The Magnus Protocol 49 - Pipelines

Summary

The Magnus Protocol — Episode 49: Pipelines

Release Date: August 28, 2025
Host/Producer: Rusty Quill
Key Characters: Gwen Bouchard, Alice Dyer, Celia Ripley, Jason Knight, Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)

---

Episode Overview

“Pipelines” delves deep into institutional secrets, personal rifts, and the haunted legacies flowing through the OIAR’s work—manifested literally and figuratively through dangerous objects and atmospheric site histories. Key characters grapple with trauma, betrayals, and eldritch threats, all while old wounds and dangerous forces threaten to consume or radicalize them. This episode mixes archival horrors with biting emotional drama as Alice returns from Berlin, revelations about the past are unearthed, and Gwen’s ruthless strategies come to the fore.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Berlin Aftermath & Dangerous Deliveries

• Alice returns from a perilous trip to Berlin, surprising Gwen and catching her off-guard with both her presence and a mysterious object.
• Tension & Mistrust: Alice and Gwen’s reunion is immediately combative. Alice is angered by secrecy around her investigation and Gwen’s handling of things at OIAR.
• Haunted Souvenirs: Alice brings back a supernatural artifact tied to “Heinrich”—one that proved impossible to destroy, eluding even fire and the Thames.
  • Notable quote:

    "I already tried burning it and throwing it in the Thames, but it just comes back. What do we use to store this stuff?"
    — Alice (04:07)

2. Institutional Friction & Reckoning With The Past

• The conversation turns to Klaus Schweitzer, a programmer linked to Alice’s investigation and Gwen’s hidden knowledge.

• Family Secrets: Gwen reveals that crucial information about Schweitzer was delivered to her via Augustus, a shadowy, possibly supernatural informant.

  • Gwen’s connection to institutional power is revealed to be rooted in blackmail and manipulation rather than merit.

• Death and Leverage: Gwen recounts viewing a video of Lena shooting Klaus, using it as leverage and proof of institutional rot.

• Rift in Trust: Alice confronts Gwen about her rise to power and criticizes her reliance on “soap opera dirt” and Augustus’s manipulation.

  • Notable quote:

    "You just looked into some melodramatic soap opera dirt on Lena and ran with it."
    — Alice (06:23)

  • Notable quote:

    "Whatever that dread is, if you touch it, like we have, the only way to survive is to master it. Elias was an idiot who let himself get chewed up. I'm not. I'm the one pulling strings now."
    — Gwen (24:00)

3. The Strand Lane Bathhouse — A Haunting Archive

• Jason Knight reads a chilling historical/administrative document about 5 Strand Lane, London (Strand Lane Bathhouse), once owned by Gwen’s uncle, Elias Bouchard.
• Through archived emails from Elias ("Elias goes [e-mail]"), the episode vividly reconstructs his occult-tinged renovation of the bathhouse, obsession with “Roman energies,” ley lines, and symbology interpreted through masonry and water flow.
• Encounter with the Supernatural:

  • Elias experiences increasingly sinister phenomena: a doorway to grotesque mosaics, intense sensory hauntings, and animate burning pipes, culminating in a desperate plea for help as the pipes ensnare and burn him.

  • Key sequence (16:31–23:03):

    • Elias recounts his sense of ancient life and power, the temptation to “join them,” and ultimately, his doom at the hands of animate infrastructure.

  • Notable quote (on gazing into the bathhouse):

    “All grotesques, strange chimeras of plants, people and animals, all so tangled up with one another you couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. A huge, sprawling morass of life in tile.”
    — Jason Knight (as Elias, 16:51)

  • Descent:

    “It's full of pipes... they're burning me... and it's too hot. There's condensation everywhere. And when I touched one of them, it scalded me. If you get this, I might need some help. I'm struggling here... the pipes are moving. I can feel it. They're moving and they're burning me. Jason. Help. Help me... Help us.”
    — Elias’s emails (19:48–23:03)

4. Personal Fallout & Confrontation

• Alice and Gwen process the revelations and failures:

  • Alice dismisses Elias as a cautionary tale but Gwen, emboldened, interprets his fate as a warning to master eldritch forces rather than be consumed.

  • Alice tries to broker a weary peace, offering to work together but setting boundaries and acknowledging shared trauma, especially around Sam’s disappearance or death.

  • Notable quote:

    "If you still want to be part of trying to figure out what happened to Sam, then, and how we can get him back, that's great. If not, I understand. I'm not interested in losing anyone else. We've got to look out for one another. Especially with whatever's happening to Gwen in there."
    — Alice (26:12)

5. Professional Recriminations & Contractual Dismissal

• Gwen takes a call from Brett at Starkwall Protection Services about the failed Berlin protection job.

  • Brett tries to reposition the blame, minimizing the lethal failure as “suboptimal,” and denies liability for subcontractors.

  • Gwen severs OIAR’s contract with scathing formality.

  • Notable exchange:

    “You'd call a dead staff member and an at risk client suboptimal?”
    — Gwen (28:05) “...all our field operatives are actually individually licensed private subcontractors. And as such Starkwall Protection Services does not accept any professional liabilities relating to them.”
    — Brett (28:10)

6. Lingering Loss & Disconnection

• Gwen attempts to reach out to Lena, only to find her contact cut off—another bond severed.

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I already tried burning it and throwing it in the Thames, but it just comes back. What do we use to store this stuff?”
  — Alice (04:07)

• "You just looked into some melodramatic soap opera dirt on Lena and ran with it."
  — Alice (06:23)

• "Whatever that dread is, if you touch it, like we have, the only way to survive is to master it ... I'm not. I'm the one pulling strings now."
  — Gwen (24:00)

• "All grotesques, strange chimeras of plants, people and animals... a huge, sprawling morass of life in tile."
  — Jason Knight as Elias (16:51)

• "They're moving and they're burning me. Jason. Help. Help me. ...Help us."
  — Elias’s email (22:56–23:03)

• “You'd call a dead staff member and an at risk client suboptimal?”
  — Gwen (28:05)

• "If you still want to be part of trying to figure out what happened to Sam... I'm not interested in losing anyone else. We've got to look out for one another."
  — Alice (26:12)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:19 — Alice’s return; confrontations with Gwen over Berlin events and supernatural artifact.
• 05:00–09:00 — Alice and Gwen argue over the investigation into Klaus Schweitzer and manipulation by external influences.
• 12:00–23:03 — Jason Knight recounts the Strand Lane Bathhouse’s legal and occult history; Elias’s haunting descent via emails.
• 24:00 — Gwen articulates the episode’s central metaphysical struggle: mastering the darkness or being devoured by it.
• 26:01 — Alice attempts reconciliation and sets out the new terms of their partnership.
• 27:11–29:18 — Gwen’s heated call with security contractor Brett, culminating in contract termination.
• 29:35 — Gwen’s unsuccessful attempt to contact Lena.

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode weaves present-tense confrontations with archival horror, blending sarcasm, trauma, and existential dread. Alice’s blunt pragmatism, Gwen’s resolute power-grabbing, and Jason’s increasingly haunted narration underscore the series' sophisticated mix of bureaucratic, personal, and supernatural crises.

---

Summary

“Pipelines” is a linchpin episode, surfacing old wounds, the consequences of manipulation, and the inescapable pull of the supernatural. Through confessions, combative reunions, and chilling records of past tragedies, the show explores the dangers of both denial and hubris in the face of eldritch forces—leaving traumatized protagonists with hard choices about mastery, revenge, and survival.

Transcript

[State Farm / Fidelity / American Home Shield Announcer]

As the main character of your life, you know how important it is to make the right choices for you and how sweet it is to feel good about your decisions. With the State Farm Personal Price Plan, you have options to help create an affordable price for you so you can continue living your best life. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the Personal Price Plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Freddy (Dungeons and Daddies)]

Hey, this is Freddy from Dungeons and Daddies and if you're like me, buying anything turns into a nightmare. Research Spiral. But listen, if you're trying to upgrade your phone, I'm about to save you from yourself. Because right now you can get the new iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence for when you switch at your nearest Boost Mobile store. That's a brand spanking new iPhone for the incredible price of $49.99. Plus you're getting all the latest Apple Intelligence features too, like Cleanup, which removes distractions from photos with Just tap. Visit your nearest Boost Mobile store for full offer details. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later. Restrictions apply.

[Greenlight Announcer]

Did you know adults 60+ lose more than $60 billion each year to financial exploitation? Greenlight's new Family Shield plan empowers you to monitor your accounts for suspicious activity, protect yourself with up to $1 million identity theft coverage and reassure love that you're safe with location sharing and place alerts. Get peace of mind [e-mail] protect that's greenlight.com protect why choose a Sleep number Smart bed Can I make my site softer?

[State Farm / Fidelity / American Home Shield Announcer]

Can I make my site firmer? Can we sleep cooler?

[Sleep Number Announcer]

Sleep number does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side. Your Sleep Number setting It's the Sleep number biggest sale of the year. All beds on sale up to 50% off the limited edition smart bed plus free premium delivery with any smart bed and adjustable base ends Labor Day. All Sleep number Smart beds offer temperature solutions for your best sleep. Check it out at a Sleep number store or sleepnumber.com today.

[Narrator / Rusty Quill Announcer]

Rusty Quill presents the Magnus Protocol episode 49 pipelines.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I told you Celia. You have to knock before yeah, not Celia. Not knocking.

[Alice Dyer]

She in yet? Really?

[Gwen Bouchard]

Alice? You disappear to Berlin for weeks chasing a dangerous lead with no word other than a trail of blurry receipt photos, and that's all you have to say?

[Alice Dyer]

Okay? Hi Gwen. I Hate what you've done with the place. Now, is she in or not?

[Gwen Bouchard]

No. She should be, though, right? Now. What are you.

[Alice Dyer]

Catch.

[Gwen Bouchard]

What is this?

[Alice Dyer]

A souvenir.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Oh. Well, thank you, Alice, you really should.

[Alice Dyer]

Don't open it. Put it down. Now.

[Gwen Bouchard]

What is it?

[Alice Dyer]

I don't know. It's from that external, Heinrich.

[Gwen Bouchard]

And you brought it here?

[Alice Dyer]

I already tried burning it and throwing it in the Thames, but it just comes back. What do we use to store this stuff?

[Gwen Bouchard]

What stuff?

[Alice Dyer]

You know, spooky stuff. Haunted dolls, possess lawnmowers. Evil things. You keep saying you're in charge. So what have we got?

[Gwen Bouchard]

Alice, we don't store things here. It's a desk job.

[Alice Dyer]

Seriously, Nothing. Do we have a safe, at least? We need to keep it away from Celia or Jack.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I'll see what I can do. I suppose Starkwall might have some kind of artifact storage facility or something. Speaking of, how did you find their agent?

[Alice Dyer]

I mean, he looked the part.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Good.

[Alice Dyer]

But then he pissed off Heinrich and got immediately ripped apart, so. Two stars.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I'm sorry, what?

[Alice Dyer]

He was killed. Horribly. Yeah.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I see. And you didn't think it might be worth mentioning this at some point?

[Alice Dyer]

I didn't want to get into it over the phone. Besides, we were busy.

[Jason Knight]

We?

[Alice Dyer]

Yeah. Me and Heinrich. The monster who killed him. We were tracking stuff down about Klaus Schweitzer, the programmer I was talking about when we ended up. What?

[Gwen Bouchard]

What?

[Alice Dyer]

What do you know?

[Gwen Bouchard]

Gwen, you didn't tell me that was his name.

[Alice Dyer]

Schweitzer. Why does that matter? You know him.

[Gwen Bouchard]

You remember when I was asking about one of the old IT staff a while ago?

[Alice Dyer]

Before everything.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Well, before everything what?

[Alice Dyer]

I mean, vaguely. You wanted to know about some random old hire. What was his name? God damn it, Gwen. What? You let me piss off all the way to Germany with killer toys and stazzy psychos.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Wait, what?

[Alice Dyer]

And this whole time you already knew what was going on? You could have done something.

[Gwen Bouchard]

No, no, it's not like that. I just. I saw a video of him and Lena, where she, well, shot him.

[Alice Dyer]

I.

[Jason Knight]

What?

[Gwen Bouchard]

He was begging her to spare him. They struggled, the gun went off.

[Alice Dyer]

She killed him.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I mean, it looked like he got away, but she'd shot him in the gut, so.

[Alice Dyer]

So that's how you did it.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Did what?

[Alice Dyer]

This whole time, I've had this pathetic little hope that maybe. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you were put in charge because somehow, despite your constant bullshit, that there might be something, some secret reason that made you worth promoting, but there isn't. You just looked into Some melodramatic soap opera dirt on Lena and ran with it.

[Gwen Bouchard]

It wasn't luck.

[Alice Dyer]

Really? That's what you're taking away from that? Fine. Then how did you find out about it?

[Gwen Bouchard]

I was. I was scented.

[Alice Dyer]

By who? Freddy?

[Gwen Bouchard]

No. Well, sort of. It was Augustus.

[Alice Dyer]

What?

[Gwen Bouchard]

We've been talking. Sort of.

[Alice Dyer]

I'm sorry.

[Gwen Bouchard]

He sent me an email with the video attached and he told me how I could use it. And.

[Alice Dyer]

What, you just believed him?

[Jason Knight]

It.

[Alice Dyer]

Some sketchy email from a random voice at a haunted computer tells you to jump and you just ask how high?

[Gwen Bouchard]

I'm not an idiot, all right? But it. He knew things. Things that I needed to know. And when I had decided I was going to leave, he warned me what would happen.

[Alice Dyer]

What are you talking about? Gwen.

[Jason Knight]

Savills Night Confidential Property Information Disclosure Form 9872012 for the benefit of Elric Capital Investments Limited Property Strand Lane Baths 5 Strand Lane, London. Postcode WC2R 2NA. Current Owner, National Trust, England. Reverted following disputed Bouchard leasehold. Contact information siobhanloationalationaltrust.org Property classification restricted. Historic site. Year of construction 1612. Number of prior owners 9. Title deed reference LN 1611360. Occupancy status unoccupied. Primary use of property historic site, structural damage, flooding. C Attached. Legal disputes or planning issues. Ownership contested by Bouchard Estate and National Trust. Has the property been the location of any serious criminal activity, including violent crime or unexplained Deaths? William Weddell, 1792. Elias Bouchard, 2011. Details attached. Has the property been subject to police investigation? Yes. C Attached. Has the property undergone professional remediation for biohazards or contaminants? Pending remediation for human remains attached. Any persistent issues with utility systems? Yes. C Attached. Environmental hazards? Yes. Lead piping, lead based paint? No. Remediation. Unapproved modifications? Yes. C Attached. Existing warranties, guarantees or active insurances? Yes. C Attached. Zoning, historic site, commercial space, mixed use access rights, easements or similar? Yes. National Trust covenants and easements, including limited public access rights and conservation orders, outstanding taxes or fees? Yes. See Bouchard Estate dispute. We, the undersigned, affirm that the information provided in this form is accurate and complete to the best of our knowledge. Signed Jason Knight and Derek Savill 2009, 2013. Additional notes or comments Requested documentation attached per your request, with permission of London Met. I hear it's being treated as a mental health incident, which makes sense. Let us know if you're looking to invest in an actual Roman site or other historic property, and we'll be happy to deal with you directly, Jason first attachment as follows Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason bavillsknight.com Ray the Baths 03072011 11:29am hey dude. Figured I should bounce this into a separate thread now we're settled. I also looped out Sebastian over at Elric. No need to bore him with the details. Well done getting NT to play ball with the lease, even if it is with all those T's and C's they should be paying me given all the restoration work. Planning permits are all in too. I'm guessing Westminster are just glad not to be paying the bills anymore. Either way, you better start calling me Dionysus because I run a Roman bathhouse now. If you can be on site tomorrow to let the shaman in, I'd appreciate it. Fair warning he's not as chill as you would expect, but he won't be any trouble. He's just excited to start testing the convergence. You know what the ley line lot are like. Just don't ask about the rock map again, otherwise he'll be fully off on one. TTYL Elias Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray the Baths 03072011 11:30am oh also I found someone to test the water. He's not cheap but he knows what he's talking about. He suggested it might be coming from Holywell or St. Clement before I even mentioned them. Elias goes [e-mail] to jason [e-mail] ray ray ray the baths 03072011 11:32am also also, if you have anyone on file for Roman restoration work, let me know. I want the best. Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray Ray Ray the Baths 05072011 11:19am hey dude, shaman is totally on board, which is cool. Apparently it's not quite on the Strand line like I thought, but there's still definitely some energy there. Caesar's well will just have to pick up the slack, right? Seems fair to me for a Roman bath. Lol Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray the Baths 06072011 11:02am hey dude, you might want to update your records. I tried your Roman ruins guy but once I told him the job he just laughed at me. You might want to steer Clear of him in future. Luckily I found a guy online and he reckons we should be able to do the Bigfoot Ford Matania renovations, no problem. The marble and stucco won't be as cheap, but it'll be worth it. An ancient Roman bath fully harmonised in central London. That's worth spending a bit of cash on. Right. Still no need to loop Sebastian in. This is all in scope. All going well. Six months from now you won't need that plaque on the wall. People will be able to feel vespasianic energies. Never mind what the great and powerful LCC architect's office say. Speaking of, the water guy should be round today. I'd appreciate it if you could let him in. All going well. He'll be able to finally put that stupid modified cistern nonsense to rest. Anyone with any real spiritual understanding can tell it's a real sight of power, not just glorified plumbing. And the sooner we can prove it, the sooner we can start doing the real work. Thanks again for your help. I did hear you when you said you don't normally deal with stuff after point of sale. But this should be the last time. Promise. Later's Elias Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray the Baths 09072011 10:02am Big news. The water results came back yesterday with slight elevations of nitrate and phosphate. That pretty much proves it's special. We are so on. I know he mentions stuff about lead as well, but, like, it's a Roman bath. We knew that going in. Right. I'm heading in today to take some measurements for the marble people. You should come along and I can sign those last papers. Cheers, dude. Elias goes [e-mail] to jason [e-mail] Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray the Baths 10:07 2011 06:03am I know you said not to message you again, but, like, this one's important. So after you left, I figured I'd poke around a bit, soak up the vibes one last time before all the construction work started.

[Alice Dyer]

Proper.

[Jason Knight]

Anyway, I was feeling the brickwork in the main corridor and I could feel that buzzing again. Like I told you, I could sense all the old Romans still there, just on the other side of the wall. Only this time I could, like, really feel it, you know? And as I got to the blocked door at the end, I don't know why, but I started feeling like if I could just open it, I could join them. Like there was some secret door or something. So I just sort of pushed on it, just to see. You never know, right? And then it gave way. And the other side. We always knew there was a whole mess of stuff hidden on the King's College side in the old Norfolk hotel basement. But this. I went to Pompeii as a kid on a school trip. Walked the street, saw the graffiti on the walls. And mostly I was disappointed. I didn't feel anything. It was dead. It was all just rocks, old rocks in the shape of a city and its people. The next day we went to Herculaneum. It's another Roman ruin just down the road. And you'd think it would be just the same, but you'd be wrong. It didn't burn like Pompeii. It was buried in a mudslide. And that changes everything. There, you could feel it. The streets, the buildings, the people. They were all preserved after all that time, completely, completely untouched. They were still there. And it was still alive. And I could feel it. That's what it felt like on the other side of that doorway. The mosaics on the floor, the frescoes. Every inch of it was real. You could see it. You could touch it. Only I didn't want to. They were all grotesques, strange chimeras of plants, people and animals, all so tangled up with one another you couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. A huge, sprawling morass of life in tile. I caught myself tracing a path along the revealed corridor. Man to dog, to plant, to fish, to tree, to something I couldn't even recognize. Winding paths of transformation stretching into darkness. I don't even know how far I followed those things in the dark, lulled by the murmur of thousand year old conversations. But eventually I found another door, a small, nondescript one at the base of the wall, which every monstrous route led to. I wanted to open it, to find another living treasure inside, to pull it out into the light and let it shine for everyone to see. To let them feel its power the way I did. But I didn't. I'm not stupid. I didn't have the right gear and no one knew where I was. That's why I'm going tonight instead. My phone's charged. I've got a torch, a digital camera. I even borrowed a hard hat from one of the roofers. And if anything happens, you'll know where I am. I'll be going in around seven, once all the workers have gone home. No sense freaking them out. I'd appreciate it if you could Come, Jason. I wouldn't have got this far without your help. Call me if you get this in time. You have my number on file. Wish me luck, dude. If this goes well, you're about to have the biggest win of your career. Elias. Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray ray the baths 10:07, 2011, 7:34pm heading in now. I can feel that buzz again and it's so strong. And I can definitely hear conversation on the other side of the walls. It must back onto a lecture hall or something. Going to check the trapdoor first. My guess is it leads to some kind of hypocaust. But I need to be sure. We've got to have a complete record to shove in all their faces. Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason [e-mail] Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray ray the baths 10:07, 2011, 7:48pm it's full of pipes. Thick lead ones all over the place. I'm trying hard not to disturb them, but it's getting difficult to move and. And it's too hot. There's condensation everywhere. And when I touched one of them, it scalded me. If you get this, I might need some help. I'm struggling here. Elias goes [e-mail] to jason [e-mail] Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray the Barbs 10:07, 2011, 7:54pm you need to answer your phone. I'm stuck. Got myself wedged between the pipes and they're burning me. No one's answering their phone. I need help. Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason Bavillesknight.com Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray ray ray the baths 10:07, 2011, 8:01pm the pipes are moving. I can feel it. They're moving and they're burning me. Jason. Help. Help me. Elias goes [e-mail] to Jason [e-mail] Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray the Baths 10:07, 2011, 8:03pm Help us.

[Alice Dyer]

Okay. Lonely, deluded hippie gets crushed to death. Pretty standard stuff. What am I missing?

[Gwen Bouchard]

Elias. He was my uncle. He was the only one who ever listened to it. Doesn't matter. The point is, I never knew what happened to him. Augustus showed me.

[Alice Dyer]

Listen, Gwen, I'm sorry about your uncle, but honestly, it sounds to me Like Freddy tricked you into taking Lena out by tugging on your heartstrings and trying to, I don't know, fill that void that your uncle left.

[Gwen Bouchard]

You still don't get it. I liked Elias, but he wasn't a father figure. He wasn't a mentor. He was a cautionary tale.

[Alice Dyer]

Well, yeah, of what happens if you mess with this stuff.

[Gwen Bouchard]

He was a warning of what happens if you don't figure out what's happening. Whatever that dread is, if you touch it, like we have, the only way to survive is to master it. Elias was an idiot who let himself get chewed up. I'm not. I'm the one pulling strings now.

[Alice Dyer]

Gwen, listen. I don't think you realize.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Haven't you got a caseload to catch up on?

[Alice Dyer]

I know you're scared of what's been happening.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Get out of my office. Alice. You're back.

[Alice Dyer]

Yeah.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Hey.

[Alice Dyer]

Celia.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Graduated back in one piece. You'll have to tell me the whole story once I'm caught up.

[Alice Dyer]

Sure. Looks like you've been busy without me.

[Gwen Bouchard]

No. Well, you know.

[Alice Dyer]

Sure.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Listen, Alice, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. You've every right to be annoyed that I haven't made any progress with the Sam stuff while you've been risking your life chasing Freddie's shadow.

[Alice Dyer]

I mean, I won't lie. I was definitely beefed at points.

[Gwen Bouchard]

And I'm sorry. I truly am. If I could bring him back, I would. I just. What with doing all the cases on my own and Gwen and Jack and. It's.

[Alice Dyer]

It's okay.

[Gwen Bouchard]

No, it's not.

[Alice Dyer]

Celia. Honestly, it's alright. I was thinking stuff through on the flight back and having spoken to Gwen just now, I get it. It's not been easy here. And you got a life outside of this shithole. You've got your own stuff going on and I. I don't want to get in the way of that.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Alice.

[Alice Dyer]

Let me finish. I got this all scripted in my head on the way here and we haven't got to the tearful reunion part yet.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Sorry.

[Alice Dyer]

I don't blame you for what happened to Sam. None of this awful crap is our fault. And when it comes for you, there's really nothing you can do about it. That said, if you still want to be part of trying to figure out what happened to Sam, then, and how we can get him back, that's great. If not, I understand. I'm not interested in losing anyone else. We've got to look out for one another. Especially with whatever's happening to Gwen in there. And if that means Giving you your space or not.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Understand? I promise. I just. I can't really explain right now.

[Alice Dyer]

That's okay. I'm not tired. I'd only forget it anyway. Right. Come on then. Let's get back there and start cleaning up this mess.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

This is Brett.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Hello, Brett, this is Gwendolyn Bouchard of the OIAR.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Ms. Bouchard, I was just about to call you. I just heard that your employees returned to the uk.

[Gwen Bouchard]

That's correct.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

I've also been informed that our operative was killed in action.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Correct. It seems that your field trained specialist managed to get himself killed almost immediately by an external. Leaving my staff member to complete her work entirely unprotected for the rest of her trip.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Yeah. Our analysts tell me our operative was murdered by an entity marked by yourselves as your in country agent. Is that correct?

[Gwen Bouchard]

Yes.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Well, firstly, I can only apologize for what's happened. This is of course the last thing we wanted as a demonstration of our services.

[Gwen Bouchard]

I should hope not.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Of course, we can only operate completely effectively when provided complete and effective intel. And it's clear to me the threat level of your in country contact was misrepresented. Hence the suboptimal outcome.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Suboptimal? You'd call a dead staff member and an at risk client suboptimal?

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Well, firstly, I'd just like to point out that all our field operatives are actually individually licensed private subcontractors. And as such starkwall Protection Services does not accept any professional liabilities relating to them.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Of course you don't.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Secondly, according to our reconnaissance reports, your infield staff member actually left the location with the in country external agent and proceeded to go about their business under no duress. Meaning that although the unanticipated fatality was regrettable, it did not compromise your employee safety nor your organization's stated objectives at the time.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Are you finished?

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Just making sure we're all on the same page, Ms. Bouchard.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Then let me make it as clear for you as possible. Based on this laughable performance, the OIAR will not be renewing your contract at this time and I will instead be lodging a formal complaint.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Sorry to hear that, Ms. Bouchard. After all, the OIAR is a valued, historic client. I'll have our complaints department get in contact by email to discuss the matter further with you. But otherwise I wish you luck finding alternative security arrangements. And if that doesn't work out, you know how to reach us.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Goodbye, Brett.

[Brett (Starkwall Protection Services)]

Talk to you later. Ms. Bo.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Hi, Lena. It's Square. I know. You told me the number you have dialed has been disconnected or is no longer in service. We're sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected or.

[Narrator / Rusty Quill Announcer]

The Magnus Protocol is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial share alike 4.0 international license. The series is created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J. Newell and directed by Alexander J. Newell. This episode was written by Alexander J. Newell and edited with additional materials by Jonathan Sims, with vocal edits by Nico Vitesse, soundscaping by Meg McKellar, and mastering by Catherine Rinella, with music by Sam. It featured Billy Hindle as Alice Dyer, Anuja Battersby as Gwen Bouchard, Lowrian Davis as Celia Ripley, with additional voices from Tim Ferren. The Magnus Protocol is produced by April Sumner with executive producers Alexander J. Newell, Danny McDonald, Lynn C. And Samantha F.G. hamilton, and Associate producers Jordan L. Hawke, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, CTA Raven, and Megan Nice to subscribe, View associated materials or join our Patreon visit rustyquill.com Rate and review us online. Tweet us at the rustyquill, visit us on Facebook or email us at mail rustyquill.com thanks for listening.

[Greenlight Announcer]

Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. That's why a State Farm agent is there to help you choose a coverage option that's right for you. Whether you're getting a new house, car, boat or rv, helping protect it is important. And State Farm is there to help you choose the coverage you need, whether you prefer by talking in person, on the phone or using the award winning app. And with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs so you can continue to focus on what's most important to you. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[State Farm / Fidelity / American Home Shield Announcer]

Building a portfolio with Fidelity Basket Portfolios is kind of like making a sandwich. It's as simple as picking your stocks and ETFs, sort of like your meats and other topics, and managing it as one big juicy investment.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Mmm.

[State Farm / Fidelity / American Home Shield Announcer]

Now that's pretty good. Learn [e-mail] baskets Investing involves risks, including risk of loss. Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC Member NYSE SIPC.

[Gwen Bouchard]

Greetings homeowner Repeat after me if my home system or appliance breaks down. American Home Shield will help fix or replace the covered item, no matter its age and exhale. Oh, and home warranty plans start at $29.99 a month. American Home Shield don't worry, be warranty. Visit ahs.com listen for 20% off any plan.

[State Farm / Fidelity / American Home Shield Announcer]

See ahs.com contracts for coverage details, including limit amounts, fees, limitations and exclusions.