{
    "title": "Black Lantern Document Review",
    "date": "2020-07-18 12:00",
    "reportcode": "GT/GH-200718-084260625",
    "url": "https://teeth.zarquan.fyi/reports/gt-gh-200718-084260625/index.json",
    "description": "△▼△TOP SECRET//SI//DGO△▼△",
    "content": "\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReport No:\u003c/strong\u003e GT/GH-200718-084260625\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation:\u003c/strong\u003e Calvert Exchange, Baltimore, Maryland\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgents:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy Banks, Drug Enforcement Administration\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Louis Ming, neuroscientist\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnst Baldkar, senior computer science analyst, RAND Corporation\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverend Jeremiah “Jerry” Arnoldson, Federal Bureau of Prisons\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour previously unacquainted Glass Meridian assets were activated during the COVID-19 national emergency and directed to a temporary secure facility in Baltimore. Case Officer Malcolm Rinnick assigned the group to review a mixed cache of federal records, open-source intelligence, seized evidence, and compartmented Glass Meridian material concerning Lee Jarnigan, alias “ScribeLife420,” and an unidentified subject called “Conradin.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team was granted temporary access to the BLACK LANTERN compartment, covering Working Group MASTICATE and its contact with the PAPER CROWN phenomenon. The assigned objectives were to identify Conradin, determine whether he was connected to PAPER CROWN, assess whether he presented a threat, and prepare a redacted report with recommended action by 0800 hours on 20 July.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitial review established that Conradin was probably Conrad Hopko, a missing survivor of Cornucopia House who later lived under the names Jacob Tillman and Esau Tillman. Evidence further indicated that Tillman entered Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from Jarnigan and later attempted to place at least two unidentified associates within the same agency.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe review remained incomplete at the close of the reporting period.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperation Report:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActivation and Assembly\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEach agent received activation instructions through established Glass Meridian channels.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were ordered to report at 0800 hours on Saturday, 18 July 2020, to a designated pillar inside the parking garage beneath the Calvert Exchange.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were provided with a recognition phrase and countersign.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll four agents arrived independently and had not previously worked together.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMalcolm Rinnick met the agents in the garage, completed the recognition exchange, and escorted them into the building.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick used a WeWork access card to reach an otherwise unoccupied office floor.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecure Review Facility\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe review area consisted of a glass-walled conference room covered internally with opaque material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe room contained a white-noise generator, an industrial paper shredder, secure-disposal bags, bottled water, banker’s boxes, and unopened Lenovo workstations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFour cots and sleeping bags were staged nearby.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFood and beverages sufficient for the weekend had been placed in the office kitchen.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick informed the agents that none of the review material could leave the building or be left unattended.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were expected to remain onsite until completion of the assignment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersonal telephones were not surrendered, although the agents understood that no material was to be photographed or electronically reproduced.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn encrypted communications line was available for messages to Rinnick.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBriefing\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick identified himself as the Glass Meridian case officer responsible for the assignment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlass Meridian was described as the current designation for the organization ordinarily referred to as the Program.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe assignment originated with an alert generated by the National Security Agency’s MAGENTA GAMBLER monitoring system.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMAGENTA GAMBLER detected an anonymous submission to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center containing terminology of interest to Glass Meridian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe submission was traced to Lee Jarnigan, also known online as “ScribeLife420.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Glass Meridian’s direction, the FBI arrested Jarnigan and seized his computer equipment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring interrogation, Jarnigan provided information concerning a person called Conradin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick stated that Conradin was already a subject of Program interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents received temporary access to the BLACK LANTERN compartment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePAPER CROWN was identified as the compartmented subject under review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBLACK LANTERN material was identified as intelligence generated internally by Glass Meridian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick had not been granted BLACK LANTERN access and could not receive unredacted information from the compartment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team was directed to determine:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin’s identity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin’s relationship, if any, to PAPER CROWN.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhether Conradin should be considered a threat.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA recommended course of action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe completed assessment was to be presented to Rinnick at 0800 hours on Monday, 20 July.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick departed after the secure material arrived.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBLACK LANTERN Delivery\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA second unidentified government employee delivered a ruggedized secure container.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick authenticated the container with an access card.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe courier entered an additional numerical code.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe container printed the BLACK LANTERN report over approximately twenty minutes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were ordered to shred the printed report after use and place the fragments in secure-disposal bags for collection.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInitial Organization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaldkar identified himself as an analyst.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMing identified himself as a neuroscientist.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBanks identified himself as a DEA agent and began distributing document groups among the team.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArnoldson identified himself as an employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents divided the cache for parallel review and agreed to identify information relevant to Conradin, Jarnigan, BLACK LANTERN, and PAPER CROWN.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorking Group MASTICATE\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe BLACK LANTERN report contained a retrospective record of Working Group MASTICATE, including operations associated with Cornucopia House and its surviving residents.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe review established the following:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMASTICATE had been involved in the suppression and subsequent investigation of the Cornucopia House case.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCornucopia House involved confined children, ritual abuse, predatory adult caretakers, occult activity, animalistic imagery, and continued transmission of abnormal behavior through survivors.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple members of MASTICATE were dead or missing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraham Drummond remained officially listed as killed in action, although no body had been recovered.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew McCarter had been recovered dead following an operation, but surveillance footage subsequently showed a person identified as McCarter accompanying active MASTICATE personnel near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe morgue recovery predated the MIT footage by approximately one to two days.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlass Meridian had not resolved the contradiction between McCarter’s body and the later footage.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMASTICATE’s later activities included contact with a separate phenomenon designated PICKY EATER.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe report did not establish whether PICKY EATER and PAPER CROWN were connected.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMASTICATE personnel were assessed as possible agents, instruments, or participants in the PAPER CROWN process.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAPER CROWN Assessment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe BLACK LANTERN material described PAPER CROWN as a recurring process rather than a conventional organization or discrete entity.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reported pattern consisted of:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChildren subjected to confinement, abuse, and predation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA signal or condition generated by those children.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePredators gathering around the affected population.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndividuals being selected to enact retribution against the predators.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurviving children or avengers later becoming predators or instruments in a subsequent recurrence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnimals functioning as sensory extensions, weapons, symbols, or behavioral templates.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChildren and severely traumatized adults displaying heightened susceptibility to the influence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA possible physical component described in the records as the Cornucopia particle or “cornucopion.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report treated these conclusions as theories of varying confidence rather than established facts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA concluding analyst’s note warned that Glass Meridian was not observing PAPER CROWN from outside the phenomenon. The note stated that the organization was already inside the process and should assume that it had been observed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgent Clove\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Clove had participated in the discovery of Cornucopia House while investigating an occult-artifact smuggling network.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClove later ordered the termination of the surviving Cornucopia House children.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlass Meridian analysts identified several possible interpretations of the order:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove believed the children were contaminated vectors.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove believed that killing the children would interrupt the PAPER CROWN cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove had been compromised by another agenda.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe termination order itself had been generated or influenced by PAPER CROWN in order to bring additional personnel into the cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo conclusive interpretation was contained in the material reviewed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClove’s private writings did not indicate confirmed knowledge of earlier PAPER CROWN recurrences.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLee Jarnigan\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan operated an online commercial writing service under the name “ScribeLife420.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wrote essays, applications, and academic material for paying customers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe concealed income by reporting it as gambling proceeds.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePotential federal charges included wire fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis operational security was assessed as amateurish.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan had previously assisted Antonia Chilikov, a surviving Cornucopia House resident, by converting her notes into academic material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChilikov’s correspondence indicated that Jarnigan approached her after being told by Conradin that she might require assistance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan subsequently performed extensive writing work for Conradin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe commercial relationship developed into an ongoing personal association.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan believed that he had helped Conradin learn to present himself as a functioning adult.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe later concluded that he might only have taught Conradin how to imitate one.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan submitted the anonymous complaint after Conradin requested assistance preparing applications for two associates.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan characterized those associates as dangerous and warned that they would be worse than personnel already employed by ICE.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe anonymous complaint and supporting correspondence contained inconsistent dates in the assembled documentation. The operational sequence indicated that the complaint followed Conradin’s request for the additional applications.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIdentification of Conradin\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents assembled the following identity chain:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Conradin” was associated with the names Jacob Tillman and Esau Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEli Tillman was identified as Jacob Tillman’s father.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBLACK LANTERN records listed a Cornucopia House child named Conrad Hopko.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConrad Hopko was the only listed Cornucopia House survivor whose location and status remained unknown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe available evidence supported the working identification of Conrad Hopko, Conradin, Jacob Tillman, and Esau Tillman as the same individual.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJacob Tillman’s Childhood\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob Tillman was abducted as an infant from a retail parking lot in 1994.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was recovered in March 2001, shortly after the Cornucopia House raid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was approximately seven years old when recovered.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was unable to speak.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli Tillman claimed Jacob’s identity and took custody of him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedical and educational specialists reportedly advised that Jacob was unlikely to develop ordinary language after missing the normal developmental period.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli Tillman rejected those assessments and personally assumed responsibility for Jacob’s education.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli later claimed that he had taught Jacob language and social understanding primarily through motion pictures.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli incorporated this account into published memoirs and lectures.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli took Jacob on national book tours.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli claimed that a tutor or nanny named Clovis and a driver named Clark accompanied them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn academic critique of Eli’s memoirs disputed those claims.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe critique alleged that Clovis and Clark did not exist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt further alleged that Eli repeatedly placed Jacob in temporary holding institutions while traveling, including:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYouth boot camps.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReligious reeducation programs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExperimental boarding schools.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetention facilities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents determined that passive exposure to films would not adequately explain the language development described in Eli’s memoirs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConradin’s Communication and Neurological Claims\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan described Conradin’s concepts as sophisticated but his written language as developmentally abnormal.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin’s writing reportedly contained poor spelling, inconsistent tense, missing articles, excessive articles, and childlike sentence construction.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen asked whether his difficulties resulted from brain injury, dyslexia, or poor education, Conradin answered only that they came “from the past.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin described himself as having split-brain syndrome.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSplit-brain syndrome normally results from physical separation or damage to the corpus callosum, including deliberate surgical intervention.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe reviewed material contained no documented trauma, congenital condition, or surgery sufficient to explain such a diagnosis.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe available information was insufficient to verify Conradin’s self-assessment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eICE Infiltration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn approximately 2016, Conradin asked Jarnigan to assist with an application to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin subsequently entered ICE service.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn early 2020, he reestablished contact with Jarnigan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin requested assistance preparing applications for two associates seeking entry into ICE.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan considered the associates sufficiently dangerous to contact federal authorities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe names, present employment status, and locations of the two associates were not identified during the initial review.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatus at Close of Reporting Period\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents had identified a probable connection between Conradin, Conrad Hopko, Jacob Tillman, Cornucopia House, and PAPER CROWN.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents had not completed their review of all provided materials.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe identities of Conradin’s two associates remained unknown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin’s current ICE assignment and location remained unknown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo final threat assessment or recommended operational response had been submitted.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents remained inside the Baltimore review site with BLACK LANTERN materials under their control.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnalysis and Recommendations:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin should be treated as Conrad Hopko unless contrary evidence emerges. The overlap in identity, developmental history, Cornucopia House timing, and use of the name Conradin exceeds the threshold for immediate operational concern.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin represents the first known Cornucopia House survivor to obtain a federal law-enforcement position under an alternate identity. Access to ICE personnel files, detention systems, transportation networks, informants, and vulnerable migrant populations would provide extensive opportunities to reproduce the confinement and predation conditions associated with PAPER CROWN.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two pending applicants may represent deliberate recruitment rather than ordinary associates seeking employment. Their applications, sponsors, references, communications, and current status should be located before any overt action is taken against Conradin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll ICE personnel records associated with Jacob Tillman, Esau Tillman, Conrad Hopko, Conradin, Lee Jarnigan, and any applications prepared through Jarnigan’s systems should be quietly isolated. Particular attention should be given to detention assignments involving children, family separation, abuse complaints, unexplained animal incidents, staff violence, and clusters of retaliatory behavior.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan appears to be an exploited intermediary rather than a primary vector. He possesses direct knowledge of Conradin’s communication patterns and associates and should remain in controlled custody. His devices should be preserved, duplicated offline, and examined without network access.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe alleged tutor “Clovis” requires comparison with Agent Clove’s aliases, travel history, and known activity after the 2001 Cornucopia House raid. The similarity may be coincidental, derivative, or deliberately planted. No conclusion should be drawn without documentary support.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli Tillman’s travel itinerary should be reconstructed. Every institution that housed Jacob may represent either an exposure site or an undocumented PAPER CROWN recurrence. Surviving residents, staff, abuse allegations, animal events, homicides, and subsequent institutional failures should be cross-referenced.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin’s claim of split-brain syndrome should not be interpreted solely as a medical statement. His language may describe divided agency, parallel consciousness, or an internal structure produced by unnatural conditioning. Conventional neurological imaging would be useful but should not be performed in an unsecured civilian facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe McCarter body discrepancy remains relevant. BLACK LANTERN already contains evidence that identity, continuity, and physical death may not behave normally around MASTICATE-associated operations. Positive identification of Conradin should therefore require more than facial recognition, documentary history, or biometric confirmation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe warning that Glass Meridian is already inside PAPER CROWN should be treated as an operational condition, not an analyst’s flourish. The current review may itself constitute another stage of observation, selection, or transmission. Personnel assigned to study the phenomenon should be monitored for changes in fixation, protective behavior toward children, hostility toward perceived predators, animal-related incidents, and pressure to recruit replacements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe use of personal telephones inside the BLACK LANTERN review area created an unnecessary exposure pathway. All networked devices should be removed before the review resumes. PICKY EATER was assessed as separate from PAPER CROWN, but the absence of a known connection does not establish the absence of one.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four reviewing agents displayed no immediate signs of compromise and worked cooperatively despite having no prior relationship. Their mixed backgrounds provide useful coverage across law enforcement, behavioral health, neuroscience, and technical analysis. None should be released from observation immediately after completing the assignment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirect arrest of Conradin is not recommended until his ICE access, associates, operational role, and potential PAPER CROWN relationships are mapped. Premature removal may activate unknown personnel, erase the chain leading from Cornucopia House, or satisfy a role already prepared for him within the cycle.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA-Cell should prepare simultaneous options for surveillance, administrative isolation, medical capture, and terminal containment. No single plan should be distributed in full. PAPER CROWN should be assumed capable of learning the shape of any operation conducted against it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cdetails \u003e\n  \u003csummary markdown=\"span\"\u003eSession Notes\u003c/summary\u003e\n  \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe session opened with a recap of the final operation undertaken by Working Group MASTICATE in October 2019.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMASTICATE had entered Wesley Cole’s high tower after passing through a membrane separating realities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena crossed the membrane first and found Matthew McCarter already moving through the carnage outside the tower.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFranklin Booth followed Philomena through the membrane, leaving their original reality behind.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin Smith remained concealed above them in Cole’s lavish living quarters until the surviving agents reunited in the office at the tower’s summit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside the office, the agents discovered the Xantheraphone, a coffin-sized machine constructed from bronze, crystal, and circuitry that did not conform to ordinary physical principles.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeside the machine were Eric Zahn’s operating manual and Wesley Cole’s manifesto, \u003cem\u003eMeaning Without Master\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe manifesto discussed Picky Eater.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt argued that reality was false.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt described the creation or construction of worlds through thought.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents attempted several methods of destroying or disabling the Xantheraphone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey cut its power.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey fired the lightning gun into it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey shot it with a Glock.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey threw the machine from the tower.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey detonated multiple grenades against it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCole’s followers attempted to protect the machine by throwing themselves across it as human shields.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe machine’s outer components were destroyed, but its central crystal prism remained intact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter several days of study, Justin reproduced the tones of the aetherophone electronically.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surviving crystal responded by producing what appeared to be the music of creation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sound drew the agents through the crystal and transported them into a place of alien stone, mist, and impossible light.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn that other place, they found Wesley Cole stranded beside another aetherophone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCole was waiting for Tawil al-Ur, described as the All-Is-One, the Gate, and the Key.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hooded entity arrived and questioned the gathered humans about:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTruth.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReality.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood and evil.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMadness.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe threshold.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWesley Cole vanished first.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena sought the threshold and was consumed by the revelation she received.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFranklin surrendered himself and dissolved into the surrounding mist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin willingly crossed the threshold and lost everything that had made him Justin Smith.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew was judged to be a creature of truth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew begged to be returned to the other world.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew subsequently awoke alone and exhausted in an alley near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis memories of the other members of MASTICATE were already fading.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pressure that had existed between the two realities was gone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNine months later, the Program was still attempting to understand what had happened to MASTICATE and whether the power that had loomed over the working group remained a threat.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new operation began in July 2020, during the stay-at-home restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach of four Program personnel received an activation notice through the expected channel from their individual handler.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four personnel had not previously worked together and did not know one another.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach was ordered to travel to Baltimore and report at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2020.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe meeting location was a specific numbered pillar in the parking garage beneath the Calvert Exchange, an office building in downtown Baltimore.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents were given a prearranged code-phrase exchange for identifying the person who would brief them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe precise phrases consisted of apparently random groups of words.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe actual words were not specified during the session.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the designated parking-garage pillar, the agents encountered Malcolm Rinnick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick was an African American man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was more than six feet tall and heavyset.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wore a dark suit.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA faded scar crossed his left eyebrow.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick correctly supplied the expected response to each agent’s code phrase, confirming that he was their contact.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four newly assembled operatives introduced themselves or were identified as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy Banks arrived first.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBanks was a white man approximately twenty-eight years old.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was clean-cut.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis left ear was visibly scarred, suggesting that he had previously seen action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlthough only twenty-eight, accumulated strain made him look closer to thirty-eight.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Louis Ming arrived second.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMing appeared to be in his mid-thirties.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wore glasses.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was clean-cut and professionally dressed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlthough not entirely relaxed, he appeared noticeably calmer than many people involved in Delta Green operations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was a neuroscientist.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnst “Ernie” Baldkar arrived third.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaldkar was approximately sixty years old.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was a computer scientist and senior analyst employed by the RAND Corporation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe stood just under six feet tall.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had brown hair with some gray, brown eyes, and glasses.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis appearance suggested an older generation of professional computer specialist who had been working in the field before it became culturally fashionable.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe also appeared relatively calm.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReverend Jeremiah “Jerry” Arnoldson arrived last.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArnoldson was tall and notably handsome.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe appeared to be of Scandinavian descent and had striking eyes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis brown hair was beginning to show gray.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was not wearing a clerical collar.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wore a cross on a short chain around his neck.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was dressed somewhat more casually than the other agents.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had a naturally calming presence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen the group later exchanged occupations, Arnoldson said that he worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe did not initially identify himself to the others as a reverend or clergyman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had traveled from Indiana and had apparently faced the most difficult last-minute journey to Baltimore.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce all four agents had been authenticated, Rinnick led them from the parking garage to a bank of elevators.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe used a WeWork access card to operate the elevator.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe elevator carried the group to a WeWork office floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it was early on a Saturday morning during the pandemic, the building was almost completely deserted.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe office floor was dark and silent except for the lights in the area being used by the group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe floor contained the usual shared-office facilities, including:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA communal kitchen.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeeting rooms and small office pods.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral shared work areas.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick led the agents into a larger conference room.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe conference room had glass walls, but an opaque film had been placed over the glass to block outside observation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe room had been converted into an improvised Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSecurity and support equipment in the room included:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA white-noise machine.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn industrial paper shredder.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral flats of bottled water.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBankers’ boxes filled with documents.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorkstations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew Lenovo laptops that were still boxed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents were permitted to retain their mobile phones.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were not asked to place the phones in a Faraday container, although they were expected not to photograph or transmit any of the materials.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick formally introduced himself and the organization for which he was acting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe identified himself as an FBI agent.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was also the Glass Meridian case officer assigned to manage the operation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe explained that the organization commonly called “the Program” changed names regularly and was, in practice, nearly nameless.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Glass Meridian” was the current designation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEven the Glass Meridian name was highly classified.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll four agents had already been read into Glass Meridian before receiving the assignment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick gave the agents their initial mission briefing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey had been assigned to analyze a large cache of documents.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cache contained:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-source intelligence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepartment of Justice records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFBI records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvidence seized during the arrest of Lee Jarnigan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLee Jarnigan also used the online name “ScribeLife420.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan operated as an online essay farmer, producing academic work for customers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan had connections to previous Glass Meridian operations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn July 1, 2020, an alert had been triggered in an NSA system called Magenta Gambler.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMagenta Gambler monitored activity in various federal computer systems.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmong its functions, it searched for particular keywords of interest to the Program.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe alert concerned an anonymous tip submitted to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, commonly abbreviated IC3.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tip contained multiple keywords that were significant to Glass Meridian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInvestigators traced the anonymous report to Lee Jarnigan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the Program’s direction, the FBI was instructed to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArrest Jarnigan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfiscate his computers and related equipment as evidence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring his FBI interrogation, Jarnigan provided information concerning a person called “Conradin.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin was already a person or name of interest to the Program.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick explained the compartmentalized security arrangements for the investigation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn less than ten minutes, the agents would receive temporary access to a compartment called Black Lantern.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir Black Lantern access was strictly limited to this review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaper Crown was the compartmented subject associated with the material.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNothing bearing either the Black Lantern or Paper Crown designation was permitted to leave the room.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Lantern was not merely a general secrecy level.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was the internal project designation covering MASTICATE and the intelligence associated with the working group’s operations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern material represented intelligence generated internally by Glass Meridian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick himself had not been read into Black Lantern.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt that point, he knew no more about the underlying material than the four analysts did.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick defined the questions the group had to answer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were to determine the identity of Conradin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were to determine whether Conradin had any relationship to Paper Crown.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were to determine whether the Program should consider Conradin a threat.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group was required to prepare a report containing:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir conclusions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA recommended course of action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny Black Lantern information had to be removed or redacted from the version presented to Rinnick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick would then send the resulting assessment up the Program’s chain of command.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick explained the practical restrictions imposed on the agents.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey had use of the office until 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe classified documents could not leave the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe materials could not be left unattended.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsequently, the four agents were expected to remain in the office for the duration of the review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA nearby area had been supplied with:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFour folding cots.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFour boxed sleeping bags.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe communal kitchen had been stocked with food and drinks, much of it purchased from Costco.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvailable provisions included:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold cuts and sandwich ingredients.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrozen meals.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePot stickers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUdon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBottled water.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoda.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoxes of snack food.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe office also appeared to retain a WeWork beer dispenser or kegerator, although the condition of its contents was uncertain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents were given a secure telephone line.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey could leave an encrypted message for Rinnick.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick would return their call.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe did not promise immediate responsiveness.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA second man arrived by elevator shortly after the briefing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was another nondescript white man wearing a dark suit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe brought a heavy, ruggedized roller case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case had a keycard reader and keypad.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick inserted a card into the case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second man obtained a code from his phone and entered it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA panel opened to reveal a secure paper feed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe device began printing the Black Lantern report one page at a time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe full report took approximately twenty minutes to print.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents were instructed to destroy the Black Lantern report after completing their work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe pages were to be shredded.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe shredded material was to be placed in opaque secure-disposal bags.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinnick would collect the sealed bags when he returned.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program’s known and unknown information about MASTICATE was clarified before the review began.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern file contained the Program’s reconstruction of MASTICATE’s personnel and operations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program’s picture was generally accurate, in part because Matthew McCarter had spoken extensively about MASTICATE’s field operations while confined at Blackwood.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcCarter’s statements had generated numerous detailed reports.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program did not know about the approximately seventeen million dollars recovered from Avalon Gardens and distributed off the books by Franklin Booth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA passage suggesting that the Program knew about Booth’s off-book disbursements was identified as an error and removed from consideration.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGraham Drummond had been reported killed in action following Avalon Gardens.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Program had never recovered or positively identified his body.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis death was therefore regarded as unconfirmed despite the official KIA designation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program possessed less complete information concerning the final Picky Eater operation and what had happened to MASTICATE during it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinnick departed at approximately 8:30 a.m., leaving the four agents alone with the evidence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy Banks took an organizational role at the beginning of the review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe divided stacks of material among the group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe suggested that each person begin reading and call attention to anything that appeared relevant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents briefly introduced themselves by occupation:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie Baldkar identified himself as an analyst.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Ming identified himself as a neuroscientist.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy Banks identified himself as DEA.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry Arnoldson stated that he worked for the Bureau of Prisons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey then began sorting the records into material that was:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClearly relevant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePossibly significant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIrrelevant to the assignment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy began by reviewing the Black Lantern case history of MASTICATE.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report provided an operational chronology of the working group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt covered MASTICATE’s origins in the aftermath of the Cornucopia House operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt described several later operations, including:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSugar Ride.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArcher Spark.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFife Lift.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe later Picky Eater affair.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt recorded the members of MASTICATE, including those who had died or disappeared.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt assessed the group’s unusual behavior and its repeated exposure to Paper Crown-related phenomena.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern report presented Paper Crown as a recurring pattern or process rather than a conventional organization.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe proposed cycle began with abused or confined children generating some form of signal.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredators gathered around or were drawn to those children.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvengers or “teeth” were then selected.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose avengers attacked the predators.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurvivors of one iteration of the cycle could become the predators or avengers involved in a later iteration.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe process therefore appeared capable of perpetuating itself across generations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Cornucopia House incident exhibited the major markers associated with Paper Crown:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChildren held in confinement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSystematic or ritualized abuse.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdult caretakers acting as predators.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOccult practices.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnimalistic expressions of pain or violence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTransmission of the phenomenon through surviving children.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report also discussed a proposed “cornucopion” or Cornucopia particle associated with the physics of the phenomenon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents understood that these were retrospective Program theories rather than conclusions MASTICATE had possessed during its earliest operations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report assigned varying levels of confidence to its theories rather than presenting every point as established fact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern analysts believed that Paper Crown could use animals and humans in several ways.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnimals could serve as:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSensory extensions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeapons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSymbols.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBehavioral templates.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHumans could also become susceptible to Paper Crown’s influence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChildren and heavily damaged adults were considered especially vulnerable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report suggested that the members of MASTICATE might themselves have become agents or instruments of Paper Crown by participating in the cycle.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report distinguished Picky Eater from Paper Crown.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePicky Eater was not considered identical to Paper Crown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe relationship between the two remained uncertain.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Black Lantern analysts proposed several theories but did not establish a definitive connection.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy found a significant warning in Appendix B of the report.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe analyst’s note advised senior reviewers that Glass Meridian had not been studying Paper Crown solely from outside the phenomenon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt stated that Glass Meridian was already inside Paper Crown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt warned that the Program had to assume it had been observed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry questioned how the extensive MASTICATE history related to the assigned subjects, Conradin and ScribeLife420.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents located an earlier connection in the records of Operation Fife Lift.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFife Lift involved MASTICATE’s efforts to conceal or clean up remaining evidence connected to Cornucopia House.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring that operation, the team tracked down Antonia Chilikov.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChilikov was one of the former Cornucopia House children.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe was working at King Torino.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChilikov had hired ScribeLife420 to transform her notes into thesis material.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn associated communication from ScribeLife420 stated that Conradin had said Chilikov might need help.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis established that ScribeLife420 and someone using the name Conradin had already been connected to a former Cornucopia House resident.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern records included a list of children associated with Cornucopia House.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMost of the children were deceased by 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA small number, including Antonia Chilikov, were still alive.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThose surviving individuals were being monitored but were not currently classified as threats.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnly one child on the list had a completely unknown status: Conrad Hopko.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe similarity between “Conrad” Hopko and the later name “Conradin” immediately became significant to the investigation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie reviewed the FBI interviews with Lee Jarnigan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan had initially worked for Conradin in his capacity as an essay farmer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe helped Conradin complete academic assignments and studies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir relationship developed beyond a purely commercial arrangement into something Jarnigan considered a friendship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan learned that Conradin had used at least two legal or personal names:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacob Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEsau Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecords identified Eli Tillman as Jacob’s father.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe emerging identity chain was therefore:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConrad Hopko.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacob Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEsau Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group had not yet established every step of that identity chain with equal certainty, but the records strongly connected the names.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan had also assisted Tillman with an application to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe application process occurred in or around 2016.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan’s assistance apparently helped Tillman obtain employment with ICE.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTillman contacted Jarnigan again several years later.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe initial discussion placed this renewed contact in early 2020, only a short time before the anonymous IC3 report.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Ming questioned why the FBI’s dossier treated Jarnigan’s essay-writing operation with such seriousness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcademic plagiarism could destroy a student’s or professional’s career, but it did not initially seem to justify the intensity of the arrest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReview of the Department of Justice material showed several potential criminal charges unrelated to plagiarism alone:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWire fraud.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTax evasion.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoney laundering.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan had attempted to conceal his essay-writing income by reporting it as gambling winnings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis attempts at operational security and financial concealment were described as amateurish.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe severity and speed of the arrest nevertheless resulted primarily from Glass Meridian’s intervention after the Magenta Gambler alert.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anonymous IC3 tip was itself part of Jarnigan’s attempt to warn federal authorities about Tillman.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan had become alarmed after Tillman asked him to prepare applications for two of Tillman’s associates.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe requested applications were intended to help those associates enter ICE or related federal employment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan believed the two applicants were dangerous.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn his warning, he stated that the men Tillman was attempting to place would make the objectionable personnel already inside ICE look like “Mr. Rogers.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis request appears to have been the immediate cause of Jarnigan’s decision to report Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Program’s monitoring systems detected the report because it contained terms linked to earlier Glass Meridian operations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie noted several aspects of Jarnigan’s description of Tillman’s communication style.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman’s ideas were intellectually complicated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis written sentences nevertheless resembled those of a child.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis writing included:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoor spelling.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncorrect grammatical agreement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMixed verb tenses.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMissing articles.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcessive articles where only one or none was needed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan had asked whether the problems resulted from:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA brain injury.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDyslexia.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoor education.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman would only say that the problem was “from the past.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan summarized his relationship with Tillman by saying that he had once believed he was helping Tillman become a person.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJarnigan later concluded that he might only have taught Tillman how to sound like one.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis statement suggested that Jarnigan had come to doubt whether Tillman’s apparently human manner reflected genuine human emotional or social development.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group returned to the Paper Crown assessment and the role of Agent Clove.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Clove had ordered the original Delta Green cell to kill the Cornucopia House children.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe retrospective report proposed several possible explanations for that order:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove believed the children were contaminated vectors who would spread the phenomenon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove was acting on behalf of an opposing or compromised agenda.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove understood that allowing the children to survive would preserve the Paper Crown cycle and was trying to break it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClove’s order was itself created or influenced by Paper Crown to draw D-cell into the cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program had not determined which interpretation was correct.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll of the proposed interpretations treated Clove’s order as an important point in Paper Crown’s propagation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents examined what Clove had known before the Cornucopia House operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew McCarter had read Clove’s journal.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis account of the journal had subsequently entered the Black Lantern record.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClove’s real identity had been concealed behind the alias Crystal Killian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClove had originally been a member of C-cell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC-cell had been investigating an occult-artifact smuggling operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat investigation led the cell to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Skoptsi in Moscow.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkoptsi activity in the Chesapeake region.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCornucopia House.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe journal indicated that the discovery of Cornucopia House was not C-cell’s original objective.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNothing in the journal established that Clove had prior knowledge of earlier Paper Crown cycles.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report therefore could not determine whether she recognized the larger pattern before encountering Cornucopia House.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry found a possible connection between Clove and the history of Jacob Tillman.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEli Tillman’s memoir claimed that he had hired a woman named Clovis to serve as Jacob’s nanny and tutor.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClovis supposedly traveled around the country with Eli and Jacob in a recreational vehicle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEli’s account also mentioned a driver named Clark.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis arrangement appears to have begun around 2004.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe similarity between the names “Clove” and “Clovis” attracted Jerry’s attention, although the records did not yet establish that they were the same person.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry summarized Jacob Tillman’s childhood as described in Eli Tillman’s memoirs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob was abducted as an infant from a Walmart parking lot in 1994.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe remained missing for approximately seven years.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was found in North Carolina in March 2001, shortly after the Cornucopia House raid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli reclaimed him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt seven years old, Jacob was unable to speak.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMultiple psychiatrists, pediatricians, and other professionals reportedly believed that a child who had failed to acquire language by that age would never develop normal speech.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli rejected those conclusions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe decided to educate and rehabilitate Jacob himself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli claimed that he:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHomeschooled Jacob.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaught him to speak.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaught him about the world largely by watching movies with him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli later wrote about this educational method.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe took Jacob on a national book tour while promoting his memoirs and related ideas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents found an obscure critical work written by a professor of educational psychology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe FBI characterized the work as a pop-academic attack on Eli Tillman’s memoirs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author argued that Eli’s account of Jacob’s language development was neurologically and educationally implausible.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author also disputed the existence of both Clovis and Clark.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to this competing account, Eli frequently left Jacob at various institutions while Eli toured or wrote.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose institutions allegedly included:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTeen boot camps.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChristian reeducation camps.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExperimental boarding schools.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetention centers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe records therefore contained two sharply conflicting versions of Jacob’s upbringing:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEli’s account of personal education, travel, movies, and attentive tutors.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe critic’s account of repeated confinement in punitive or experimental facilities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry and Dr. Ming evaluated Eli’s claims from psychological and neurological perspectives.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry attempted both a Search check and a Psychotherapy check.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis Search check failed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis Psychotherapy check succeeded.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Ming also succeeded on a Psychotherapy check.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on their knowledge, they agreed that a child who had genuinely failed to acquire any understanding of language by age seven would not simply learn normal speech by watching films.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEli’s explanation did not adequately account for Jacob’s apparent later ability to communicate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe conclusion strengthened the possibility that:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEli’s memoir was inaccurate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacob had possessed some earlier language development.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacob’s later speech had developed through an abnormal process.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe available evidence did not establish which explanation was correct.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter approximately four or five hours of reading, the agents paused only enough to obtain food.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey continued working while eating rather than taking a formal break.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe office supplies allowed them to prepare sandwiches or microwave frozen food.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe classified material remained under observation throughout the working lunch.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents retained possession of their phones.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter reading about Picky Eater, Andy checked his phone to see whether the application had appeared.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe did not find Picky Eater installed or otherwise present.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Ming then focused on messages in which Conradin discussed split-brain syndrome.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSplit-brain syndrome results when the corpus callosum, the thick band of nerve fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres, is severed or fails to function.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe condition prevents ordinary communication between the left and right hemispheres.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two hemispheres can consequently operate with a degree of independence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis can produce unusual perceptual and behavioral symptoms.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown causes can include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeliberate surgery, particularly procedures historically used to treat otherwise uncontrollable epilepsy.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSevere physical trauma.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertain developmental abnormalities or birth defects.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin’s references were self-descriptions rather than medical records.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe available messages did not provide enough information to diagnose him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin did not describe the physical injury, surgery, or congenital condition that would normally explain an actual severing of the hemispheres.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlcohol poisoning would not ordinarily produce the anatomical separation associated with split-brain syndrome.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Ming attempted a Biology check to assess the account more precisely.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe check failed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe could therefore identify the basic medical inconsistency but could not reach a firm diagnosis from the records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional review clarified the timing of Jarnigan’s warning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne document dated the anonymous tip to January 7, 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnother relevant communication was dated April 7, 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe January date was determined to be an error in the material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe anonymous IC3 tip should be treated as having been submitted on April 7, 2020, around the same time as the associated thank-you message.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis corrected chronology placed Tillman’s renewed contact with Jarnigan shortly before April 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt also placed Jarnigan’s arrest and the July Magenta Gambler briefing within a coherent sequence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy found another anomaly concerning Matthew McCarter in the Black Lantern material.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlass Meridian had recovered a body identified as McCarter after he was violently killed and left on a road.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body entered the morgue approximately twenty-four to forty-eight hours before later security footage was recorded at MIT.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFacial-recognition analysis of the MIT footage nevertheless identified McCarter moving with active MASTICATE personnel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Program therefore possessed:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA body positively associated with Matthew McCarter.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLater surveillance footage apparently showing Matthew McCarter alive.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlass Meridian had not resolved the contradiction.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anomaly had effectively been categorized as another inexplicable consequence of the field operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysts discussed recommending that the Program verify whether the body remained in secure custody or had been disposed of.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the session, the new team had established several important connections but had not yet formed a complete assessment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin was strongly associated with the missing Cornucopia House child Conrad Hopko.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin had also operated under the names Jacob Tillman and Esau Tillman.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob’s recovery in March 2001 occurred shortly after the Cornucopia House operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe had returned unable to speak and later developed an unusual, incomplete command of language.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis father’s public account of his education was contradicted by an educational psychologist’s investigation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob’s alleged travels with a tutor named Clovis created a possible connection to Agent Clove.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin had been connected to at least one other Cornucopia House survivor through ScribeLife420.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScribeLife420 had helped Conradin enter ICE in 2016.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConradin later attempted to use ScribeLife420 to place two additional, apparently dangerous associates inside ICE.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJarnigan’s concern about those applicants caused him to submit the anonymous warning detected by Magenta Gambler.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Lantern report suggested that Paper Crown was an ongoing cycle involving abused children, predators, avengers, animals, and damaged adults.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe report further suggested that Glass Meridian and MASTICATE were not neutral observers but had already become participants in that cycle.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group still needed to determine:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConradin’s exact identity and history.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhether his activities represented a continuation of Paper Crown.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe significance of his ICE employment and the two additional applicants.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhether Clovis and Agent Clove were connected.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhether Conradin’s neurological claims reflected an actual condition, an unnatural process, or deliberate deception.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat threat level to assign him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat course of action to recommend to Glass Meridian.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four agents remained inside the secured WeWork office with the full document cache available for continued review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir redacted report and recommendations were due when Malcolm Rinnick returned at 8:00 a.m. Monday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n"
  }