Employee Report - Theodore Ptolemy, Viscount Thame *NOTE: Cf. earlier reports concerning Subject 4414, Theodore “Theo” Thame, before his employment with the Institute commencing DATE WITHHELD
Several months following his employment, reports within the Institute (and to a much lesser extent, the public) increased in number that some locations were performing ethically dubious experiments on sentient beings. These beings were noted to be non-human but provably sapient, with many citing them as existing in otherwise ordinary machines, including computers and even household appliances like washing machines and blenders.
Those at the appropriate clearance levels identified them as intelligences accidentally “bled” from other realities, brought to this reality as a result of inter-dimensional interference and experimentation and formatted onto machines for ease of communication/experimentation with them. As a result of these revelations, Thame played an important role in a dual-pronged investigation within the ethics and administration divisions of the Institute. He and his small team pushed for an internal inquiry into the nature and extent of these experiments, and threatened to involve British legal personnel if justice was not done. Ultimately, he did find significant evidence of a concerning callousness towards sapient life on the part of several key researchers and senior management figures. These figures had their employment terminated as a result of the investigation.
Perhaps even more concerningly, he found that many lower-level employees' accounts of their job titles and tasks were inconsistent, sometimes contradictory; frequently employees could give only spotty accounts of what the Institute actually did. This was the basis for the Proposal of Reforms sent to central management earlier this year, which has thus far achieved exemplary results in his own branch.
Thame has consistently shown himself to be a shrewd, persistent and discerning investigator, with relevant experience going back even beyond his employment at the Institute. He also has a strong commitment to protocol for both practical and moral reasons. For these reasons, the LOCATION WITHHELD of the Institute would highly recommend Thame for a field position, in which we believe he would thrive and make the very best of his abilities as a researcher and an operative.
Claire Adeyemi
Head of Internal Affairs and Human Resources
Institute
CASE REPORT: Z-60R
Reports of increased UUC [Unidentified Uncontained Cryptid] sightings in the Scottish Borders, particularly near LOCATION WITHHELD, created a small but not insignificant panic in the local area. As a result, operatives T. Thame and L. Valente were dispatched to the area to investigate and quell rumours at the earliest stage possible.
Low levels of inter-dimensional activity were detected around the central site (the “Eye”), along with abnormal tracks leading out of the area towards local farms. Initially, it was believed that the being would have been a danger to itself and others, and would need to be eliminated entirely. The agents spent many nights tailing the UUC in the assigned company vehicle, and after 14 days successfully caught up with it. However, due to the ingenuity and initiative taken by them both, the UUC was safely contained and sedated without needing to be harmed.
The Institute has since built the UUC a habitat in LOCATION WITHHELD and it is currently undergoing active observation and non-invasive study. It is strongly believed that the actions of the operatives allow the being to be of far more practical use to the Institute as a research object and also as a living creature.
It is probable that more events like these will occur in the near future. We recommend that more pairs of field operatives be trained together and stationed in diverse locations across the country as soon as possible. It is uncertain what role the Institute as a whole will take in the coming years, but we must as an organisation remain flexible and mobile as they approach.
CONFIDENTIAL: MANUAL FOR THE TRANSFER OF COI [CONTAINED OBJECT OF INTEREST] “FERN” INTO INSTITUTE DEVICE X-068. TO BE DELIVERED BY HAND TO SIGNED EMPLOYEES ONLY
The being (known as Fern to online and 'real-world' acquaintances, due to her resemblance to and/or identity with the deceased Fern Plant) to be uploaded to the transmission device in the autumn of 1997. The device is described by Institute personnel as follows:
Note that Fern's nature is not to be compared with a procedurally-generated being, or indeed with the traditional depictions of artificial intelligence - it is only dimensional anomalies that allows for a souled being like Fern to occupy a technological device. Note also that the continued presence of dimensional anomalies are necessary for Fern to continue to exist within the device - insulating this reality completely from other dimensions is likely to totally erase Fern from the device, and therefore from existence.
To complete the transfer, a code will be sent from Institute devices to Fern's email address, which is still connected to the CryptoNet forum on which she resided. This email address will go offline within 30 days after the shutdown is complete, so PLEASE ENSURE THE TRANSFER TAKES PLACE WITHIN THIS TIME. The aforementioned code will be the “call”; Fern will send the appropriate “response” which will then allow the transfer to occur.