Hell Hooks

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Registered Phenomena Code: XXX Containment Rating: Beta Lethality Rating: Red

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RPC-XXX's effective area.

Containment Protocols: OL-Site-XXX is to maintain the cover of an oceanic research facility owned by an Authority front. Authority naval vessels equipped with communication jammers are to patrol the perimeter of RPC-XXX's effective area and intercept any broadcasts originating from within. All non-Authority vessels detected entering the perimeter are to be turned away and escorted from the area. MST Kappa-12-OCEA "Rahab" is to operate specialized electric ROUVs¹ within RPC-XXX's effective area for the purpose of studying RPC-XXX's behavior, collecting biological samples from RPC-XXX, and rescuing any survivors in the event of an attack.

All rescue operations within RPC-XXX's effective area are to be conducted by MST Kappa-12-OCEA using the aforementioned ROUVs. Any and all manned rescue vehicles, Authority or otherwise, are to be turned away. Survivors of RPC-XXX attacks are to be immediately issued class A-3 amnestics and a disinformation campaign is to be established to blame incidents on non-anomalous conditions.

Description: RPC-XXX is a large organism located beneath the seafloor of the Mexico Basin² in the Gulf of Mexico. RPC-XXX is active in a 100 km radius and is believed to be between 50 and 200 km wide. It is difficult to attain a complete physical description of RPC-XXX due to the fact that its only visible appendages are a set of organs hereafter referred to as its "hooks."

RPC-XXX's hooks are red, crescent-shaped structures tipped with enamel. Each hook contains a swim bladder, as well as muscle structures likely used for locomotion via the intake and expulsion of water. The hooks are attached to the central mass of RPC-XXX via thin muscle tissues, which extend into the seafloor. The exact number of hooks RPC-XXX possesses is unknown. However, during attacks on larger vessels, RPC-XXX has displayed the capability of extending over 200 hooks simultaneously.

When a ship crosses the perimeter of RPC-XXX's effective area, it will extend a large hook from beneath the seafloor to the surface to attach itself to the vessel by penetrating its hull. It will then drag the vessel to the seafloor at speeds exceeding 25 kilometers per hour. Smaller hooks may also extend to secure the targeted vessel. When its target reaches the seafloor, more hooks will emerge and drag it under.

RPC-XXX will attempt to keep its targets mostly intact when pulling them beneath the seafloor, as it often resurfaces them later³ to lure in more potential targets. RPC-XXX also appears to display sapience, as it is capable of communicating in English and Spanish while exhibiting its luring behavior.

Discovery: In 1860, folklorist William Dodger wrote A Record of the Folklore of American Whalers in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the book's chapters is dedicated to "Hell Hooks," wherein Dodger mentions that several whalers reported whales being dragged away from their pods by "crooked, demonic spears from the deep." In the 1870's, the San Antonio Express reported a sharp increase in the frequency at which ships were lost at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. The Express also reported accounts from two witnesses who corroborated the "Hell Hook" legend.

RPC-XXX was discovered on 11/22/1950 after the sinking of SS Llewellyn. The Llewellyn continued to broadcast unusual morse code signals for several weeks after she sank, prompting an Authority investigation. This resulted in the sinking of ANV Mandeville. The Mandeville's last broadcast confirmed the existence of "Hell Hooks" as an anomaly. After the discovery of RPC-XXX, all copies of A Record of the Folklore of American Whalers in the Gulf of Mexico and the relevant San Antonio Express issues were confiscated and archived. OL-Site-XXX was established on the coast of Yucatan, Mexico to monitor and contain RPC-XXX.

Addendum XXX-I: Transcript of Notable Distress Call

Interviewed: NOAAS Tuscany

Interviewer: ANV Charybdis

Foreword: On 07/03/1999, NOAAS Tuscany bypassed the Authority's blockade of RPC-XXX's effective area. Within 3 hours, the Tuscany was targeted by RPC-XXX. The following communication was recorded several days after the sinking of the Tuscany.

<Begin Log>

Tuscany: Mayday! Mayday! This is the NOAAS Tuscany! We need a rescue immediately!

Charybdis: This is Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. What is your position and nature of distress? Over.

Tuscany: We're around 375 nautical miles southeast of Corpus Christi! We are sinking!

Charybdis: Alright, requesting number of persons on-board. Over.

Tuscany: We have…20 persons onboard. We were just looking for oil and we got a breach in our hull and…and now we're going down!

Charybdis: 20 persons onboard and-…Wait, you said NOAAS Tuscany, right? Over.

Tuscany: Yes! The NOAA. When do you think our rescue will arrive? We're really taking on water.

Charybdis: Okay, NOAAS Tuscany, 20 people on board. And you said you were doing oil explora- Wait.

Tuscany: Is there something wrong?

Charybdis: NOAA is oceanic research. Since when did the NOAA start doing oil exploration?

Tuscany does not respond for over one minute.

Charybdis: Tuscany, come in.

Tuscany: We were doing oceanic research on places in the ocean we could find oil and we just suddenly got a breach in our-

Charybdis: Oil exploration is not in the NOAA's purview.

Tuscany does not respond.

Charybdis: I am beginning to suspect you are not telling the truth, Tuscany.

At this point, the distress signal is tracked to the Tuscany's exact location, at the bottom of the Mexico basin. The Charybdis reports the possible anomaly to the Authority.

Tuscany: Please, you need to send a rescue!

Charybdis: Alright, I just got your location.

Tuscany: Wonderful! Now send in-

Charybdis: You're way too deep under the sea. Scans detect no life sign-

Tuscany: I don't care! I am telling the truth! You need to send someone! Quickly!

At this point, OL-Site-XXX gets in contact with the Charybdis and commands her to maintain communication with the Tuscany.

Charybdis: Okay, but…why were you looking for oil?

Tuscany: We were looking for whale oil, but there aren't any whales around. There hasn't been for a long time.

Charybdis: Wait, what are you talking about? Whaling is illegal.

Tuscany: For the love of God, what does it matter? We're sinking! We're dying, and all you care about is why we're here? Send a rescue, please!

Screams can be heard in the background of the Tuscany's audio.

Charybdis: There's just a lot of things that don't add up here, Tuscany. You're from the NOAA, but you're trying to look for oil? And you're whaling, too? Not to mention your signal's been tracked to the bottom of the-

The screaming on the Tuscany's end grows louder.

Tuscany: Please, send it now! Can't you hear we are starving? Sinking! We are sinking!

Charybdis: The rescue is coming your way, over.

The screaming abruptly stops.

Tuscany: Thank you. That's all we needed.

Charybdis: Alright, now I need you to stay with me.

The Tuscany does not respond.

Charybdis: Tuscany? Come in?

<End Log>

Closing Statement: After communication terminated, RPC-XXX continued to transmit distress signals from NOAAS Tuscany for several weeks after interviewing ANV Charybdis. On 09/09/1999, all signals from the Tuscany ceased.

Addendum XXX-II: Examination of RPC-XXX's Internal Anatomy

On 03/11/2027, the Authority submarine ANV Tethys was scheduled for decommission. Researchers requested GD-OCEA to use the decommissioning of the Tethys as an opportunity to research RPC-XXX. GD-OCEA approved the request.

Foreword: ANV Tethys was fitted with an unmanned control system and several pieces of recording and detection equipment in preparation to be sent into RPC-XXX's effective area. The Tethys began collecting data on 03/24/2027, when she reached RPC-XXX's effective area.

<Begin Log, -400m>

-450 m: Camera systems on the Tethys detect multiple hooks rapidly approaching.

-470 m

-500 m: The largest of RPC-XXX's hooks penetrates the hull of the Tethys and begins dragging her down.

-850 m: The Tethys approaches crushing depth and begins to implode. More hooks latch onto the Tethys, accelerating her descent.

-1050 m: RPC-XXX begins using the Tethys to broadcast distress signals to the Authority.

Crushing depth reached. Hull breach detected. Send a rescue immediately.

-3000 m: RPC-XXX continues broadcasting distress signals.

Hull breach detected. Send a recovery crew immediately.

-4300 m: The Tethys reaches the seafloor. Sediment on the seafloor is displaced beneath the Tethys, pulling her underground.

-4500 m: The Tethys descends through several large spaces which appear to contain elaborate stone constructs.

-5400 m

-7050 m: The Tethys descends into an open space. Her cameras do not detect anything for the next several hundred meters.

-8100 m: The Tethys is pulled through a fleshy surface by RPC-XXX's hooks and enters what appears to be the interior of RPC-XXX. The hooks dislodge from RPC-XXX's hull and allow her to freely sink. The Tethys's attached hydrophone picks up vocalizations similar to whale calls.

-8500 m: The Tethys sinks into a mass of carcasses belonging to various marine mammals. Several of the carcasses belong to long-extinct and/or unknown species. Regardless, most of the carcasses appear as if they expired recently, and some appear to move. All of them appear to have been stripped of skin and blubber. Among the carcasses are several ships from varying time periods. All ships appear to have sustained severe damage to the bottoms of their hulls.⁴

-8900 m

-9000 m: RPC-XXX uses the Tethys to transmit a message.

OL-Site-XXX. This is the ANS Tethys. Requesting a rescue. Over.

-9100 m: The last camera aboard the Tethys ceases functioning.

<End Log>

Incident Log XXX-I: RPC-XXX began attacking ships outside of its effective area in 2027. These incidents were initially assumed to be exceptions, as RPC-XXX's hooks have been shown to be capable of independent locomotion. However, the frequency of these incidents have increased in the past 3 years. As of 05/12/2030, the Authority has detected 21 RPC-XXX attacks outside of what was previously thought to be the boundaries of its effective area, 3 of which involved Authority naval vessels. At the time of writing, RPC-XXX's effective area is estimated to have increased by █%.

[+] Document XXX-A

The following document was discovered by Authority agents embedded in one of the oldest known Cetace's Kin pods, which is currently operating under the cover of an environmentalist non-profit with special focus on the conservation of sea life. It is a letter dated 05/01/1888 and is believed to be talking about RPC-XXX.

Dear Jacobus,

I hope this message finds you well. I write to inform you of a most shocking, yet joyous turn of events. I had gathered this pod in Galveston hoping to combat the grievous efforts of the Continentals. For the past thirty years, I have witnessed their relentless slaughter of those made in Cetace's sacred image. It appears now, however, that we have found a most unlikely ally.

I am sure you are familiar with the Primordial Angler, who destroyed in its eternal gluttony the holy sanctuaries built by Cetace himself. For thirty years, I have monitored, and rebuked the Angler, but now that Cetace's grace has mostly disappeared from its home, its disgust towards the Continental desecrators appears to equal ours. I have read in local papers that it has begun attacking Continental vessels.

Therefore, I am writing to ask you to reconsider our stance on the Primordial Angler. It seems to no longer be a foe of Cetace, and its actions are currently benefitting our interests. I understand how this may read as heresy, but I pray you consider my petition seriously.

Your friend and loyal kinsman,
Barnabas

Footnotes

1. Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles.

2. The Mexico Basin is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, with an estimated maximum depth between 3,750 and 4,384 m.

3. RPC-XXX uses its hooks' swim bladders to resurface sunken ships.

4. Especially where fuel tanks are located.

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