The Magnus Protocol 41 - Internal Investigation

You check your feed and your account.

You check the score and the restaurant reviews.

You check your hair and reflective surfaces and the world around you for recession indicators.

So you check all that, but you don't check to see what your ride options are.

In this economy, next time, check Lyft.

Hi, everyone.

It's Billy Hindle, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol.

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Hello everyone, it's Shahan, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

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RustyQuill presents

The Magnus Protocol

Episode 41,

Internal Investigation.

Celia, look, I know we're behind on caseloads, but there's not much I can do about it on my own.

We're four team members down now, and I really think that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about.

Oh, right.

Sorry.

Apology accepted.

Although now you mention it, what did you want to ask?

Have you heard anything from Alice?

Nothing.

Not a word since she arrived in Berlin.

Oh, really?

Yes, really?

No texts?

No emails?

No.

You're sure?

What are you implying, Gwen?

Nothing.

When did you last check?

Gwen, there's no shame in being worried about her.

Hardly.

I just know that if she were to call, it wouldn't be to my phone.

So I thought it pertinent to check with you, just in case.

Oh, I'm sure she'd let please don't.

I've worked with Alice long enough to know how little she thinks of me.

I mean, you don't make it easy, but I'm sure she's fond of you.

In her own way.

Well, be that as it may, the situation remains that what little rapport we may have once shared has very much ended now that I'm her superior.

And as a result, I suspect that if she had contacted you from Berlin, she would have likely told you to keep me in the dark.

Oh, that's not true.

Okay, she totally might do that, but I promise she hasn't called me.

Was there anything else?

No, that's all for now, I think.

You can get back to work.

Witness statement of Dr.

Chloe Gembel, BSCMBDS, MRC Path, Dip R C Path, Forensic.

Date of birth, 2nd February, 1970.

Occupation, criminal pathologist.

Address, Greater Manchester Police HQ.

This statement is true to the best of my knowledge.

Dated 17th June, 1995.

This is a confidential report to the coroner and should not be disclosed without permission.

At approximately 9.30am on the 9th June 1995 at the request of Greater Manchester Police, I attended the scene of a suspicious death near Didsbury, Lancashire.

I was logged into the outer cordon at 9.32am and was logged into the inner cordon at 9.41am by a PC and met by DI Betty Osborne, Principal Socco David Schaefer and Senior Socco Grant Chapman.

Mr.

Schaefer provided background information.

A neighbor reported sounds of a confrontation and chemical smells at approximately 2am and later reported seeing a body through a back window at 4am.

Paramedics attended and declared life extinct at 4.35am.

Police arrested suspect at scene.

Upon entering, I saw the kitchen was filled with chemistry apparatus and broken glass on the floor, seemingly from a broken oversized container with bloodstains.

There were various residues on most surfaces along with extensive diagrams and what looked like an MLM sales guide for Marconi Alchemics.

The body of the deceased was lying in the doorway to the adjoining utility room, half covered with laundry.

Fact of death.

Having consulted with the senior investigating officer D.I.

Betty Osborne, I examined the body to verify the death.

This was confirmed at 10.09 a.m.

Scene Examination The body was of a middle-aged Caucasian woman.

She lay on her right side in a fetal position with her head towards the back door.

The left arm was extended towards the door with slight flex.

The right arm was pressed against the body with the right elbow flexed and the right hand clutched at the face.

The legs were extended behind with minimal rotation.

Clothing.

A floral knee-length dress, fully buttoned.

A pair of bifocal glasses.

One full-length leather apron tied around the back with Marconi Alchemics embroidery.

Plastic eye protectors embossed with same logo.

Pair of pink socks.

Pair of pink shoes.

Medium heel.

No laces.

Body was undressed and examined at scene with tapings and swabs obtained.

Blood staining and contamination.

Minor blood staining on right hand collar.

Dirt on left hand and both knees.

Minor vomitous running from the right corner of the mouth.

Blood staining under both sets of fingernails.

No soiling.

Body appears to be uniformly covered in sodium chloride.

Swap taken.

Adjacent scene.

Body was covered in clean laundry.

Minor blood staining and vomiters underhead on right side.

Body of deceased partially propped against washing machine.

Tumble dryer door open with some clothes inside.

Bloodstaining on large glass flask.

Rigor mortis.

Fully established in all muscle groups.

Temperature.

Reading at 10.32 a.m.

Ambient temperature 30 degrees Celsius with thermometer reading 24 degrees.

Signs of visible injury.

Eight incised wounds of similar depth at nape of neck with two at larynx indicating strangulation.

Protective clothing.

Standard procedures observed.

Logged out of inner cordon at 11.17 a.m.

Logged out of outer cordon at 11.25 a.m.

Exhibits list, seen.

Standardized swabs, plucking and tapes, see attached.

Scraping from beneath nails on right and left hand, swabs of indentations on neck, sample of vomitous, swab of blood from glass flask.

Post-mortem examination.

10th July 1995 attended mortuary at Stepping Hill Hospital for special post-mortem of Alana Ward.

Examination began at 8.20pm.

Persons present were D.I.

Betty Osborne, Principal Socco Warren Schaefer, Senior Soccer Grant Chapman, D.C.

Marco Mason, exhibits, and mortuary technician Kayla DeAngelis.

Standard photographs were taken under my direction.

Recognized decedent received in white signature-sealed body bag and wrapped in black plastic sheet.

She was a well-nourished adult female, light-built.

165cm tall but weighing 105 kilograms, significantly exceeding weight expectations.

Long dyed red hair with exposed brown and grey roots.

Shaved body hair with trimmed nails 0.1cm long with signs of tearing.

Two vaccination scars over the left upper arm.

Old curving scar below navel consistent with cesarean section.

No tattoos.

Post-mortem changes.

Rigomortis still firmly established.

Weakly developed, mobile primary hypostasis on right side with associated blanching.

Signs of sharp force injury.

Incised wounds at base of neck and larynx consistent with strangulation.

Indentations recorded.

Minor lacerations to face at point of contact with floor.

Multiple markings consistent with phlebotomy on inside of left elbow.

Angle of insertion indicates self-inflicted with no expertise.

Extensive reddening around the neck suggests injuries inflicted whilst alive.

Other signs of injury.

Head and neck, minor abrasion on right parietal scalp.

Major blunt crushing trauma to neck consistent with strangulation.

Trunk, minor abrasions consistent with insect activity.

Internal examination.

Scalp, stripped to nape of neck posteriorly.

Skull coated coated in foul-smelling yellow residue.

Sent to toxicology.

Likely sulfur-based, but no sign of cause.

Skull.

Dura was stripped.

No sign of fracture.

Brain.

Entire organ appears to have been replaced with solid silver facsimile, but no sign of surgery.

Entire organ removed with difficulty and passed to toxicology for further examination.

Face.

Soft tissues dissected to the bone.

No evidence of injury.

Grey tone indicative of systemic shock or hypoxia.

Mouth.

Tongue bitten.

Metallic discoloration and mouthlining.

Samples sent to toxicology.

Neck.

Heavy damaged larynx and trachea, consistent with strangulation.

Bruising in strap muscles with hairline thyroid bone fracture and cartilage damage.

Finger patterns recorded in skin.

Chest.

Pleura were stripped.

Significant metallic discoloration noted.

Samples sent to toxicology.

Ribs were flayed.

No evidence of fracture but severe deformation of pleural cavity and surrounding tissue.

Lungs.

Exposure of pleural sac revealed it was filled with dense metallic deposit.

Autopsy paused and additional biohazard procedures were enacted, leaving me as only physical presence.

Incision into the pleural membrane released large amounts of liquid metal.

Suspected mercury.

Samples sent to toxicology.

Lungs entirely absent.

No evidence of surgery.

Heart.

With great difficulty, organ was removed and cleaned, revealing what appears to be solid gold facsimile in its place.

No signs of surgery, and pulmonary vessels were directly attached without scarring.

Organ sent to toxicology under D.I.

Osborne's supervision.

Stomach.

Undamaged beyond slight deformation from weight weight of replaced surrounding tissue.

Contents consisted of one Cornish pasty.

Partial digestion.

Intestines.

Appear normal.

No perforations, inflammation or pathological changes.

Liver.

Entirely replaced by silvery, metallic facsimile.

Organ removed for toxicology, but initial indications of tin.

Kidneys.

Entirely replaced by copper facsimiles.

Organ sent for analysis.

Bladder.

Undamaged with no indication of tumors, inflammation, or stones.

Generative organs.

Womb, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries fully removed.

Scarring consistent with hysterectomy.

No evidence of other trauma.

Spleen.

Dense and soft metallic facsimile of organ removed for analysis.

Suspected lead.

Severe deformation of surrounding tissue, likely as a result of excessive organ weight.

Endocrine organs.

All appear normal, but samples provided for toxicology due to prevalence of foreign bodies.

Other organs.

Gallbladder, replaced by metallic facsimile, suspected iron.

Organ removed for testing.

Additional notes.

High-speed oscillating autopsy saw was damaged during Y incision due to unexpected foreign bodies.

Difficulties introducing trochar for bodily fluid collection due to same.

Organ weights.

See attached.

Note: weights of facsimiles provided in lieu of missing organs.

Post-mortem concluded at 2.30 a.m.

11th July, 1995.

Mortuary Exhibits List, see attached.

Toxicology.

Complete toxicology report is still pending, but initial testing verifies visual observations of stated heavy metals.

Histology.

Each organ has been collected for further analysis with conventional examination impossible.

Spectroscopic analysis is underway.

Time of death.

Based upon temperatures recorded at scene computed with Hensiger's nonogram, indicates a time of death at approximately 8 hours earlier at 2 a.m.

on 9th June 1995, but the large amount of metallic foreign bodies found in the decedent significantly reduced the reliability of this estimate.

Conclusions.

Damage to the throat and neck accompanied with indications of hypoxia are consistent with strangulation from the front via foul play.

That stated, the near-complete replacement of decedent's vital organs with metallic facsimiles appears to have somehow happened prior to death without surgery.

I am given to understand that a suspect was arrested at the scene, but I assume there has been a clerical error as they were listed as having the same identity as the decedent.

Extreme caution is advised when handling evidence related to the case due to confirmed presence of toxic materials.

I have already insisted that all persons present at the autopsy and scene receive medical examination for poisoning.

Results are pending.

Personal comments.

I don't know what I just witnessed.

If any similar cases arise, do not contact me.

Freddy.

So, do I call this number or

right

This is ridiculous.

Hello, Gwen.

Lena?

Obviously.

Who else would be answering my personal mobile in the middle of the night?

Oh, uh.

How are you?

Irritated and impatient.

What do you want?

Oh, well, I uh.

I found this number and thought I would check to see who answered.

I see.

Well, if that's all, then I shall go back to bed.

I have curling practice in the morning.

Right.

And make sure you delete this number.

I've no interest in any further late-night disturbances from you.

Uh, yes.

All right.

How are you finding it, Gwen?

Excuse me.

Is it everything you hoped?

I'm doing just fine, thank you.

You're doing better than I did when I started.

It took me almost a year just to get things in order.

Well, it's better now.

Of course, it is.

The important thing is just keeping everyone safe.

Do that, and you're mostly there.

Right.

Yes.

It's just a shame I didn't have more time to train my replacement before I retired.

Move to the private sector.

How old do you think I am, Gwen?

Oh,

don't answer that.

Look, since I have you on the line anyway, I was wondering if you could tell me.

Fine.

I'll send you a postcard with a time and place.

Come alone and bring cash.

All right.

And just to be absolutely clear, I would quite happily leave you in the bed you've made for yourself if I thought it wouldn't affect the others.

Understood.

And bring the bottle in my desk.

It was a gift for someone and I'd like it back.

Oh, uh, yes.

Yes, all right.

You drank it, didn't you?

Not all of it.

Lena?

Hello?

Oh, uh, yeah, yeah, great, thanks.

Four legs and everything.

I'm glad.

So, you said you could catch me up on what you were talking with Colin about.

Very well.

We shall cut to the chase.

Colin contacted me some months ago, wishing to learn more about your Friedrich program.

He said its origins were here, and that your files mark me as the only safe Ansega in Berlin.

This was, of course, very insulting, and you will agree, untrue, yes.

Yeah,

no, no.

Safe is not the word I would use.

You are afraid of me, yes.

Uh,

yeah.

Shoot the hermit.

Colin

So did you find him or?

Oh, yes.

But also no.

Right.

Listen, Heinrich.

Heinrich.

Heinrich.

Look, I'm real scared right now.

But I've had a long flight and a rough few weeks, and it's bad enough reading all Colin's rambling without doing the cryptic double-speak thing on top so can we just not for now

please

very well

and sure look

it has just been some time since I could

how do you say play the part

cheers I appreciate it

what I found was not much

but I have only been learning computers recently with Colin's help

I have been looking on the internet, and this has led me to believe Friedrich was never a person at all.

And why is that?

Because it is not a name.

It is a vista.

Sorry, I I don't.

No, I.

Uh version, you know.

Anton Egger Beta Caesar.

Uh

my god, English.

Uh version A.

Version B.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

You're saying Freddy, Friedrich, the guy I've flown all the way here to find, isn't even a guy?

It's just what?

An update number?

Mr.

Foxtrot.

Jah!

Friedrich Foxtrot, same thing.

Program number eight.

But Colin had all these notes about a German programmer.

Yes, there was such a man who built your Freddy.

The few references we found had the initials KS, so you see, not Friedrich.

Christ on a bike.

It is funny.

Yes?

No.

No, it's not.

Right.

Well, this has been fun, Heinrich.

And I appreciate you not skinning me alive.

But I think I need to go and have a think about what to do now.

I did mention, I think, that I also found an address.

An address?

For what?

I do not know.

It was associated with their program designation.

I thought it impolite to visit without Colin, but he is dead.

So, I will visit with you.

Listen, Heinrich, you really don't need to come with me.

I'm sure you'd rather stay here in your toy abattoir.

Nonsense!

We are friends now.

I will visit with you.

No, really, ship.

I insist.

Uh, okay, then.

Hold the boy, I will bring the chair.

Um, thanks.

Naturally

now,

let us paint the town red.

Um,

all right, then.

The Magnus Protocol is a podcast distributed by RustyQuill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Sharealike 4.0 international license.

The series is created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J.

Newell and directed by Alexander J.

Newell.

This episode was written by Alexander J.

Newell and edited with additional materials by Jonathan Sims.

With vocal edits by Nico Vitesse, soundscaping by Meg McKeller and mastering by Catherine Rinella with music by Sam Jones.

It featured Billy Hindle as Alice Dyer, Anuzia Battersby as Gwen Bouchard, Lorianne Davis as Celia Ripley, Sarah Lambie as Lena Kelly, with additional voices from Jonathan Sims.

The Magnus Protocol is produced by April Sumner with executive producers Alexander J.

Newell, Danny McDonough, Lynn C.

and Samantha F.

G.

Hamilton, and associate producers Jordan L.

Hawke, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, Cetius DeRaven and Megan Nice.

To subscribe, view associated materials, or join our Patreon, visit rustyquill.com.

Rate and review us online, tweet us at the RustyQuill, visit us on Facebook or email us at mail at rustyquill.com.

Thanks for listening.

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Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be Tide.

You check your feed and your account.

You check the score and the restaurant reviews.

You check your hair and reflective surfaces and the world around you for recession indicators.

So you check all that, but you don't check to see what your ride options are.

In this economy, next time, check Lyft.

Hi, everyone.

It's Billy Hindel.

Today we are advertising Push the Roll with Ross Bryant, a podcast that launched on the RQ Network.

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Have fun and see you later.

Hello, everyone.

It's Shahan, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

And today, I'm here to advertise Hollow Disciple, a podcast recently launched on the RQ Network.

Hollow Hollow Disciple is a thrilling, dark science fiction podcast from the brilliant creator of Wake of Corrosion.

In the vast abyss of dying stars lurks a forsaken vessel, silent and still.

Stumbling upon it, the scavenger crew of the L Peace begin an ill-fated rescue mission, convinced they have hit the jackpot.

But when the scouting party stops responding, their luck takes a dark turn, and the sinister nature of their prize and its unnerving history becomes all too apparent.

Hollow Disciple has a deep lore, full of mystery and discovery.

Search for Hollow Disciple wherever you listen to your podcasts or go to linktr.ee forward slash holodisciple or www.rustyquill.com for more information.