Incident Video Log Transcript

Date: 1982/03/03 @ 21:02

Monitoring Team: MTF Beta-2 ("Bayou Boys")

Operational directive: Observe incident & direct containment efforts.

Team Lead: Lt. Major Francois Arnaud, "Alpha"

[BEGIN LOG]

Alpha: Keep it tight, everyone. The crowds are just getting started, so stay close.

<The video pans as Maj. Arnaud glances about his team. The crowd around them is loud and in the early stages of the Mardi Gras celebration>

Delta: The Gockers are going after someone in this mess? They must really want this guy if they're willing to risk this many civvies.

Beta: Or they just don't fucking care.

Alpha: Can it. We're working with them now, remember? We may not agree with their methods, but the O5s have decided that we're to play nice. We're C&C on this one, so we shouldn't be facing anything nasty directly.

Delta: <Under her breath> For once.

Alpha: I heard that, Chalmers. More importantly, it's being recorded.

<The team moves through the crowd for several minutes, Maj. Arnaud's viewpoint shifting as he attempts to locate the target. After a few minutes, the team steps out into Jackson Square.>

Beta: Eyes on, Major. Denim overalls, straw hat, cane. Far side of the outer ring. He's talking with that grunge band.

<Maj. Arnaud's view settles briefly on an older-looking black man dressed as described chatting amicably with a group of street musicians set up off to the side of the outer ring.>

Alpha: Copy. I see him. Look to the buildings, that's where the GOC teams usually-

<A shot rings out, interrupting the Major. His viewpoint rapidly shifts as he ducks low, swinging jerkily towards the central spire and the group of musicians. The man in the straw hat is down, and all but two of the musicians are scattering.>

Alpha: Shooter's in St. Louis' church. Target is down, I repeat, target is do-

Beta: Uh, not quite, Major.

<Maj. Arnaud's view shifts back to the target in time to see him climbing to his feet. A large hole has been torn in the back of his overalls, and the viewpoint allows the watcher to clearly see one of the musicians through the body of the older man>

Delta: Fuck me, how is that bas-

<The old man stamps his cane down hard on the ground next to him, and the flagstones ripple at the point of impact. Black smoke pours from around the outstretched palm of the old man, and the pale figure of another man can be seen streaking through the smoke towards the St. Louis steeple.>

Alpha: Bender! The Bonfeld-Carizza's not detecting any Hume flux, it's gotta be Akiva.

Beta: It's a Black? Fuck this, they didn't prep us for a goddamn Black.

Alpha: Stay low, get the civvies out of here. Command! Code Gamma-Black. I repeat, Code Gamma-Black.

<The musician has finished helping the old man to his feet, as another several more shots ring out across the square. A GOC contact team can be seen advancing upon the two musicians and the old man. One of the musicians, a 7-foot tall man dressing like some grungy, singed cowboy, suddenly shimmers and bursts into flame. With a roar, it flings several gouts of flame towards the GOC operatives, catching two of them in coronas of liquid fire.>

Alpha: Command, they're fighting back. Get a full-scale response team here quickly, if there're any Alpha Omega elements nearby that would be best. Jackson Square is mostly clear-

<A large explosion interrupts him, and the Major's viewpoint shifts back towards the old man. Roiling black clouds of smoke has enveloped him and the attacking GOC team. Flashes of gunfire can be seen within the occluding smoke, and then nothing.>

Beta: What the hell was that?

Alpha: Anyone have eyes on those Gockers? Delta, sweep left. Gamma, check the church. Beta, with me.

<Maj. Arnaud stands and heads towards the dissipating smoke. Several GOC operatives can be seen sprawled across the stones, their black body armor mangled and smoking.>

Beta: Don't often see the GOC boys on the losing end of things.

Alpha: No kidding. Do you see the target?

<The view sweeps left and right for a few moments showing only several damaged instruments and the bodies of the GOC operatives.>

Delta: Nothing here, Major.

Gamma: Major, the whole top of the goddamn church is… I'm not going up there, Major.

Alpha: Heard. Command, situation appears to be quieting. No sight of target, multiple GOC casualties.

Beta: Hey, check this out.

<Maj. Arnaud's view shifts back towards Beta, where he can be seen squatting next to the old man's cane.>

Alpha: Right. Command, send a retrieval team. Assume the artifact is still hot.

Afterword: The contact and retrieval teams arrived minutes later to stabilize the situation. Several Amnerosol dispersal units were dispatched, and cover story Epsilon Omicron 6 ("Gas Explosion") was disseminated to the local press. SCP-4421 was retrieved by an Artifact Containment Team and transported to Site-76 for study.

[END LOG]