Quiet Children Swamp Investigation - Wed, Sep 21, 2016

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Report No: GT/WT-160921-030241031

Location: Everglades, Florida, near Interstate 75 west of Miami

Agents:

Summary:

Agents McCarter, Drummond, Monroe, and Cortez pursued the fugitive Thomas Perez into the Everglades, following a series of cryptic clues. Upon locating Perez and a group of individuals, the agents engaged with anomalous entities resulting in the deaths of Agents Monroe and Cortez. Agents McCarter and Drummond survived and reported the incident to their handler, Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonia Pizzarelli (Agent Clove). The surviving agents then returned to Washington, D.C. for debriefing.

Operation Report:

Analysis and Recommendations:

Session Notes
  • The session begins with the agents (McCarter, Drummond, Monroe, and Cortez) continuing their mission to locate Thomas Perez based on a code he left them.
  • They decipher the code, realizing it points to specific landmarks along I-75 heading west into the Everglades outside of Miami.
    • The “alligators facing each other” refer to a pair of sculptures over I-75.
    • The “big pole with the horns” is the sign for Big Red Steakhouse.
    • The “tree with the stars shining through it” indicates a location and a time: that night, September 21st, 2016, at 9 p.m.
  • Circumstances delay them, keeping them to the appointed time:
    • A river of snakes swarms their car, preventing them from leaving the steakhouse too early.
    • They rent a Nissan Pathfinder to continue their journey.
  • The agents arrive at the designated tree by the side of the road at 9 p.m.
    • They notice the fence designed to keep wildlife from the highway has been cut open.
    • A faint trail leads through the grass beyond the fence into the swamp.
  • Equipping themselves with headlamps and weapons, they proceed down the trail.
    • McCarter takes point with his shotgun ready.
    • The path is muddy and not well-trodden, making their progress slow.
  • As they journey deeper into the swamp, they hear an amphibian chorus and occasional sounds of wildlife, including alligators.
    • McCarter identifies some of the sounds as great egrets, anhingas, and alligators.
  • The agents make alertness checks to stay vigilant.
    • Drummond, Monroe, and Cortez notice signs of movement in the surrounding swamp but see no immediate threats.
  • After walking about a kilometer and a half, they see the glow of firelight through the trees.
    • They hear keening voices but cannot discern words.
  • Approaching cautiously, they observe six young men and women around a small campfire.
    • The individuals are thin and dressed in a mix of casual and ragged clothing.
    • They are holding each other, swaying, and emitting a wordless, breathy wail.
  • Thomas Perez emerges from their midst as they part.
    • He takes a deep breath and begins walking toward the agents’ general direction.
  • The agents attempt to stealthily position themselves.
    • Only Cortez succeeds critically in his stealth check, separating slightly from the group.
    • The others fail and inadvertently make noise by sinking into mud and water.
  • As Perez approaches, the agents, hidden in an arc, point their weapons at him.
    • He seems unafraid and begins communicating through sign language.
  • Drummond, who knows ASL, interprets Perez’s signs:
    • Perez signs, “I know you serve her. Her teeth. Thank you. We’ve missed you. He is coming.”
    • Drummond asks, “Who is he?”
    • Perez replies, “The Speaker. But he’s not here, and she must not starve. We will feed her. Take us to her. We feed her.”
  • Perez appears impatient and frustrated with signing.
  • As Perez throws his arms open, Cortez interprets this as a threat and decides to shoot.
    • He fires his shotgun, hitting Perez squarely.
    • Perez stumbles, looks at them, and collapses into the mud, dead.
  • McCarter makes a Sanity check due to witnessing the violence.
    • He passes the check and maintains his composure.
  • Moments after Perez’s death, the agents hear deep growling sounds of alligators emerging from the swamp.
    • They witness an alligator grabbing Perez’s body and dragging it into the water.
  • The swamp becomes eerily silent, and then they hear splashing and thrashing sounds.
    • Four grotesque creatures emerge from the water.
      • They are unnatural amalgamations of alligators and humans.
      • The creatures have distorted bodies with too many limbs, human fingers, and mad human eyes.
  • The agents make Sanity checks upon seeing the abominations.
    • Drummond fails and loses 4 Sanity points.
    • McCarter succeeds but still loses 1 Sanity point.
    • Some agents project the Sanity loss onto their bonds to mitigate the effects.
  • Combat ensues with the creatures.
    • Round 1:
      • Steel Monroe acts first:
        • He fires his Mossberg shotgun at one of the creatures.
        • He hits and deals 9 damage, causing black blood to ooze from the creature.
      • McCarter fires his shotgun:
        • He hits and deals 7 damage, further injuring the same creature.
      • Drummond decides to flee:
        • He turns on his headlamp and runs back toward the car.
      • Cortez fires his shotgun:
        • He hits, dealing 11 damage to the creature.
    • The creature appears wounded but continues advancing.
  • The abominations move closer, growling and hissing.
    • They cannot reach the agents to attack during this round.
  • Round 2:
    • Steel Monroe fires again:
      • He hits with a 20 (no critical) and deals 11 damage.
      • The creature shows signs of significant injury.
    • McCarter fires:
      • He hits and deals 12 damage.
      • The combined damage causes the creature to collapse and die.
    • Three creatures remain.
    • Drummond continues fleeing toward the car, increasing the distance between himself and the combat.
    • Cortez fires at the next creature:
      • He hits but then experiences a critical failure due to a misinterpretation (noted in transcript errors).
      • However, with a reminder from another agent about the shotgun bonus, he realizes he actually hits.
      • He deals 11 damage to the second creature.
  • The remaining creatures advance toward the agents.
    • They close the distance and are now within attacking range.
  • Round 3:
    • Steel Monroe fires at the approaching creatures while backing up:
      • He hits and deals 14 damage to one of them.
    • McCarter fires:
      • He hits and deals 4 damage.
    • The creatures show resilience despite injuries.
  • The creatures attack:
    • One creature lunges at Cortez.
      • Cortez attempts to dodge but fails.
      • The creature misses its attack.
    • Another creature attacks Steel Monroe.
      • Monroe attempts to dodge but fails.
      • The creature achieves a critical success, dealing 12 damage.
      • Monroe’s hit points drop from 11 to -1, resulting in his immediate death.
      • The creature’s jaws snap around Monroe’s torso, killing him instantly.
    • McCarter, witnessing Monroe’s death, makes a Sanity check.
      • He fails and loses Sanity points but projects the loss onto a bond to mitigate it.
  • Drummond continues running toward the car.
    • He hears the distant scream of Monroe but does not stop.
  • Round 4:
    • Cortez decides to flee.
      • He attempts to run but fails his dexterity check.
      • The creatures chase after him.
    • The creatures attempt to attack Cortez but fail to hit him.
  • Round 5:
    • Cortez tries to escape again but fails.
      • He is grabbed by one of the creatures.
      • The creature’s claws dig into him, causing minor damage.
    • The second creature also grabs him, inflicting additional minor damage.
  • Round 6:
    • Cortez attempts to free himself.
      • He fires his shotgun at the creature gripping him.
      • He scores a critical success, dealing 20 damage.
      • The creature releases him as it succumbs to its injuries.
    • The remaining creature continues its assault.
      • It drags Cortez toward the water.
  • Round 7:
    • Cortez struggles as he is pulled underwater.
      • He fires his shotgun at the creature, dealing 8 damage.
      • The creature thrashes him underwater.
      • Cortez takes 3 points of damage from the attack.
    • He tries to break free but fails.
      • The creature tightens its grip, and he begins to lose breath.
  • Round 8:
    • Cortez attempts once more to free himself.
      • He fires his last shotgun shell at the creature’s arm.
      • He hits and deals 9 damage.
      • The creature’s grip loosens slightly.
      • Cortez takes 2 points of self-inflicted damage from the close-range shot.
    • The creature retaliates with a devastating attack.
      • It bites down on Cortez’s leg with maximum force, dealing 12 damage.
      • The severe injury results in Cortez’s death as he is pulled beneath the water’s surface.
  • Meanwhile, McCarter runs through the swamp.
    • He fails initial checks to navigate but uses his smartphone’s GPS compass to orient himself south toward the interstate.
    • He cautiously makes his way back, avoiding potential threats.
  • Drummond also attempts to find his way back.
    • He fails several checks and becomes disoriented in the swamp.
    • Eventually, he realizes the gunshots have ceased and decides to continue toward the interstate.
  • Both agents make it back to the interstate separately.
    • McCarter reaches the rental car but finds that Monroe had the keys.
    • Drummond contacts McCarter via text message.
      • They share their locations and meet up after walking along the road.
  • The two discuss their situation.
    • McCarter confirms that Monroe is dead and is unsure about Cortez.
    • They realize they cannot retrieve the rental car without the keys.
  • Drummond contacts Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonia Pizzarelli to report.
    • He informs her that Perez is dead and mentions the alligator-like monsters in the swamp.
    • She inquires about the threat level and whether they can handle it.
    • The agents state they are in no condition to deal with the creatures.
    • Pizzarelli decides to send a team in the next day or two to handle the situation.
  • The agents arrange for an Uber to pick them up at a nearby gas station.
    • They abandon the rental car and return to Miami.
  • During the journey back to Washington, D.C., the agents reflect on the mission.
    • They attempt to make sense of Perez’s words about “her teeth,” “the Speaker,” and “feeding her.”
    • McCarter realizes that the children have developed their own spiritual beliefs.
      • They perceive divine power as feminine, likely influenced by Babushka’s dominant role.
      • He shares his anthropological insights with Drummond.
  • The agents acknowledge their shared trauma and experiences.
    • They form a stronger bond due to surviving the ordeal together.
      • They establish new bonds or strengthen existing ones to reflect this development.
  • The session concludes with the agents planning to attend a debriefing with Pizzarelli upon their return.
    • They face the loss of their fellow agents and the unresolved threats that remain.

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