Wednesday 19th December 1923

This scene sees the Alpha Squad under command of Major Sarek swoop down on Manhattan and capture those caught up in the murder of Robert Williamson. Unbeknown to the investigators Williamson is a former squad member and is the second to die under suspicious circumstances in as many days.

Preliminary Events

A Restless Night

Alpha Squad Soldier

• All PCs retired to bed exhausted and have restless uncomfortable nights sleep.
• Each has nightmares or unsettling dreams overnight. Pow x2 to recall a detail.
  • 1. A group of strange looking men, with tattered clothes and braided hair
  • 2. Unusual / Unfocused shapes floating beneath black water
  • 3. Choking sounds

Alpha Squad Mobilise

• Sarek has soldiers out looking for Williamson & Hedges, following the attack on Sergeant Dryden.
• They trace Williamson to his home in Queens and from there to the hotel, arriving well after the attack. Once a basic account is established Sarek prepares immediately to move in.
• The Alpha Squad is mobilised at 5am
• They recover the body from the morgue at 7am
• The Coroner and detectives are picked by 7:30am
• The Police Head Quarters is visited and evidence recovered
• They visit the Bellevue at 8am but Siobhan has already checked out
• From 8am to 10am they do the rounds picking up all of the investigators

Course of Events

Rude Awakening

• Players wake on the morning of Wednesday December 19th to find their clothes that have come in contact with the black water are stained, as is their skin slightly.
• Alpha Squad members in full kit FIG(soldier) enter the investigators homes and detain them. Doctor Cooper will use a chemical sniffer (Geiger counter in appearance) and confirms they have be 'contaminated'.
• Sergeant Falcone, Cooper and two Alpha Squad soldiers enter each investigators home in turn, after establishing a perimeter with the unit outside.
• Falcone will use the following statement "Do not be alarmed we are with the Military Police and are authorised to quarantine you Sir / Madam."
• Cooper with continue `- "Do not panic, these measures are only precautionary"
• Major Sarek is waiting at the transport with only gloves and a surgical mask on `- "I realised you are concerned but it is imperative that any contamination is contained and you are secured as soon as possible. Once you have been treated there will be time for a full briefing, please into the truck"
• Investigators are transported in a contamination truck. Basically a jail van, single bench on each side, holds up to 12. It will contain, the detectives and the coroner (who grumbles and argues).
• Alpha Squad Soldiers travel in 3 Army cars. The trip to Pennywell is over the George Washington Bridge, through New Jersey and then Hoboken. A further 15 miles into Pennywell (sign posted), through the tiny village, over the bridge and then in the base.

The Base

Pennywell Barracks - Hanger A

• The contamination truck reverses into a vast warehouse, FIG(hangera), the doors are opened and everyone is ushered directly into the holding area. Obviously thrown together at short notice the area has rows of platform seats from a mess hall, barrels with small log fires burning for heat but even with the hanger doors closed it is cold. A makeshift toilet is in one corner surrounded by hospital curtains, jury rigged up. Blankets and jugs of water are waiting.
• The Major barks a few orders and most of the unit disperses. "Soon as the doctor is ready we will begin the detox procedures `- get you out of the cold and on your way home as soon as possible. Just hold tight please."
• Soldiers will not answer any questions but stall for the doctor and avoid contact unless they are forced to enter the holding area.
• The Major & Doctor come for Detective Stapleton first. Exchange only a few words and disappear into the first tent. After a fifteen minute delay Gerber starts pacing and fussing.
• Spot Hidden rolls can be made to see the Doctor wheel Stapleton in a wheelchair into the large tent from the rear of the first tent. He is in hospital clothes and unconscious.
• The Major & Doctor come for Detective Hyatt next. If Stapleton's transfer is noticed Gerber will make a scene yelling "Like Hell you will `- we saw you wheel the detective in there". The Major is professional but irritated, "Calm down `- He's received an inoculation shot, that's why he is drowsy `- I've had it myself." He shows arm `- "Its for your own good for Christ sake".
• Process repeats every 20 minutes. It is cold, the soldiers are intimidating, Gerber is near panic and little or no explanation is being given. At Keeper discretion investigators should make a Pow x3 roll to avoid panic / stress attack and 1d2 Sanity loss.
• Investigators observing the rear of the hanger can make Spot Hidden rolls to notice barrels being cautiously moved by Alpha Squad soldiers, some clearly labelled of HD and other labelled T. These barrels contain Sulphur Mustard and Iron Sulphide mixes for creating Mustard Gas. Only investigators with a specialist military background or who make an exceptional Knowledge roll will know this. When back in Manhattan this is fairly easily researched however.
• If at any stage the investigators ask as to the whereabouts of Siobhan, Sarek will tell them that she has been treated at Bellevue already. This is a lie of course, she slipped out of the hospital before she could be recovered and they do not have any details on her.

The Examination

• In the tent there is a examination table, a barrel as a waste container (filling up with clothes) and a wheel chair. There are two temporary showers rigged also. The Doctor directs the character to change into the hospital gown provided while the Major explains the situation.
• The Major explains the process; Strip, sterilise spray, shower, dress and inoculation. The shot includes a slight sedative for best results, quite mild from which they'll recover in an hour or two. There is a sanitised recovery room next door.
• When the investigators raise questions the Major will be insistent `- "Please start the process, I'm happy to discuss the situation as long were moving along as quickly as possible." Points he will potentially cover;
  • 1. Dangerous chemicals are stored at the base
  • 2. Persons unknown attempted to steal some yesterday and although unsuccessful an amount was spilled.
  • 3. The substances are toxic and were easily traced to a suspect staying at the hotel. Unfortunately he contaminated a young lady staying with him and she in turn came in contact with yourself.
• Spray is highly antiseptic, Pow x5 roll to avoid throwing up.
• The injection is a clear liquid, delivered with a normal needle and a dosage of about 40cc's. The shot places the investigators into a 'semi-conscious' state after just a moment. While drugged investigators are easily coaxed to speak about any subject and will not recall anything of the event, struggling even to recall the detox process at all. Investigators should make a Pow x1 roll to retain even a vague memory of what happens after the shot - murmuring perhaps.
• Once the investigators have been given the shot, they will be interrogated. Questions begin with queries about Williamson, what was seen, then the girl, gypsies, the Alpha Squad and finally the 'flying creature'. Cumulative effect is a Sanity roll 0 / 1d2, regardless of if they recall the event or not. Anyone with 5+ Cthulhu Mythos or particularly relevant Mythos knowledge will need to make Pow x5 roll or unwittingly give up knowledge to the pair - Keepers should consider making this roll in private if applicable.
• Anyone trying to over hear proceedings will need to make an exceptional Listen roll to catch what is being said for even a minute, although with a very good listen roll (i.e. <10) should at least be able to establish there is a discussion for several minutes after the shower is heard.

Recovery

Pennywell Village & Barracks - Investigator Edition
See Map Summary for Keeper Edition

• Investigators will regain consciousness in the Recovery room, being monitored by soldiers without gas warfare suits. They will be weak and suffering mild nauseous and will recover in order the injection were received.
• Doctor Cooper circulates with water and biscuits, takes blood pressure etc. When questioned he will confirm the detox process has been successful and it wont be long before everyone will be up and around, and able to head home. He will avoid any further in-depth questions, referring them to Major Sarek, who he understands is going to be speaking to the group afterwards.
• A private arrives and salutes the Major, then passes him a message. He is clearly surprised by the messages content and calls Cooper over. Listen roll to over hear part of the hushed conversation. Major "The civilians are to be released immediately" Cooper "Release them sir `- but .." Major "Colonels orders! If there decontaminated then they are to be release immediately (getting angry)". The Major jabs clipboard at Doctor and growls "Get them out of here."
• A flurry of activity follows as the Major and Cooper disappear and the soldiers are left to rally the investigators, supply army fatigues and get everyone up. They will corral the group into the Army cars and speed from the base without Sarek or Cooper making an appearance.
• The soldier driving will have no info. "My orders are clear sir `- I'm to drop you off at your residences. If its any help I believe a letter is being sent."
• They will drive through Pennywell village, surprisingly there are people about, a few caravans are in the square and the local pub appears open. There are a couple of cars about, the odd family passing through having stopped to have a look about - it is perhaps a carnival or Gypsies.

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- Extended Notes -

The Army Base

• There is a rifle range to the north and very large Artillery range to the west
• There is a second large Hanger, for the Artillery
• There are two other notable large structures. A barracks with mess hall and a office block.
• There are also a handful of smaller buildings. Major & Colonels houses, a small church and a chemical store.

Additional background on the base is available in the Investigation section.

The head of the Special Weapons Program at Pennywell is Hector Sarek TAB(Sarek), a career soldier with a no nonsense attitude to people. Even after Dryden and Williamsons death his primary concern is to ensure the incident at Pennywell nine years ago remains a secret. Realising the flying creature will attack them even on the base, he now plans to bring the last of the squad to the base and set a trap for the monster. He hopes to bait it with Falcone and using the combined firepower of the new Alpha Squad, blast it into oblivion.

An alcoholic and psychological wreck, Benjamin Falcone TAB(falcone) has seen more horror than he can bare with the Byakhee and in the Great War. With the return of the horror from his past he is quickly unravelling and when he uncovers the Majors plan, it will be the last straw.

The most trusted supporter of Major Sarek, Marcus Cooper TAB(cooper) is in fact a detached and heartless man. Although not present during the 1913 incident he is quickly piecing together the mystery and its obvious unnatural causes. When he realises the power Chacko wielded, he will not hesitate to cross the Major and try to steal the secrets of the Byakhee.

The current Alpha Squad Soldiers TAB(alphasquad) were too young to see action in the WWI but they still represent some of the regions most promising young men. Following the premonition Sarek has been running special training sessions for them, including scenarios where they are attacked by flying creatures. Although they have found the last 48 hours unusual the squad are generally excited to be involved in a live operation.

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The Detectives & Coroner

Following their return to Manhattan detectives Hyatt and Stapleton will be forced to spend most of there time at the Police head quarters, writing reports. However on Thursday they will get back to review the scene at the hotel and attempt to interview Siobhan. However she does not wish to speak with them and will disappear when they come calling `- refer to Scene Three.

Gerber will return immediately home to rest for two days. When he does make it back to the coroners office on Friday he will endeavour to put the whole incident behind him.