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Chapter Text

You have (1) Unread Mail. Priority: URGENT.

From: Chinatsu ([email protected])

To: Hina ([email protected]), Iori ([email protected]), Ako ([email protected])

Subject: Summary of Gehenna Medical Examination Report

This information is for Prefect Team executives only. Do not distribute copies of this document or disseminate information without written permission.

Please review the attached form for full details.

Basic Information

• The subject of this examination is Nelson, Advisor to the Federal Investigate Club Schale. Stated birthday is August 15 and her stated age is 25. Subject is a female self-described 'Human, Battleship Type'.
• This examination was undertaken to help establish the subject's baseline state of health.

Clinical Evaluation Notes

• Subject is 188 cm in height, recorded weight at time of examination is 338kg. Subject's weight is not in accordance with the measured body fat percentage.
• No abnormal physical or neurological traits discovered in evaluation.
• Subject maintains previous abnormal physical conditions in body temperature, skin composition, and heartbeat. Additional abnormal psychiatric and identifying marks discovered in evaluation. Bloodwork evaluation was not possible. See below.
  • Subject body temperature remains at 30 c and has not fluctuated since field measurements.
  • Skin remains magnetic but the subject has suggested the possibility of neutralizing this trait which indicates potential non-organic composition.
  • Subject heartbeat remains non-standard to known human biology.
  • Subject has hypertrophic scarring over lumbar vertebrae. Regular patterning indicates they are postoperative scars rather than injury. Subject has no knowledge of any historical surgery or injury in that area. Examination has not been able to discern the reason or need for surgery in that area.
• Subject's psychiatric state is considered abnormal by Kivotos Medical Council standards. However, the subject's physical and mental compositions are novel to Kivotos and were not a part of the considerations KMC used when establishing standards. Cultural considerations can also explain potential deviations from KMC standards.
  • Subject exhibits traits analogous to a dissociative disorder, referencing distinct memory sets from her "crew". Subject expresses awareness that memory sets are distinct from her memories, but does not question the accuracy or validity of the memories presented to her.
  • Subject exhibits signs of low self-esteem. Subject routinely downplays achievements, and has a distorted sense of comparative ability. A primary example is the Subject's belief that their physical capabilities are below that of most students. Please see below for measured findings on Subject's physical abilities.
• Subject has exhibited doubt as to whether they are human. Interactions with known abilities that affect humans have shown a reduced efficacy on the subject. It is plausible that they are not human even though they are humanoid and exhibit human-like traits.

Ability Findings Notes

• All information possessed by the Gehenna Emergency Medical Committee indicates that Adult Humans without halos should lack any notable abilities. It is not clear if this information is correct or not given the uncertainty over whether the subject is human or not.
• Subject possesses durability comparable if not in excess of most students.
  • Subject suffers from minor injuries at a higher rate and ease than students. However, durability in regards to deep or serious physical trauma is significantly higher than most students.
  • This observation is based on field evidence due to the difficulties and morality of purposely attempting to wound the subject to get an objective measure of durability.
  • Subject's durability does not distinguish between hostile and friendly intent. Attempts to draw blood failed as tools were incapable of penetrating the dermis.
• Subject possesses physical strength that exceeds most students. Gehenna does not currently possess the facilities or equipment to measure the upper limit of baseline strength. Current evidence of strength includes:
  • Subject did not display any difficulty in folding a 9mm thick armour plate.
  • Subject managed to send a student airborne for 30 meters with a single strike.
  • Subject revealed she is aware that she can damage reinforced concrete without use of tools.
• Subject has the ability to retrieve and use skills, knowledge, and information possessed by her "crew".
  • Subject is capable of rapidly sorting and selecting this information while under stress.
  • Subject possesses inconsistent knowledge about modern society. They can identify technology and equipment, but possess little to no knowledge of media or culture.
• Subject is capable of storing and retrieving belongings stored in an unknown pocket space.
  • Attempts to send recording equipment into the space all failed to record. The lack of any recorded data suggests this space has limited stasis effects.
• The subject's possessions seem to benefit from enhanced durability. Actions which should damage or destroy an item either do not affect, or have a limited effect, on them.
  • It is unknown if this only applies to items which they recognize as possessions or any item in their care.
  • Examination of items provided by the subject have revealed no detectable evidence of such durability.
• The subject either does not know or has not noticed that their physical abilities increase with emotional distress.
• Subject claims the ability to create additional heavy equipment, and that their current lack of such equipment has led to their current perceived weak state.
  • While the exact details of such heavy equipment have not been recorded, this examiner has firsthand eyewitness accounts of a partially successful attempt at manifesting this equipment.

Examiner Notes

There is no simple way to put it. Nelson-Sensei is not human as we understand it. At the low end of possibilities, she is an extensively modified human with significant esoteric, cybernetic, and genetic alteration. At the far end of possibilities, she is literally a conceptual being which has been granted a human form.

While her baseline capabilities can be measured, it is not possible or ethical to induce emotional duress in her for the sake of measuring the upper end of her capabilities. I don't doubt that we're only at her baseline. It's entirely possible that she has no upper end.

She's consistently expressed a hesitation in initiating violence. This hesitation is such that she was willing to even allow dangerous individuals escape if it would allow her to avoid conflict. This may be a cultural incompatibility, given what information we have on her and her home. A higher population of haloless adults which align with our understanding would make any violence potentially lethal.

This hesitation for initiating violence should not be misunderstood as a hesitation to engage in violence. She prefers decisive action once violence is inevitable and has the physical capacity to do so.

While Nelson is physically daunting, her skills at individual combat are only above average. She does not express the expertise in melee or firearms proficiency that some students possess. She doesn't have anywhere close to any of the esoteric abilities some students have. The upper echelon of students in Kivotos can match or beat her, but she can overwhelm the vast majority with pure durability and strength.

The GSC has suggested that she keep quiet about what she is, but I have my doubts about whether she will. She's forthright to a fault and I don't think she could even lie to a student if they asked. As it stands, it is best we try to continue building a rapport with her. She is unlikely to take hostile action against Gehenna unless we give her cause.

- Chinatsu

Chapter Text

CLASSIFIED – TOP SECRET 

OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE 

PARACAUSAL ENTITY DEPARTMENT 

INTELLIGENCE REPORT 

PART III – 
FRIENDLY PARACAUSAL PERSONNEL 

RESTRICTED DATA 

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS RESTRICTED DATA AS DEFINED IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947. THE TRANSMISSION, DISCLOSURE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED 

8th Edition
Mar 24, 2024 

I) Preamble. 

With the Abyssal War entering its 12th Year, the writers of this document hope that the collation of all intelligence gathered thus far will assist in the decision-making of the Executive Branches. This document contains information recently collected and analyzed by intelligence forces friendly and allied to the United States Government, as well as information previously collected and analyzed by this department’s predecessors (Please Refer to Part I – Timeline of Events). 

We understand that at this current phase of the war, there remains intelligence that is both contradictory and against fundamental truths as we know it. While we have attempted to present this document in as factual a tone as possible, the reality of what we are fighting lends to fantasy…

1) Friendly Paracausal Personnel  

Baseline forces consisting of Steel Hulls and regular armed forces formed the bulk of combat power in the first year of the Abyssal War. The massive loss of equipment, personnel, civilian life, and territory in the opening year of war made clear the limitations of purely Baseline forces attempting to resist paracausal forces. 

It is unclear when the first Friendly Paracausal Personnel appeared,  but it is believed they appeared sometime during the first year. Reports from that period remain scattered and fragmentary which has complicated data analysis. This is further complicated by the possibility that there were active Neutral Paracausal Entities from the onset of the war, as is currently believed. 

The first confirmed and verified appearance of Friendly Paracausal Personnel was during the evacuation of Okinawa following the failure of Operation BACKDROP. Seven Type 1 personnel spontaneously generated to provide cover for evacuating civilian and military ships. The Original 7 were able to provide details on their origin and some of the basic details of PE1 and PE2. More importantly, they provided some of the basics on how to generate additional FPP1...

Friendly Paracausal Personnel Type 1 “Shipgirls, Ship Spirits, Paracausal Surface Combatant”  

FPP1, classified officially as Paracausal Surface Combatants, forms the bulk of Friendly Paracausal Personnel forces globally. All PSCs are female and range in physical age from preadolescence to middle adulthood. UN Resolutions have codified their legal status as non-human persons. This legal status has been recognized and ratified by all G8 Countries, and most countries which currently benefit from the protection of UNGNSI “BluFor”... 

The PSC’s role within the global armed forces is complex. The current framework of their service contracts involves input from countless legal analysts, scholars, and human rights activists. All PSCs are legally considered UN Personnel contracted to their home nation. However, they still serve under the flag of their home nation and receive ranks and benefits as normal for such service. This agreement intends to minimize the chance of abuse and future post-war conflict…

PSC generation occurs in two ways. The most common is construction by naval dockyards. Through rituals designed and improved by various FPP, spiritualists, ritualists, and religious leaders throughout the war, standard dockyards can generate PSC forces. While reliability has improved throughout the years, there is still an element of randomness... 

The second, less common method, is spontaneous generation. Through means not quite understood, the clearing of HPE forces from regions will occasionally cause a PSC to generate. The mechanism behind this method is not currently understood by parascientists or PSC paraspecialists... 

PSC duplicates exist. While no navy has been able to generate the same PSC while the PSC was still active, other navies that historically operated the Steel Hull the PSC descends from have been able to generate a copy of the PSC. These PSCs typically reflect the Steel Hull as they were during their service with that navy or its predecessors. 

The most notable example of this is the RM Luigi Torelli , which has appeared as MM PSC Luigi Torelli, DM PSC UIT-25, and JN PSC I-504. However, the most bizarre example of this is the USN Buchanan (DD-484), who has appeared as the USN PSC Buchanan, the RN PSC Campbelltown, and the DM PSC Z0 “Verkleideter Zerstörer”...

Friendly Paracausal Personnel Type 2 “Port Girls, Base Spirits, Paracausal Installation Personnel”  

FPP2, classified officially as Paracausal Installation Personnel, are BluFor analogs to PE2B. PIP are significantly rarer than their PE2B counterparts and only a handful exist across the world. Each PIP exists as a bastion of the BluFor operation in the Abyssal War. Analysis of their abilities compared to allied PE2B demonstrates that PIP is capable of servicing both Steel Hulls and Paracausal Personnel. Furthermore, PIP can integrate modern equipment into their kit unlike failed attempts to do so with collaborator PE2B entities... 

It is not currently understood how PIP generation occurs. All PIPs recorded to date were generated spontaneously either after a successful operation or without any warning. All Naval Bases and shipyards now have guides on how to recognize an impending PIP generation event…

Notably the territories claimed by PIP are, in themselves, paracausal regions. All PIP bases are significantly larger once inside the borders than the actual physical dimensions of the territory. This is not an ability exhibited by any known PE2B. RDNB Copenhagen exhibits the most extreme case of this ability. Their claimed territory is only about 0.1 square kilometers but internal measurements are roughly 2 square kilometers and features a functional runway for Paracausal and Steel prop and turboprop aircraft... 

Certain PIPs have a PSC analog. It is not clear to any party involved at this point if the two are the same paracausal personnel split into two or two distinct paracausal personnel. Legally, they are distinct individuals. Culturally, the opinions range across Baseline Personnel, paracausal personnel, and even the pairings themself. 

Current PIPs and their locations are  

• RMNPB “Hang Tuah” - Lumut  

• ROKNPB “Cheonan” - Pyeongtaek  

• FNPB “Maillé-Brézé” - Nantes 

• INPB - “Vikrant” - Mumbai 

• RDNB “Sehested” - Copenhagen 

• HMNB “Victory” - HMS Portsmouth 

• USPB “Texas” - San Jacinto   

• USPB “Hornet” - Alameda 

• USPB “Constellation” - Baltimore 

• USPB “Arizona” - Pearl Harbor 

• RCNPB “Haida” - Lake Ontario 

• JMSDF Yokosuka “Mikasa” - Tokyo Bay
  
  

Friendly Paracausal Personnel Type 3 “Fairies, Paracausal Humanoid Adjutants”  

FPP3, classified officially as Paracausal Humanoid Adjutants, is the most bizarre element of fielding Paracausal forces. They typically resemble stylized or caricatured humans, ranging in height from 4” to 6”. There remains no clear evidence as to what a PHA is. They are present wherever FPP can be found, can often be found servicing FPP equipment, and seem to appear both from and around FPP. All that is understood at this time is that they are purely Paracausal entities with no real biological matter to them… 

There are two rough categories of PHA. The first is intrinsically linked to their PSC and PIP counterparts and will generally appear from or around their equipment. They tend to share aspects of their appearance with their host. These linked PHA are generally obedient to their host FPP and will listen to the broad-stroke commands of their host when not directly ordered. When directly commanded, these PHA are typically of average to exceptional skill level in their specialty. However, they will only follow orders and commands from their host FPP… 

The second category of PHA appears in the vicinity of paracausal forces with no clear host of origin. These unlinked PHA are generally found attending to general basing structures and providing maintenance and defensive services. The average skill level of unlinked PHA is lower than the average skill level of linked PHA. However, unlinked PHAs exhibit a wider range of skill proficiency than their linked counterparts and will follow orders and commands from any naval personnel as well as certain civilian personnel…  

Several factors have disrupted previous understandings of the PHA. The determination that linked and unlinked PHA can change their behavior and become the other wiped out entire schools of theory. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that PSCs and PIPs can transfer their PHAs to other PSCs and PIPs. Such transferred PHA will generally adopt aspects of their new hosts in addition to the aspects of their former hosts. Given the lack of proper documentation of the early years of the Abyssal War, it is uncertain how many PHA have been in combat longer than their hosts… 

A notable capability of PHAs is their universal ability to undergo a morphological change when in severe danger, changing from their typical stylized or caricatured forms into a generic humanoid. Such forms are typically of average height for their basing region, with an androgynous form and equipment appropriate for their role. Physical features are typically obscured by clothing such as gas masks and gloves, although skin tone often matches the ethnicity of the region. They have not communicated verbally to date, although they will respond via non-verbal means. It is not understood at this time whether their compact or humanoid forms are their true form…

2) Paracausal Phenomena 

It is a fact that the forces we face and deploy all possess abilities of which we understand very little. Attempts to understand the underlying mechanism of such abilities are still underway but remain beyond the ability of Baseline Personnel to duplicate. Attempts to research these abilities have been further hindered by the unique expression of such powers by every known sentient and sapient paracausal being. 

While investigations into hostile paracausal phenomena have been slow, investigations into FPP paracausal phenomena have been rapid. FPPs are all universally willing to provide assistance, explanations, and demonstrations of their abilities. Furthermore, some FPPs seem to have higher levels of understanding of paracausality and have been highly beneficial in explaining it. 

Common paracausal phenomena among FPP include 

• Enhanced Physicality is common to all FPPs. Despite their apparent physical age, even the physically weakest FPP has greater physical strength, durability, agility, and dexterity than the most well-trained and conditioned Baseline athletes.
  • There is a scaling effect based on class displacement and the upper limit of physical expression, with capital ships often trading agility and dexterity for strength and durability while escort and light ships have higher agility and dexterity.
  • Such physical enhancements are entirely paracausal in nature. There is no biological, scientific, or mechanical reason why any given FPP is as physically capable as they are. 
  • Their enhanced physicality does seem to appear to use the same exotic energy that fuels most FPP abilities. Critically injured or exhausted FPPs can revert to Baseline human physical capability. Unlike most phenomena, the continuous use of such physical enhancements outside of critical situations implies it has an extremely low or negligible upkeep cost. 

• Biological Stasis is common to all FPPs. Most FPPs either do not exhibit signs of physical aging. They only age following major repair and reconstruction. They are also seemingly incapable of contracting disease from infectious, chemical, parasitic, or nuclear means. FPPs do not universally consider this to be a positive trait.
  • It is understood that most FPPs can selectively choose whether or not chemical stimuli affect them. Similarly, they are also capable of instantly choosing to be unaffected.  

• Paracausal Detection is common to all FPPs. All FPPs can identify another FPP or PE2 instance regardless of displacement once they have entered the line of sight, or within range of sensor equipment...
  • This expression of paracausal power and the reorganization of supply trains to include organic FPP escorts has greatly reduced the effectiveness of disguised PE2 merchant raiders. However, PE2 merchant raiders disguised as FPP continue to be problematic for unscheduled transports, transports without FPP escorts, and civilian shipping..

• Resistance to Mental Interference is common to all FPPs. All FPP are either highly resistant or outright immune to the Mental Interference fields which all PE2A and PE2B possess. They can grant such resistance or immunity to Baseline Personnel within a certain radius, scaling based on weight class. PHAs are capable of granting resistance within a few meters, PSCs are capable of doing so within dozens to hundreds of meters, and PIPs are capable of granting it to everyone within their recognized territory

• Variable Equipment is common amongst certain PSCs and by all PIPs. PSC which descends from ships capable of deploying auxiliary vehicles like aircraft, landing craft, and similar equipment retains the ability to do so. These auxiliary vehicles typically deploy at a reduced scale. They most commonly range between 1/144 to 1/48 scale. However, once these vehicles have traveled a safe distance from their host FPP, they will all expand to a universal scale of approximately 1/6. Inversely, the hosting FPP can also cause them to shrink for retrieval.
  • It is not understood how the shrunken scale is determined, nor is it understood why all FPP equipment will expand to 1/6 scale. 

• Telepathic Capacity is common in most capital ships PSC and all PIP. FPPs capable of utilizing these phenomena can facilitate instantaneous long-range communication. Most notably, it is one of the few ways to make contact with PE2A and PE2B fleets to facilitate discussion or negotiations.

3) Friendly Paracausal Biology 

Although FPPs vary in physical age and appearance, they all maintain standard human biology comparable to Baseline humans of equivalent physical age in most respects. To date, all non-invasive examinations have failed to discover any notable deviations in physical traits. The standard expected arrangement of organs, physical traits, and musculoskeletal arrangements are present in FPP. The only notable observable difference is a higher-than-normal metabolism, often requiring caloric intake equivalent to high-level athletes... 

Analysis of biological material provided by FPP Donors has consistently proven to be inconsistent. To date, all genetic, chemical, and biological analyses of tissue samples have failed to provide any reliable information. All genetic analyses of FPP have produced varying results ranging from highly chimeric DNA, standard DNA, to no detectable DNA. Similar results occur in chemical and biological analysis...

4) Friendly Paracausal Personnel Culture 

Most FPPs require modern culture lessons, although few have ever exhibited rejection of such modern culture. However, FPPs have a defined culture distinct from the navy they serve. These traits were first observed in the early years of the war, and have developed over the years of the war… 

Strategic and tactical skills seem to be universally understood and ingrained, even if the skill to translate those strategies and tactical knowledge into a humanoid form is not. For instance, even the most newly summoned battleship will instinctively seek to keep their distance from enemies to better leverage their guns and defensive abilities. It is typically veteran battleship FPPs who will attempt to leverage their physical capabilities in melee, such as the Ise Sisters, Musashi, or Duke of York… 

Although most FPPs require lessons on modern cultures, PSCs with an extant modern-day Steel Hull analog of the same name require reduced or no education. Similarly, PSCs descended from hulls scrapped or sunk post-war tend to have awareness of culture up to their time of sinking or scrapping. All known PIPs have been up to date with cultural knowledge… 

An unknown ingrained knowledge item is the ability to identify and classify weapons. FPP can universally recognize the make and model of equipment around them so long as it was available to their Navy of Origin. This extends to equipment manufactured after their date of destruction. Although it is commonly utilized to recognize shipborne and heavy weapons, they are able to recognize infantry equipment as well…

5) Friendly Paracausal Personnel and Paracausal Entity Equivalents 

The following section is not for public consumption and is considered Top Secret Umbra. 

The reality of FPP having an HPE or NPE equivalent is well established at this stage in the war. To date, it has not been possible to summon an FPP that currently has an active HPE or NPE. This is only recorded with PSC, as no attempts at intentionally generating PIP have been successful. 

At this time, it is not understood why some HPEs or NPEs continue to return after their destruction while some do not. The presence of their PSC equivalent or the lack of said presence has been determined to have no impact on the likelihood of the HPE or NPE returning. Discussions with NPE and PSC about such recurring HPE ‘echoes’ have not clarified matters. 

Included are several interviews with PSCs with known HPE equivalents. This section has been classified at the highest level to protect the privacy of the limited number of PSCs willing to speak on the matter... 

Nelson (Recorded at - JMSDF Yokosuka, November 2022) 

Interviewer: “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Commodore.” 

Nelson: “Thank you for the offer. It’s not often people wish to ask about this.” 

I: “I can’t imagine many people would want to talk about it.” 

N: “Hm, I’m fairly certain I can guess those who’ve responded.” 

I: “Oh? You sound pretty certain.” 

N: “Those of us who were once on the ‘other’ side do talk. For obvious reasons, we don’t do so in front of those who have never experienced it. However, even amongst us, only a certain few freely discuss their experiences and thoughts on the matter.” 

I: “Is that so? Tell me, what makes these two groups so distinct?” 

N: “You’re friends with the birdwatchers. I presume you know my past.” 

I: “Correct.” 

N: “Nowadays, what’s the official term for my past identity? I remain partial to the term Fused Abyssal, but I understand it’s fallen out of classification.” 

I: “Ah, the official term is ‘Chimeric’ now.” 

N: “It’s certainly a lot more formal now. But yes, I’m certain those who have agreed to speak with you are all components of a Chimeric Abyssal. Of course, there are likely a few older members who were individual hull Abyssals in the early stages of the war as well. But I’d wager almost all the Chimeric Abyssals agreed to speak with you.” 

(Silence of five seconds in the recording) 

I: “Let’s assume your prediction is correct. Why would that be?” 

N: “It’s easier for us to process what our past selves did.” 

I: “How so?” 

N: “There’s a clear divide, caused by the merging of multiple personalities and thoughts. It’s hard to describe to those who were not a part of it, but the memories we have of those times are noticeably distinct from how we would think or feel. Even if it makes sense, they just simply weren’t us. I believe that those individual hull Abyssals do not have the benefit of that distance.” 

I: “That’s… an interesting insight.” 

N: “Thank you.” 

I: “If you don’t mind, I’d like to move to the other questions I have prepared today.” 

N: “Please, feel free to ask them. I’ll answer what I can.” 

(extraneous information removed) 

I: “I just have one question left.” 

N: “Of course.” 

I: “Why do you think that your Echo has never reappeared?” 

(Silence of ten seconds in the recording) 

N: “I wish I knew. The grudges we had, the duties we wished fulfilled, the grand final battle that we so desired. I don’t think our division and return as we are now could have ever fully cleared those grudges. I’d imagine she’d still want to see the mission completed.” 

I: “But the absence of both the European Water Princess and the Raider Battleship Princess is notable.” 

N: “I like to think that maybe, just maybe, she found another way to settle those grudges. Or, perhaps, that final fight was enough to put her to rest.” 

(Silence of six seconds in the recording) 

I: “I think that’s all the questions. Thank you again for your time today, Commodore.” 

N: “Thank you for listening.”

Chapter Text

"What are you doing?"

Izuna chippers up at your question, looking up to greet you with a bright, cheerful smile. "Hello, Receptionist-senpai! I just finished telling Nelson-dono about my new friend, and I was getting ready to leave!"

"I can see that," You answer flatly as you stare down at the Hyakkiyako student. Izuna meets your gaze, completely unbothered by the fact she's currently dangling from the 14th-floor window. "What I want to know is why you're dangling out of a window."

"It's Izuna's subtle exit technique!"

Izuna's answer is less than helpful. You don't spot any signs of rappels, ropes, or climbing implements. You also know better than to assume the wannabe ninja isn't able to hide it on her person. Finally, after a few seconds of thought, you ask, "Could you please just use the front door like everyone else?"

You already know the answer.

"That's not the ninja way, Receptionist-Senpai! See you later!" Izuna cheerfully admonishes you before kicking off the exterior wall. You lean out the window and watch as the kitsune girl falls for a bit before she deploys a giant, brightly colored kite from nowhere. The giant glider manages to catch an updraft, sending it and its rider high into the sky and away from the Schale building.

None of it was subtle.

You shrug off the weirdness and bring up your tablet, opening the logbook. Kuda Izuna… There, one entry noted at 2:45 pm. You quickly update the logbook to note an exit at 3:13 pm. With her entry complete, you return to the elevator to go back to the front desk.

You wish she would stop making your job difficult, but it's also partially your fault. Maybe you shouldn't have played along with her when she came here to pick up her Schale member card ahead of schedule. You could have just let her poorly sneak into Nelson-Sensei's office and avoided this entire headache.

But nope, you decided to take the "greet and record the entry and exit of every person" part of your job seriously. In retrospect, they probably wouldn't have fired you if Izuna had actually managed to sneak in. But you just had to stick to your pride. What did that get you? One wannabe ninja fixated on getting in and out of this building without your notice, your boss's notice, and a reputation.

So much for starting over. You just wanted a relaxing, drama-free job with an above-board organization. But no, you had to entangle yourself with drama again.

The elevator dings, and you reenter the lobby. A few steps later and you're back at your desk.You shuffle the tablet back onto its charger. Since there's nobody else here for the time, you have time to work back on your own personal project. You open your private drawer. It takes a while to find what you're looking for. You have to shuffle aside your personal cookbook, your Shanhaijing school ID, your old school ID, your personal pistol, its detached suppressor, and the half dozen fake IDs before you find it.

An innocuous standard Schale staff day planner, marked only by a few sea-green dolphin stickers stuck to it. You flip past the first page with the warning against wandering eyes and the mundane first few dozen pages. There, in the middle of the planner, in a carved-out section of the book, is a small notebook. It's the Schale Master Directory, your little black book of who's who.

You open it up to update it with the latest information…

Schale's Current Members

Leadership

There are two leadership positions with Schale. Changes to the charter, structure, and executives of Schale require at least one of their approval.

There's a provision in the charter that grants the two leaders an equivalent non-voting executive rank in the GSC, which can only be revoked by the office of the GSC President. Presumably, this is to stop the GSC from firing the leaders of an independent and autonomous organization until they get someone agreeable in power.

Chief Executive: The GSC President

Officially, the President is still in charge of Schale. I don't really have an opinion on her, given that she's been missing for a while. What I'm curious about is how nobody seems to use her name anywhere. I've looked into it, but it shows up nowhere. All the paperwork, news announcements, and even her socials come up as President. My investigation continues.

Chief Advisor: Nelson

Nelson is the effective leader of Schale. She's an oddity that everyone wants to solve. Most efforts to find info about Nelson focus on her physical skills and her stated history. Few put as much attention on her strange accent, anachronistic knowledge base, and skillset. Seriously, why would a modern sailor learn swordsmanship? Who uses swords in this day and age? A bayonet makes more sense.

Executive Members

While Nelson is the effective leader of Schale, she relies on a host of volunteer members to tackle the finer details of keeping Schale running. It seems there are more executive positions than necessary, although most are empty.

Deputy Chief: Morizuki Suzumi

Although titled Deputy Chief, this translates to Nelson's second in command. Morizuki holds this office. She's polite, but I find it difficult to tell what she's thinking. It appears she has modified her schedule quite a bit to keep up with the duties assigned to her as Nelson's second, her Vigilante Crew duties, and her classwork.

I just wished she'd stop throwing flashbangs and playing music in the practice range. I can hear them from my desk.

Chief Secretary: Okusora Ayane

The third in command of Schale, Hayase held this office up to the events of Abydos. Okusora took over upon joining Schale. She is refreshingly normal in this madhouse. In fact, I wonder why she decided to take up the role. It must be hard managing Abydos's recovery at the same time. Her diligence in observing procedures is second only to Nelson's, and she is a bit slower to respond to things as a result.

Chief Treasurer: Hayase Yuuka

Schale is a largish organization, and someone has to go over the budget. Hayase is that person. I imagine she can't be too pleased with Nelson's spending habits. I've never seen someone more dedicated to filing as much as possible as work expenses, nor have I seen someone as dedicated to ensuring that every expense bill is allowable. Nelson hasn't made a mistake as far as I know.

Chief Medic: Hinomiya Chinatsu

Hinomiya holds this office by default, as there are no other KMB-certified students. Hinomiya is a professional, though. I can see why the Prefect Team selected her for their chief medic. Nelson also seems to get along well with her. She has been working at Schale more often since the Abydos incident, although I'm sure she'll go back to Gehenna once she's calmed down. I can't see Sorasaki letting one of her executives stray too far with the treaty so close.

Chief IT, Outreach Officer?: ????????????

We have a Chief IT executive. They designed and overhauled Schale's IT software and hardware. Nobody knows who they are, and nobody has met them. Even their Schale email lacks a name. But they exist because hardware orders come from that email.

The Outreach Officer is likely the same person as well. The choice of language and sentence structure in their emails is identical. This also means that they must be behind the Schale Vtuber channel, either as a manager or the actual streamer herself.

Frontline Members

Currently, there are about as many frontline members as there are executives. I expect this to change as Schale continues to grow. These members don't have any specific duties or tasks. The minimum workload is one afternoon a week. This typically involves taking care of requests but also includes outreach and patrol programs.

Hanekawa Hasumi

Hasumi's the only member of the "Schale Battleline Squad" without an executive role. I've asked around, and it seems that she declined such a position. She seems to worry that being an executive could become a conflict of interest for her. It aligns with the fact that she's the least often seen member of the SBS, only appearing when the group has been tasked with a request.

Foreclosure Task Force

Aside from Okusora, all of Abydos's Foreclosure Task Force/Interim Student Council are frontline members of Schale. Most of them are on an on-call basis, given how much work they have with restoring Abydos.

Sunaōkami does appear a lot on Schale grounds. I wonder if her role as Field Captain leaves her with plenty of time to do other jobs.

Kuda Izuna

Kuda is the newest member of Schale and is a first-year from Hyakkiyako. She claims to be a ninja in training and is an unfortunately common sight on Schale grounds. She frequently appears alone, but I know she asks her club members to help her with any requests.

According to her, it's because she feels she owes a debt to Nelson. Unfortunately, I'm also pretty sure she's made it a goal to sneak past me. I made a point of trying to stop her from sneaking in when she came to pick up her badge before it was ready. Now she thinks I'm some sort of super gatekeeper. I could just let her win once, but professionals have standards.

Notable Support Members

The support members of Schale form the backbone of Schale. I may be biased, but the various gophers and paper pushers are vital to the operation of every organization. There are probably about ten to fifteen support members for every frontline member.

The pay and the benefits are among the best if you pass all the interviews and background checks. The downsides include a wacky work environment, mysterious unexpected explosions, and a higher-than-average chance of getting an audit notice.

Receptionist: Me

Daily tasks include greeting visitors, tracking entries and exits, directing calls, sorting incoming and outgoing mail, and first-line security. It's possibly the most well-paying support position but regularly faces the most dangerous foe: the general public. Not for introverts, socially awkward people, or people who are scared of being shot at.

Somehow, I'm the only receptionist in this entire place. I'm not surprised. Whenever something happens, the baddies always shoot the receptionist for some reason. Most people who sign up to be a support member are usually looking for roles that don't carry that risk. They're also usually introverts. I shudder to think how they'd fare greeting scary people like Head Prefect Sorasaki or certain enthusiastic ninjas.

Head Chef: Aikiyo Fuuka

Schale actually has a head chef in charge of providing food to the on-site cafeteria. You get one free meal and one free snack for every 8 hours you work at Schale. Additional meals and snacks are available, but you'll have to pay. Schale receives daily meal plan recipes from Aikiyo, which the kitchen staff follow adequately, but she rarely appears on Club grounds.

It's a shame I haven't been able to taste Aikiyo's cooking myself. My senpai used to give her pretty high ratings, and I was excited to hear she was in charge of the food. I should have known that she wouldn't be here often, though.

Associated Organizations

There are a few groups and organizations that are associated with Schale but aren't directly related.

Prefect Team

Aside from Hinomiya, Nelson seems to get along well with Head Prefect Sorasaki. The Head Prefect has visited Schale a few times since the training camp. Although she always has an official reason, I suspect more personal motivations. While it is a bit stressful talking to someone who can easily snap you like a twig, crime vanishes on days she visits. That's less work for me.

School Lunch Club

Aikiyo's club. Apparently one of her reasons for signing up with Schale is so that she can slap the 'Member of Schale' sign in the Gehenna dining hall. It doesn't stop the fights, but it does stop most of the kidnapping attempts, hostage taking, and menu terrorism.

I know a lot of people online who bet on who's the most overworked member of Schale. Most of them point to the executives or Hasumi. In my opinion, it's Aikiyo. I don't know where she finds the time to plan Schale's meals, plan and cook Gehenna's meals, and do her own classwork.

Ninjutsu Research Club

Kuda's club. I'm pretty sure they were more like a ninja fan club before Kuda joined. I wonder if the Yin-Yang Club realizes the intelligence asset they have sitting in their backyard.

They seem to have picked up a fourth member sometime after Kuda joined Schale. Some of their VODs have a distinct fourth shadow. They haven't introduced their fourth member yet for some reason. I don't have a lot of sources in Hyakkiyako, so information on the club is scarce. I know they aren't a legitimate club, and they meet in a less observed district. I'll need to dig around some more.

Problem Solver 68

People online tend to laugh at Problem Solver 68 for their antics. I know better than to do that. Their failures are vast and entertaining, but their rare successes are equally stunning.

I know Problem Solver 68 has some sort of deal with Nelson. Rikuhachima has no sense of info security and calls the front desk from their office phone. It also doesn't take much to get her talking. She's usually rather excited to chat about her business endeavors and services. More importantly, I'm pleasantly surprised to cross paths with Beleth once again. I have no idea if she knows I've been answering her friend's calls, but I'm sure she'll find out eventually. I just wish I could be there to see her face when she does.

You close your little black book. It only takes you a few minutes to hide it at the bottom of your drawer. You look about, and the lobby is still empty. The only people with you are the janitor, a box of mikan, and some of the accounting staff.

You pause and turn your attention back to the box sitting next to the sofa. You stare at it. The box pointedly does not stare back. The large, fluffy, orange tail poking out of the box, however, does begin to wag ever so slightly.

You stare at it for a few seconds more, the tail never ceasing its wagging. Then, without a word, you reach over and pick up your work tablet.

"Kuda Izuna… entered at 3:26 pm."

You ignore the piteous cry of "How?!" echoing from the box and go back to sorting the mail. Just another slow, drama-free day in your life.

Chapter Text

CLASSIFIED – TOP SECRET

OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

PARACAUSAL ENTITY DEPARTMENT

INTELLIGENCE REPORT

PART II –
NON-ALLIED AND HOSTILE PARACAUSAL FORCES

RESTRICTED DATA

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS RESTRICTED DATA AS DEFINED IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947. THE TRANSMISSION, DISCLOSURE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED.

8^th Edition

05-MAR-2024

I) Preamble.

With the war entering its 11th Year, the writers of this document hope that the collation of all intelligence gathered thus far will assist the decision-maker of the Executive Branch. This document contains information recently collected and analyzed by intelligence forces friendly and allied to the United States Government, as well as information previously collected and analyzed by this department’s predecessors (please refer to Part I – Timeline of Events).

We understand that at this current phase of the war, there remains intelligence that is both contradictory and against fundamental truths as we understand them. While we have attempted to present this document in as factual a tone as possible, the reality of what we are fighting lends itself to fantasy…

1) Hostile Paracausal Force “Abyssal Fleet” 

The opposing paracausal force, known colloquially as the “Abyssal Fleet” and referred to as OpFor within this document, is currently undertaking hostile actions against the United States and her Allies. It is not currently confirmed to be possible to destroy the OpFor despite ongoing efforts.

The OpFor is primarily composed of paracausal ship analogues supported by paracausal land-based installation analogues. It is unknown what the total size of the OpFor forces is. Despite multiple decisive BluFor victories, OpFor remains capable of performing large-scale operations on a global scale. The presence of paracausal interference over the majority of Earth’s oceans hinders or prevents reliable BluFor SIGINT, GEOINT, and MASINT gathering. The current number of human survivors within much of the previous island-based nations is currently unknown…

While seaways are currently secured by the efforts of BluFor and NPE Fleets, the unpredictable seasonal encroachments of OpFor continue to disrupt global trade and security…

​

Paracausal Threat Entity 1 “The Abyss”

The existence of Hostile Paracausal Threat Entity 1, known colloquially as “The Abyss” and referred to as PTE1 within this document, as of this writing, has not been observed in any meaningful capacity. Its existence has been confirmed by reports from FPP who have encountered it and NPE willing to discuss it...

PTE1 is the analogue of a central military command for the OpFor, serving as the principal recruiting force, supplying force, and commanding force. Contrary to popular beliefs, there is no evidence that PTE1 is sapient. The free will displayed by PTE2A instances and the continued supply of replacement forces to NPE Fleets suggests that PTE1 may not have any long-term goals beyond the disruption of the rules-based international order that previously existed…

Despite the many unanswered questions about PTE1, the method by which it convinces paracausal entities to join its cause is well documented. Both NPE and FPP reports indicate that it primarily manipulates perceived feelings of worthlessness and anger, as well as appealing to their regrets over failures and inaction. This is currently theorized as to why warships and islands subject to heavy fighting are more likely to form the basis of PTE2A and PTE2B instances.

It is not currently known by any party interviewed why PTE1 has selected naval assets as its primary form of force projection. There has been no recorded instance of known PTE2 instances generating further than 10 kilometers away from a major ocean. Even PTE2B and PTE2D instances are typically defenses intended for use against naval assets or to protect naval installations from attack. This is in contrast to FPP having regular access to Army, Navy, and Air Force assets…

Paracausal Threat Entity 2 “Abyssals”

The bulk of the OpFor’s forces consist of humanoid and bestial paracausal ship and land-based installation analogues, colloquially known as “Abyssals” and referred to collectively as PTE2. The Joint Staff and UNSC recognizes PTE2 and NPE as distinct entities, but all known NPE Fleet follow the same Force Structure and Classification as PTE2...

The creation process for PTE2 is currently unknown. Interviews with NPE, post-battle analysis, and long-range FPP submarine reconnaissance have all revealed inconclusive, often contradictory, information. It is currently believed that PTE1 is capable of utilizing multiple creation methods for PTE2 and selects whichever is more appropriate at the time…

PTE2 are split into several distinct categories, characterized as the following.

• PTE2 (Alpha) “Abyssal Princess, Abyssal Demon” are not categorized by their combat capability but, rather, their human-like sentience and sapience…
  
  Interviews with NPE and former PTE2s have shown that the difference in title stems from whether the instance’s primary motivation is their Drive or their Tithe (see Section 4). Instances titled as "Demon" are primarily motivated by their Drive. Such instances tend towards unpredictable behavior and emotional outbursts but exhibit a higher degree of tactical capability and combat skill. Instances titled as "Princess" are primarily motivated by their Tithe. Such instances exhibit more stable emotional states. They typically follow observable behavioral patterns and excel at strategic command and logistic control.
  
  The vast majority of known OpFor Fleets have been commanded by a PTE2A instance. Princess-type PTE2As have formed the bulk of theater-scale threats, while Demon-type PTE2As tend towards being a regional threat. While most Fleets are commanded by a single PTE2A instance, large-scale operations will often see multiple PTE2A gathered under the command of other PTE2A instances…
  
  There are two currently known methods of PTE2A creation. The most common method is spontaneous generation, whereby a PTE2A is created as a distinct entity from the onset. This method is responsible for the most famous PTE2A instances, such as PTE2A-1755 “European Carrier Princess” and PTE2A-1577 “Battleship Princess”.
  
  However, the less common method is Combat Evolution, whereby a PTE2A was initially generated as a PTE2C (see below) but is able to evolve into a PTE2A through combat experience. The ability to evolve is exceedingly rare, but the exact percentage of PTE2C capable of evolution is unknown. However, all known PTE2A created by this method are among the strongest recorded, including PTE2A-1001 “Undying Ghost Water Princess”, who is believed to have begun service as a PTE2C Type-WO…
  
  Due to their sentience and sapience, PTE2A are capable of communicating with BluFor. Some PTE2A entities have been recorded as making demands before or after attacking, while others have been recorded taunting their enemies. Most NPE Fleets communicated their neutrality directly first, with notable exceptions of NPE6 “Cursed Battleship Water Demon” and NPE7 “Fissile Carrier Water Princess”. Both instances communicated their neutrality through different means…
  
  

• PTE2 (Bravo) “Abyssal Installation” are rarer than PTE2A instances but are equally sentient and sapient. While PTE2A and PTE2C are clear in what they represent, PTE2B often varies from specific naval installations to more generalized forms. Analysis of typical PTE2B fleet composition leads to the current hypothesis that PTE2B fleets act as logistics personnel. However, the exact cause for their variance is unknown…
  
  Aside from the generation methods described in PTE2A, there are two further methods unique to PTE2B instances. The first of these is the “Beaching” method. PTE2A instances will occasionally beach themselves on land, either due to critical damage or for unknown motivations. Through unknown means, these PTE2A instances will morph into a PTE2B instance. It is not currently known if such a change is reversible.
  
  This was first reported when a search and destroy for a damaged PTE2A-1599 “Aircraft Carrier Water Demon” led to the discovery of a PTE2B-2609 “Anchorage Water Demon” in the Yangshan Port ruins…
  
  The second unique generation method is “Amalgamation”. In this method, the remains of PTE2 instances, which were improperly disposed of, undergo spontaneous degeneration and amalgamate with each other and nearby material. This method of generation is extremely rare and the critical mass needed for an amalgamation to occur is unknown. It has only been known to occur 3 times but has always resulted in massive loss of materiel and/or life.
  
  The first and most famous instance of “Amalgamation” created PTE2B -2853 “Tropical Fortification Princess” after PTE2A remains stored for analysis were left unobserved for an unknown period of time. The amalgamation event resulted in the total loss of Naval Base Guam, SUBRON15, NCTS Guam, and approximately 10% of the civilian population…
  
  Analysts have observed that PTE2B instances exhibit the highest degree of independence amongst OpFor entities. PTE2B type instances command 5 of the 7 known NPE Fleets. A further 6 PTE2B led Fleets are believed to be sympathetic towards BluFor but have not yet formally engaged in diplomatic activities. It is unknown why PTE2B instances are more likely to initiate diplomatic contact…
  
  

• PTE2(Charlie) “Abyssal Hull” make up the bulk of OpFor forces. There are various Subtypes within this category, each one fulfilling different ship analogue roles. Exact level of sentience and sapience vary, with the weakest barely more akin to biological machines. However, the stronger Subtypes can be as sentient and sapient as PTE2A instances.
  
  The internationally recognized Subtypes follow the standards established by the JMSDF in the early days of the war. They are as follows...
  
  

• PTE2 (Delta) “Abyssal Imp” has only been observed when PTE2B instances are also present in the area. It is currently observed that they are incapable of long-range operations and rely on their host PTE2B for support. Their levels of sentience and sapience are variable but exhibit both a higher floor and lower ceiling of sentience than a PTE2C. It is theorized that their proximity to PTE2B instances removes the need for higher-level functioning, but their frequently long-term isolated deployments require a greater base level of independence...

2) Paracausal Phenomena

It is an established fact that the forces we face and field today all possess abilities of which we understand very little. Attempts to understand the underlying mechanism of such abilities are still underway but remain beyond the ability for non-paracausal beings to duplicate. Attempts to research these abilities have been further hindered by the unique expression of such powers by every known sentient and sapient paracausal being.

Among PTE2, common paracausal phenomena include

• Sensor Obfuscation is common to all PTE2 instances. Standard non-optical sensors continue to fail at reliably and accurately detecting PTE2 forces before they come into visual range. A high enough density of PTE2 instances can even cause long-range optical observation, such as satellite and high-altitude reconnaissance, to fail…
  
  

• Enhanced Physicality is common to all PTE2A and PTE2B instances with a humanoid form. Similar to FPP, PTE2A and PTE2B command far greater physical strength and endurance than baseline humans of similar height and build. Unlike FPP, it is currently believed that PTE2 physicality is due to the integration of cybernetics and machinery into the body…
  
  

• Meteorological Alteration is an ability utilized by some PTE2A and PTE2B instances. PTE2 Fleets often use this ability to create ocean storms that allow for favorable combat conditions. Thanks to evidence collected in the blockade of the Philippines, it is now known that other forms of meteorological alteration are available to PTE2…
  
  

• Mental Interference Field is common to all PTE2A and PTE2B instances. All instances observed to date are capable of inducing emotional responses and interfering with mental processes within baseline personnel. The radius of this influence varies based on the instance in question, but current observations suggest that increased use of paracausal powers within PTE2A and PTE2B instances corresponds with an increase in strength and size of the MIF…
  
  There are currently no known methods of preventing such mental interference beyond having baseline personnel operate in conjunction with FPP. Generally, the more capable and dangerous PE2A and PE2B will exhibit a larger radius and higher intensity of mental interference. Sufficiently high-ranking instances have even been recorded affecting weaker FPP…
  
  Long-term exposure to high-intensity MIF has been recorded to have negative long-term effects on the psychological health of baseline individuals. Significant alterations of brain chemistry and structures have been recorded during medical examinations of the cohorts of front-line early war veterans. Repeated exposure to any MIF has been observed to reduce detrimental effects of any future MIF exposure but has a positive correlation to negative long-term psychological outcomes...
  
  There is no known way to shield baseline humans against such mental interference without FPP assistance. There is no known case of recovery after long-term high-intensity MIF exposure. The best way to protect unprotected baseline assets against such interference is to ensure proper standoff and NLOS combat ranges. If such ranges are not possible and exposure is impossible to avoid, destroying or securing vital infrastructure and intelligence overrides all existing directives for troop welfare. Shelter-in-place orders are not possible due to the nature of the MIF, and civilian evacuations are to take priority.

3) Paracausal Threat Entity Biology

PTE2 across all varieties exhibit novel biology compared to FPP. While the varieties of biological make-up are as varied as the count of paracausal power expression, there are several key common points.

• Biomechanical Integration is the fundamental identifier. PE2s across the board all have some amount of mechanical integration into their biological components. The amount of sentience and sapience seems to be reflected by the percentage of mechanical components compared to biological components. The least sentient and sapient PTE2C varieties tend to be nearly entirely mechanically, while most PTE2A and PTE2B entities are almost always organic with mechanical enhancements.
  
  How exactly their organic components are integrated into their body remains unclear. Dissection of PTE2 remains have shown no signs of surgery, nor do they show signs of rejection…
  
  

• Enhanced Healing is found amongst all PTE2A and PTE2B entities, and present in some PTE2C entities. While FPP are known to require dedicated repair and healing facilities or specialized FPP, PTE2 entities have been observed to heal serious wounds over the course of days. So long as they are able to evade sinking, most PTE2 with this ability can be found later with only mild scarring.
  
  It is uncertain if this is a result of the biological make up of PTE2 organic components or a unified Paracausal ability. Given the randomness of its presence in PTE2C entities, it is theorized that it may be linked to the Combat Experience form of PTE2A generation…
  
  While PTE2 entities have not been known to need dedicated repair facilities, investigation of NPE base infrastructures and the remains of PTE2 bases have revealed facilities with designs and markings which parallel those used by FPP. NPEA instances report that such facilities are capable of repairing NPE instances, paralleling FPP usage. Experiments with FPP using NPE facilities report that repairs utilizing NPE facilities are possible, and there have been no observed or reported side effects. However, repair times are significantly longer than when in FPP specified facilities. All FPP interviewed have universally reported NPE facilities to be “Gooey and uncomfortable”, with very little variation in the description or any explanation as to what the description means…
  
  

• Novel Biological Structures is common amongst all PTE2 entities. A majority of PTE2 entities do not feature body plans, organ layouts, or nervous systems which are correlated to viable biological existence...
  
  In addition, most PTE2 entities typically feature additional growths, limbs, torso, and additional independent nervous systems which control grafted or conjoined additional entities. As of this time, it is believed that the continued viability of PTE2 lifeforms are an effect of their paracausal nature, rather than any known biological or scientific principle.

4) Paracausal Threat Entity Psychology

This area is still under heavy research, due to the limited access of NPE and former PTE2A personnel.

• Access to Personnel Memory is distinct from how FPP views their associated memories. FPP do not typically see a distinction between the memories of their former crew and themselves. They typically understand all memories associated with their hull, their crew, and their crew’s own experiences to be a single undifferentiated pool of knowledge. In contrast, all NPE and former PTE2A describe the memories of each individual person as distinct. All interviews have demonstrated that they view their own experiences as distinct from the consciousness amalgamated into their own.
  
  While their capacity to process information significantly outstrips that of baseline personnel, NPEs tend to possess slower recall than FPP. However, they demonstrate a higher degree in the accuracy of the information they recall…
  ​

• Drive is a universal component of known NPE psychology and reported by all former PTE2A personnel. Psychological examinations indicate that all NPEs fixate and default to one emotional state. It is believed that the specific fixation lends to the wide range in PTE2 behavior observed…
  
  Interviews have determined that while this fixation exists, it is not impossible for NPE to experience the full range of the emotional spectrum. Rather, their default emotional state remains at this specific emotion, and they return to it naturally…
  
  NPE and former PTE2A have all reported that focusing on the specific emotion allows them to more easily access their paracausal abilities. They also report that accidental uses of their paracausal abilities become more frequent whenever they are experiencing extreme emotions…
  
  It is currently unknown if non-sapient members of the NPE fleet experience this. Studies with animal psychologists are underway but have failed to produce conclusive results…
  
  

• Tithe is a universal component of known NPE psychology and reported by all former PTE2A personnel. Their Tithe are actions or tasks that they must accomplish in order to regenerate their store of paracausal energy. Where Drive serves as an emotional motivation for action, Tithe serves as a rational motivation for action...
  
  While observed NPE with compatible biology and body plans are capable of and even enjoy consuming baseline food and paracausally enriched material, reports indicate they only regain a fraction of paracausal energy from such foodstuffs. Self-reports of the level of satiation indicate that the efficiency for such foodstuffs is lower than the efficiency of FPP consuming baseline food. Notably, there is no efficiency difference from an NPE consuming baseline food and enriched material intended for FPP consumption.
  
  All NPE and former PTE2A have reported that all members of their fleet share the same or similar Tithes. It has been observed that the higher the level of sapience in a member of an NPE fleet, the higher the chances of them possessing a different Tithe. There has been no known member of an NPE fleet possessing a Tithe which is contrary to the NPE in command of the fleet...
  
  There are currently no known ongoing studies into the effects of preventing an NPE or member of an NPE fleet from fulfilling their Tithe. There are currently no known plans to initiate any studies into preventing an NPE or member of an NPE fleet from fulfilling their Tithe. No NPE or former PTE2A has been able to answer what would be the outcomes of long-term deprivation of Tithe fulfillment.

5) Known Non-Allied Paracausal Entity Fleets

The wide range of PTE2 behavior has given rise to incidents where PTE2A instances have attempted negotiations with BluFor commanders and forces. Such incidents were typically rejected as attempted deception. The few examples of such negotiations being accepted, occurring, and coming to an agreement without violence have typically only resulted in momentary ceasefires or time-limited freedom of passage. Common belief and opinion was that coexistence with PTE2 was impossible.

The NPE1 amalgamation event challenged this belief. Despite the violent generation of NPE1, surviving BluFor Units and Fleets noticed an unusual degree of docility and lack of return fire from NPE1-commanded forces. COMPACFLT approved requests by local commanders to attempt negotiations as a delaying tactic while awaiting reinforcements. The records of all parties involved, both local and remote, note a degree of surprise and shock when NPE1 responded positively to such efforts…

The establishment of a Neutrality Agreement with NPE1, formalized as The Guam Agreement, led to in-depth investigations of previously reported non-hostile PTE2 instances. These investigations led to the discovery of NPE2 and NPE3, who had evaded notice due to their remote locations…

Opinions of BluFor FPP regarding NPE range from acceptance to distrust. Meta-analyses of interviews indicate FPP with a known PTE2 counterpart are more likely to respond negatively to NPE…

There are 7 NPE Fleets known to this office, of which 6 are known to BluFor Command. They are categorized as Neutral (Ceasefire Agreement in Place, Will Not Attack Unless Agreement Breached), Aligned (Ceasefire or Neutrality Agreement in Place, Will Provide Non-Kinetic Support Such as Logistic or Intelligence), and Collaborator (Ceasefire Agreement or Neutrality Agreement in Place, Will Provide Support as Requested).

• NPE1 - Tropical Fortification Princess – Pacific AoO
  Collaborator with BluFor Operations. NPE1 has been instrumental in providing intelligence regarding PTE1, PTE2, and OpFor organizational structure. NPE1 continues to operate a primarily submarine-focused anchorage, being able to support Steel, FPP, and PTE2 submarines. NPE1 has not been known to have caused any loss of life after her generation.
  
  Psychological evaluation of NPE1 indicates a high degree of confusion and guilt over her creation. The current belief is that this confusion and guilt is what caused NPE1 to agree to neutrality…
  
  The amalgamation of NCTS Guam into NPE1 has given her access to BluFor communication systems. She maintains the ability to access restricted satellite, VLF, ELF, and acoustic transmission systems previously available to NCTS Guam. This was the first observed incidence of a PTE2 instance accessing BluFor communication channels. It is now mandatory to update encryption systems following the loss of any major communication station.
  
  The precedents set by NPE1 and NPE4 led previous agencies to believe Amalgamation-type PTE2B entities to be more prone to neutral or friendly behavior. This was disproven with the discovery of PTE2B-2863, "Pacific Detritus War Demon"...
  
  

• NPE2 - Northern Aleutian Princess – North Pacific AoO
  Aligned with BluFor Operations. NPE2 will allow passage and docking of military vessels in exchange for goods. Typically, she will allow civilian vessels passage through controlled territories. NPE2 evaded notice for many years from formal authorities despite local fishermen knowing of NPE2 since at least 2014…
  
  NPE2's childlike demeanor, hesitation to initiate violent action, and lack of significant operations within the Bering Sea led to her presence going unrecorded until a formal analysis was undertaken by the predecessors of this office…
  
  NPE2’s primary anchorage is on St. Matthew Island, and she is the only known PTE2A or PTE2B presence within the Bering Sea, giving her the largest known NPE territory. NPE2’s assistance has reduced the losses for the North Pacific Supply Convoys from its previous all-time high of 23% down to the current 3.1%...
  
  

• NPE3 - Twin Phoenix Demons – South Atlantic AoO
  Neutral toward BluFor Operations, will not allow any human-crewed ships to pass through the Demarcation Zone. Will allow FPP passage in exchange for goods and services. Despite their name, they are a pair of entities linked to a single rigging, like the previous PTE2A-1716 Abyssal Twin Princesses. Much like PTE2A-1716, it is unclear whether they are two separate consciousnesses or a single consciousness…
  
  Unlike NPE2, forces operating in the South Atlantic AoO have known about NPE3 since their generation. They were first recorded by civilians in the Falkland Sound, but it is unknown if they were generated there. Initially classified as a PTE2A instance, they quickly left the region before South Atlantic-based FPP forces could arrive. Subsequent sightings put them on an eastern track until they stopped and set up anchorage at Gough Island. It is currently believed they have converted themselves into a PTE2B instance…
  
  FPP operating in the area have long since reported their presence to South Atlantic commanders. However, their hostility towards human-crewed ships, small territory, and their forces' lack of operations further than 100 km away from the island made them a curiosity that could be easily avoided. With the discovery of NPE1, their relative lack of hostility was flagged by analysts, and an FPP task force was deployed to attempt diplomatic relations, which were successful…
  
  

• NPE4 - Tropical Harbor Princess – South China Sea AoO
  Collaborator with BluFor Operations. NPE4 is the 2nd of the known “Amalgamation” type PTE2B. NPE4 was generated when illegally harvested and collected PTE2 remains reached their critical mass and underwent spontaneous amalgamation on Jurong Island in Singapore. Experience provided by NPE1 led to a successful contact event, and negotiations between NPE4 and BluFor concluded positively.
  
  NPE4 maintains a friendly relationship with BluFor. However, NPE4 views her agreement with BluFor as a transactional agreement rather than a formal military alliance. She is distinctly aware that her territory contains most of the petrochemical, chemical, and support facilities of the former Jurong Island. The production capacity of the facilities has increased since the island’s amalgamation into NPE4. However, CSS AoO BluFor Command must maintain constant negotiation with NPE4 to ensure the continued exchange of supplies…
  
  As a part of her agreement, NPE4 is the only NPE Fleet that is effectively demilitarized. She has the smallest force count and territory of the NPE Fleets, with a territory that consists of 25 square kilometers of Jurong Island, waterways within 1 kilometer of the island side that faces Singapore Strait, and her Fleet consists of a small number of PTE2D-type instances to secure her territory. She has shown no signs and reported no interest in expanding her physical territory.
  
  

• NPE5 - Central Canal Princess – Latin America AoO
  Aligned with BluFor Operations. NPE5 will not allow FPP passage through the Panama Canal but will allow human-crewed military and civilian vessel passage. Although NPE5 will not allow FPP passage through the canal itself, FPP are permitted passage over the canal via air or overground adjacent to the canal. NPE5 is the only known instance of a PTE2B immediately opening negotiations after generation off the coast of the Panama Canal.
  
  Interviews with NPE5 have provided the most information regarding the concept of “Drive” and “Tithe” for NPE and PTE2s. While other NPEs all have affirmed the concepts since, NPE5’s primary motivation for negotiations was due to her “Drive” and “Tithe” functioning best if it were to enter a friendly relationship with BluFor…
  
  Although many civilian governments in the Latin America and South Atlantic AoO have objected to NPE5’s terms, the addition of NPE5 and her NPE Fleet is a significant force multiplier. Allowing her control of the Panama Canal has secured it at effectively no cost and has freed up BluFor resources to secure other zones in the Latin America AoO…
  
  

• NPE6 - Cursed Battleship War Demon – North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, & South China Sea AoO
  Exact disposition unknown. NPE3 provided NPE6’s Ceasefire Agreement to FPP forces during a scheduled meeting. NPE3 has stated during interviews that NPE6 has been known to PTE2 entities as a hostile figure for an unknown period of time. NPE3 claims that NPE6 contacted them without warning. They state that the contact was to forward NPE6’s Ceasefire Agreement to NPE3 for distribution to BluFor Command. How NPE6 came to know of BluFor’s efforts in securing neutrality and ceasefire agreements with PTE2A and PTE2B instances is currently under investigation.
  
  NPE6’s only known demand is to not disrupt operations undertaken by NPE6. In exchange, NPE6 offered to not sail within 100 kilometers of any human-occupied landmass. After the contact with NPE3, NPE6 has not been recorded by any forces to engage BluFor or NPE in any capacity. Current interactions are limited to signal flares to mark operational zones. It is difficult to predict NPE6’s location, as she is constantly engaged in long-range travel…
  
  NPE6 is unique in that she is the only NPE known to actively undertake her own operations against OpFor. There is little reliable information on NPE6 due to her nomadic operations, and the dense paracausal storms she commonly utilizes in her operations. Details regarding NPE6’s Fleet size and composition are unknown as of the most recent writing of this document (Feb 2024). Descriptions of NPE6 are likewise scarce. It has been theorized that NPE6 may not even have a Fleet and is undertaking operations alone, explaining her ability to move undetected and appear without warning.
  
  

• NPE7 Fissile Aviation Water Princess – Pacific AoO
  Collaborator with USN Operations. Existence is Top Secret Umbra. The active assistance of NPE7 has allowed BluFor to achieve the current balance of power against OpFor in the Pacific AoO. To date, NPE7 has not communicated to BluFor and USN Commanders or FPP Fleets…
  
  NPE7 is unique among NPE Fleets in that it contains multiple PTE2A instances. Analysts believe that NPE7 and her Fleet were formed out of the losses suffered by the US 7th Fleet during the evacuation of Okinawa following the failure of Operation BACKDROP. NPE7 is believed to have been generated from CSG 5. The other PTE2A entities are believed to be from DESRON 15 losses…
  
  Radiological tracking indicates NPE7 operates out of Iwo Jima. Revaluation of previous After-Action Reports has confirmed the phenomena of “Abyssal Civil Wars”, previously unique to the Pacific AoO, were actually incidents of NPE7 providing kinetic support. Reexamination of sensor and satellite data in recorded examples of “Abyssal Civil Wars” has exhibited higher-than-normal background radiation, which is indicative of NPE7 activity.
  
  Although NPE7 is the only modern instance confirmed by this Department, it is believed that others exist and are similarly classified by allied governments. SIGINT has indicated Japanese forces continue to report both JS Kaga and JN Kaga, despite the former's sinking in 2018…