Reconnaissance Report

Initial Perimeter Survey

From:

Wu Tianming (吴天明), Captain, Counter-Terrorism Unit

To:

Li Wei (李伟), Deputy Mayor (Acting Authority)

Date:

Day 0, approximately 16:00 hrs (reported verbally at assembly ~16:30)

Patrol composition:

Wu Tianming (lead); PAP Platoon Leader Chen Ke (陈柯) + 4 PAP personnel (6 total)

Duration:

~60–75 minutes

Maximum range:

~5 km from campus center (all cardinal directions)

Method:

On foot. Four radial sweeps (N, E, S, W) with abbreviated cross-legs.

1. Terrain and Geography

North (BRG 000°): Dense subtropical/tropical forest. Canopy begins approximately 50–100 m from the library building (northern campus boundary). Canopy thick; ground vegetation moderate to heavy. Not easily traversable without clearing tools or pre-existing paths. No paths observed. Visibility under canopy estimated at 15–30 m. Patrol penetrated approximately 200 m into tree line before turning back due to time constraint.

East (BRG 090°): Grassland transitioning to low scrubland. Gently rolling terrain. Visibility good — 2–3 km unobstructed in clear conditions. One large body of water observed at approximately 3 km, designated “Lake Alpha”. Freshwater appearance from distance. Not confirmed — did not reach shoreline.

South (BRG 180°): Grassland extending beyond visual range. Campus buildings (teaching blocks, then dormitories) extend approximately 400 m south from center. Beyond dormitories: open grassland/savanna, no structures. Salty wind detected from southeast quadrant — consistent with proximity to ocean, but coast not observed within patrol range. Distance to coast: unknown, estimated >5 km.

West (BRG 270°): Mixed grassland and scattered tree clusters (individual or small groups, not continuous forest). One smaller body of water at approximately 2 km, designated “Lake Beta”. Terrain generally flat. No elevated ground observed within range.

2. Wildlife Observations

Species (Probable ID)	Location	Count (Est.)	Behavior	Threat
Zebra (plains zebra)	East, near Lake Alpha BRG 085°, ~2.5 km	15–20	Grazing. Fled at ~200 m approach distance.	LOW — no aggression
Antelope (species unknown)	Southeast grassland BRG 130°, ~1.5 km	30+	Herding. Alert posture. Maintained distance.	LOW
Wild cattle (Cape buffalo?)	East-northeast BRG 060°, ~2 km	8–10	Grazing. Did not flee. Observed patrol.	MODERATE — large, potentially aggressive if approached
Birds (various species)	Throughout patrol area	Numerous	Normal activity. Mix of ground and tree species.	NEGLIGIBLE
Insects	Throughout	Expected density	Normal for subtropical grassland.	NEGLIGIBLE — monitor for disease vectors (unknown environment)

Wildlife behavior suggests no regular human presence in this area. Animals showed flight response at standard wild distances — not habituated to humans. No domesticated animals observed. No evidence of hunting, trapping, or pastoral activity.

3. Infrastructure and Structures

NONE OBSERVED

No buildings, ruins, or structural remnants
No roads, paths, trails, or worn ground
No walls, fences, or boundary markers
No cleared or cultivated areas. No agricultural plots.
No smoke visible on any horizon
No artificial light sources
No sound of machinery, engines, or human activity
No aircraft observed. No contrails. No satellite visible (daylight).
No debris, litter, or manufactured materials outside campus boundary

Campus boundary is sharp. Modern buildings and paved surfaces end; wilderness begins within meters. No gradual transition, no landscaping decay, no buffer zone. This is not consistent with any urban or suburban campus environment I have ever operated in.

4. Water Sources

Designation	Location	Size (Est.)	Type	Status
Lake Alpha	~3 km east (BRG 085°)	~500 m across	Freshwater (visual assessment only)	UNTESTED
Lake Beta	~2 km west (BRG 265°)	~200 m across	Freshwater (visual assessment only)	UNTESTED
Campus water supply	Internal pipe network	Reserve volume unknown	Municipal storage (tanks/pipes)	Finite. Currently in use.

Do NOT authorize consumption of lake water until tested. Clean appearance means nothing — parasites, heavy metals, and bacterial contamination are all invisible to the eye. At minimum, water must be boiled if emergency use is required before proper testing can be conducted. Recommend assigning chemistry or biology faculty to develop field testing protocol immediately.

5. Threat Assessment

5a. Natural Threats

Large wildlife (buffalo): Avoidable with basic precautions. Do not approach. Maintain >300 m distance. Threat increases if animals become habituated to campus food waste.
Snakes / insects: Probable but not directly observed during patrol. Subtropical environment with mixed grassland and forest strongly indicates presence of venomous species. Exercise caution in tall grass and building perimeters.
Sun exposure: No shade in grassland areas. Heatstroke risk for any extended patrol or work party without head cover and water supply.
Night predators: UNKNOWN. Did not observe large predators during daylight patrol. However, grassland/forest ecology in an African-type biome strongly suggests presence of big cats, hyenas, or equivalent. Assume present until confirmed otherwise.

5b. Human / Civilizational Threats

No evidence of any human presence, hostile or otherwise, within patrol radius.
Radio communication attempted on standard frequencies: ALL NEGATIVE.
Mobile phone signals: NONE. No cellular network detected.
Visual horizon scan (binoculars, all directions): NEGATIVE for structures, smoke, or activity.

Assessment: Within the 5 km survey radius, we appear to be entirely alone.

5c. Environmental Assessment

Climate: Subtropical. Warm. Humidity moderate. Wind from south-southeast. Consistent with southern hemisphere late March.
Vegetation: Mix of tropical/subtropical forest (north) and savanna grassland (south, east, west). Biome transition zone.
Fauna: Observed species — zebra, antelope, buffalo — are consistent with southern/eastern Africa.

The animal species observed — zebra, antelope, buffalo — are consistent with southern/eastern Africa. Combined with the researcher team's preliminary latitude estimate, I assess with MODERATE CONFIDENCE that our location is somewhere on the eastern coast of southern Africa. I cannot explain why there is no evidence of human habitation. This assessment addresses location only, not circumstances.

6. Security Recommendations

Perimeter watch: Establish rotating guard posts at campus boundaries. Minimum four positions: north, south, east, west. Priority assignments: north (forest — limited visibility, concealed approach possible) and east (open approach, longest sight line). Two-person posts minimum.
Night security: Double the watch during hours of darkness. Unknown predator risk. No external lighting exists beyond campus electrical grid. Recommend vehicle headlights or improvised lighting at guard positions if generators can support the load.
No unauthorized exits: Until systematic exploration is organized and approved by leadership, no individual should leave campus boundary alone. Buddy system at absolute minimum. Recommended: minimum 3-person groups with at least one armed member for any movement beyond 500 m.
Arms status: Current inventory: PAP personnel armed (standard issue sidearms and patrol rifles). My unit armed (counter-terrorism standard loadout). Ammunition is adequate for SECURITY operations but not for sustained engagement, extended hunting, or attrition scenario. Ammunition expenditure must be strictly controlled and logged.
Tomorrow's priority: Extended reconnaissance — 10–15 km range, multiple directions, with larger team (recommend 8–10 personnel). Objectives: confirm distance to coast, locate rivers or streams, identify any sign of human habitation beyond the 5 km survey radius. Secondary: approach Lake Alpha for water sampling.

7. Personnel Notes (CONFIDENTIAL)

Chen Ke (陈柯), PAP Platoon Leader:

Functional during patrol. Followed orders. Executed assigned tasks without error. However, appears to be in a state of psychological denial. Responses were mechanical. Did not initiate conversation or ask questions about the situation at any point during 75 minutes. I assess he has not accepted the reality of our circumstances. Monitor closely — may become non-functional if comprehension sets in suddenly rather than gradually.

PAP Personnel (4 members):

Professional conduct throughout. Followed orders. Maintained discipline and spacing. Two members visibly shaken but performed all assigned duties without failure. Recommend keeping them occupied with structured tasks.

Hao Junjie (郝俊杰), Military Liaison Officer:

Not assigned to this patrol. Approached me after return with tactical questions and practical suggestions regarding perimeter defense and watch rotation. Questions were competent and indicated genuine field experience. Different unit background but has relevant operational knowledge. Recommend immediate integration into security planning and patrol roster. He wants to be useful. Let him.

Wu Tianming (吴天明)

Captain, Counter-Terrorism Unit

Acting Security Chief (designated by Acting Authority)

I have conducted counter-terrorism operations in Xinjiang and urban environments across four provinces. I have written patrol reports in deserts, mountains, and cities. I have never written a patrol report that concludes “no human presence detected in any direction.” I do not know what to make of this. I am reporting facts.

Report compiled: Day 0, ~17:00 hrs