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  USAMRIID PROJECT DANCER 
   
  AUTOPSY REPORT 
   
  Subject: Anomalous Entity #E1 
  Date of Death: 9/30/1999 
  Reporting Pathologist: Dr A Manara 
   
  Circumstances:  
   
  Unknown creature believed to be responsible for a number of deaths in the Long Island area. 
  Apprehended by agents of this office through the application of heavy firepower (see debrief document 
  attached). 
   
  External Examination: 
   
  The body of an unidentified bipedal organism, possessing a pair of wings in addition to arms and 
  legs. Eight bullet holes are identified in the ventral surface of the torso and corresponding exit wounds on 
  the dorsal surface, all exuding a thick yellow fluid also spattered across the entire ventral surface. The 
  creature has a tough chitinous integument of a uniformly greyish colour. The creature measures 221cm in 
  height, and weighs 107 kg. 
   
  The head is elongated, with a long snout and counterbalancing cranium. The mouth contains 
  twenty-eight isodont teeth. The exposed portions of the teeth are 3cm in length and with sharp, slightly 
  serrated rear and forward edges. Spots of brown blood and organic tissue are identified on the teeth and 
  around the jaws. There are no lips. The lower jaw possesses two chitinous spurs 1cm in length near the apex 
  of the inferior surface. The chitinous integument extends into the upper and lower surfaces of the mouth. 
  There is no tongue. A large, firm protuberance is located at each side of the mouth, behind the angle of the 
  gape. These are covered with a flexible mucosa, notably softer than the integument. 
   
  Two nostrils are identified, surrounded by apparent muscular sphincters. The eyes are smooth and 
  crystalline, with a pearly bluish-grey colouration. There are no eyelids. Posteriorly and superiorly to the 
  eyes are a pair of elongate antenniform structures, each 27cm in length. These are 8mm in diameter along 
  most of their length, but slightly enlarged distally, where a row of six small pits, each 3mm m.d., is located 
  on the ventral surface. 
   
  No ears are identified, nor are there any other orifices on the head. A sparse covering of black 
  hairs is located over the posterior fifth of the head, and extends down the posterior surface of the neck to 
  about a half of the way down the back of the thorax. 
   
  The ventral forelimbs are thin but muscular. They are articulated slightly ventrally from the 
  superior surface of the thorax, so that they hang down in front of the body. The anterior surface of the lower 
  half of the distal portion of the limb bears three hard, rounded, chitinous protuberances. The manus bears 
  four digits, each articulated at the base and with a single joint approximately one quarter of the way along. 
  Distally to the joint, each digit consists of a sharp recurved claw. Three of the claws are 8cm in length, 
  while the most medial digit bears a 5cm claw. None of the digits are opposable. Traces of brown blood are 
  identified on some of the claws. 
   
  The lower limbs are also articulated slightly to the ventral surface of the abdomen and therefore 
  project forwards. The pes bears three digits anteriorly, and one opposable digit posteriorly. The anterior 
  digits have two joints beyond the articulation and are 20cm in length. The posterior digit is 9cm in length 
  and has only a single joint beyond the articulation. All of the digits terminate in sharp, recurved claws, each 
  1.5cm in length. 
   
  The dorsal forelimbs are articulated at the same level of the thorax as their ventral counterparts. 
  The main joint within the limbs is stiff and immobile. There is some limited mobility of the carpal joint, 
  which bears four digits. Three of these digits are elongated and bear no flexible joints; a pterygial 
  membrane stretches between these digits and between the digits and the rear of the thorax, so as to form a 
  wing structure. The fourth digit is rudimentary, and consists only of a short recurved, immobile, claw. The 
  
   
   
  pterygium has a similar texture to the integument, but is much more flexible, and is semi-translucent, 
  revealing small blood vessels within. 
   
  The thorax is tapered, with powerful muscles discernable beneath the integument in the region of 
  the shoulders. There are no nipples, natural orifices or other distinct structures on the thorax. The upper part 
  of the abdomen is extremely narrow, only half the diameter of the thorax or lower abdomen, so that the 
  torso is distinctly divided into two segments. The hind limbs articulate just below this stricture. The lower 
  abdomen is covered by seven segmental sheets of especially tough and rigid chitin. A small orifice with a 
  muscular sphincter is identified on the upper ventral surface of the lower abdomen. The apex of the lower 
  abdomen consists of a mirror-smooth hemispherical depression 2cm in diameter, in the centre of which 
  there is a small conical papilla. 
   
  Radiographic examination: The integument of the creature is somewhat radio-opaque, making 
  radiographic examination of the internal structure difficult. An internal skeletal structure is, however, visible 
  within the body. The bones of the skull appear complete, so that each limb contains a single bone in each 
  segment and an additional single bone at the base of the digits. Complex girdles of bones are identified at 
  the levels of articulation of the limbs. A series of seven ribs surrounds the thorax, with a bony structure 
  similar to a vertebral column running down the ventral midline. A dorsal vertebral column runs from the 
  base of the skull through the thorax and upper abdomen. A regular radio-opaque mass is observed 
  occupying the inferior half of the lower abdomen, divided into four segments corresponding to the external 
  segmentation of this part of the body and enclosing the apical pit. 
    
  Internal Examination: 
   
  Cardiovascular system: Apparent blood vessels are located throughout the body. These contain 
  variable amounts of a thick yellowish fluid, which is also found within the general body cavity. The largest 
  vessel is connected to the inferior surface of a muscular organ in the approximate centre of the thorax, 
  presumed to be the heart. Numerous finer vessels connect to the upper surface of this heart, all of which 
  originate in the presumed lung (see below). The heart contains two chambers, one superior and one inferior, 
  connected by a single central valve. The heart weighs 204g. 
   
  Respiratory system: A tracheal tube runs from the nasal cavities through the neck. Opening the 
  tube reveals a series of muscular valves dividing it into four segments. The tube enters inferiorly into a large 
  spongy organ, where it divides into many smaller vessels. This organ, presumed to be a lung, occupies 
  almost the entire upper half of the thorax, with the heart lying cushioned against its inferior surface. A 
  muscular diaphragm lies beneath the lung, becoming fibrous centrally, above the heart. The lung has been 
  penetrated by four bullets. It weighs 947g. 
   
  Digestive system: The mouth opens into an oesophagus that passes through the neck and upper 
  thorax ventrally to the trachea and lung. A taut stomach occupies the ventral portion of the lower thorax. 
  Opening the stomach reveals a considerable quantity of altered blood. A narrow intestine runs from the 
  stomach through the narrow upper abdomen and forms a coiled mass in the superior portion of the lower 
  abdomen. The anus is located at the ventral abdominal orifice. Two bullet wounds penetrate the intestines. 
  A flat, lobulated greenish organ is located just below the junction of the upper and lower abdomen, and is 
  attached to the distal portion of the intestine via a narrow duct. This organ weighs 135g. 
   
  Lymphatic system: Not positively identified. 
   
  Central nervous system: The cranium contains a pale rugose organ, presumed to be the brain, 
  weighing 983g. Nerve-like fibres run from the brain to the eyes, antennae and nostrils. A much larger 
  presumed nerve cord runs from the base of the brain into the dorsal vertebral column, with numerous nerves 
  branching off to the limbs and organs of the body. 
  Genito-urinary system: Not positively identified. 
   
  Endocrine system: Not positively identified. 
   
  Other internal organs: The lower thorax, upper and mid abdomen form a single body cavity, lined 
  by mesothelium. A pale, collapsed, sac like organ is located dorso-superiorly to the lung, in close proximity 
  to the trachea and vertebral column. An irregular fatty organ occupies the lower thorax, dorsal to the 
  stomach. This organ weighs 5.2 kg, and is penetrated by a bullet wound. A reddish spherical organ 46g in 
  weight is attached to the fatty organ by a major blood vessel. A horseshoe-shaped greyish-yellow organ lies 
  inferiorly to the stomach, and weighs 20g. Two pale yellowish organs are located on either side of the upper 
  abdomen, attached to the mesothelial lining, and together weigh 21g. Two bluish-grey egg-shaped organs 
  are located in the mid-abdomen, inferiorly to the intestinal coils, and together weigh 30g. 
  
   
   
   
  A large organ, previously observed on radiography, occupies the inferior portion of the lower 
  abdomen. The surface of the organ is smooth and white, with a copious supply of yellow blood vessels. The 
  wall of the organ is highly calcified, and has been penetrated by a single bullet wound. Sectioning of the 
  organ with bone saws reveals that the superior three segments of the organ each contain a toroid gas-filled 
  space surrounding a series of rod-like structures embedded in a spongy substance and which connect all 
  three segments and penetrate the fourth, smallest segment. The remainder of the fourth segment contains a 
  series of calcified plates with nodular surfaces. 
   
   
  Histopathological Examination 
   
  The integument consists of a tough chitinous cuticle up to 5 mm thick overlying a columnar 
  epithelium. No glands are identified within the integument, but a few fine bristles project from modified 
  cells in the epithelium, and are presumed to be sensory in function. Beneath the epithelium lies a layer of 
  connective tissue consisting of collagen fibres, adipose cells and other cells of unidentified function. The 
  connective tissue also contains numerous capillaries and nerve fibres. 
   
  The muscular tissue appears similar to that in known vertebrates. The heart consists of muscular 
  fibres indistinguishable from those of the skeletal muscles. There is no pericardium. The blood contains 
  numerous enucleate cells and a smaller number of ovoid nucleate cells. 
   
  The bones are largely acellular, apart from a network of blood vessels and a central hollow core 
  consisting largely of adipose tissue. The blood vessels in the bones have occasional irregular cells on their 
  outer surfaces, which may perform a role in the maintenance of the calcified matrix. 
   
  The lung consists of a complex series of interconnected air spaces lined by a simple squamous 
  epithelium and surrounding blood vessels, nerves and bronchi. The lungs lie within a pleural cavity lined by 
  cuboidal epithelium. 
   
  The firm protuberances within the mouth consist of muscular tissue. The gut is lined by an 
  epithelial mucosa, an inner circular and outer longitudinal layer of muscle fibres, a thin outer sheet of 
  adipose tissue and a serosal lining of cuboidal epithelium. The mucosa of the oesophagus, stomach and 
  rectum consists of cuboidal epithelium, which merges into a stratified squamous epithelium at the 
  pharyngeal and anal margins before reaching the integument. The intestinal mucosa is rugose and lined by 
  columnar cells with multiple cytoplasmic papillae on the luminal surface. This epithelium overlies a 
  collagenous submucosa containing occasional glandular structures. 
   
  The greenish organ connected to the digestive system consists of multiple lobules; each containing 
  coiled tubes lined by cuboidal epithelium. The tubes are separated by a connective tissue stroma containing 
  blood vessels and large irregular cells of unknown function. A network of larger vessels connects the 
  lobules to the efferent duct. 
   
  The brain is surrounded by a sheath of adipose tissue enveloped in a meshwork of collagenous 
  fibres presumed to be analogous to the meninges. The brain contains complex nerve cells, similar to those 
  in vertebrate brains. 
   
  The mucosa of the sac-like organ consists of transitional epithelium, and is surrounded by a 
  heavily innervated submucosa, which also contains multiple glandular structures with ducts opening into the 
  lumen of the organ. It is contained within its own mesothelial lining. 
   
  The fatty organ is essentially homogenous in structure and consists of a mixture of adipose cells 
  and regular spherical cells of unknown function. There are numerous blood vessels within the organ. 
   
  The reddish spherical organ consists of a matrix of cuboidal cells surrounding microscopic fluid-
  filled cavities and a network of fine capillaries. These cells contain what appear to be secretory granules. 
  Microscopic clusters of smaller cells of unknown function are found embedded within the organ. 
   
  The horseshoe-shaped organ consists of multiple different types of unidentified cell forming sheets 
  surrounding flattened, blood filled spaces. 
   
  The paired yellowish organs consist of regularly shaped cells enclosed in a fibrous capsule. 
   
  The paired bluish organs are divided by microscopic fibrous septae and consist of numerous 
  spindle-shaped cells mixed with a smaller number of spherical and dendritic cells. 
   
  No histological sections could be prepared from the large apical organ, but the presence of many 
  heavy metals was detected, and the organ appears to be largely acellular on superficial microscopic 
  examination. 
  
   
   
   
  There are no apparent ultrastructural abnormalities within the cells examined. The organism 
  possesses 18 pairs of chromosomes, none of which are obviously sex chromosomes. Analysis of the blood 
  reveals the presence of a complex, yellow-coloured porphyrin molecule with some superficial resemblance 
  to haemoglobin, and containing magnesium instead of iron. 
   
  Conclusions 
   
  Although this organism has a superficial resemblance to a terrestrial vertebrate, close examination 
  reveals it to have no relationship with any known terrestrial organism. The possession of six limbs, the 
  shape of the torso and the possession of antennae rule out any obvious vertebrate connection, which is 
  further confirmed by the bizarre arrangement and nature of the internal organs. It is therefore concluded that 
  such features as the general form of the limbs and the arrangement of the eyes, nose and mouth are the result 
  of parallel evolution in an unknown, but essentially Earth-like, environment. 
   
  The size of the organism relative to its wings would suggest that it would be a poor flyer at 
  terrestrial atmospheric densities. Its large size and powerful musculature would suggest significant physical 
  strength. These factors taken together would imply that it may have evolved in a high gravity environment 
  with a dense atmosphere. Reports indicate, however, that it is apparently comfortable under terrestrial 
  conditions. 
   
  The size and complexity of the brain suggest that the creature may be very cunning, but it is 
  unlikely to possess true sentience or human levels of intelligence. 
   
  The simplicity of the digestive tract suggests that the creature feeds primarily on fluids or soft 
  foods, and that the teeth likely serve a primarily defensive function. The contents of the stomach and the 
  report submitted by agents of this office suggest that vertebrate blood, including that of humans, is 
  nutritious to the organism. Blood drinking may therefore be its primary means of obtaining nutrition in its 
  native habitat. 
   
  The body tissues generally contain a significant number of adipose cells, which may suggest a 
  frigid native environment. The multiple valves in the trachea may enable the creature to hold its breath for 
  extended periods of time, although the lack of obvious amphibious adaptations may count against this 
  theory. 
   
  The structure of the large greenish organ suggests that it is probably excretory in function. The 
  absence of any other obvious excretory organs further suggests that the organ is analogous to a kidney, and 
  that urine or other waste products are emptied directly into the hindgut and expelled with the faeces. 
   
  The function of the other unidentified organs is less apparent, although the size of the fatty organ 
  might suggest that it has a metabolic function similar to the vertebrate liver. Many of the smaller organs are 
  probably endocrine in function, but the function of the large apical organ is entirely obscure at this time. No 
  obvious reproductive organs were identified in the organism, so that its life cycle remains unknown. 
   
  At an ultrastructural level, however, the organism appears very similar to terrestrial forms. The 
  cells possess nuclei, mitochondria and other well known organelles, while non-cellular substances found 
  within the body include collagen, myelin, etc. It is unclear what significance this finding may have. 
   
  Death was due to multiple bullet wounds and loss of blood. The tough integument and large size of 
  the organism probably make it more resilient to injury than a typical human, but modern military firearms 
  are apparently quite effective against it. 
   
   
  Ia Trauma and blood loss 
   
  Ib Firearm injuries 
   
  II Unidentified organism, probably of extraterrestrial origin 
  A Manara 
   
  Supervising Officer: Lt-Col. R Smith 
   
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SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Delta Green [multi]/EXTRAS/Resources/Props/Delta Green - Autopsy of a Byakhee.pdf