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Originally written by 1000 Dumplings
Rewritten by DrAkimoto.
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Level 24; Moon, Mare Frigoris.
Description:
Level 24 is a plastic scale model of the Frontrooms solar system composed of a high-density polyethylene-polystyrene blend and lead paint. Calculations based on measurements and substantial observation made from within the level estimate that it is a 1:1 scale representation of its likeness. As of 2020/09/24, there is a total of 11 observable celestial bodies: the Sun, the Moon, and eight of the nine known planets.
Currently the only accessible celestial body is the Moon, with an estimated surface area of approximately 38 million km2. The upper layer of the Moon is comprised of roughly 30 m of a lead-based, light grey paint. Despite appearing like the Moon, observers experience standard gravity while within the level. Although it is a fully fabricated environment, the Moon experiences two forms of meteorological phenomena:
• A brief rain-like mist consisting of a highly toxic mix of water and various surfactants, solvents, and hydrotropes. Firsthand accounts of this mist claimed it had a pungent lemon smell. Prolonged exposure, especially when accidentally injested, has led to nausea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, ataxia and muscle weakness. Despite its caustic nature, it has been identified as an effective disinfectant when diluted.
• A sandstorm consisting of a dry slurry of dead skin cells, plastic particles, bacteria, lead, hair, and fibers. The scale of the individual "particles" is far beyond normal parameters. Observers, especially those with an allergy to dust mites, may experience varying levels of discomfort during, and several hours after, these events.
Both weather conditions have been observed to be directly tied to one of two known entities that reside within Level 24. (See Entities; "Beauford")
The area surrounding this model is theorized to be designed after a Victorian-style study. Due to its scale and a lack of adequate equipment for viewing distant objects, the exact nature of these arrangements and their location remain unknown. This theory, as well as the presence of astronomically scaled entities, has led to further theorization on relativity and the possibility of some form of size-based transfiguration occurring when entering and exiting Level 24.
Entities:
Moon Mites
Pair of Moon Mites; Southern Frigoris Basin.
Commonly found after dust storms occur, there are three species of mite that frequent Level 24: Blomia tropicalis, Dermatophagoides farinae, and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Despite these entities being far larger than a typical specimen, they are completely harmless and actively avoid areas with human presence. These mites typically travel in groups of 6-8 mating pairs, occasionally making shallow burrows and laying approximately 25-50 cream-colored eggs each. During supply shortages, non-allergic staff can and have consumed these entities and their eggs.
Beauford
Picture of Beauford shortly before a sandstorm.
When perceived from within Level 24, Beauford appears to be an incomprehensibly large humanoid entity. The exact features of this entity are currently unknown due to its size and distance. What are assumed to be vocalizations can be heard and felt when Beauford is present within the level, but all attempts at recording and translating these sounds have proven unsuccessful. On occasion, Beauford will approach the model, and at this time, one of Level 24's two weather conditions may manifest. This entity was colloquially referred to as "Beauford" by the original B.N.T.G. mining crew and has continued to be named such in honor of their sacrifice.
B.N.T.G. Plastic Mines:
The Bluehole's miner entrance.
The Bluehole
"It may be blue, but we promise it's hell."
- Mining Crew 1's unofficial motto
The Bluehole, nicknamed "Bluehell" by Mining Crew 1, was the B.N.T.G.'s first attempt at a sustained operation within Level 24. Internally, it is considered one of our group's most unmitigated disasters. Created for the purpose of mining plastic for reuse, the project was met with issues from its inception. Below are transcripts of reports detailing several major incidents that occurred during its four years of operation:
Project Debrief
Moon-Mine | "Bluehole"
Description: Initial reports of injuries occurred while removing paint from the surface of the Moon.
Filing: Mark Harrison, Paint Busters Foreman
Status: Incomplete
We are having some serious issues with this paint. Our first attempt at jackhammering this stuff sent 4 of my boys to the infirmary at Outpost 14. The dust is clogging their respirators quicker than we can replace them. And I'm no doctor, but I know damn well we shouldn't be breathing this shit in. We're only 12 meters deep and third of my crew is out of commission. We need you to push that order through for the paint thinner, and a lot of it. We are going to need it.
Response: Nick Caparelli, Management
I'm sorry to hear that progress isn't as expected based on our previous timeline. I will attempt again to aquire your request, but in the meantime I've sent more wool replacements for the respirator filters and 3 new men to help with the project. Please update on your progress next Friday.
Response: Mark Harrison, Paint Busters Foreman
Just get the goddamn paint thinner Nick. The executives are gonna be pissed if you show up with 12 dead workers and no fucking plastic. This isn't a request.
Incident Report: "Bluehole" Summary
Caustic pool of lead paint and paint thinner.
On Wednesday the 5th, the main gantry's pulley system experienced critical failure while suspending a barrel of paint thinner above the shaft. The resulting collision released 300 gallons of paint thinner into the already filled shaft causing foreman Mark Harrison and engineer Robert Vasquez to be overwhelmed and lost within the rapidly filling pit. Their bodies were recovered after the paint thinner seeped from the shaft and into microfractures in the plastic below, dyeing it a bluish hue. This process occurred over several days.
Manager Nick Caparelli resigned shortly after the incident. Of the original 14 Paint Busters, 6 died during the process of reaching Bluehole, and all remaining members suffer from prolonged lead and toxic fume exposure.
Initial attempts at mining the plastic from within Bluehole failed to produce adequate samples for transport. Due to its nature, the plastic would chip into small unmanageable pieces upon being struck with typical mining equipment (i.e., pickaxes, shovels, and jackhammers). This led to the invention of the "Hot-Shovel", a self-heating, propane-powered shovel; when activated, the Hot-Shovel could reach temperatures up to 530°C. This allowed miners to slice through the plastic and remove it from the mining column in manageable blocks. This greatly increased the efficiency of the operation, but due to poor planning and inefficient safety measures, this led to other unforeseen issues.
Record of: Foreman Hughey Davis; Mining Crew 1, Manager David Adler.
Foreword: Debrief interview conducted after third mining shift.
[BEGIN LOG]
David: Alright, Hugh. Let's get these formalities out of the way so you can begin your much-deserved leave.
Hughey: Yeah, yeah, I know the deal. You wanna know how it's going down there in Bluehell, huh?
David: Yeah, that would be the poi—
Hughey: Well, I'll tell you how it's going Dave, It's fucking hot! Just this morning, 112 degrees before we even got to lunch break. And speaking of lunch, if I have to send one of my boys to go hunt another mite for us to have some goddamn meat, I think I might actually lose my shit.
David: Is the new ventilation system not working?
Hughey: Ventilation system? That's a good one; you can't strap a couple fans down, point them up a hole and call that shit a ventilation system. Yes, it's working, but it's not enough. We need more air shafts—
David: Yes, but we can't afford another incident, the paint layer is too—
Hughey: I know, Dave, I know.
David: Are the new respirator cartridges working at least?
Hughey: Yeah they're better, but wool is only gonna do so much, man. Those fumes are wicked, I'm talking skin burns, coughing fits, the whole nine. We need real equipment; this half-assed side show isn't cutting it.
David: The work you’re doing is good work Hugh, you’re helping a lot of people—I'm not just talking bucks either. The stuff their making with the plastic can save a lot of liv—
Hughey: And what about our lives, huh? I've heard the rumors on how the Paint Busters are holding up—you don't think we know that shits gonna be the same for us? You know what, it doesn't matter—I'm wasting my breath; are we done here?
David: I'm sorry, Hugh, we are trying our best to help. You can go, I'll push through your requests for the next shift.
END LOG
Afterword: Mining Crew 1 has been allocated additional fans and air filters, a new generator, meat-based food rations, and 16 pairs of new gloves and boots. Further attempts will be made to aquire addition respirator filters of a higher quality.
Mining Crew 1 — Medical Report Summary
Management needs to have a serious discussion regarding the Bluehole and the health concerns around Mining Team 1. They've just completed their quarterly medical exam, and the results are worse than we expected. Let's put aside the rashes, chemical burns, accidental injuries, and the rest of it. It's the cough we're most concerned about; the men have started calling it "Plastic—Lung", and we're not sure they're too far off the mark. This rattling cough is persistent and severe, and 90% of the crew has it. We need to do better by these miners.
— Dr. Rachel Lee; B.N.T.G. Physician
"Moonquake" Incident — After Action Report
Engineer Svenn Carlson inspecting Bluehole post-quake.
On Friday, April 19th, the Bluehole mining operation experienced an earthquake-like event causing damage to internal Bluehole infrastructure and the death of three members of Mining Crew 1. This event was initiated by an encounter with the entity known as Beauford, during which it is theorized that Beauford tripped and unintentionally moved the model solar system slightly. For two days following the event, a sandstorm occurred, blocking medical and supply personnel from reaching Bluehole.
A team of engineers has guaranteed that Bluehole will be operational by the next mining shift. Research into adequate retention systems is currently underway.
Bluehole Disaster Overview
On Wednesday, June 23, miner William Hensley was performing his job as usual when his Hot-Shovel pierced a previously undiscovered pocket of paint thinner. This caused a large explosion within the confined mining column, setting off a chain reaction leading to critical infrastructure failure and the death of all 24 members of Mining Crew 1. The following is a timeline of events as recounted by the sole survivor, Hughey Davis, shortly before he passed away due to complications from injuries acquired during the event:
8:30AMLTZ - Alarms indicating Beauford's presence within the level are activated. All mining crew members enter the mine shaft to prepare for possible weather phenomenon.
9:45AM - William Hensley ignites pocket of paint thinner. The explosion instantly kills him and 3 other crew members in his immediate vicinity.
9:48AM - A second explosion caused by the Hot-Shovel's propane tank causes a wave of boiling toxic fumes down the mining column and into the loading area. It is believed that this killed 9 of the remaining miners within the mining column, due to asphyxiation and complications from third degree burns. Several bodies were found partially fused to the mining column wall and floor.
9:50AM - The already damaged main shaft support guides break from the wall and plummet below; crushing the 6 miners attempting to enter the lift to the surface in order to escape the noxious fumes.
9:53AM - The headframe above the main shaft collapses from the pulling action of the guides, partially sealing the main access and ventilation shaft.
9:55AM - Extreme temperatures within the mining column begins to melt the surrounding plastic, further adding to the fumes.
9:58AM - The 5 remaining miners discover that the miner entrance tunnel is sealed shut by melted plastic. In a panic Hughey Davis, seals himself inside a water tank located in the loading area.
10:04AM - Presumed time of death of the other 4 miners. Temperatures within the mine reach nearly 400°C and the oxygen levels begin to fluctuate.
12:45PM - Rescue team manages to breach Bluehole through the main shaft. This releases a large ammount of the toxic fumes trapped within the mine and the tempeture begins to stabilize.
2:19PM - By this time, the rescue team recovered Hughey Davis in critical condition as well as the bodies of the other 23 members of Mining Crew 1.
Statement Regarding The Bluehole Mining Disaster
This situation is the single biggest loss of life our group has experienced due to human error. There's a lot of stuff here in the backrooms that will kill us, but this was an entirely avoidable incident. Greed killed these good men; Management, and by extension us Executives, have failed these miners at every step of the project. We failed them, we failed their families, and we failed our community at large.
That said, we are not going to let their sacrifice be in vain. New deals have secured us the equipment to do this the proper way. No cutting corners, no unrealistic deadlines, no skipping on safety for productivity, and definitely no working a mining crew into their grave, again. We owe it to our fellows to do this the right way.
— April Murphy; B.N.T.G. Acquisitions Executive
—————
B.N.T.G. PlasticWorks
PlasticWorks; mining column 3.
The new B.N.T.G. PlasticWorks is a state-of-the-art mining facility located 1 km from the Bluehole site. B.N.T.G. engineers, in collaboration with Backrooms Robotics, designed PlasticWorks with two things in the forefront of their minds: Safety and Efficiency. Streamlined automation, high-tech air quality control, and top-notch safety infrastructure have guaranteed the absolute highest quality of work environment. Working in three-day shifts, currently there are three mining crews working and living within the PlasticWorks facilities. Mining and processing nearly 300 tonnes daily, this plastic goes on to create a variety of weapons, personal products, electronics, and valuable trade incentives. PlasticWorks has quickly become an invaluable asset to the B.N.T.G. and its affiliates.
B.N.T.G. PlasticWorks is currently looking for new recruits.
As demand for the items produced from PlasticWorks plastic increases, construction of additional mining columns and crew living quarters have been approved. If you are interested in transferring to PlasticWorks please speak to your current supervisor to ask for an application.
Entrances and Exits
The only consistent entrance to Level 24 not controlled by the B.N.T.G., is through a painting of the Moon found within Level 57. It is theorized that noclipping directly upwards towards any full moon can lead to Level 24, though attempts have had varied results. The B.N.T.G. entrances to the level are a closely guarded secret and only divulged to internal affiliates of PlasticWorks.
The sole known method of leaving Level 24 is through B.N.T.G. PlasticWorks; just follow the road to the main gate, the miners will show you the way out.
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