DEPARTMENT OF ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA
CLEARANCE PROTOCOLS / TRAINING MANUAL — GRITHAM SECTOR
Classification: LEVEL 4 — CLASSIFIED
Division: Operations / Training & Induction
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PURPOSE:
This manual provides onboarding guidelines, clearance level descriptions, and prohibited actions (“Do Not” lists) for personnel assigned to the **Gritham Sector** in connection with the Pendragon/Excalibastards anomaly. All staff must review and sign acknowledgment prior to field deployment.
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## CLEARANCE LEVELS (Sector-Specific Access)
- **Level 0 — Civilian**
No access. Members of the public are to remain unaware of agency presence.
*Protocol:* Cover stories = “noise complaints,” “safety inspections.”
- **Level 1 — Restricted Staff (Custodial, Transport, Drivers)**
May access secure facilities but not evidence or operational files.
*Protocol:* Do not disclose site function. All questions answered: *“Records storage.”*
- **Level 2 — Confidential (Junior Analyst, Technician, Field Agent I)**
Access to non-sensitive operational data (crowd counts, logistics). May not view or handle artifact “Excalibur.”
*Protocol:* Report all involuntary humming or chant recollection to Medical Officer immediately.
- **Level 3 — Controlled (Senior Agent, Specialist, Case Officer)**
Granted access to live operations, witness interviews, and restricted cassette playback.
*Protocol:* Mandatory psych screening every 14 days.
- **Level 4 — Classified (Chief Investigator, Containment Lead, Research Director)**
Full access to anomaly files, artifact reports, and memetic research.
*Protocol:* Authorized to brief Directorate; maintain compartmentalization.
- **Level 5+ — Restricted / Eyes Only**
Directorate oversight. Access beyond this level prohibited to field personnel.
*Protocol:* No discussion of Directorate presence in Sector.
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## FIELDWORK “DO NOT” LIST — GRITHAM ANOMALY
1. **Do Not Attempt Artifact Confiscation**
- All efforts to seize “Excalibur” have failed. Attempts fuel anomaly escalation. Passive observation only.
2. **Do Not Chant or Repeat Phrases**
- Refrain from vocalizing “Arthur,” “He Lives,” or variants in or near active crowds. Involuntary chanting must be reported as exposure.
3. **Do Not Conduct Overt Raids During Live Performances**
- Suppression amplifies memetic spread. Avoid baton charges, mass arrests, or visible force unless life is at risk.
4. **Do Not Handle Analog Media Without Clearance**
- All cassettes, zines, and posters are considered memetic carriers. Handling requires gloves, mask, and immediate sealing.
5. **Do Not Engage in Public Debate About Arthur’s “Reality”**
- Treat all questions as cultural phenomena. Never confirm or deny subject’s existence in front of civilians.
6. **Do Not Remain in Active Zones Beyond Rotation Limit**
- Maximum exposure window: 3 hours. Extended presence increases risk of derealization, auditory hallucinations, and loss of operational cohesion.
7. **Do Not Attempt Psychological Confrontation with Witnesses**
- Mockery or disbelief of witnesses fuels distrust and reinforces myth-making. Interview must remain neutral.
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## MANDATORY TRAINING MODULES
- **Module 01 — Memetic Awareness:** Identifying chant triggers, recognizing involuntary humming, documenting spectral anomalies.
- **Module 02 — Evidence Protocol:** Cold storage, digitization, and handling procedures for analog media.
- **Module 03 — Riot Psychology:** Crowd control alternatives, avoiding escalation, liaison with civic authorities.
- **Module 04 — Psychological Hygiene:** Self-monitoring, peer checks, trauma-informed debriefs.
- **Module 05 — Cover Protocols:** Public-facing identities, acceptable narratives, emergency withdrawal scripts.
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## ORIENTATION STATEMENT (Read to All Recruits)
> “You will hear the chant. You may feel the hum in your chest. That does not mean you are ‘chosen’ or ‘Arthur lives in you.’ It means you are exposed to a memetic anomaly. Your duty is to observe, record, and report. Not to join the song.”
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ARCHIVE NOTE:
The Gritham anomaly blurs the line between culture and anomaly. Protocol exists to keep you from feeding it. Remember: **containment here is silence, not violence.**