{
    "title": "Tillman Interdiction Preperations",
    "date": "2020-07-23 06:00",
    "reportcode": "GT/GH-200723-087260813",
    "url": "https://teeth.zarquan.fyi/reports/gt-gh-200723-087260813/index.json",
    "description": "△▼△TOP SECRET//SI//DGO△▼△",
    "content": "\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReport No:\u003c/strong\u003e GT/GH-200723-087260813\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\u003eLocation:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nBaltimore, Maryland; southern Oklahoma; El Paso County, Texas, vicinity of the Frank Harvey Water Reclamation Plant\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing Agent Rennick\u0026rsquo;s refusal to authorize Program action against Jacob Tillman and the suspected Paper Crown activity associated with an undisclosed ICE detention site, the Agents acted on an unofficial referral provided by Rennick. They established contact with an outside clandestine network, briefed a representative identified as \u0026ldquo;Jesse,\u0026rdquo; and obtained access to an untraceable weapons cache.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents traveled through Oklahoma to recover the matériel, supplemented it with commercial surveillance and field equipment, and proceeded overland to El Paso. They identified the suspected detention site within the Frank Harvey Water Reclamation Plant complex, established concealed observation, conducted electronic collection against cellular devices in the area, researched personnel associated with the facility, and maintained approximately 24 hours of visual surveillance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surveillance confirmed that the rear compound is active, functions as a controlled detention location, receives prisoners from local law enforcement, employs personnel connected to Lafferty Youth Facilitation Force, and is staffed at significantly reduced levels overnight. Jacob Tillman was visually identified entering the facility. Terry Smedley was electronically identified as present. The Agents had not yet entered the compound or initiated direct action when the reporting period ended.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperation Report:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents remained in Baltimore for the six-hour interval specified by Agent Rennick before contacting the telephone number he had provided.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 1730 hours Monday, Reverend Jerry called the number. A recorded message stated that a mutual acquaintance had advised the recipients of the Agents\u0026rsquo; problem and requested a proposal, available official documentation, and a clean callback number. Jerry supplied his personal telephone number.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately one hour later, the same male voice contacted Jerry and provided an address and an 2300-hour meeting time. The caller instructed the group to identify themselves by wearing a bright green cap.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents traveled to the designated Baltimore bar, identified as the Norwood Inn. All four entered and waited together.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Black male approximately in his 50s passed their table and quietly instructed them to exit through the rear of the establishment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents exited into the alley and followed a second individual through several turns to a nearby basement entrance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside the basement, the Agents met a Caucasian woman approximately 40 years old, dressed inconspicuously in a hoodie and cap. She identified herself as \u0026ldquo;Jesse.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse requested names. The Agents supplied operational names rather than full identities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Banks presented the circumstances surrounding Cornucopia House, Jacob Tillman, the Paper Crown phenomenon, current activity involving detained children, and the Program\u0026rsquo;s refusal to intervene.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents explained that the phenomenon had begun directly manifesting around them, including rats attacking investigative materials and pigeons killing themselves against a window in a pattern forming the instruction \u0026ldquo;GO TO HIM.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents disclosed that Rennick had directed them to falsify their official report so that the Program would not learn the full extent of the Tillman investigation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey brought both the accurate report and the altered version ordered by Rennick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse declined to retain either report and stated that she would not distribute the information to her associates because the Paper Crown material might constitute a hazardous exposure. She characterized the Agents\u0026rsquo; organizational environment as contaminated and expressed concern that hearing the briefing might already have implicated her.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter hearing that very young children were being detained and subjected to conditions related to the Paper Crown phenomenon, Jesse agreed to provide material assistance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse offered to arrange access to firearms, other weapons, and potentially surveillance equipment. She stated that available equipment would consist of whatever her organization could acquire or recover rather than purpose-selected matériel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse warned that the target presented a serious tactical problem. She noted that the facility could contain armed law-enforcement or contract-security personnel, could receive local law-enforcement support, and might have access to an immigration special-response element.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse further identified the unresolved problem of recovering and relocating potentially numerous detained children after any assault.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe advised that a direct seizure of the facility would approach a special-operations problem and that the Agents faced a substantial likelihood of death.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReverend Jerry pressed for additional assistance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse agreed to contact the group again after approximately four days, once the Agents had conducted reconnaissance and developed a tactical plan. She stated that additional support might be possible after hearing their assessment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately one day later, Jerry received instructions directing him to a locker at the Baltimore Greyhound station.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe locker contained a single key and a road map indicating a location in southern Oklahoma and a specific storage-unit number.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents traveled to the indicated storage facility and opened the designated unit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe unit contained an old clandestine matériel cache. Recoverable items included:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple Colt M1911-pattern .45-caliber pistols.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple sawed-off shotguns.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmmunition of uncertain age.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne Vietnam-era fragmentation grenade.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-powered optical equipment, including a detached scope.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately $2,000 in cash.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMiscellaneous obsolete and unrelated stored material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents retained the weapons, grenade, useful optics, and money.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey purchased new ammunition and additional surveillance and field equipment locally rather than rely exclusively on the aged ammunition in the cache.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the recovered weapons and grenade could not be transported by commercial air, the Agents proceeded by road toward El Paso.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents purchased an inexpensive used pickup truck equipped with a camper shell for use as a field-surveillance and sleeping platform. They also retained access to another vehicle.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon reaching the El Paso area, the Agents focused on the Frank Harvey Water Reclamation Plant, approximately 20 kilometers north of El Paso and near Futureland.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe facility was surrounded by fencing and contained the expected water-treatment infrastructure. A separate large rectangular building was located behind the principal plant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear structure was approximately 100 meters along its long axis and 30 to 40 meters along its short axis. It had no visible windows on the observed side, a standard personnel door, a vehicle-sized garage door, and multiple air-conditioning units.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear building was enclosed by its own interior fence and gate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn access road entered through the water-treatment facility\u0026rsquo;s primary gate, passed the main plant, and continued to the rear compound.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Banks identified two viable observation positions:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA concealed hilltop at distance from the facility, offering unobstructed long-range observation but little shelter from the desert environment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Waffle House parking area approximately three-quarters of a kilometer from the target, offering normal civilian traffic but a greater risk of observation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents selected the hilltop and established a concealed surveillance position using camping equipment, tarps, optics, and the camper vehicle. They approached and established the site under darkness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the first night, the main gatehouse appeared unmanned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral vehicles remained parked near the rear facility throughout the night. The vehicles appeared to be ordinary civilian or employee transportation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Ernie deployed a Stingray-type cellular interception system from the observation site.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe system detected a small number of persistent cellular devices within effective range of the rear compound, along with transient devices associated with passing highway traffic.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents determined that the placement of the observation site fortuitously limited collection largely to the target complex.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie collected device identifiers and related connection information. The equipment was capable of capturing identifying information, traffic, and telephone activity routed through the false cellular base station.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents researched Lafferty Youth Facilitation Force, also referred to as Life Force, the private company associated with the site.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey confirmed that the company is controlled by the Lafferty family, with Kyle Lafferty as owner and Jason Lafferty involved in its administration.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company operates businesses associated with private detention, prison security, and related government contracting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents confirmed a prior personal connection between Jason Lafferty and Jacob Tillman: the two had been college roommates during their freshman year.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents also recalled that Tillman had reportedly spent time in Lafferty-operated facilities during his youth while his father traveled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublicly accessible information did not identify the Frank Harvey site as an immigration detention facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLafferty-associated companies had a history of controversial security contracting, including an incident involving an armed school-security employee using a conducted-energy weapon against a child.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company\u0026rsquo;s current business relationships included work connected to federal immigration enforcement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents discussed the possibility of Agent Banks entering the facility under legitimate DEA credentials. Proposed covers included seeking an immigration detainee connected to a narcotics investigation or identifying a detainee required for federal prosecution.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReverend Jerry identified a possible institutional connection through Bureau of Prisons arrangements with ICE, under which some male immigration detainees may be housed in federal prison facilities. No immediate cover based on that relationship was implemented.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents decided against immediate entry. They elected to conduct approximately 24 hours of external surveillance before exposing Banks\u0026rsquo; identity to facility personnel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents discussed having Banks subsequently enter the site carrying concealed technical devices or malicious removable media prepared by Ernie, allowing internal electronic access or continued surveillance after Banks departed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring overnight electronic collection, Ernie isolated several cellular devices that repeatedly remained within the facility area.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing collected device identifiers, leaked commercial and telecommunications data, and other compromised databases, Ernie associated three persistent devices with:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEthan Bailey.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHuang Lanfan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerry Smedley.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTerry Smedley had previously been identified by the investigation and was confirmed as an employee of Lafferty Youth Facilitation Force.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan Bailey was identified as approximately 31 years old, originally from Houston, with a professional history in corrections and law enforcement, including previous employment as a corrections officer in the Texas prison system.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuang Lanfan was identified as a registered nurse and immigrant who had resided in the United States for approximately 15 years. Her employment with Life Force was comparatively recent, beginning within the previous several years.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo publicly available criminal or extremist history comparable to Smedley\u0026rsquo;s was located for Bailey or Lanfan during this review.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvailable employment data connected Bailey, Lanfan, and Smedley to Life Force, although no public employment records explicitly placed them at the El Paso site.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 0600-0700 hours, the Agents observed a shift transition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA worker in an older truck arrived at the main gate, removed a physical chain, opened the entrance, parked near the gatehouse, and occupied it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMultiple employee vehicles arrived shortly thereafter. Some personnel parked near the principal water-treatment facility; others continued to the rear compound.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVehicles from the overnight shift departed as replacement personnel arrived.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional cellular devices became active within Ernie\u0026rsquo;s collection area during the morning shift.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the course of the day, the Agents observed rear-compound personnel wearing yellow shirts that appeared to function as a uniform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral individuals at the compound wore ordinary civilian clothing rather than the yellow uniform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob Tillman was visually identified among the morning arrivals. He appeared to be a young, baby-faced male in his 20s and arrived in a large Ford SUV.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman was wearing civilian clothing rather than the yellow employee uniform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman entered the facility through the front personnel entrance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo cellular identifier known to be associated with Tillman became apparent upon his arrival.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents continued surveillance through the daylight hours despite extreme heat. All four experienced significant physical discomfort and fatigue from the exposed environment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring daylight surveillance, a marked sheriff\u0026rsquo;s vehicle arrived at the compound.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFacility personnel opened the exterior gate, permitted the sheriff\u0026rsquo;s vehicle to proceed to the rear area, opened the interior compound gate, and then opened the rear building\u0026rsquo;s garage door.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sheriff\u0026rsquo;s vehicle entered the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vehicle remained inside for approximately 20 minutes before departing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents observed what appeared to be a detainee in the rear compartment of the sheriff\u0026rsquo;s vehicle upon arrival.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sheriff\u0026rsquo;s vehicle departed without the detainee.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe person delivered appeared to be an adult, not a child.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersonnel associated with the water-treatment operation separately used a golf cart to travel around the site and interact with the gatehouse employee.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe water-treatment employees appeared to conduct routine activity unrelated to detention operations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents observed no overt weapons on employees entering or leaving the rear detention compound during the surveillance period.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a full day of observation, the Agents established an approximate staffing pattern:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDay shift: approximately nine personnel.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNight shift: approximately five personnel.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on Banks\u0026rsquo; law-enforcement experience and Jerry\u0026rsquo;s correctional experience, the daytime staffing level appeared near the minimum expected for a detention facility of the apparent size, depending on detainee population.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nighttime staffing appeared substantially lower than normal detention staffing levels.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents could not determine the number of detainees inside the facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe observation confirmed at least one new detainee delivery during the surveillance period.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo assault, infiltration, detention rescue, or direct confrontation occurred before surveillance ended.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the close of the reporting period, the Agents remained outside the site with a preliminary personnel count, observed access procedures, confirmed local law-enforcement participation in detainee delivery, electronic identification of several employees, visual confirmation of Tillman, and an intended next step of possible covert entry by Agent Banks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\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\u003eRennick has now intentionally facilitated an operation that the Program formally rejected and ordered concealed. His instruction to falsify the official report, followed by referral to an external clandestine supply network, creates a direct compartmentation problem. A-Cell should assume that at least one Program officer believes normal command channels are compromised or incapable of responding to the Paper Crown phenomenon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse\u0026rsquo;s organization possesses established dead-drop procedures, clandestine meeting protocols, geographically dispersed arms caches, and untraceable matériel. The Oklahoma cache appears old and inconsistently maintained, suggesting a legacy network rather than an adequately funded contemporary Program asset. The age of the weapons and presence of unrelated historical material raise the possibility that the cache predates the Program\u0026rsquo;s current structure by decades. Comparison with known pre-1994 friendly networks may be warranted.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse independently recognized the potential information-hazard characteristics of the Paper Crown phenomenon and refused documentary possession. That response was appropriate. Further dissemination of complete Paper Crown case materials should remain strictly need-to-know. Repeated manifestations directing exposed personnel toward Tillman suggest that mere observation of the phenomenon may already constitute participation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe use of animals to deliver the repeated instruction \u0026ldquo;GO TO HIM\u0026rdquo; remains operationally significant. The phenomenon is not behaving solely as a residual contamination associated with former Cornucopia House victims. It is identifying investigators, influencing local animal behavior, and apparently exerting pressure toward a specific human target. Comparable cases in which the unnatural actively steered investigators toward a focal individual should be reviewed under sealed indices rather than ordinary case-name searches.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman\u0026rsquo;s association with Jason Lafferty substantially predates the present detention operation. Tillman\u0026rsquo;s earlier placement within Lafferty facilities makes the relationship more significant than a recent employment connection. The possibility exists that the Lafferty infrastructure did not merely provide Tillman with an opportunity, but contributed to his development after Cornucopia House.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lafferty network\u0026rsquo;s government contracting provides Tillman with institutional cover, controlled facilities, captive populations, transportation arrangements, and a workforce accustomed to secrecy and coercion. No evidence yet establishes corporate-wide unnatural involvement. Investigation should therefore distinguish between deliberate participation, individual recruitment, and ordinary commercial complicity.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe facility\u0026rsquo;s concealed status is significant. Public sources do not identify the Frank Harvey site as an ICE detention location, yet local sheriff\u0026rsquo;s personnel delivered a detainee directly into the rear building. At minimum, the operation has cooperation from legitimate local authorities who may have no knowledge of the unnatural component. Any armed action risks killing uninvolved law-enforcement and contract personnel and triggering immediate federal scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe detainee delivered during surveillance was an adult. Tillman\u0026rsquo;s current operation therefore cannot be assumed to contain only children. Rescue planning must account for a mixed detainee population whose legal status, medical condition, exposure to the phenomenon, and ability to communicate are unknown.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTerry Smedley\u0026rsquo;s confirmed presence materially strengthens the connection between Tillman and the personnel previously identified during the investigation. Bailey and Lanfan may simply be ordinary corrections and medical staff. Neither should be treated as a confirmed conspirator without additional evidence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTillman\u0026rsquo;s apparent lack of an active detectable cellular device is notable because other employees generated routine cellular traffic. This may reflect ordinary operational security, absence of a device, use of an unidentified device, or deliberate avoidance of conventional telecommunications. His physical movements should therefore receive priority over attempts to locate him exclusively through network collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe facility\u0026rsquo;s low nighttime staffing presents the strongest tactical vulnerability identified to date. It also presents the period during which emergency medical coverage, detainee supervision, and extraction logistics may be weakest. A simple assault during that window would solve the access problem while greatly worsening the recovery problem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents are not organized or equipped as an assault team. Their current strengths are law-enforcement access, institutional familiarity, electronic exploitation, surveillance, and social engineering. Directly attacking the facility would discard most of those advantages.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBanks\u0026rsquo; proposed legitimate entry under DEA authority offers a comparatively low-visibility means of determining internal layout, detainee numbers, staff disposition, security controls, and Tillman\u0026rsquo;s precise role. Any internal technical exploitation should prioritize passive collection and exfiltration over disruptive action until the detainee population is characterized.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry\u0026rsquo;s correctional background may become essential once internal conditions are known. The central operational problem is no longer merely neutralizing Tillman. It is determining which detainees can safely be removed, where they can be taken without exposure of the operation, and whether any display symptoms comparable to the quiet children of Cornucopia House.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Agents have now directly exposed an outside clandestine organization to the Paper Crown narrative. Jesse attempted to contain that exposure, but the boundary has already widened. If animal manifestations, compulsions, or other directed phenomena begin occurring around members of her organization, the contamination chain may become impossible to isolate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA-Cell should prepare for the possibility that the Agents\u0026rsquo; next contact with Jesse results in an offer of manpower. Any outside personnel introduced into the operation should receive only the tactical information required for their role. The full Cornucopia House chronology should not be repeated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecovery of detainees must be planned before hostile action. A successful raid followed by abandonment of exposed children or adults would reproduce the central failure of Cornucopia House under different institutional colors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Paper Crown phenomenon has repeatedly demonstrated an interest in completing patterns begun years earlier. Tillman\u0026rsquo;s detention site reproduces enough features of Cornucopia House that coincidence is no longer a useful working assumption. The unanswered question is whether Tillman is rebuilding something from memory, acting under compulsion, or preparing a structure whose purpose has not yet manifested.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA-Cell should regard the Frank Harvey site as an active unnatural incident concealed inside a legitimate federal enforcement pipeline. Containment, extraction, and suppression requirements are converging. Delay increases the number of detainees exposed; premature action risks converting a hidden detention operation into a nationally visible federal incident.\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 the Handler recapping the agents’ prior findings and the immediate situation confronting the team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents had completed their analysis of Conrad Hopko and the “Paper Crown” phenomenon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir evidence indicated that Conrad Hopko, Jacob Tillman, Esau Tillman, and Conradin were all identities or manifestations of the same individual.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis individual was believed to be the last missing child from Cornucopia House.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was now associated with ICE detention operations and appeared to be using that position to recreate conditions disturbingly similar to those of Cornucopia House.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Ming had identified language development as a possible dividing line between children who remained trapped under the Paper Crown’s influence and children such as Nikochilikov who had escaped its worst effects.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe implication was that early intervention might still allow the agents to save children currently in Tillman’s custody.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverend Jerry had made clear that Agent Clove’s old proposal to kill affected children could be documented in the team’s report, but the current team would never endorse that approach.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn Monday morning, Agent Rennick had arrived to receive the team’s report.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy had presented the evidence, explained the danger, and recommended an investigation of the situation in El Paso with the goal of removing the children.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRennick initially refused to authorize such an operation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe explained that Tillman was protected by a politically sensitive federal system, and that an official Delta Green operation against the detention site could expose the Program to elected officials who could not be trusted with knowledge of Delta Green.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRennick suggested that something might possibly be done in 12 to 18 months if the political situation changed after the election.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents then showed Rennick the window where pigeons had repeatedly flown into the glass and killed themselves.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir blood and remains had formed the same message previously encountered among the rat-damaged files: “Go to him.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe escalation convinced Rennick that the matter exceeded his authority, and he attempted to contact his superiors.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie secretly interfered with Rennick’s attempt to make that call.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy attempted to contact former MASTICATE handler Antonia Pitzarelli but reached only her secretary.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter Reverend Jerry pressed Rennick to make use of four people who were already willing to act, Rennick broke with Program procedure.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRennick provided the team with a telephone number and instructed them to call it in six hours.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said the people answering that number might be able to help.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRennick also ordered the agents to falsify their official report so that the Program would not learn the full details of the Tillman situation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe consequence was clear: the Program itself was going to do nothing about Tillman, and stopping him had become the responsibility of the agents.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents had approximately six hours before they were supposed to call Rennick’s contact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey considered whether they needed additional equipment, particularly firearms and other supplies for a potential confrontation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause they expected eventually to travel to El Paso, they discussed the problem of transporting firearms by air.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy, as a federal law-enforcement agent, might have had some options for transporting a service weapon, although the exact rules were uncertain.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team recognized that most firearms would likely need to be checked when flying.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt this point they had not been issued burner phones or other special communications equipment for the operation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 5:30 p.m., after the six-hour waiting period, the team called the number Rennick had provided.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverend Jerry made the call.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA recorded male voice answered.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe message stated that a mutual friend had informed them of the agents’ problem and that they might be able to help.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe recording instructed the callers to leave their proposal and any official documentation they possessed after the beep.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were also told to provide a “clean” telephone number where they could later be contacted with instructions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause the team had not obtained burner phones, Jerry left his personal telephone number.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents had both versions of their report available: the original report containing their actual conclusions and the falsified version intended for the Program.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoughly an hour later, Jerry received a return call.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe caller sounded like the same man whose voice had been on the recording.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe provided an address and instructed the agents to be there at 11:00 p.m.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe address corresponded to a small bar in Baltimore that the Handler named the Norwood Inn.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe caller also instructed the team to wear a bright green cap.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo additional explanation was provided before the caller disconnected.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four agents went to the Norwood Inn for the 11:00 p.m. meeting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey acquired bright green caps as instructed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey entered the bar together.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe bar was moderately busy, with people at tables and at the bar and others playing darts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents obtained beer and sat together at a table.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause the session was set in July 2020, the group noted that the establishment was relatively busy despite the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe clientele did not appear to be using masks.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the agents had spent some time at their table, an African-American man in approximately his 50s walked past them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had short hair with some gray in it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs he passed the team, he quietly instructed them to “go out the back.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe continued walking rather than remaining with them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents waited rather than immediately following directly behind him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team went toward the rear of the bar and exited through a door near the restrooms into an alley.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was around midnight.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe air remained hot and muggy, although the temperature was beginning to fall.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInitially they saw no one in the alley.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarther away, partially obscured around a turn near some dumpsters, they saw the outline of another person.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis was a smaller individual than the man from the bar and appeared to be wearing a hoodie and cap.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe person gestured for the agents to follow and moved away.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team followed the guide.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry was not particularly suspicious of the process and was deliberately trusting the arrangements Rennick had made.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe guide led the team farther through the area and across a street to a basement entrance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe person maintained some distance ahead of them and did not engage them in conversation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents descended the stairs into the basement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInside, they found an interior room with light visible beneath and around a mostly closed door.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA woman was watching them through the opening.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe appeared to be Caucasian, approximately 40 years old, with dark hair.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe also wore a hoodie and cap and was dressed to appear nondescript.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe woman invited the agents into the basement room and told them to sit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe room contained a small card table and folding chairs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt had no windows.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rest of the room was mostly empty except for old, dirty cardboard boxes pushed into the corners.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe basement was musty and dusty.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe woman immediately asked the agents for their names.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie identified himself as “Ernie.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Ming gave the false name “Bart.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy gave his name as “Andy.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe woman identified herself as “Jesse.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse then asked them to explain their situation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy initially asked Jesse about her relationship to Malcolm Rennick and what kind of experience she had with the kinds of matters Rennick handled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse responded that the agents were the people who needed help.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe explained the terms of the meeting clearly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents wanted a favor.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe was willing to hear their proposal.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf she disliked what she heard, they would part ways and the agents would have to deal with their problem on their own.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf she considered the matter worthwhile, she and her associates might be willing to contribute assistance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse said Rennick had not already explained the agents’ situation to her.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy decided to disclose the situation fully rather than withholding the unnatural aspects.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe explained the Paper Crown as an entity or otherworldly system.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents gave Jesse essentially the same account they had given Rennick.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey described the history beginning with Cornucopia House and the events that had led them to the present investigation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey explained their evidence regarding the Paper Crown and the connection to Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey also explained why the Program was unwilling to intervene.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry supplemented Andy’s explanation with the political concerns that had led Rennick and the Program to refuse action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse reacted to that explanation by acknowledging that the Program’s decision was exactly the sort of thing she would expect it to do.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse asked the agents what proof they had for their claims.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy cited both the documentary evidence in the files and the team’s direct experiences.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe described birds flying into a window and creating messages in blood.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe also described the rat-related incidents, including agents being attacked and bitten.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy emphasized that the phenomenon was no longer merely something described in paperwork; the team had begun experiencing it directly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse physically moved her chair farther away from the agents as she processed the idea that the phenomenon had begun coming after them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse asked whether the phenomenon had “come for” the agents.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team explained that by learning about the phenomenon, they had themselves become incorporated into its cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey indicated that it potentially functioned as an information hazard.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe implication that Jesse might now also be exposed by hearing the information was not lost on her.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy made a Persuade check while presenting the case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe rolled 57 against a Persuade skill of 70, succeeding.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse spent considerable time considering what the agents had told her.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver approximately an hour, the team laid out the case in detail.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse asked questions as she attempted to understand the situation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents had brought printed copies of both the genuine and falsified reports.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey explained that important material had deliberately been removed from the falsified version so that Program superiors would not learn the full details.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey also explained that this alteration had been done on Rennick’s recommendation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen Jesse understood that very young children were being abducted, confined, and subjected to worse treatment, she showed a visible emotional response, including clenching her jaw.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the briefing, Jesse refused to take possession of the agents’ report.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe also refused to share the details of what they had told her with the other people she knew.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHer reason was that the information itself might be dangerous.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBased on the agents’ description, Jesse considered their side of the situation “poisoned” and did not want to spread that danger into her own organization.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe was angry at the possibility that the agents might already have brought her into the Paper Crown’s cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe nevertheless remained willing to assist the agents materially.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse offered to arrange equipment for the team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe said she could provide firearms.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe could potentially provide other weapons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe might also be able to provide some surveillance equipment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe warned that the equipment would be whatever her organization could scrounge together rather than a purpose-built package tailored to the agents’ request.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse said Jerry’s phone would probably receive another call within approximately 24 hours.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThat call would direct the agents to a location where the equipment could be collected.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy asked Jesse whether her organization could produce access badges for the Frank Harvey Water Reclamation Plant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse said that was outside what they could provide.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAccess credentials and infiltration arrangements would have to be handled by the agents themselves.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHer immediate assistance was limited primarily to weapons and possibly surveillance gear.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents discussed acquiring a drone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie initially thought he might already have one among his equipment but determined that he did not.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team recognized that they could purchase one themselves if Jesse’s group did not provide one.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse then began ushering the agents out.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe told them that she believed they were doing the right thing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe also emphasized that they were doing the difficult thing and that the operation would not be easy.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe said she had no idea how to break the Paper Crown’s cycle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe stated that, if the agents were lucky, their intelligence would turn out to be wrong.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse offered a tactical assessment based on what the agents had told her.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe target was a facility with multiple law-enforcement or security personnel.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThose personnel were probably armed or had access to weapons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey could potentially call local law enforcement for assistance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey might also receive assistance from an immigration special-response team.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnless the agents could obtain a very effective method of entry or another major advantage, Jesse considered a direct assault to be essentially a special-operations problem.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe described the possible sequence as entering, securing the location, killing everyone necessary to secure it, and then confronting the far more complicated problem of what to do with a large number of rescued children.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe considered the entire situation nightmarish.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe warned that the odds were that the agents would be killed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Ming questioned whether providing the team with equipment simply to send them on a suicide mission was a worthwhile use of resources.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse’s position was that the agents might still get lucky.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReverend Jerry attempted to persuade Jesse to consider doing more.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler allowed Jerry to make a Persuade check because of his ability to pressure people through moral arguments.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry rolled a 71, which was a success.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse asked how soon the agents intended to go to El Paso.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry answered that they intended to go as soon as possible.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy reinforced that the problem was ongoing and that delay was undesirable.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse agreed that waiting was dangerous.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJesse agreed to reassess the level of assistance after the agents gathered intelligence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe told them she would call again in four days.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt that point, she would listen to their assessment of the tactical situation and whatever operational plan they had developed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepending on what she heard, she might be able to provide additional assistance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe made clear that she could not promise more in advance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents told her that anything she could provide would be useful.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy also told her that they would accept help from anyone else she could contact.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJesse described her organization as somewhat volunteer in nature and again expressed hope that the agents could find a way to solve the problem.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe then left.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents used the following day to make arrangements to remain away from their ordinary work and personal obligations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately one day after the meeting, Jerry received another telephone call.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe caller instructed him to go to a locker at the Baltimore Greyhound station.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry received a code that allowed him to open the locker.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInside was a single ordinary-looking key and a folded road map.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA location in Oklahoma had been circled on the map.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map also contained an address and a storage-unit number.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLooking up the address showed that it belonged to a storage facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team traveled to the southern part of Oklahoma to investigate the storage unit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause the location was in southern Oklahoma, they traveled there and drove to the storage facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe indicated unit was secured by a heavy padlock.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe key from the Greyhound locker opened it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Handler called for a Luck roll while the agents searched the storage unit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy rolled Luck and failed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe unit nevertheless contained a collection of old matériel rather than being empty.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were metal shelves and old military-style ammunition boxes, many of them apparently dating from the 1960s or 1970s.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe useful weapons in the cache included several old firearms.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents found small handguns, including Colt-style M1911 semiautomatic pistols chambered in .45 caliber.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey also found a couple of sawed-off shotguns.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne old metal box contained a single Vietnam-era hand grenade.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe grenade was old but appeared likely to remain functional.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe cache also contained ammunition, although the ammunition was likewise old.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents decided fresher ammunition would be preferable.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe storage unit contained several other items of uncertain or limited utility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents found high-powered optics, ultimately described as a scope without a rifle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey found tattered, bloodstained remnants of old Nazi uniforms.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey found a shoebox containing approximately 20 old issues of Playboy.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe magazines were not in mint condition.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSearching the ammunition boxes and other containers eventually produced approximately $2,000 in cash.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBy the time they finished searching, the agents had acquired a modest collection of untraceable firearms, one grenade, ammunition, optics, and cash.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents used some of the cache money to improve their equipment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey purchased newer ammunition rather than relying entirely on the aging ammunition from the storage unit.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey also acquired binoculars and other hunting or surveillance-related supplies.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team discussed the value of a deer blind or similar equipment for concealed observation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie already possessed tools and parts suitable for electronics work.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis equipment included items such as tweezers, gloves, a first-aid kit, a wireless router, and a Raspberry Pi.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had skills in Craft (Mechanic), Craft (Microelectronics), and Craft (Electrician).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler ruled that Ernie’s toolbox and existing components would cover basic improvised work, although specialized equipment would require acquiring additional parts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the agents now possessed illegal and untraceable firearms as well as a hand grenade, flying to El Paso was no longer practical.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey therefore drove from Oklahoma toward El Paso.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey made sure their rental arrangements could accommodate the long-distance travel.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon arriving in the El Paso area, the agents focused on the Frank Harvey Water Reclamation Plant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe plant was approximately 20 kilometers north of El Paso.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was described as being near Futureland and Mesquite Hills, with other industrial locations scattered through the area.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe general surroundings were open and sparsely developed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA public road ran along the front of the reclamation plant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe facility itself was enclosed by fencing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge tanks and water-reclamation pools were visible within the complex.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe area’s openness made covert physical surveillance difficult because observers and vehicles could potentially be seen from a substantial distance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie proposed using his StingRay cellular-surveillance equipment as one of the team’s principal intelligence-gathering tools.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis idea was to capture cellular traffic in the area and determine which phones repeatedly appeared around the detention facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe hoped eventually to identify Conrad Tillman’s device and use it to locate Tillman away from the site.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie’s broader goal was to collect as much cellular data as possible, identify relevant personnel, and potentially track them to their residences or other off-site locations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe preferred the possibility of isolating and killing the key conspirators away from the facility rather than conducting a direct assault on the detention center.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents discussed other surveillance possibilities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey considered whether local automated license-plate camera systems might be exploitable.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie had substantial Computer Science skill and was prepared to hack systems if useful.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy, as a DEA agent, had professional experience with surveillance and stakeouts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team also considered obtaining a van or other vehicle that could support electronic-surveillance equipment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Handler asked for an appropriate skill check to identify good observation locations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePossible skills discussed included Search, Law, and Military Science (Land).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy rolled Search.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe succeeded with a 21.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy’s successful search identified two plausible surveillance positions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first was a hilltop located some distance from the highway.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom the hill, the agents would have a clear view of the water-reclamation site.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf they approached from the proper direction and set up a concealed blind, they were unlikely to be noticed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe major disadvantage was the July Texas heat.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe second possible observation point was a Waffle House approximately three-quarters of a kilometer from the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Waffle House parking lot offered ordinary civilian traffic, meaning a vehicle could potentially remain there without immediately attracting attention.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe disadvantage was that the agents themselves would be visible and would need sufficiently powerful optics to observe the facility from that distance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team also identified a potential method for legitimate entry.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause Andy was a DEA agent, he could potentially approach the site openly as federal law enforcement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe could claim to be looking for a detainee or informant who might have been taken into custody.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis might allow him to speak with personnel and possibly enter parts of the site without immediately exposing hostile intent.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverend Jerry’s Bureau of Prisons background might also provide some institutional familiarity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerry had Law 30 and Bureaucracy 50.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler noted that the Bureau of Prisons and ICE sometimes had arrangements under which male immigration detainees were held in federal prisons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was unclear whether Jerry could turn that relationship into direct access to this specific site.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents discussed the larger operational problem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey did not yet have a firm plan for what they would do after determining the layout and staffing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA direct “go in, kill everybody, and then figure out what to do” approach was recognized as extremely dangerous.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Ming argued for observing the facility first because the team had repeatedly encountered unexpected unnatural complications.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie agreed that external surveillance should come first.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wanted to determine who was coming and going and identify the principal people associated with Tillman.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team identified three people they considered particularly important.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConrad/Esau/Jacob Tillman was the primary target because of his history at Cornucopia House and his apparent role in recreating it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerry Smedley and Alan Rapp had previously appeared in the investigation as people Tillman wanted involved.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team was not certain at this point whether Smedley and Rapp had actually been hired by ICE or were physically present in El Paso.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie hoped that eliminating the central conspirators might be sufficient to break the cycle without requiring a mass assault on the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe specifically wanted to minimize the team’s exposure and avoid having to kill numerous on-site personnel.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry raised a separate investigative question about the organization operating the facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had not originally realized that the detention center was privately operated.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe wanted to research the company responsible for the site and determine whether there was any connection between the company itself and the Skoptsi or other parts of the Cornucopia House history.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team recognized that this could determine whether Tillman was conducting his activities within an otherwise ordinary company or whether the corruption extended more broadly through the organization.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents chose the hilltop as their primary surveillance position.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir plan was to purchase food, including Waffle House food, and then establish a concealed observation site on the hill.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey intended to rotate surveillance shifts rather than keeping a single person constantly exposed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler allowed them to use operational funds for basic camping supplies.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey approached the hill under cover of darkness.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey brought equipment that would allow them to stay behind the hill and use its terrain for shade and concealment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey used dirt-colored tarps and similar material to camouflage their position.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey were able to hike to the observation point and establish a clear view of the target area.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the hill at night, the agents examined the facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey could see the illuminated parts of the water-reclamation complex through binoculars.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere was a main gate with a large chain-link gate mounted on rollers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA gatehouse controlled access.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt night, the gatehouse did not appear to be staffed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe gate was secure enough for normal access control but did not appear to be a fortress-grade barrier.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents believed a sufficiently large vehicle could probably break through it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBehind the principal water-reclamation facility, the team identified a separate structure that appeared particularly significant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was a large, single-story warehouse-like building with a metal roof.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was offset from the main plant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt had its own fence and an interior gate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn access road entered through the main gate and continued behind the water-reclamation plant to the secondary gate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rear building was well lit.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe long side of the structure was estimated at approximately 100 meters.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe shorter side was approximately 30 to 40 meters.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was substantial but not enormous.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents continued observing the site through the night.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral vehicles remained parked outside the rear facility and did not move during the night.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe vehicles appeared to be ordinary private vehicles rather than clearly marked government or corporate vehicles.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey included a relatively new black SUV, a civilian car comparable to a Honda Civic, and another civilian SUV.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThese vehicles were parked near a normal person-sized exterior door.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team suspected this area functioned as employee parking.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rear building also had a garage door.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents considered using a drone to view portions of the site not visible from the hill.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDriving around the opposite side of the facility was possible but would leave the agents exposed in extremely flat, open terrain.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA drone could potentially provide a view of the far side without requiring a vehicle to approach visibly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team discussed the limitations of commercial drones, including noise.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey concluded that a sufficiently capable long-range drone would probably need to be purchased from a specialty vendor in El Paso rather than from a general retail store.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA suitable high-quality drone was estimated to cost approximately $10,000.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDr. Ming was considered financially capable of covering the purchase.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents discussed the possibility of buying it personally and dealing with the expense afterward.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey also considered obtaining an internet connection at their surveillance position so Ernie could perform online research and hacking.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents obtained an old pickup truck with a camper shell to support the surveillance operation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey used remaining operational money to acquire a cheap used vehicle rather than an expensive or conspicuous one.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe truck was described as an old 1997-era Ford/Chevrolet hybrid in appearance, with mismatched parts, including a replacement tailgate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe camper was in better condition than the truck itself.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe vehicle provided a place where the agents could store equipment, sleep between shifts, and maintain the appearance of people camping in the area.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie had Craft (Mechanic) 30, enough to give him some competence in judging whether the truck would remain functional for their immediate needs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the night, Ernie operated the StingRay from the surveillance position.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe position was close enough that the cellular-surveillance equipment could reach the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler estimated the effective range in the open terrain at roughly half a kilometer, with the agents near the edge of that range.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team’s position was therefore particularly useful because the StingRay could collect traffic from the facility while receiving relatively little from unrelated locations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome passing vehicles on the nearby highway could still briefly appear in the data.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe StingRay detected several persistent cellular devices during the night.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents saw a handful of IMEI and SIM identifiers appear repeatedly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome other devices appeared only briefly, consistent with traffic passing through the area.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately three or four devices repeatedly reappeared and therefore seemed likely to remain in or near the rear facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe StingRay could provide IMEI and SIM information because the phones were effectively connecting through the agents’ equipment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt could potentially allow interception of telephone calls and observation of some internet traffic.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hardware and SIM identifiers did not, by themselves, reveal the identities of the owners.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentifying owners would require telecom records or other data sources.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 6:00 a.m., the agents observed what appeared to be a shift change.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral vehicles arrived.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore cell phones began appearing in the StingRay data.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe facility clearly had a larger population during the day than it did overnight.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents reviewed previously known phone information for Conrad Tillman.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn earlier anonymous report associated with “Scribe Life 420” had listed telephone numbers connected to Conrad and Lee Jarnigan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne field in the report contained an apparent extra digit.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA properly formatted number used a 703 area code, associated with Northern Virginia.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNone of the SIMs currently appearing around the detention site corresponded to the known number.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents therefore could not immediately identify Conrad’s device from their existing records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie decided to identify the owners of the phones through telecom or leaked-data sources.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy could have used law-enforcement channels to request telecom records, but this would require justification and could leave a traceable record.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team did not want to create an obvious official paper trail.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie instead used his Computer Science skill of 80 to search leaked databases and other sources.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe rolled 26, succeeding.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRather than directly compromising a telecom company during the session, the result was represented as Ernie knowing where to search among accumulated hacks, leaks, and other data sources.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie successfully associated several of the repeatedly detected devices with names.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne belonged to Ethan Bailey.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne belonged to Huang Lanfan.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne belonged to Terry Smedley.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerry Smedley was immediately significant because he was already known to the investigation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErnie continued investigating the identities and addresses associated with those phone records.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe made another Computer Science roll.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe second roll was a critical success.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith the combination of names, telephone identifiers, and leaked records, he was able to obtain considerably more personal information.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe information included addresses and enough additional data to support a deep background search.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe search also exposed sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, credit-card information, birth information, and other details commonly present in compromised identity databases.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe background research established more about Ethan Bailey.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBailey was approximately 31 years old.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe was from Texas and originally from the Houston area.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had worked in prison or law-enforcement-related positions since his early 20s.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had previously worked as a corrections officer in the Texas prison system.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents did not find an obvious criminal record or any background feature comparable to Terry Smedley’s known extremist or racist history.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith the critical success, Ernie was able to establish that Bailey had a connection to Life Force, although the exact nature of his current work at the El Paso facility was not publicly documented.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe background research established more about Huang Lanfan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLanfan was a health-care professional and apparently a registered nurse.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe was an immigrant who had lived in the United States for approximately 15 years.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe had worked at various hospitals.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHer employment with Life Force was comparatively recent, beginning only a couple of years earlier.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were able to connect her to Life Force but not to a publicly documented position at the El Paso site.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe search also reinforced what the agents already knew about Terry Smedley.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmedley worked for Life Force.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis previously identified racist or extremist background remained the most immediately concerning feature of his personal history.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents could connect his employment to Life Force, but there was no public record explicitly saying that he worked at the El Paso facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJerry and the rest of the team researched Life Force itself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe company operating the site was identified as Lafferty Youth Facilitation Force, abbreviated or referred to as Life Force.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was one of multiple businesses operated by the Lafferty family.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Lafferty companies worked in areas adjacent to prison security, private prisons, and similar detention-related services.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLife Force was owned by Kyle Lafferty.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was administered by his son, Jason Lafferty.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents reviewed the known connection between Jason Lafferty and Jacob Tillman.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJason Lafferty and Jacob Tillman had been roommates during their freshman year of college.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTillman also had a history involving Lafferty facilities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis father had allegedly left him in Lafferty detention facilities while traveling in connection with his books.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis made the Lafferty connection potentially significant rather than merely incidental.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe company itself was much larger than the single El Paso facility and operated multiple businesses and facilities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents therefore recognized the disturbing possibility that, if the company itself were implicated rather than merely a handful of individuals, the problem could extend well beyond El Paso.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey did not establish that broader conclusion during the session.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublic research showed that the Lafferty companies were closely connected to the Trump administration.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey performed subcontracting work with ICE and provided services associated with private prisons and detention.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA previous scandal had involved a Lafferty youth-security operation that provided armed security at elementary schools.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn that incident, one of the company’s personnel had reportedly used a Taser on an eight-year-old child.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDespite the company’s known detention-related work, the Frank Harvey site was not publicly advertised as an ICE detention center.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were no visible signs identifying it as such.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team considered using official government systems to research the company’s relationship with ICE in greater depth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy could potentially give Ernie his DEA credentials to access government records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlternatively, Ernie could try to access the systems without authorization.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy preferred obtaining direct physical access to the facility rather than spending substantial time investigating contracting records.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe believed physically entering the site could reveal more useful information about the immediate tactical situation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents developed the idea of using Andy as a physical penetration tester.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy could approach the site openly as a DEA agent with a plausible investigative reason for being there.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce inside, he could potentially leave surveillance devices behind.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie could prepare malicious USB devices for Andy to connect to or leave near computer systems.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team discussed the possibility of exploiting the tendency of personnel to plug in apparently abandoned USB drives.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy could also plant cameras while on the premises.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErnie preferred waiting approximately 24 hours before sending Andy inside so that the team could first establish the normal pattern of activity and collect as much external intelligence as possible.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis would also reduce the risk of Andy being recognized later during surveillance before the team understood the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents continued monitoring the facility as the sun rose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA battered truck arrived at the main gate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA man got out and physically removed chains securing the gate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe then appeared to use a remote or other control to open it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe parked near the gatehouse and took up a position there.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately 10 to 15 minutes later, several additional vehicles arrived.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome employees parked at the front of the water-reclamation plant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther vehicles continued toward the rear facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVehicles leaving and arriving around this time strongly suggested an organized shift change.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were somewhat more vehicles present during the daytime shift than had been present overnight.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe StingRay also began detecting significantly more cell phones.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents identified an individual they believed to be Tillman during the morning arrivals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe appeared to be a young man, no older than his mid-20s.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had a notably youthful or baby-faced appearance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe drove a large Ford SUV.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnlike many workers, he was not wearing the yellow polo shirt that appeared to function as a staff uniform.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe entered the facility through the front.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents did not detect an obvious new cellular device corresponding with his arrival.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey therefore still lacked a confirmed phone associated with him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey did, however, have his vehicle available for later identification or license-plate research.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team remained on the hill throughout the day in order to establish staffing patterns and count personnel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndy had the best Alertness skill at 70 and made the Alertness roll requested by the Handler.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe succeeded.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe successful observation allowed the group to notice detailed patterns of movement and activity around the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe extreme heat became a significant operational problem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler required every agent to make a Constitution ×5 check.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll four agents failed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey had brought water and sunscreen, but the July Texas heat was still punishing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents suffered from prolonged exposure, sweat, and exhaustion.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEach agent lost 1d6 Willpower from enduring the day on the exposed surveillance position.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the daytime shift, the agents identified an apparent staff uniform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMany personnel arriving, departing, or moving around the rear facility wore yellow shirts or yellow polo shirts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA few individuals, including the suspected Tillman, wore ordinary street clothes instead.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents observed a sheriff’s vehicle arrive at the facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersonnel in yellow shirts opened the gates and allowed the sheriff’s vehicle through.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt passed through the main gate and then through the secondary gate to the rear building.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rear facility’s garage door was opened.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe sheriff’s vehicle drove inside.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt remained there for approximately 20 minutes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen it arrived, the agents could see what appeared to be another person in the rear seat, probably a prisoner.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen the sheriff’s vehicle departed, that person was no longer in the vehicle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe person delivered to the facility was clearly an adult rather than a child.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis demonstrated that the detention site was receiving adult detainees as well as whatever children the agents believed might be held there.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents observed ordinary activity elsewhere in the water-reclamation plant during the day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA golf cart was parked near the office portion of the main plant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo people came out and drove the cart around the complex.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey visited the gate area and spent time talking with the gatehouse attendant before returning.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLater in the day, the same two individuals came outside again.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne appeared to dance while the other recorded the activity with a phone.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey then returned inside.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis activity appeared distinct from the operations at the rear detention building.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe agents also noted air-conditioning equipment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe main water-reclamation plant had an office-like section without the large industrial pipes and machinery visible elsewhere.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAir-conditioning condensers were visible around that portion of the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple condensers were also visible along the southern side of the rear building.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rear building therefore appeared to be substantially air-conditioned.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the full surveillance period, the agents had developed a reasonable estimate of the site’s staffing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe daytime staff appeared to consist of approximately nine people.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler stated that the team could identify nine people closely enough to use that as the day-shift count.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe night shift was smaller, approximately five people.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBased on Andy’s law-enforcement experience and Jerry’s corrections background, the daytime staffing seemed barely plausible depending on the exact number of detainees inside.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe night staffing appeared clearly below what the agents would expect under ordinary prisoner-to-staff rules.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team still did not know how many detainees were actually being held in the building.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter approximately 24 hours of surveillance, the agents had confirmed several important facts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe rear facility was active and continuously staffed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was not an abandoned or purely industrial structure.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt least one adult detainee had been delivered by the sheriff during the observation period.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe day shift had approximately nine staff members.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe night shift had approximately five staff members.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerry Smedley’s phone was present at or near the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEthan Bailey and Huang Lanfan also had phones repeatedly present there and both could be tied to employment with Life Force.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA young man matching the team’s expectations for Tillman had been seen entering the facility.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe site received cooperation from local law enforcement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team still lacked a reliable count of detainees, direct knowledge of the building’s interior layout, and a complete understanding of which personnel were actively involved in Tillman’s unnatural activities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the sun began setting after the agents’ full day of observation, the Handler ended the session.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe agents were left to consider what they had learned and decide on their next move.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir likely next steps included determining whether Andy should enter the facility under DEA cover, planting surveillance or computer-access devices, continuing electronic surveillance, and developing an actual operational plan before Jesse’s promised follow-up call.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe final in-game assessment was that the facility contained real detainees and a relatively small but significant staff presence, but the agents still lacked enough information to safely attempt a direct assault.\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"
  }