Background
----------
The world is actually being run by a coalition of secret societies and
cabals, known (to a few) as the Global Conspiracy. This group long ago
decided that certain knowledges and materials are too disruptive to be
allowed to fall into subversive hands. These materials were also considered
to be too potentially useful to be destroyed. Instead, a secret warehouse
was established in which to store these dangerous items and a covert task
force, known as the Collection Agency, was formed to oversee their
procurement and storage. This task force has grown increasingly more
conservative over the years, and as a result, many items have been stored
away on the pretext that it is better to be safe than sorry. If the
Collection Agency determines that you have an object that would be better
off in more responsible hands, then you would be well advised to simply
give it up. Remember, they have the full resources of the warehouse to
back them up, should they become desperate.
Notes:
The Flux Field: This strange energy field transforms the Warehouse into a
hypercube. Unless a person remains in the Warehouse for more than a month,
however, his mind is still locked into a 3-D reference. He will
undoubtably get blinding headaches, and become hopelessly lost, but the
Staff are only too ready to help some errant soul find the door (where it
is a _good_ door depends on how politely the petitioner asks). The field
also enhances the weirdness of the environment quite a bit. Three
dimensiosn are being stretched on a rack into four. Time will dialate and
contract. Complex items will begin to malfunction. The overall effect of
this cube generates the first line of defense -- anyone smart enough to
break in will want to leave after about four hours.
The Warehouse
-------------
The Warehouse is a huge structure, divided into three major areas. Each
area is used to hold items which present different storage problems. The
first area is for items which require no special treatment, the second area
is for items that need to be kept cold in order to be properly preserved,
and the third area is for items which require a constant power supply. A
simple ASCII map should give you a good idea:
+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------+
| # |
| Area 'A' - Main Storage ! Area 'B' |
| ! Refrigerated Storage |
| ! |
| Assume a uniform ceiling height of 20m (60 ft) ! |
| ! |
| Scale: 1 square = ~3m (10 ft) ! |
| ! |
| Legend: ! |
| + Wall Intersection # |
| - Horizontal, solid wall (armored) +----------------------+
| | Vertical, solid wall (armored) | Power Generators |
| O External security door (armored) | and Refrigerators |
| = Huge external cargo door (armored) +----------------------+
| ! Mobile internal wall panel # |
| # Human-sized door in a mobile wall panel ! Area 'C' |
| ! Powered Storage |
| ! |
| ! |
| ! |
| # |
+--============-----------------------============O---+----------------------+
Area 'A', the first area is, by far, the largest. It is maintained at a
constant temperature of 15 C (60 F) and a constant humidity of 10%.
Area 'B' is an enormous refrigerator. It is separated from the Area 'A' by
a wall of insulated panels. The panels are mounted in tracks on the floor
and ceiling, and are hinged where they join. They can be folded away so as
to form a large opening for cargo to be moved in or out. There is a motor
provided for this purpose, with controls on the only section of the right
hand wall of Area 'A' that is not mobile. At each end of the refrigerator
is a normal sized door to allow folks in or out without having to move the
walls. The interior of the refrigerator is kept at a frigid -60 C (-76 F)
at all times.
Area 'C' is just slightly smaller than Area 'B'. It contains all of the
items which require some form of active environmental protection. This
includes all machinery which the collection agency could not (or dared not)
turn off. This section also houses all of the equipment that is regularly
used by the warehouse, or its staff. Like Area 'B', this area also has
mobile walls, and a motor to move them.
Staff
-----
The head custodian is a redheaded forty- or fifty-year-old man,
somewhat rotund and in the middle stages of male-pattern baldness, with a
large moustache. Speaks in a friendly and amiable manner, able to put
anyone at ease, and makes a damn great Irish whisky. If asked, he gives
his name as "Mike."
Andy Warhol
Jimmy Hoffa
Elvis Presley
Santa Claus
Andy Kaufman
Amelia Earhart
Charles Lindbergh Jr.
Deep Throat
Ex-King Oberon of Amber.
H. P. Lovecraft
Dr. Benway.
Several Caroline clones
Samantha Mulder
Packaging
---------
Any item in Area 'A' of the warehouse that is smaller than about 3m (10
feet) on a side is sealed in a wooden crate. There are several huge crates
in the area but most of the larger items are either laying exposed on
pallets, or are covered by tarpaulins. No crate is smaller than 60 cm (2
feet) on a side, regardless of the size of the contents. All crates are
strongly reinforced, since they are stacked 20 deep in places.
All of the items in the refrigerated section are sealed in crates to avoid
ice evaporation. This is a storage regulation, so even articles which
contain no ice, but need to be stored cold, will be in crates.
There are far fewer items in section 'C', than in the other sections. Since
the items in this section require some sort of constant upkeep, none of
them are stored in crates. Instead, each item has a custom metal cabinet
that folds aside to reveal the contents. All of the cabinets are locked,
and only the custodian has the keys. (The cabinets would not be
particularly difficult to break into). A few of the truely large items in
this area are not fully enclosed, but merely have a cabinet built around
their control sections.
Markings
--------
Most crates and cabinets in the warehouse bare no markings other than a
standard identification code. A few containers have warnings about fragile
contents, or which end must be placed up. Workers in this warehouse have
been thoroughly impressed by the dangers of ignoring these warnings. As a
consequence, all warnings, no matter how strange, are rigidly followed.
The identification codes that are used is a varient on the standard US
military scheme. Each code is in the form:
XXX-NNNN-PP
where XXX is a three letter code, NNNN is a item number within that
three-letter code grouping, and PP is an optional part number for items
which have been disassembled and stored in several crates. Most crates have
a four digit item number, since less than 10,000 items were expected to be
found in any one category. In the cases where this has proved false, extra
digits have been added.
The three letter codes are interpreted as follows:
First letter - Purpose
AAA Analysis Object analyzes or describes other objects
BBB Battle Object is intended to be used in battle
CCC Communication Object allows communication over a variety of media
DDD Data Object contains or is a large collection of information
EEE Evidence Object is evidence supporting a theory or claim
FFF Specimen Object is to be subjected to further investigation later
GGG Generation Object produces matter or energy
HHH Repair Object maintains or repairs other objects
III Invocation Object helps secure a supernatural being's favor or blessing
JJJ Enjoyment Object is designed to bring pleasure or entertain.
KKK Transformation Object converts one thing into another
LLL Logic Object performs calculations or computations.
MMM Model Object is a (possibly working) scale model of something
NNN Nourishment Object is intended to provide food
OOO Observation Object gathers information via some sensing method
PPP Propulsion Object is intended to move objects it is attached to
QQQ Duplication Object is intended to replicate other objects
RRR Regulation Object governs the actions of another object
SSS Summoning Object produces the physical form of a supernatural being
TTT Transportation Object moves material, while remaining stationary
UUU Universal Object is capable of an enormous range of operations
VVV Vehicle Object's main purpose is transportation of people or cargo
WWW Misc Any purpose not covered elsewhere.
XXX Unknown No known purpose for this object
YYY Not applicable Concept of purpose is not compatible with this object
ZZZ Reflexive Object provides purpose
Second letter - Principal of Operation
A Atomic Works by harnessing nuclear forces
B Biological Object is biological, or has biological components
C Complex Uses electronic, electric and mechanical principles
D Divine Works due to intersession of a supernatural force
E E/M Works due to electromagnetic principals
F Flow Works by controlling flow of a substance
G Gravitic Works by harnessing Gravitational forces
H Modifies Laws Works by modifying physical laws
I Inert Object is an inert substance with interesting properties
J Chemical Object works by chemical reactions
K Kinetic Works through manipulation of kinetic energy
L Logic Flaw Object works despite the fact that it clearly cannot
M Magical Object uses mystical forces
N Nanotechnology Object is constructed of billions of tiny robots
O Physical Law Works by obeying simple laws of physics
P Psychic Operates using mental energy
Q Quantum Works at a sub-atomic level
R Recursive Object works due to effects caused by its operation
S Simple Machine Works via cogs, levers, pulleys, springs, etc.
T Temporal Object manipulates time
U Solid State Object is a solid-state electronic device
V Environmental Object interacts with its environment in unique ways
W Misc Any operating principal not covered elsewhere
X Unknown No known pricipal of operation
Y Not applicable Principal of operation is not an object-compatible concept
Z Reflexive Object is acted upon, it does not act itself
Third letter - Method of Use
A Autonomous Object is self activated and self controlled
B Bi-state Object is either OFF or ON, it has no other controls
C Consumed Object must be consumed or injected to have effect
D Directed Object accepts commands and attempts to carry them out
E Extension Object behaves as an extension of the users body
F File Object exists as a file or dossier
H Hand operated Object's control surface is manipulated by hand
I Installed Object must be installed or inserted in other equipment
L Logic Program Object must be carefully programmed before use
M Material Object is a raw material in some process
P Piloted Object requires continuous operation of controls to function
R Ritualistic Object is operated by ritual gestures, words or activities
T Telepathic Object obeys thoughts or desires of user
U Uncontrolled Object is in continuous operation, and cannot be turned off
W Misc Methods of use not covered elsewhere
X Unknown No method of use is known for this object
Y Not applicable Method of Use is not a concept compatible with this object
Z Reflexive Object controls user
[OOPS] Acronym for "Out Of Place Specimen," an object discovered that
hints at the existence of technology not representative of the
era it has been carbon-dated to.
Entry Format
------------
The idividual entries that follow are all in the same form:
XXX-NNNN-PP Area AAA CCCCC SSSxSSSxSSS
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Where:
XXX-NNNN-PP is the identification code
AAA is the storage area, one of: 'A', 'B' or 'C'
CCCCC is the container type, one of: Crate, Tarp, Pallet or Cabinet
SSS is the size in centimeters (length, then width, then height)
WWWWWWWWWW is any warning text that may be on the container
BBBBBBBBBB is a brief summary of the item in question
TTTTTTTTTT is detailed explanatory text on the object
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