Project Pluto

OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE - SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION

SUMMARY REPORT

DATE: 15 APRIL 1965

SUBJECT: PROJECT PLUTO, JAN-MAR 1965

In late January 1965 a government informant reported contact with a xenomorph (Classification: XM-GAN-8/001) located in the caves beneath Cave City, California. OSI created PROJECT PLUTO to study this report and pursue contact with GAN-8/001. OSI/SOG-18 was dispatched with field equipment and a preliminary exploratory mission. Operations established an investigatory presence by assigning two agents from the Los Angeles office. These agents soon reported the presence of a group known as the Promethean Foundation (PF).

PF was currently under investigation by both OSI and FBI for involvement in the black market trade of occult artifacts. This joint agency operation was known as OPERATION FLAMEOUT. During the course of this operation OSI inserted an agent codenamed GAMMA operating undercover as a member of PF. Agent Gamma filed extensive reports on the foundation and its activities, enabling a joint OSI-FBI raid that resulted in arrests of not only PF operatives but also their associates in organized crime.

OSI holds reports dating back to the 1920s that show PF to be involved in numerous occult-related activities. PF members were associated with several individuals who died under mysterious circumstances during the so-called “occult purges” of the 1930s. The group was founded by eccentric millionaire and occult author Calvin Alden, but grew to prominence in the 1950s under the leadership of Alden's protege, Magdalena Carter. Carter is the sister of Randolph Carter, a freelance operative who worked previously with both OSS and MI-6.

Agent Gamma was able to secure photographs and fingerprints of several of the PF operatives. It was discovered that one team member had previous associations with fraudulent spiritualists. Another had associations with both Chinese tongs and motorcycle gangs in the San Francisco area. PF operatives were photographed and recorded participating in several illegal business transactions with Los Angeles organized crime associate Nick Lacata.

In late January 1965 several residents of Cave City disappeared overnight. Evidence suggested many had walked into the cave system but no bodies were ever recovered. National guard units secured the town and evacuated remaining residents. OSI established operations at the Cave City park headquarters, installing XIOS platforms in the cave system to study the alleged xenomorph.

On 3 February 1965 PF operatives trespassed onto the secured site and covertly entered the cave system. Agent Gamma had previously notified OSI of PF intent to breach security. USNG and OSI officers were instructed to pull back and maintain low profile in order to encourage this penetration. Once the PF operatives had entered the caves, USNG forces would secure the cave entrance while OSI took possession of the trespassers. PF operatives were apprehended by OSI agents with little incident.

PF operatives claimed to have been in contact with GAN-8/001 and suggested it had no desire to communicate with humans. PF operatives refused to assist OSI in communications with xenomorph or other matters. OSI continued attempts to contact GAN-8/001 while PF operatives were taken into custody and interrogated.

On 4 FEB OSI initiated OPERATION HANDSHAKE to attempt contact with xenomorph. OPERATION HANDSHAKE reported successful contacts throughout February but was ultimately unable to establish coherent communication and the operation was terminated.

SOG-18 continued XIOS operations until increase seismic activity made the caves unsafe for occupancy. Remote XIOS systems were installed and offsite monitoring was initiated on 9 FEBRUARY. Seismological events were observed to continue and even intensify in correlation with both successful and unsuccessful contact attempts.

After eight days without contact or significant tactical development, Project Pluto was referred to Operations for analysis. After consultation with the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior, the Operations Directorate decided to utilize extreme discretion in neutralizing the subterranean xenomorph.

On 12 MARCH 1965 a US Army Special Forces team was inserted into the cave system to place chemical and biological weapons for detonation. Conventional explosives were also used to collapse the natural cave system and prevent further human entry. Defoliant was used on surface areas to devastate local fauna and contribute to cover story regarding uninhabitable status of the area.

As of 15 APR 1965 the status of GAN-8/001 is categorized as UNKNOWN, CONSIDERED TERMINAL. US Army continues to maintain jurisdiction of the Cave City area.

OSI terminated PROJECT PLUTO (Status O-AP/R) on 15 MARCH 1965.

See also

Operation Handshake. An attempt to communicate with GAN-8/001.