Person of Interest - Jeffery Bateman
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION SCIENCE DIVISION
The following file contains information related to the Markhaven monitoring project and as such is limited to Foundation personnel with Marduke level clearance.
-——
Isolate. Stabilize. Communicate.
Person of Interest File #D-0184
Jeffery Bateman on 30/10/1973.
Name: Jeffery Rodham Bateman
Known Aliases: Supervisor Bateman, Ol' Bates, Jeff, Hot Rod
Description: D-0184 is a Caucasian male in his mid-80s, is approximately 168 cm (5'6") and 64 kg (141.1 lbs), has white hair, and is wheel-chair bound.
Date of Birth: 01/05/1945
Reason For Interest: D-0184 was a government representative of former United States President Ronald Reagan and a member of PENTAGRAM, acting as Supervisor of the AEUTOPIA Project. He is also believed to be associated with GoI #627 ("The Factory").
Status: Residing in Orwell Elderly Home in Conway, Arkansas.
Biography: Jeffery Bateman is a former government official tasked with supervising the AEUTOPIA Project in the commonage of Markhaven, Indiana. Despite orders to only act on behalf of Reagan, Bateman often abused his position to profit from the town via money laundering and other illegal activities.
During a Foundation-lead raid into a warehouse believed to be owned by The Factory, ten disguised trucks were recovered from a hidden compartment at the back of the warehouse. A printed delivery order was discovered within one of the trucks which described a massive order of food, water, drugs, and weapons to Markhaven, Indiana. While a name had not been found with the order, investigation of the Markhaven financial records revealed it was Bateman who authorised the transaction.
One of ten disguised trucks owned by The Factory.
Following the AEUTOPIA Project's eventual collapse due to government neglect, Bateman continued to work as a representative and supervisor of anomalous matters for Reagan before eventually vanishing on 13/09/1988. Bateman's activities and whereabouts following his disappearance remain unknown.
Bateman resurfaced on 03/12/2012, when he was admitted to a hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas after having suffered a brain stem stroke. He was admitted to Orwell Elderly Home on 29/02/2013 after it had been determined he would never be able to speak or walk again. Attempts to extract any further information regarding the AEUTOPIA Project or the Factory have been unsuccessful.
Addendum 0184-A: Markhaven's Own Great Depression
Throughout December of 1985, Bateman sparked discussion within Markhaven's government when he proposed the usage of various infohazardous anomalies provided by The Factory to influence the mindset of civilians within the commune. This was to serve as a replacement for the government's current propaganda implementation in the media department of the town. Bateman's proposal was met with both criticism and support from various members of the local government, but the most vocal of his opposition was the town's mayor, Michael Raimis.
Bateman was recorded to have completed the following actions of note between 1985 and 1988:
- Purchased anomalous products from The Factory with laundered money from government funding to Markhaven, and laundered remaining fees for himself.
- Anomalously altered infrastructure, audio-visual media, and food and water supplies with the aforementioned products to suppress a populace of 2, 500 people.
- Formed the Markhaven Defence Force ("The Boys in Blue"), an organisation that killed several hundred citizens (by current Foundation estimates).
- Attempted to enforce a policy in which engagement with anomalously affected media would become compulsory (unsuccessful).
- Mounted a campaign against Raimis to unseat him from the office of mayor (unsuccessful).
- Ruined the economy during his role as Shadow Treasurer for the Markhaven government.
- Sabotaged the food and water supplies of Markhaven to stack opposition against his competition, resulting in the death of hundreds due to starvation.
While the failure of the AEUTOPIA Project significantly decreased the town's income, it has been determined that the funding would have not affected the town's status in its final hours. Bateman's activities had made Markhaven completely unmanageable, leading to the collapse of parliament, and with it, the town itself.
Addendum 0184-B: Archived Footage/Audio of Bateman's Mayoral Campaign
Attached below are some important transcripts relating to Bateman's political career, specifically his running for the office of mayor.
Foreword: This is a speech delivered by Jeffery Bateman announcing his run for the Office of Mayor in the commune of Markhaven, Indiana.
<Begin Log.>
J. Bateman: My fellow Americans. I woke up this morning, like every one of you. And I looked out my window, like any one of you would, to observe the lovely day that lay ahead. And I looked out at our perfect little town, and I thought to myself… Well, I thought whatever a normal person would. How wonderful a morning it looked. The roses in the garden next door, how sweet they would smell should I pass them by on a morning stroll. And I heard the lovely sound of our dear Saul Miller's charming voice over the radio.
But unlike you, ladies and gentlemen, these sights and sounds did not satisfy me. I am a deeply dissatisfied man, for I am cursed with the knowledge that not all is right in our town. It takes a big man to admit as much; that there is a problem he has left unattended. And I have kept silent as this problem has been building.
Well, no longer. I will no longer roll over and keep myself silent any longer. Our current mayor, Mr. Raimis, has been making some… disturbing choices. The list is too long to even begin, but these choices essentially boil down to tearing down the walls of our wonderful community, and exposing ourselves for the whole world to see. And I am terrified for what lies behind those walls. Walls which have shielded our community for so, so long. God's walls to our own Eden.
Now I understand the basic principle of freedom, and I am all for it. I am an American, after all, and we are the land of the free. But the freedom Mr. Raimis strives for is no freedom. It is an anarchy that threatens our very way of life. Some things must be enforced. and there is no way around that fact. No man should be free enough to murder his neighbours. No man should be free enough to steal what he does not own. No man should be free enough to sink into the foul, stinking pit of communism, and spread the foul disease among his kin!
Now, our Boys in Blue have done an astounding job of keeping our streets tidy, but this is a crime beyond them. This is a crime committed under the very skin of Markhaven, a crime that I have passively observed for some time now. This silent surveillance of mine has gone on long enough. I would like to officially announce my running for the Office of Mayor. And I will show you the line to walk, the line drawn between us and them! The good guys, and the bad guys! God's chosen, and the Devil's corrupted!
I will ensure that every man, woman and cherub can wake up, and look out of their windows to see the sun, the roses, the streets - Markhaven - and never worry for what evils lie beyond.
Let me fight what you cannot see.
<End Log.>
Foreword: This is an excerpt from a televised debate between Jeffery Bateman and Michael Raimis, aired during Bateman's campaign. The debate was mediated by well known Markhaven personality Saul Miller.
<Begin Log.>
Miller: Good evening from St. Ronald's Church. I’m Saul Miller and I welcome you to the first of the 1985 Markhaven Office for Mayor Debates between Mayor Michael Raimis and Government Supervisor Jeffery R. Bateman. This debate is sponsored by the wonderful folks over at the Exodus Scholars Committee, as well as an anonymous patron.
A format has been decided for today's debate; questions will be asked of either Mr. Raimis, Mr. Bateman, or both. Both candidates have agreed to these rules. For the record, all questions have been hand picked from polling carried out within our communities and from within the Markhaven government.
The audience here in the church hall has sworn to remain silent throughout the debate. No cheers, no boos, or other interruptions, so that we, and more importantly you, can focus on what the candidates have to say. Anyone found to breech these rules will be escorted out by one of our Boys in Blue and will potentially face criminal charges.
Michael Raimis and Jeffery R. Bateman, welcome.
Raimis: Good evening Saul. Evening Bateman.
Bateman: Evening. How are you?
Raimis: I'm doing fine.
Miller: So, Mr. Bateman, this first question is for you; how do you respond to Mr. Raimis' accusation that you are actively suppressing the people of Markhaven and limiting their freedom?
Bateman: What kind of an opening question is that? A blatantly false accusation? I have not suppressed these people. I have merely shielded them from the dangers of the outside world. I put up walls to stop an influx of people we could not monitor and survey. I have provided endless media opportunities for our wonderful artists. I have assisted in establishing businesses across the board, strengthening our economy and building it into an exceptional system. I have done the opposite of suppression; I have grown this town. And I intend to stretch that growth further.
Miller: Alright. Next question is for the both of you. There have been recent economic challenges within the community. How do you plan to tackle this problem?
Bateman: I'm going to defuse this myth for you Saul; the economy is fine. This campaign of mine may be stressing a few people into seeing things that are not there, and the fact that this is even a question is proof of that-
Raimis: You're all for facing the hard truth as is Jeff, so how about you and I both face the problem properly? It IS a problem. This town is not the perfect utopia you claim it is-
Bateman: And how's that? You've been running this town into the dirt for years. It's why Reagan sent me; to caretake for your poor efforts. Since I've been here, housing has become a compulsory element of life, food has been divided equally among the populace, so there's no imbalances-
Raimis: Is that really all you can do? You list off all of these achievements as if you are personally responsible for any of them, but you're not. You merely took the credit from other people's ideas, all while hiding what you really are: Reagan's puppet. You've only provided these things so that you and your pentagon goons can use my town's people as lab rats for whatever Reagan is planning; ordering these machines and chemicals in secret. Stop trying to brush it under the rug.
Bateman: So, I'm debating with a conspiracy nut now? This is just perfect, I'm sure the people at home are getting a wonderful impression of you. Imagine that; Michael Raimis, the Crackpot.
Miller: Gentlemen, please. Let's not stoop to name calling. Let's keep it civil, yes? Let's move on to the next question for now.
Bateman: Sorry Saul. I'll… I'll keep myself together.
Raimis: As will I. Please, give us the next question.
<End Log.>
Addendum 0184-C: Related Materials
Comment:
“Greed is your god, Kaz."
He almost laughed at that. "No, Inej. Greed bows to me. It is my servant and my lever.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
Oh yeah. This was my part in my team's entries into the Canon Renaissance Contest. A special thanks to my awesome team, 
Amelia Wright, 
VoidLady, and 
pr0m37h3um for their amazing brainpower during this contest, and for the combined passion you all had to help each other tell this story. It was an honour to be on a team with you.
A special thank you to the lovely 
Grigori Karpin and 
Pedagon for your crit and advice, it certainly put the article in better shape than I could have alone.
Image Credits
Image 1 is public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1925, while Image 2 is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
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