Changing Ovens
rating: 0+x
Item: Changing Ovens
Size: Rectangular, 2m by 1m by 2m
Type: Photo booth
Potential/Current Hazards Do not tinker with the object - potentially volatile
Required Wear/Weaponry Disposable clothing
Reported Anomaly: Rapid transmutation

Usage

Activation of the object requires gamma level clearance with the exception of routine activities under project “Hellen”. Insurgency personnel are required to update their mugshot after using the item. The outdated mugshot must be archived within the insurgents individual file indefinitely or can be eradicated with beta level approval. If users develop inhumane characteristics they are subject to standart para-human concealment protocols.

Having more than one instance available at a time is redundant and is therefore discouraged. Local administrative staff is responsible to properly distribute the item in order to maximize its utility.

Cloak and dagger operations

The Item is used to hide the true identity of insurgents through the radical alteration of their appearance. Full false identities can be manufactured if needed. Under extreme circumstances an insurgent or insurgency aligned asset might request to fully embrace their given identity and permanently convert to their new form. Such requests need the approval of their responsible quartermaster and at least one beta rank administrator.
The Object is also used to impersonate individuals for a variety of purposes like falsifying deaths, infiltrating GoIs and manufacturing public outrage. Suitable impersonations might require multiple activations.
Furthermore, the exterior of agents can be changed to resemble that of various kinds of quasi humans both real and fictional, to help them blend into para-human dominated societies.

Kosmetik/Medical applications

The item is capable of replacing lost skin, muscle and fat tissue and can therefore be used to treat skin injuries like lacerations and gashes. Surface injuries, like burns, cuts and scrapes can be treated as well. Scars and other unwanted marks can be removed with the objekt. The exact limitations of the Item are currently being researched at █████ █████████ clinic1 located in █████████, Arizona.
Speculative usage cases include:

  • Treatment for various skin afflictions
  • Treatment for Body dysmorphic disorders
  • Possible life extension
  • Amplifying personal fortitude

Financing

The Insurgency is to maintain the integrity of project Hellen to protect a steady source of income.

Report

The Changing Ovens refers to a line of anomalus photo booths produced by Slippery Co. in 2002. The individual cabins differ slightly in the amount of advertisements, size and colouration but are ultimately recognisable as photo booths. Additionally, the Item possesses a bronze plaque, engraved on both sides, serving as a warning. The inside is featureless with the exception being a touch screen located ~144 centimeters above the floor with a single USB port to its right. The advertisements found on the Items front side have been replaced with the guidelines for proper item usage.

The screen perpetually displays “Please enter source”. Once a data storage device is connected via the USB port, the objekts menu opens. The menu shows all single image files in alphabetical order and provides a scrollbar if needed as well as an option to safely eject the source. This reaction fails to trigger if the connected device does not contain any suitable data. After a picture is chosen, it is shown on screen and a popup-window opens asking the user to confirm their selection. Choosing “Proceed” changes the windows contents to “Smile for the camera” in all capital letters while choosing “Abort” leads back to the menu. Personnel have described the Changing Ovens interface as reminiscent of Windows 95.

If a user smiles while the “Smile for the camera” message is on screen the objekts anomalous effects manifest.
The user undergoes rapid physical changes based on the chosen image. Portraits or images containing a single human face make the user's appearance resemble the depicted Individual. If a picture of a landscape or a picture with multiple faces is chosen the changes make the user fit in with the group/background.
These changes might include, but are not limited to, changes in clothing, physical appearance and body mass.2 The objekt semmes to detest altering the user's internal biologie and will only do so if absolutely necessary.
Anomalous and potentially lethal defense mechanisms make study of the Item tedious and resource intensive. Attempting to dismantle the object results in death either by cardiac arrest or an automatic activation of the item with a picture of a slaughter pig carcass as the source image. Similarly, simple observation of an activation is currently impossible as the item and/or the process produces a bright flash that causes temporary blindness in eye witnesses and lets recording equipment malfunction. Users describe the process as instantaneous and mildly uncomfortable but fail to mention any kind of flash. IRUC has yet to determine if these observations are accurate or caused by an undiscovered memetice side effect.

The Item came to the Insurgency's attention in 2006, after the assasination of Lukas Bader, the founder and owner of Bader and Co. His abrupt passing allowed an insurgency asset to replace him as chairman of the company. The following relocation of company data to insurgency proxy servers led to the discovery of multiple irregularities in both accounting data and production logs. Apparently, 100 photo booths were constructed following nonsensical schematics and then hidden away in two separate warehouses. A raid led to the acquisition of the original 50 Changing Ovens. However, a successive raid revealed the other warehouse to be plundered.

The Changing Ovens are stored separately within Zachäus class walk-in vaults that require Gamma Level authorisation to enter. Storage vaults are cleaned weekly by standard janitorial staff under the supervision of at least one security officer.

Appendix A:

The following is a transcript of the plaques inscription found in every instance of the booths. The item was found with the warning message facing the front with the presumably original message hidden on the back.


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