Phenomena Code: 775
Object Class: Beta-Red
Hazard Types: Aggression Hazard, Aquatic Hazard, Ballistic Hazard, Mechanical Hazard, Organic Hazard, Toxic Hazard
Containment Protocols: The Monterey Submarine Canyon seafloor is to be designated OL-Site-095. Study and exploration of this region should be limited strictly to the Authority or other parties authorized to conduct such investigations. Should RPC-775 ever attempt to leave the area or otherwise exit the jurisdiction of OL-Site-095, redirecting RPC-775 back into the monitored region should be undertaken promptly. Should RPC-775 succeed in leaving the region, it should be subdued and relocated back into the area. If that is not possible, it is to be relocated to Site-095 and temporarily contained within the Site's Deep Storage.
When testing is being conducted upon or around RPC-775, a crew of three members of MST-Mike-11 ("Dragonfish") is to be dispatched with 6 hours of oxygen minimum, and attempt to board RPC-775. Caution is to be taken when entering and exiting RPC-775 as it is fully autonomous in this state and is hostile.
Description: RPC-775 appears to be a snail of the Family Conidae exhibiting extreme traits of gigantism. RPC-775 measures approximately 190 meters in length and weighs upwards of 50000 tons. Similar to non-anomalous cone snails, RPC-775 possesses potent venom. It is capable of injecting much more toxins than its smaller relatives. Unlike non-anomalous cone snails, the harpoon structure possessed by RPC-775 takes the form of a man-made harpoon gun, increasing the physical damage dealt by RPC-775 by a considerable amount, to the extent that the venom rarely takes effect before RPC-775's target expires. RPC-775 has been reported to feed on a multitude of large marine mammals, large cephalopods, and [DATA EXPUNGED]. RPC-775 has utilized a nuclear submarine in place of a shell. The submarine itself does not appear to possess any anomalous properties.
If any human enters the submarine, RPC-775 will cease all activity. Despite being filled with water, all of the submarine's systems, including the lights, are fully operational. The vessel's reactor appears to be a bioreactor rather than a nuclear reactor, and is directly connected to the digestive tract of RPC-775. In addition, rather than piloting the submarine, the controls will instead affect RPC-775, allowing full control over its movement and its weapons system. RPC-775's venom stores do not appear to be located within the submarine. It is also possible to direct RPC-775 to retract into its "shell", however this results in [REDACTED], allowing RPC-775 to resume autonomous function.
RPC-775 has never been reported to exit the Monterey Submarine Canyon. It however exhibits aggressive behavior towards humans or human-operated vessels in the region without provocation. It has been documented to attack and sink ships on the surface above it. It does this despite the little to no nutritional value of these activities, something it does not do to native organisms or [REDACTED].
The following is a transcript of the initial boarding log, conducted by 3 members of Site-095's research team. MST-Mike-11 had not yet been formed. A standard submersible craft was utilized along with standard deep ocean dive suits.
<Begin Log>
Dr. Brian Stewarts: Site-095, we are testing connection, do you read?
Command: Connection established, you're good to go.
Dr. S: Alright, we're approaching the entity. No damages to the hull as of yet.
Radar flairs to life
Agent Simon Brenners: RPC-775 is in range. Proceed with caution.
Dr. Gerald Kahn: This thing, they said it's a cone snail, right? We should probably make sure we're approaching from behind, wouldn't want to get speared.
Dr. S: Yeah-
RPC-775 visual attained
Agent B: Huh.
Dr. K: I-it's a lot bigger than I imagined. short pause What's that on its back? Is that a… submarine?
Dr. S: Yep. A typhoon-class submarine. The Russians built a couple in the 80s, none ever sunk around here though.
Agent B: Is that what caught your eye?
Dr. S: Command, we have a visual. Subject appears to have a submarine in place of a shell. From what I'm seeing, it looks like the lights are on inside. Do we have permission to enter?
Command: That is what you are here for. We sent a team to scope the outside this morning. There's no saying what's in there though. Keep your guard up, and watch your oxygen.
Dr. S: Copy that.
At this point, the team begins to adorn their dive suits. Camera footage shows RPC-775 turning towards the vessel.
Agent B: Alright, dispatching in 3, 2—-
RPC-775 fires at the ship, piercing the bottom of the hull.
Dr. K: What the [EXPLETIVE REDACTED]?!
Dr. S: Command, hull has been breached. Vessel is flooding.
Command: Get out of there, don't worry about the vessel. We've got plenty back at Site-095, we'll send another out to get you when you call.
Agent B: putting on mask Let's get out of here!
The team exits the vehicle and begins swimming towards RPC-775's shell.
Agent B: Scanning for entrances… hah! There, on the top. There's a hatch. It seems to be unlocked.
Dr. S: Command, we've located an entrance, heading there now.
Dr. K: Do you guys remember how much oxygen we go-o *static*
Dr. S: Gerald, why'd you-
Dr. Stewarts turns around, revealing Dr. Kahn has been impaled by RPC-775.
Dr. S: GERALD! What the [EXPLETIVE REDACTED]
Agent B: Oh God…
RPC-775 begins to reel in Dr. Kahn along with its harpoon to its mouth area.
Dr. S: IT'S [EXPLETIVE REDACTED] [DATA EXPUNGED] HIM!
Command: Dr. Stewarts, calm yourself! You're using up oxygen at an accelerated rate. There's nothing we can do now. Board RPC-775 before it finds a new target.
*Dr. S:** controlling breath Okay, okay… moving to target.
Stewarts and Brenners reach the hatch and open it without difficulty. The crew enters RPC-775.
Dr. S: Command, it appears that the interior is flooded, however the lights are on. It seems this thing is running.
Command: We're detecting some abnormalities with RPC-775's behavior. It's ceased movement. See if you can find some kind of control center. Keep an eye on your oxygen.
Dr. S: Copy that.
Stewarts and Brenners begin to walk the halls of RPC-775. During the process, RPC-775 is not observed to move or hunt. The crew passes the vessel's bioreactor but does not comment on it. They come across the control room.
Dr. S: Command, I think we've found the control room.
Command: You are authorized to test what effect the controls have. RPC-775 has not moved since you entered it, we're thinking that RPC-775 may be able to be controlled from the inside.
Agent B: Guess we'll see.
Brenners takes the motor controls in his hand and urged the submarine foward.
Command: RPC-775 is moving forward. We presume this is you?
Agent B: Yes, yes it is! Brenners hits the fire button, which causes RPC-775 to fire out into the open sea.
Command: RPC-775 has just fired, no visible target.
Agent B: Yes, you can control RPC-775! Think of the uses for this!
Dr. S: What's this button for? Stewarts urges towards a button labeled with an image of a shield.
Agent B: Haven't seen a submarine with that button before. Maybe its for hull reinforcement or something?
Dr. S: This is a snail we're in… maybe that button retracts RPC-775 into its shell?
Agent B: Let's try it then! Brenners hits the button. The hull shakes.
Dr. S: I think we were right!
The lights flicker.
Agent B: Wait… this is getting a bit rough…
Command: RPC-775 appears to be retracting into the submarine. From our estimates, there won't be a lot of space in there when it's done. You should probably look for an exit.
Agent B: Alright, we're getting out of here.
Dr. S: Hold on… what's that thing down the hall?
Agent B: That's… OH G- *static*
Command: Dr. Stewarts, we've lost you. Do we have a connection? Dr. Stewarts, Agent Brenners, do you read?
<END LOG>
Connection with the team was not re-established after this event. RPC-775 re-emerged from its shell shortly following loss of communication and resumed its usual behavior. MST-Mike-11 ("Dragonfish") was established after this event for the purposes of boarding RPC-775 without experiencing similar issues. So far, the bulk of these operations have been successful.
