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Cleveland, Ohio
Saturday, September 7
1985
Headphones RecommendedCleveland, Ohio
Saturday, September 7
1985
☆ ☆
Ohio's Largest Newspaper
Cleveland, Saturday, September 7, 1985
• • • •20
The night sky illuminated behind Cleveland’s skyline by the unexplained phenomenon on the night of August 7th.AP
By CAIO SAMPAIO
Staff Writer
Cleveland — A month ago, the night sky lit up over the city. On the same night, nearly 400 construction workers died in a cave-in at Aperture Industries.
A consensus on an explanation is yet to come. As such, speculation is running rampant. To separate facts from fiction, The Plain Dealer has built a timeline with the events that have transpired over the last month.
August 7 — 11:45 PM. Science fiction seemed to blend with reality. 911 dispatchers began receiving calls reporting that the sky was shining green.
Operators initially dismissed these allegations.
“I didn’t believe them at first, who would? I mean the northern lights, over Cleveland?” said James Taylor, a 911 dispatcher on duty that night.
“It’s not impossible,” said Lynn Hunter, an atmospheric scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We know Cleveland observed an aurora borealis in 1895 during the Carrington Event.”
When Taylor went outside for a break, the truth became apparent to him.
“I looked up at the sky, and everything was green. Shining. I just stood there, frozen,” he said. “My cigarette even burned my hand.”
A sudden inundation of calls snapped him back to reality as more people started reporting the same anomaly.
‘Aurora borealis? At this time of year, at this time of night, in this part of the country, localized entirely over Cleveland?’
A crowd gathered outside to see it, but the commotion was short-lived. The green aura vanished at the break of dawn, leaving many questions in its wake.
August 8 — As people began to try and make sense of what had happened, one man claimed to have answers.
In an interview with News 5, local shop owner Greg McCurdy said he believes extraterrestrial creatures are involved. With the public seeking an explanation, the ‘alien theory’ quickly gained traction.
McCurdy told News 5 he was walking with his friend, Kyle Hoffman, on the night of August 7 when both men saw something moving in the distance.
“We thought it was some weird crab,” he said. “These rivers are so polluted you never know what you’ll find.”
McCurdy described the alleged alien as having “silky human skin, and a mouth in its belly.” He said it moved slowly, indifferent to the two men. However, that changed when Hoffman approached it.
In a following interview with The Plain Dealer, McCurdy described what followed.
“It just leapt right at him. Latched right onto his head,” he said. “I did my best to get it off, but that thing
wouldn’t budge,” he explained.
Moments later, McCurdy describes the moment when the creature’s teeth penetrated Hoffman’s skull. He then collapsed on the road, motionless.
But before McCurdy could even process what had happened, Hoffman stood back up once more, the animal still holding onto his head.
“It wasn’t Kyle anymore. He was growling. I got desperate and just ran away.”
The Cleveland Police Department (CPD) quickly dispatched two officers to search for Hoffman but found nothing.
The CPD assembled a search party the following morning and came back empty-handed following a 12-hour hunt.
Unable to find the alleged alien nor Hoffman, rumors turned into accusations aimed at McCurdy. He remains adamant that he was speaking the truth.
“He’s my friend. I want to know what it was that I saw as much as the next guy.”
AUGUST 9 — The CPD received ten more disappearance reports. But it was not the sudden influx of missing people that was most concerning - it was the fact that each investigation produced no results.
Officers found traces of blood, but a lack of evidence has rendered each case a dead end. The CPD declined to comment on ongoing investigations.
August 12 — Mayor Voinovich issued a statement announcing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had dispatched a team to Cleveland to assist with the investigation. He also took the opportunity to condemn people who were spreading misinformation.
“It is irresponsible to be spreading all these... rumors, because that’s all that they are,” said Voinovich. “The police department is working on all cases, and all that these rumors serve to do is slow down the investigations.”
The CPD also announced that it would hold press conferences with the FBI as the case developed. Their goal was to be more transparent and halt the spread of rumors, however this initiative backfired.
August 14 — The mayor’s announcement divided the population. Some people believed that the FBI’s involvement suggested that the situation was more complex than it seemed, fueling the rumors.
Throughout that week, more than 20 individuals contacted News 5 claiming to have information on the event that transpired on August 7.
Most shared similar accounts to McCurdy’s, claiming to have witnessed mutated animals within city limits. Some suggested that a serial killer was in town, another popular rumor that had spread quickly.
The television station gave these people airtime, even though none pre‐
sented any evidence to support their allegations.
One man, Brian Wapello, believed he could change that. He provided News 5 with a ten-second long video, allegedly showing a creature similar to McCurdy’s description.
Another man, Arthur Davison, sent a picture supposedly showing the same animal to the TV station.
The police examined the material but stated that it was inconclusive.
August 27 — Following the first two weeks of investigations, investigators honored their commitment. A press conference was held at city hall.
Anna Mears, the FBI’s lead investigator of the Cleveland Event, told reporters and journalists that a lead had been identified.
After scrutinizing seismic readings in the region, it was discovered that a tremor had occurred shortly before midnight. The epicenter had been pin‐
pointed to the Aperture facility
Early morning on Aug. 8, while the aurora was still dancing in the sky, a call was made to 911.
A collapse had taken place underground, crushing 369 construction workers.
While a devastating loss of life, the tragedy was quietly drowned out by the attention given to the spectacle in the sky.
Many of the dead did not have families, or lived within Aperture’s expansive facility.
Nonetheless, their departure did not go unnoticed. A vigil was held at Whiskey Island the following week.
Due to a fear of further collapse, authorities decided against retrieving the bodies of the victims.
Despite the tragedy, investigators were surprised to learn that the tremor had come from Aperture.
See AURORA, PAGE 2-A
From Page 1-A
“Our investigation has included Aperture Industries from the start,” Mears said. “Whether a symptom, a cause, or pure coincidence [to the aurora], the timing of the cave‑in prompted further inquiry. We were surprised to discover it was severe enough to be detected as tremor.”
This investigation comes at a time when Aperture is at its lowest point. The company has seen a financial decline in the last decade according to quarterly reports, even beginning a program to rehabilitate the homeless as test subjects in its infamous ‘enrichment spheres.’
The Plain Dealer received reports stating that the CPD had requested that the company provide security footage from when the collapse happened.
Aperture was unable to comply, stating that the tremor and collapse had damaged its security system.
Later inspection confirmed this was the case.
During the same press conference, Mears announced that the FBI had assigned a larger team to Cleveland to investigate whether there was a link between the Aperture cave‑in and the aurora.
August 28 — City Hall shared a press release announcing that specialists from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would arrive in the following week.
Their goal was to provide an environmental assessment of the Cleveland Metropolitan Area, but the announcement did not explain why.
One popular theory that emerged among the scientific community was that the aurora was a form of radiation known as ‘Cherenkov Radiation,’ named after Soviet scientist Pavel Cherenkov in 1958.
One source, who wishes to remain anonymous, argued that this rumor has merit.
He said that the Aperture Science division, renowned for its advanced material science research, could have developed a compound with a very brief half-life that eliminates all traces of itself within hours.
August 29 — Investigators interrogated several Aperture officials, including CEO Cave Johnson, who denies any connection to the phenomenon seen on August 7.
Johnson left the police department after a five-hour-long interrogation.
A sea of journalists swarmed him as he left the building, to whom he told that he would issue a statement shortly.
Johnson shared his thoughts two hours later and gave his condolences to those affected by the collapse.
“Science is a seducing lady, but she can be deadly.” He also explained that the company will provide financial compensation to all affected parties.
Johnson also spoke out against the investigation, arguing that it is unfairly accusatory of his company.
“We will not stand idle as she (Mears) vilifies a mourning company in a desperate attempt to find suspects for her investigation,” he said.
Johnson also announced that Aperture is launching an independent investigation into the aurora and collapse.
September 3 — The investigation team received a search warrant for Aperture’s Cleveland facility.
The team of specialists, federal agents, and police enforcement arrived in a convoy at the facility’s front doors at noon, Mears leading them.
Journalists waiting in the lobby were surprised to see Johnson walk out of an elevator in an Aperture- branded suit and holding a glass of wine.
He offered to take the team through the sprawling complex, which descends miles into the Earth.
“Don’t be shy. Old Cave here doesn’t bite,” he said as investigators walked into the elevators.
The team resurfaced later that evening along with Johnson, who held a brief press conference afterward.
The entrepreneur stated he hopes that he had proven his innocence, and that the company is cooperating with investigative teams on all fronts.
He promised that his investigation would discover what took place on Aug. 7, “Even if I have to build a time machine so future me can come here to tell us what happened.”
September 4 — Investigators held another press conference.
When a journalist asked Mears to comment on Johnson’s statement following the initial tour, she replied:
“This is an ongoing investigation, and no official conclusions have been drawn at this time.”
Her team stated that the investigation into the expansive Cleveland facility would take several weeks due to its size.
Today — A month later, and it seems as if the situation has only become more complex.
Officials have yet to conclude their investigations. Likewise, all disappearance cases from the fateful night are still open.
Investigators give their word to continue their respective investigations tirelessly.
From Page 1-A
“Debtland changed our city,” added Acopoco.
Debtland was a film released by Hippocampus in early 1979, documenting and explaining the city’s default to the state.
It is often credited as a contributing factor to Dennis Kucinich’s quick replacement by George Voinovich as the mayor.
It is also the last film that the studio has released, making it now over six years without a new production from the company.
“It’s high time for Hippocampus to rise from the ashes like the phoenix and make something new.”
Hippocampus has been criticized as of late for questionable investigative practices, which has contributed to their delays and cancellations.
In 1979 following the success of Debtland, a so-called “reporter” for Hippocampus was arrested for trespassing in the Glenn Research Center outside of Cleveland.
In 1982 another “investigator” was arrested for illegal entry onto the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Hippocampus has consistently denied involvement with these felons.
In 1983 the Cleveland Police Department opened an investigation into the film studio, but the case was dismissed shortly after the company declared bankruptcy.
In response to questions about these crimes, Hippocampus Spokesperson Loraini said, quote;
“Hippocampus has a history of finding truth wherever it may be, but committing crimes to get that truth is not the Hippocampus way.”
With it being so long since a new film from the studio, Hippocampus has found a renewed interest in the public eye with the new documentary.
However it may come, “Flaming River” is slated for a release sometime in late 1987.
Houston (AP) — NASA confirmed this week that the first launch of the shuttle has once again been delayed to later next year.
The Enterprise, a 75-ton test craft named after popular sci-fi show “Star Trek,” completed its final series of fit checks in 1983.
Originally scheduled to launch in the spring of this year, this is now the second time that STS-1 has been pushed back.
The shuttle program has progressed slowly since work was held during the investigation and subsequent trials on the Lunar Access Program from 1972 to 1975.
“Budget cuts are the last thing we need,” said NASA spokeswoman Judith McDowell in response to calls from taxpayers to reduce spending on the program.
“The cuts the administration faced in ‘75 are the main reason we are still on the ground today, rather than in orbit.”
Although touting reduced costs due to the reusable nature of the shuttle, the program has come under increased scrutiny from both congress and the public.
“We’re doing this the right way. Having less money just means it all happens a little slower.” said McDowell.
The first delay to STS-1 was announced in March when NASA stated that it would not be able to meet the original April 10 launch date. It was then slated to launch early next month.
NASA stated in a press release at the time that further time was needed to perform all required preparations.
In the press release Wednesday, the administration again stated that more time is needed to qualify the spacecraft.
FAA spokesman Kenny Saunders said that STS-1 cannot be granted its launch certificate without meeting all testing criteria.
“This is the most complex machine that man has ever built. These requirements exist for the safety of both the crew and the public, and the Columbia will fly when it has passed them all.”
Saunders said that the FAA is working closely with NASA to ensure proper qualification.
The orbiter (Columbia) has yet to be assembled together with its fuel tank and booster rockets.
McDowell said that Columbia is
currently in a hangar undergoing flight simulations with crew members Robert Crippen and John Young, who flew on Apollo missions 10 and 16.
In interviews with the Associated Press, both men stated that they are in “Good spirits.”
While conventional rockets can only be flown once - such as the mighty Saturn V - the shuttle is designed to be reused. Although the large external fuel tank will be discarded, both rocket boosters as well as the shuttle itself can be refurbished.
Despite the setbacks, the shuttle is expected to open many new opportunities in the space industry. If it succeeds, it presents many new possibilities in the final frontier.
STS-1 is currently expected to launch on February 18, 1986 from Cape Canaveral, FL.
By NIKOLAI OHMMAN
Staff Writer
President Ronald Reagan made some important announcements about the future of the US energy grid yesterday, and how to improve it.
“This country’s energy grid is over 30 years old, and with the strides we’ve made in recent years it’s about time to start thinking ahead.”
President Reagan went on to announce a new initiative called American Power Forward, or APF, which will direct 5 billion dollars of the federal budget each year towards revitalizing the national power grid.
Officials at the Department of Energy have said that this plan will focus mainly on critical infrastructure first, then working with individual states.
Texas lawmakers made a rebuttal to APF, saying that their grid will stay
disconnected from the National Grid, despite recommendations from federal authorities.
“It’s a great idea, but it’ll be hard to sell in Congress,” says Dr. Judice Garfed, who works with the DOE.
“Congress has never really been pro-infrastructure really at all, aside from presidential mandates. Hopefully, this push from President Reagan will make lawmakers more willing to agree to this proposal.”
APF is making waves across the country, as some communities are in dire need of a replacement of the grid.
Put-in-Bay here in Ohio has not had a properly functioning grid since 1978.
Long-time Put-in-Bay resident George Korfors, who is also a member of the local city council, spoke with us on the issue.
“We’ve been trying to have the issues of our local electric grid addressed for years now. The lack of attention given to municipalities like ours is very disappointing.”
Ohio Edison refused to comment on the state of their grid in Put-in-Bay.
APF’s current bill specifies smalltown infrastructure improvements as one of the last things on the agenda, only tailed by private investment contract stipulations.
Other small towns across the country with similar tales of woe with their power systems are popping up, which may form a national movement to change APF’s wording to better suit them.
“We’re not the only ones,” said Korfors. “Small towns like us simply can’t keep up with the changes in just the last decade.”
Lawmakers who are in support of the APF bill have said in a statement, quote; “APF is only one bill, but we will do our best to serve the interests of all Americans across the nation, from the small towns to the major population centers.”
The new initiative includes the construction of a new UHV (Ultra High Voltage) power transmission network, the first of its kind, to connect major energy-producing and energy-demanding states.
The bill also includes measures to modernize the existing network of transmission lines and substations.
While APF primarily targets power transmission and distribution, it also defines a long-term plan to expand and maintain power generation capabilities with anticipated rise in demand.
I’ve noticed over the past few years that headlines about defense contracts have been pretty common here in the Plain Dealer. Why is that, I wonder?
Companies like Black Mesa out in the midwest have been given massive sums of government money for classified projects of all shape and size — but what makes the federal government want to give such large chunks of taxpayer money to some private company?
We have perfectly good research labs like Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos, which themselves have budgets of hundreds of millions of dollars, and yet more and more we are putting our national security into the hands of private corporations.
Two weeks ago it was announced that three private firms would be selected as recipients of a weapons development contract. It didn’t specify the nature of the contract or what it was for, or what justified the $150 mil lion price tag attached to it.
As a taxpayer myself I demand that we be given more insight into what our taxes are being used for. It doesn’t seem right to me that such a large portion of money, which is being collected from American citizens, is being cordoned off with such a lack of transparency.
How do we know we can trust these companies? I never voted to select them. Should we not have a say in who is tasked with protecting our homeland?
With the United States home to
a number of fairly large private research and development companies, the government has made it clear that they are more than eager to hand out grants and contracts left and right to them.
Just look at the shrinking budget of the Department of Defense over the last decade or two. That’s all you need to see as evidence.
How do we know, that should the time come, that these companies will be able to protect us?
JERRY F. MILNER
Lakewood
I think this whole business with the FBI is dubious.
They’ve been here a month and all we’ve gotten from them is “No official conclusions have been made.”
Why’d the city need the FBI to tell them that, I could’ve told you the same damn thing!
Seems more like they’re using this whole event as an excuse to prod around the city wherever they want. I don’t like it.
ROBERT J. RAMIREZ
North Ridgeville
These feds need to get out of here before they drive away Aperture with all this bureaucratic nonsense and
screw up our whole economy.
You stop someone on the street out there and ask them where they work, chances are they’ll say Aperture. Half my street is employed there, myself included.
The scientists, the engineers, the drivers hauling freight in and out of the facility night and day — losing all those jobs won’t just hurt Cleveland, it’ll hurt all of Ohio. Who’s going to replace those positions on the job market?
We just saw unemployment in the nation drop 0.3% to 7% last month and I don’t know about you but I don’t want that number jumping right back up.
CALVIN E. WEBSTER
Edgewater
Webster is employed as a pump technician at Aperture Industries
Regarding the Sept. 1 article “Ohio firms to stay in Canada” I thought that it was a little too critical. Personally I think it’s quite a good thing that some of our biggest companies have expanded to our largest neighbour.
Perhaps we lose some immediate business here, but in the long run this will help them grow and prosper as a whole, regardless of country.
ELEANOR S. GRACE
Shaker Heights
Here at Aperture the future doesn't wait; it is in constant motion, always moving, always improving - and we want you to be a part of it.
With more than 100 tests running every day, we require only those with the sharpest minds and bodies to endure what the future requires. But sometimes, the future needs a rest. The Test Subject Resting Annex (or, the T.S.R.A.) is the place for it, where you can recharge your batteries between testing sessions in a spacious bedroom with amenities akin to the most luxurious hotels.
Come test with us.
Call now at 216 (555)-FUTURE
or visit your local Aperture Applicant Center.
By JAMES PETERSON
Staff Writer
Imports of asbestos product were recorded at the lowest point in 15 years last week.
The top five highest-importing states of Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, California, and Utah have all seen a minimum of a twenty-percent decline in the import of the substance over the last year alone.
June of last year the Federal government passed the Emergency Asbestos Abatement Act (EAAA) over concerns of a growing trend in fibrotic lung disease despite installment of the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 1970.
Markus Landon, a spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that the Clean Air Act was not as effective as expected.
“Commercial and industrial lobbyists have fought hard since 1970 for the ability to keep using asbestos,” he said.
“For something with so much utility it should be a crime on its own to not put this material to use,” said William Torres, a spokesman for the Asbestos Support Study.
Torres describes asbestos as being a “miracle compound” — it is strong and durable and is a good insulator, but is also light and cheap.
It is also fire-resistant and can be used in fireproofing, he said.
“It wouldn’t matter if it was the second coming of Christ to science. This stuff is getting people sick, it shouldn’t be out there,” said Landon.
“These guys (lobbyists) managed to stop the TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) in ‘76. Now we have to put our foot down.”
As part of the EAAA, financial sanctions were increased in June of this year on companies that import, process, manufacture or sell asbestos-containing products above a regulatory level defined last year.
These sanctions include a higher import tax on asbestos, most of which is brought in from Brazil and Canada.
Imports of the mineral and consequently sales of products containing it have seen a slow decline since the CAA in 1970.
However the material is still used extensively, particularly in construction.
“Panels, concrete. Concrete panels. I dunno — roofing, insulation? It has many use cases,” said Torres.
Some have expressed concern that a complete ban on asbestos and its use may lead to considerable unemployment and major consequences on the economy.
“We need cheap housing, and asbestos keeps the cost down. I think it would be a mistake to ban it altogether,” said local resident Mike Bell.
“I think it has a lot of benefits that no other material really has right now.”
Bell’s thoughts appear to resonate with those of many others across the country.
In over 100 interviews with the Associated Press, 38% were not in favor of a complete ban on the mineral.
“We understand the importance of the material in certain fields. We (the EPA) are looking to strictly regulate it, not remove it entirely,” Landon clarified.
Craig Rogers, who is a foreman for J.T. Hauling & Construction, said more people should heed the EPA’s warnings.
“It’s cheap, sure, but the health risks are way too high for it to remain a major building component,” he said.
“It’s awful. A couple of my guys had to be hospitalized a few years ago.”
He said he has made it mandatory for his crew to don respirators when handling the material, although it is not state nor federally required.
“Y’know buildings don’t last forever,” added Rogers.
“When the concrete we’ve pumped full of this stuff starts to wear — people in the future are gonna have to deal with this.”
Rogers said he hopes that the EAAA and its penalities will quicken the phasing-out of the material.
The act is set to apply greater restrictions and further limit the use of asbestos in June of next year.
| Cleveland Public Library | The Plain Dealer Archival Copies |
| Erik Drost | “Edgewater Park” CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Kristian Pikner | “Northern Lights in Varbla” CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Sejievan | T.S.R.A. Ad Design |
 | TEAM ABYSS 2022 |
| MG: | Mary Garcia, CPD Dispatch |
| CR: | Christian Rogers, Caller |
| DR: | David Rennman, Responding Officer |
| -- BEGIN TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| MG: | 911, what is your emergency? |
| CR: | Hi, we’re at the Whiskey Island Marina -- all the lights went out, we |
| can’t find our car. I think I twisted my ankle. | |
| MG: | Alright, would you like an ambulance? You said you were at Whiskey |
| Island, correct? Can you tell me exactly where you’re calling me from? | |
| CR: | A payphone, I don’t know for sure. It’s one of the only lights still on |
| around here. | |
| MG: | And do you need an ambulance? |
| CR: | No, I can drive if I could find my car. I’d look for it but we barely |
| limped over here, ha-ha. | |
| MG: | Okay, I’m sending out an officer out to help you, alright? Could I get |
| your name sir? | |
| CR: | Yes, Christian Rogers. |
| MG: | Okay Christian. You said ‘we’re’, are you with someone? |
| CR: | Yes I’m with my wife. |
| MG: | Alright, we’re just going to stay on the line together until the officer |
| arrives, okay? You tell me when you see him coming. | |
| CR: | Okay. |
| MG: | Now Christian can you tell me what happened and how you hurt your foot |
| -- your ankle, excuse me? | |
| CR: | Uh, yeah, we were just out on the dock. We like coming down here ‘cause |
| it’s always so quiet. We were just sitting there and suddenly it was all | |
| dark, so we got up to go back. | |
| MG: | Mhm. |
| CR: | I didn’t see where the dock met the shore and I guess I stepped in the |
| uh... in the gap. Hey, Angela? | |
| MG: | Who’s Angela, is that your wife? |
| CR: | Yeah she... Angela! |
| MG: | Christian, can you hear me? |
| CR: | Angela? (Unintelligible) |
| MG: | Christian I need you to tell me what’s happening. Hello? |
| CR: | ... (Unintelligible) |
| MG: | Hello? Christian? The officer is on his way alright? |
| CR: | Christ almighty. |
| MG: | Tell me what’s happening Christian. |
| CR: | T-the sky! It’s glowing! |
| MG: | The sky is glowing? |
| CR: | Yes, it’s green! |
| MG: | Alright. Is your wife -- is Angela okay? |
| CR: | Yes-- she's-- I don’t... |
| I, I can-- I think I see some headlights. | |
| MG: | Okay, that’s the officer. He’s going to help you get to your car and |
| escort you home, alright? | |
| CR: | Okay. (Unintelligible) |
| MG: | Is the officer there? |
| CR: | Uh, yes. |
| MG: | Would you hand over the phone to him please? |
| CR: | Okay. |
| DR: | Dispatch. I got it from here. |
| MG: | Okay, be advised he may be intoxicated. He said ‘the sky is green’. |
| DR: | It is. |
| -- END TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Cave Johnson at 1612-2123, 8-29-85 | |
| Excerpt from 2119-2123, PAGE 1 | |
| AM: | Anna Mears, Interrogating Officer |
| CJ: | Cave Johnson, Interrogee |
| -- BEGIN TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| AM: | Thank you for waiting. |
| CJ: | Well if it isn’t my biggest fan! |
| AM: | We have serious matters to discuss Mr. Johnson. Let’s get back to it. |
| CJ: | I’ve been stuck in here for four hours, I’m just having a bit of fun. |
| You should do the same. You’ll live longer. | |
| AM: | You’ve been in here four hours because you haven’t answered my |
| questions. | |
| CJ: | No, Anna, I’ve been in here four hours because I’ve chosen to be. |
| Miranda Rights, honey. | |
| AM: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | Mr. Johnson, how’s the work environment over at Aperture? |
| CJ: | My folks get to work on things that will be all over the history books |
| one day. I’d say working for Aperture is a chance to become a hero! | |
| AM: | Yes, or die trying? There’s been some interesting news about Aperture |
| lately. | |
| CJ: | Anything you hear about Aperture is interesting. |
| AM: | Oh yes, I’m certain that Congress will be very interested in the |
| violations that OSHA and the NRC will find. I have to say, considering | |
| the number of work-related injuries that were reported to your HR | |
| department in the last year, it is particularly interesting that less | |
| than a fifth of these were then submitted to the government. | |
| CJ: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | August seventh. Was the collapse related to these safety violations? |
| CJ: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | Answer my questions, Mr. Johnson. What caused the collapse that night? |
| CJ: | Blasting. Rock blasting. |
| AM: | Blasting? |
| CJ: | We perform controlled rock blasting when we need to expand an area of |
| the facility, and then excavate according to plan. | |
| AM: | If Aperture was as you say performing rock blasting, then why was no |
| permit filed for this night? Aperture has filed for these numerous times | |
| in the-- | |
| CJ: | Notice. It’s not a permit. We issue a notice to the city. |
| AM: | Notice. My mistake. Why was no notice issued for the blasting on the |
| night of August seventh? | |
| CJ: | Because blasting wasn’t scheduled for August seventh. The area wasn’t |
| ready yet. | |
| AM: | Then why did it occur? |
| CJ: | Well, hell, I’d love to give you an answer but unfortunately whoever |
| made that call is currently under six thousand tons of rock and steel. | |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Cave Johnson at 1612-2123, 8-29-85 | |
| Excerpt from 2119-2123, PAGE 2 | |
| AM: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | You mentioned plans for the area. That seems like pertinent information, |
| why were these not surrendered to the FBI? | |
| CJ: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | Mr. Johnson. |
| CJ: | They’re up in the Great White North. |
| AM: | Please be more specific for the record. |
| CJ: | They’re in Canada. |
| AM: | Why would they be there? |
| CJ: | We’re launching our own investigation. Despite what you think of me, I’d |
| like to get answers myself. Told the lab boys to run simulations of the | |
| collapse on the best damn computers we have. | |
| AM: | And these are at the Yellowknife facility? |
| CJ: | Yes. |
| AM: | Well, Mr. Johnson, as the CEO I suggest you get your ‘lab boys’ to |
| figure out how to get those plans to us quickly, unless you’d like be | |
| charged with obstruction of justice. | |
| CJ: | Hold your horses, Mears. I’ll get them to you in a few days. |
| AM: | And there are no copies? |
| CJ: | Negative. |
| AM: | I see. |
| CJ: | Are we done here? |
| AM: | Yes, Mr. Johnson. We’re done here. But, before I go, there’s one more |
| thing I’d like to say. | |
| CJ: | And that is? |
| AM: | 369 deaths, Cave. |
| -- END TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Greg McCurdy at 1443-1532, 8-23-85 | |
| Excerpt from 1443-1448 PAGE 1 | |
| AM: | Anna Mears, Interrogating Officer |
| GM: | Greg McCurdy, Interrogee |
| -- BEGIN TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| AM: | Well, Greg, we’ve already talked a lot about what happened on August |
| seventh. Today I’d like to discuss something different. | |
| GM: | Sure, ask away. |
| AM: | I’d like to know more about your friendship with Kyle. |
| GM: | What about it? |
| AM: | I’ve heard you weren’t on the best of terms. |
| GM: | That’s true. |
| AM: | Why is that? |
| GM: | What can I say? We go way back, but we’ve always had a love/hate |
| relationship. | |
| AM: | Could you be more specific? |
| GM: | Well, you know, back in the day I was quite a loner. Kyle was my only |
| friend. But! I had something going for me. I used to be a straight-A | |
| student. My parents used to call me gifted. But that changed after some | |
| fucked up shit went down. | |
| AM: | Sorry, but, again: you’ll have to be more specific here. What “fucked up |
| shit?” | |
| GM: | Okay, from the beginning. This happened many years ago. My parents |
| weren't home, so I invited Kyle over. While he was there, I got a letter | |
| saying I had been accepted to law school. Kyle said I should call my | |
| parents, but I decided not to. | |
| AM: | Why not? |
| GM: | ... (Silent) |
| GM: | I wanted to tell them in person. I waited for them to show up. They |
| never did. | |
| AM: | What happened to them? |
| GM: | Gun violence. They never caught the killer. Thanks, CPD. |
| AM: | I’m sorry to hear that. But, could you please tell me what happened |
| after? | |
| GM: | I mean it was all downhill from there. I was super depressed, and a |
| “friend” offered something to make me feel better. I was excited about | |
| maybe making a new friend, so I bought it. | |
| AM: | What was it? |
| GM: | Booze. And lots of it. |
| AM: | Did Kyle support this? |
| GM: | No, he would never. But anyways, moving on. Dealing with me became |
| complicated. I would either be asking for booze money or burst into | |
| tears. He kept insisting that I should go and get help. But I didn’t | |
| listen to him. | |
| AM: | And what did he do? |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Greg McCurdy at 1443-1532, 8-23-85 | |
| Excerpt from 1443-1448 PAGE 2 | |
| GM: | He was one hell of a friend, I’ve gotta give him that. He tried to |
| support me as much as he could. But after a while it was just too much | |
| for him. He wanted to help, but he was overwhelmed. He was going crazy | |
| himself. He walked away. | |
| AM: | But did the two of you just stop talking altogether? |
| GM: | No. I always lied to him, saying I had changed and things were looking |
| up. He’d agree to meet me, but I could never wear that mask for too | |
| long. I would always go back to my old bullshit at some point. Then we | |
| would fight, and he would go away again. | |
| AM: | How often did this happen? |
| GM: | I don’t know, but a lot. I don’t even know why he always believed me. |
| maybe he just really wanted to believe me. But, eventually he went away | |
| for good. | |
| AM: | So, how did you meet him on August seventh then? |
| GM: | August seventh marked my first year sober. A lot has changed. I even got |
| a car and a job! Sure it doesn’t pay much, but its honest work. | |
| Anyways, the point is: I’ve finally changed, and I wasn’t lying this | |
| time. Meeting Kyle would be the best way to celebrate that. | |
| AM: | Please, continue. |
| GM: | I put on my fanciest suit. Well, my only suit for that matter, ha-ha. |
| GM: | I drove to his place and knocked on the door. When he opened it, he |
| couldn't even recognize me. The guy thought I was a salesman trying to | |
| push him the highest quality crap on the market. | |
| AM: | How did he react when he realized it was you? |
| GM: | Well, he just said he had seen this movie before and he didn’t like how |
| it ended. So I showed him my car, by business card, and I told him it was | |
| different this time. I told him I just wanted to talk, he didn’t even | |
| have to say a word. I just wanted him to listen. | |
| AM: | Talk about what exactly? |
| GM: | I wanted to apologize, so I invited him for a walk. He didn’t budge at |
| first, but eventually he gave in. We spent the night wandering the | |
| streets, talking about old times. Uh… but right as I was gonna start | |
| apologizing, you know what happened. | |
| -- END TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Robert Lynch at 2316-2338, 8-24-85 | |
| Excerpt from 2316-2319 PAGE 1 | |
| AM: | Anna Mears, Interrogating Officer |
| RL: | Robert Lynch, Interrogee |
| -- BEGIN TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| RL: | ... (Silent) |
| RL: | Maybe I shouldn’t be here. |
| AM: | Are you having second thoughts? |
| RL: | I can’t lose my job, what if he finds out I’m here? |
| AM: | Are you referring to Cave Johnson? I can assure you this meeting is |
| confidential. | |
| RL: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | You got in touch at the right time. We’re conducting an investigation on |
| Aperture Industries. Now, you live in Aperture’s facility here, is that | |
| correct? | |
| RL: | Yes. |
| AM: | Good. I know we have limited time, and, frankly – I have many questions. |
| But let’s start simple. Why did you contact me? | |
| RL: | (Shifts in seat) |
| RL: | Something’s going on at Aperture. |
| AM: | Please elaborate. |
| RL: | Okay, look – I test whatever they ask me to. Everyone’s heard about the |
| enrichment spheres. They set up a course – a “test chamber” – and I | |
| complete it. We test day in, day out. Twelve hours a day. Overtime pay? | |
| Forget it. Safety? Yeah right. | |
| AM: | Um, alright. Could you speak a bit more about these safety issues? |
| RL: | Oh, sure, every week there’s a different injury! I mean you got your |
| usual stuff – cuts, bruises, broken bones. Cosmic annihilation, | |
| spontaneous lung fibrosis. This one guy got covered in gel and bounced | |
| to death. | |
| AM: | Lung fibrosis? |
| RL: | Yeah, who knows why though. I mean there is that whole thing going |
| around causing tiredness, swollen fingers, shortness of breath and | |
| constant coughing but that’s probably unrelated. | |
| AM: | With conditions like these, how does Aperture retain its employees? |
| RL: | It’s pretty simple. Most test subjects are homeless people. Sure they |
| risk breaking a few bones, but what other option do they have, really? | |
| It sure beats sleeping on a bench during the winter, so they just suck | |
| it up and accept the risk. | |
| AM: | And what made you join Aperture? |
| RL: | Eviction. |
| AM: | Really? You seem educated. |
| RL: | I am. Life had other plans. It’s in the past. |
| AM: | (Sighs, shuffles papers) |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Robert Lynch at 2316-2338, 8-24-85 | |
| Excerpt from 2316-2319 PAGE 2 | |
| AM: | Look, I’m not saying these aren’t severe allegations but this really |
| seems like something more under OSHA’s jurisdiction. | |
| RL: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | Is there anything else you’d like to tell me? |
| RL: | Something happened on August seventh. |
| AM: | Do you know anything about the collapse that happened that night? |
| RL: | They were doing something down there. |
| AM: | Aperture has stated that it was performing unscheduled blasting. We have |
| evidence to support that. Could you tell me what-- | |
| RL: | (Laughs)Unscheduled blasting? Is that what they came up with? Man... |
| AM: | What are you implying? |
| RL: | Detective, tell me, do you really think that it’s a coincidence that an |
| entire sector of the facility collapsed the same moment the sky lit up? | |
| AM: | ... (Silent) |
| AM: | Robert, what happened that night? |
| RL: | ... (Silent) |
| RL: | Uh... I... |
| AM: | (Procures envelope) |
| AM: | You’re going right back to Aperture, correct? Take this envelope. Open |
| it when you’re alone. You can still help us. | |
| -- END TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Simon Baker at 1832-1946, 8-19-85 | |
| Excerpt from 1832-1837 PAGE 1 | |
| AM: | Anna Mears, Interrogating Officer |
| SB: | Simon Baker, Interrogee |
| -- BEGIN TRANSCRIPT -- | |
| AM: | Thank you for your cooperation Simon. I’d like to know more about what |
| the situation was like on the night of August seventh. Call frequency, | |
| the type of calls you were receiving – things like that. And as I | |
| understand it you also have ties to the collapse? | |
| SB: | Blood ties. |
| AM: | I- I understand. |
| SB: | Sure. It was a late night, like any other. Mostly noise complaints, |
| fights, trespassing, maybe robbery. But, call frequency started | |
| skyrocketing around midnight. I think Mary got the first one, some | |
| couple in Zone 212. All of the lines filled up pretty quickly after | |
| that. | |
| AM: | And what were these calls about? |
| SB: | The sky. All of them. |
| AM: | How did you handle them? The reports must have felt pretty... out there. |
| SB: | People getting scared over the weather isn’t as uncommon as you might |
| think. I calmed them down, informed them of the weather reported by the | |
| radar, and moved on to the next caller. None of these were real | |
| emergencies. Well, except for the last call. | |
| AM: | Take your time. |
| SB: | It was like half-past twelve maybe? I was a District 2 operator that |
| night, so the call came through to me. It was from the Aperture folks. | |
| They said they had a “developing situation,” multiple casualties, and | |
| they would need police. That’s all they said. | |
| AM: | And what did you do next? |
| SB: | My brother worked there. He usually gets home before I do, so I took a |
| quick break and called out place to see if he was there. Phone rang off | |
| the line. Called the front desk, same thing. So, I started packing my | |
| stuff to storm out of the office. | |
| AM: | Your brother – did you know what his occupation was at Aperture? |
| SB: | Engineering; some big construction project. He was never specific. |
| AM: | Alright. You were getting ready to leave. Where were you heading? |
| SB: | Home! Maybe my brother was taking a shower. Maybe the music was too |
| loud. I wouldn’t be able to focus on my job until I knew for sure. | |
| AM: | I see. Please, continue. |
| SB: | So, I was ready to leave, but then my supervisor tried to stop me. He |
| was the one that told me all the lines were full. I explained the | |
| situation, but he wouldn’t listen. I got the hell out of there anyway. | |
| When I walked out the door, I finally saw what everyone was calling | |
| about. | |
| AM: | What did you see? |
| Transcript of the interrogation of Simon Baker at 1832-1946, 8-19-85 | |
| Excerpt from 1832-1837 PAGE 2 | |
| SB: | Same as everybody. The Northern Lights, over goddamn Cleveland. People |
| were flocking outside to look at whatever was going on up there, but I | |
| didn’t care. I had to get home, so I got my ass moving. I live close. | |
| Got home in five minutes. | |
| AM: | Okay, you got home. What happened next? |
| SB: | I started looking around for my brother. He wasn’t in the living room. |
| He wasn’t in the kitchen. He wasn’t in his bedroom. He was... gone. I | |
| called Aperture again. This time they picked up, but told me nothing. | |
| They called back a few hours later. | |
| AM: | And what did they tell you? |
| SB: | They said he was dead. There was a cave-in during “routine rock |
| blasting.” But it doesn’t add up! When they called, they asked for | |
| police – not paramedics. They didn’t even try. And why not report the | |
| collapse right away? Makes no sense! | |
| AM: | Right. Did Aperture get in touch again afterwards? |
| SB: | Depends on what you consider “in touch”. One night, I came home and |
| noticed someone had slipped an envelope under my door. It had no | |
| identification – blank. But, when I opened it, there was a contract | |
| inside. It offered five hundred thousand dollars. | |
| AM: | What was that money for? |
| SB: | My brother’s life insurance. But see, this is what I mean! That kind of |
| thing takes months, years! Some companies make a mess out of this; they | |
| try to blame the worker for the accident so they don’t have to pay a | |
| dime. Here, it happens in only two days? | |
| AM: | Do you have the contract with you? May I see it? |
| SB: | (Procures envelope) Sure, here. |
| AM: | Thank you. Give me a minute, then we’ll continue. |
| -- END TRANSCRIPT -- | |