A Routine Audit - Redux

A Routine Audit - Redux
A Delta Green Shotgun Scenario
NOTE: Skill checks @ handler discretion - ranges from investigation to murder box

Introduction:

The year is 2017. During the DoD’s first-ever audit, two DoD Inspector General (IG) personnel have been institutionalized and one independent auditor self-terminated during an investigation of a Line of Accounting associated with 1888 Hinton Place, Renton, WA – codename SURPLUS. Delta Green (DG) establishes Task Group Koleamas to investigate.
In a Pentagon office, Koleamas is inbriefed & warned to avoid the audit documents.
The Program: NSA’s Utah Data Center flagged the coincidental mental breakdowns, determining SURPLUS’s financial data as vector after two further self-terminations by NSA analysts. Presence of SURPLUS’s data in DoD audit’s formulas result in irrational non-real results that remains constant regardless of audit inputs. NSA cleaners isolated digital copies while an FBI ITAR team secures physical copies.
Your agents receive legitimate GAO credentials as TS-cleared “spot inspectors.”
The Cowboys: Agent Larry at DoD IG noticed the correlation between breakdowns and SURPLUS’s financial data. In case of memetic hazard, Larry destroyed digital and physical copies within reach.
Remaining exposed personnel die during a “working lunch” gas explosion at a DC Panera - police failed to notice missing phones and laptop bags during investigation.
Your agents receive DOD IG credentials unlikely to stand up to hard scrutiny but disconnected from their identities.
The Truth: SURPLUS contains GALLOP, a Mi-Go based device liberated from Majestic by by DG. GALLOP is a living metal hyperconductor encasing a crystal. The crystal is GALLOP’s “brain,” imposing traversable quantum uncertainty around it, a reverse Schrödinger’s box.
GALLOP absorbs heat and radiation, causing frostbite if held long enough. An agent holding GALLOP with bare hands will see random mental images of locations. The locations range from the benign to the horrifying, initially only those known to the agents but later including horrifying other dimension. The holding agent “feels” GALLOP is in standby – an agent may accidentally activate GALLOP and be ejected into space at Handler discretion.
GALLOP’s cold-storage unit broke in 1991; heat activated GALLOP’s standby mode. SURPLUS is an ever-growing fractal of SURPLUS’ potential bureaucratic fates.

The Investigation:

Institutionalized IG personnel are catatonic; descending into violent outbursts if pressed about their work. Visitors medical or familial credentials.
Successful investigation of SURPLUS’s LOA reveals five organizations with apparent oversight: Office of Naval Research (ONR), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), SATO Travel, whatever “MJ-6” is, and an Army admin unit decommissioned in 72.
Researching SURPLUS’s origin reveals the Army’s 415th Admin Support Unit budgeted for the research facility in 1970 the 415th had no assigned army personnel,. Provide blueprint if asked. Successful investigation of DG links reveal DG ran SURPLUS until CJCS shut DG down in ‘72; it became a Green Box. Administrative oversight allowed 415th’s LOA to fund SURPLUS until 1991. Researchers cannot remember if they found anything after 1991, and have hazy memory and headaches if they try. Phone conversations with these institutions are inconclusive. Agents hear static if they call SURPLUS. A successful listen or computer science roll reveals the infinitely layered speech creating the static and result in a headache.
Searching for audit documentation results in an angry Handler phonecall. A persistent, successful agent should lose SAN. Agent knows all agencies involved, that they are co-existant, and will lose whatever the handler considers “alot” of SAN when approaching the building, which they see as a tesseract. That agent alone can enter/leave any level via exits at will. If they fail, headache and nothing seen/learned - the agents cannot figure out how to look directly at the document.
Utility usage is unremarkable.
No one comes in or out of the building.

SURPLUS:

Outside:
In an unused parking lot, aging chain-link fence protects a windowless single-story building. Faded signs warn, “No Trespassing, Federal Property.”
A broken padlock, untouched for years, hangs on the main gate latch.
The points of entry are four ground floor doors and roof access. The main entrance is unlocked, the other four require “finesse.” Agents enter the “Green Box” first. Escape is through neutralizing GALLOP or death.

Orienteering:
Once entered, SURPLUS continues in a series of loops. SAN loss should be managed to create pressure but allow exploration. Suggest higher initial loss based on helplessness, decreasing over time. Map of initial loop below:

General Level Descriptions:

Vary as desired - most levels have a Researcher 1 & 2, annotated in the NPC list:

• Security:
  • • Emblem of organization on wall (MJ6 has none)
    • Metal desk w/ Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) computer & only phone - agents only hear high-pitch tone when using phone.
    • Ready Service Locker (RSL) w/ M9 Beretta
    • Armed contractor (MJ6’s is NRO veteran)
• Lounge:
  • • Fridge, vending machines, and table
• Lab:
  • • Assorted appropriate lab equipment (see missions).
    • GALLOP in various types of lab containment throughout levels - handler’s discretion, but not all levels should have a laboratory cold storage unit.
    • Researcher 1
• Workshop:
  • • Metal table with stools. Shelves contain precision machining tools and measurement devices.

• Office:
  • • 2 desks w/ early 2010’s computers.
    • Bookshelves w/ recent professional journals and publications.
    • General documentation describing purpose. Varying level contain:
      • • Notes on quantum phasing (MJ6, DARPA)
        • GALLOP goes dormant when in dark/cold (all)
        • Crystals “react” to stimuli (JHU, DARPA, MJ6)
        • Absorbs radiation (DoE, ONR)
    • Researcher 2
• Bathroom:
  • • 1 sink, 2 stalls, 1 urinal.
• Stairwell:
  • • Dimly lit concrete w/ metal handrail. If they look, agents could see infinitely up or down if they weren’t looking at the back of their own head 7 stories up/down (SAN loss).
• Computers:
  • • Hurts agents to look at screens. Can only operate their personal devices - but have no signal.

Unique Areas:

Green Box:

• Security Room: Faded crest of 514th Admin Support.
  • • Wall mounted ready service locker (RSL) containing 2xGALLOPd .45ACP mags.
    • Metal desk.
• Workspace:
  • • Dust-covered wooden crates and ammo cans. Handler choose appropriate 70-90’s era DG items. “Green Box Generator” can help.
    • Metal work table with shelving units filled with precision tools and measuring equipment.
• Lab:
  • • Large RSL against north wall. Contains one can of linked 7.62 and ancient M-60 w/ “Born to kill that which may not die” carved into the side. Mythos roll will recognize elder sign carved as well.
    • Large cold storage unit mid-lab. Signs warn unit must remain on, to activate emergency power if off. Backup generator can be activated w/ ACs. GALLOP contained within.
    • Empty metal tables.
• Break Room:
  • • Smashed, empty vending machines. Surrounded by outdated wrappers and soda bottles. 211 hashes scratch into break room table. Some blood and fingernails.
• Office:
  • • 2x metal desks w/ typewriters
    • Self-terminated desiccated corpse in corner w/ 1911A1 in hand w/ 6/7 rounds in mag. Died years ago.
    • Small triangle is carved into the wall with screwdriver.

SATO:

• Lab/Workspace/Office:
  • • One open floorplan office. Sabantha Bawls and Billiam Calden work here.
    • Desks strewn w/ unfiled travel paperwork and early 2000’s desktops - agents may find an old claim they thought was lost.
    • GALLOP is a paperweight on Sabantha’s desk.

Interactions & Purpose:

Research Goals for GALLUP:

• Radiation safety provided by GALLOP’s absorption properties:
  • • DoE (for revolutionary power generation)
    • ONR (for naval reactors)
    • NASA (for space travel)
• Crystalline computing matrixes:
  • • NASA (Long-range C2)
    • DARPA (Quantum uncertainty used for drone autonomy)
• FTL matter transfer and localized reality shifts:
  • • MJ6 (for March Industries)
• Nothing: SATO, Green Box

Clearance Level:

• SAP: DARPA, MJ6
• TS: ONR, NASA
• N/A: SATO, Green Box

Overall Attitude:

• Will allow GALLOP to be moved w/ appropriate checks
  • • ONR
• Will not allow GALLOP to be moved if noticed
  • • SATO - Sabantha will melee anyone she sees stealing her paperweight
    • DARPA - testing is sensitive, movement would disrupt
• Will question and resist agent authority
  • • NASA (DoD has no authority)
• Will attack agents virtually on sight if past security:
  • • MJ6
• Guards
  • • Once agents become a threat, guards will phone for reinforcements. Two come through the front door when agents aren’t looking. They remain until dismissed - if agents observe door at departure, guards find themselves stuck and insane.

What If:

• GALLOP personnel forced to realize their situation gain permanent insanity, handler’s choice.
• GALLOP personnel passing into different levels will disappear, folding into their counterparts. Their counterparts all lose SAN, go temporarily insane, and gain a stacking 10% miss chance if agents attack them.
• Agents can conceivably starve to death if they never solve this problem. The water works, though
• Blowing up the wall reveals the next room.

Finishing the Mission

• Put all GALLOPs in fridge/cold storage: SURPLUS resets to Green Box
• Combing all GALLOP: If GALLOP is taken from a level, that level is “folded” out as GALLOP merges with others - that room is now skipped by agents. Folding all GALLOP leaves the last room GALLOP is taken to as “set” reality. If some are cold, and the rest merged, building resets to Green Box unless Green Box was “folded.” Then pick cold GALLOP realities.
• Breaking Crystals: Breaking a crystal throws aspects of that reality into others and randomizes the placement of that level (use a D8). Breaking any crystal leaves a progressively stronger horrifying flesh monster in the end-game (unless it’s just the Green Box). If all GALLOP broken, agent’s room becomes “reality” and horrifying monster combining all NPC’s in a big meat mess is there.
• Characters all die

NPC STATS
___

Contractor Guard (and backup guards)
STR 12 CON 12 DEX 12 INT 10 POW 12 CHA 8
HP 12 WP 12 SAN 60
SKILLS: Alertness 60%, Athletics 50%, Firearms 50%, Melee 40%, Unarmed Combat 50%
GEAR: Body Armor (DR 3), Shotgun w/ 16x Slugs (1D12, 1AP), M9 Baretta (1D10), Knife (1D4)
DESCRIPTION: Not interested in small talk. Just here checking clearances so he doesn’t get fined. Wouldn’t decline an opportunity to shoot an intruder.

MJ6 Guard
STR 12 CON 14 DEX 11 INT 10 POW 10 CHA 4
HP 13 WP 10 SAN 50
SKILLS: Alertness 70%, Athletics 50%, Firearms 60%, Melee 50%, Unarmed 50%
GEAR: Tactical Vest Body Armor (DR 5), M4 (1D12 3AP) w/ 3 30 rd mags, M9 Baretta (1D10) w/ 3 30 rd mags, Bigger Knife (1D6)
DESCRIPTION: Black-on-black fashion style for a black hearted murder machine. Checks your clearance in the JPAS computer - surprise, you don’t have it. 5-count to bullet-party.

Researcher 1

DR. Hortense Wallencroft, Materials Scientist (61) (NASA, DARPA)
STR 8 CON 8 DEX 12 INT 16 POW 12 CHA 16
HP 9 WP 12 SAN 60
SKILLS: Geology 50%, Chemistry 70%, Physics 30%, Electrical Engineering 40%,
Persuade 50%, Bureaucracy 50%, Computer Science 30%, Melee 60%
GEAR: Pencil (D4, 5%), Hairpin (D2, 5%), Calipers (D2, 5%), Nokia (D2-1), Lab Coat, Reading Glasses
DESCRIPTION: An enchanting but intimidating Grade Dame of science from Chicago, IL via Drexel & MIT. Would be an assassin for fundraising at any university, but prefers the no-nonsense practice of the craft. Would stab you with her pencil to survive - she didn’t go this far to die without an impressive lab accident.

Dr. Ezekial Klein (81) Physicist & Mathematician (MJ6, ONR)
STR 6 CON 6 DEX 8 INT 18 POW 8 CHA 8
HP 6 WP 8 SAN 40
SKILLS: Mathematics 70%, Physics 70%, Computer Science 50%, Electrical Engineering 20%
GEAR: Notebook (D2), Lab Coat, Bifocals
DESCRIPTION: A shuffling scientific hermit tormented by the suspected potential of GALLOP, but finds application constantly out of reach. MJ6 version is a Majestic die-hard who KNOWS the true potential of GALLOP, but will only discuss under extreme duress. ONR version is a Cowboy friendly keeping a lid on GALLOP’s true potential. From Utah via Stanford & CalTech, once a mormon - the horrible vistas on his periphery long ago shattered his faith.

Sabantha Bawls (45) GS-11 (SATO)
STR 14 CON 10 DEX 10 INT 8 POW 10 CHA 8
HP 12 WP 10 SAN 50
SKILLS: Alertness 80%, Persuade 60%, Bureaucracy 60%, Accounting 5%,
Computer Science 5%, Melee 70%, Unarmed 70%, Shiraz 80%
Gear: The Rock (D6/2 - breaks crystal if used), Yeti bottle of Shiraz (D2)
DESCRIPTION: Obnoxious and attention-seeking Philly native. Constantly self-affirming as if there’s an audience - there’s not. Is she… drunk? Highest skill is hiding the lack of skill at her job. Do not steal her cool paperweight.

Researcher 2

Dr. Nathan Okereke (65) Nuclear Engineer (NASA, ONR)
STR 8 CON 10 DEX 14 INT 16 POW 14 CHA 12
HP 9 WP 14 SAN 70
SKILLS: Electrical Engineering 60%, Mechanical Engineering 60%, Nuclear Science 50%, Computer Science 50%, Mathematics 30%, Accounting, 40%, Alertness 50%, Melee 50%, Unarmed 50%
GEAR: Lab Coat, Modular Screwdriver (D4)
DESCRIPTION: Brilliance at the basics - a workaday nuclear engineer respected for his flexibility and persistence. Did some time with Naval Reactors as an advisor. From Houston, TX via Georgia Tech.

Dr. Carolina Dominguez (38) Computer Scientist (MJ6, DARPA)
STR 10 CON 10 DEX 12 INT 16 POW 12 CHA 10
HP 10 WP 10 SAN 60
SKILLS: Computer Science 70%, Electrical Engineering 60%, Mathematics 50%,
Persuade 40%, Spanish 80%
GEAR: Notebook (D2), Iphone (D1, thrown)
DESCRIPTION: Native of San Pedro Garza Garcia in Nuevo, Leon (MX) - any post naturalization clearance concerns were crushed by her academic success through Monterrey Tech and John Hopkins. As professionally driven as Dr.Klein is haunted. GALLOP is conveniently both professionally fascinating and a ticket to the top of her field.

Billiam Calden (40) GS-10 (SATO)
STR 16 CON 10 DEX 10 INT 10 POW 5 CHA 10
HP 10 WP 5 SAN 25
SKILLS: Bureaucracy 50%, Accounting 50%, Computer Science 20%, Athletics 70%,
Melee 70%, Unarmed 70%, Shiraz 80%
GEAR: 3in Binder (D4), Stapler (D2)
Description: A man broken by working for Sabantha Bawls - his intense, burning hatred long burned out. Without even knowing he’s trapped in a dimensional anomaly, feels like he’s living his eternal hell. Fitness is his only escape - but provided some fuel, his hatred might spark again.

The Human Resources (Horrible Flesh Monster) (Endgame if any crystals broken)
STR 8 CON 8 DEX 8 INT 8 HP 8
Add 1 to each category for every living person on levels where crystals were broken. “Folding” a level does not count as death.
GEAR: Whatever melee weapons the “merged” personnel have. And enough horrifying arms to hold all of them.
SKILLS: Alertness 30%, Dodge 30%, Melee 40%, Unarmed 40%, Search 30% (gets 2 attacks)
Add 2% to each category for every living person on levels where crystals were broken. “Folding” a level does not count as death.

Description: GALLOP failure inaccurately folds entities of de-synched realities into a horrifying team building exercise of murder. The more bodies, the more aware and capable it is.

Credits

A Routine Audit (Redux) was written by Matt Hipple for the 2021 Shotgun Scenario contest.
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EnnSf8WjaZR1-w0EIV8fdlWTey_j0UvvJw16AQsQ4iM/edit