The "Traumbeschäftigung"

The Traumbeschäftigung (Dream Occupation) was an experiment carried out by a secret psychological cult in the U.S. city of Portland Maine. The cult would hijack Radio and TV signals from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM in an attempt to manipulate people who sleep with a Radio or TV on. The manipulation was done via ciphered messages that used the same frequency as Brain waves, causing the dreams to change into planned out nightmares or messages.

Artist rendition of figure from a nightmare originating from the "Traumbeschaftigung" experiment

## Background

The U.S. based psychological cult named "Die Augen" was founded in early 2002 by a group of MIT and Harvard students who were obsessed with psychological manipulation via means of frequencies. By the end of 2002, they perfected and regularly used the idea of "Dream Occupation". The concept that, using waves of sound and light, you can force someone who is sleeping to have a pre-planned out dream. It was only used in a small scale due to them having no means of broadcasting it to multiple devices. In 2003, 2 cult members were arrested after stealing 3 emergency radios from Lowes. The cult was also involved in a series of attacks to air traffic control towers at Portland Jetport that delayed 3 flights for 20 minutes.

## Testing of the experiment

On July 5th, 2005, at around 2:30 am, the cult broadcasted their first message on FM channel 90.5. The message only lasted 2 minutes and was reported to only be heard in the Portland neighborhood of Back Cove. Even though this 1st attempt failed, it showed the cult it was possible. By the end of August, using much more superior technology, they made their 2nd attack. By waiting until night when signals were low traffic, they were able to use a transmitter to broadcast their signal. This was much more successful as the broadcast was a lot more clear. The next day, 4 people checked into the hospital after feeling sick. The sickness was blamed as an E.coli outbreak. Because of this, the cult was ready to start their main attacks.

## Attack on the high frequencies

The attacks and broadcast started on September 7th, 2005. It affected all FM channels from the range 89.2-93.9, and AM channels from 720-1050, the National Weather Service channel 162.40 MH, and any local news channel. The signals originated in Portland, Maine and could be picked up in the southern sections of Maine, but has been reported to be heard as far south as Rockport Mass and as far north as Madison, Maine. Mainerians could regularly pick up the signals due to it's proximity to Portland. Anyone who listened to them while asleep said their dreams would drastically change into nightmares.

## Effects of attacks

Anyone who listened or watched to the broadcast had a mix of symptoms. People who changed the channel or turned off their device got very mild symptoms, while those who continued to listen to it got the worst. Those who were awake felt the effects almost immediately while those who were sleeping felt them when they woke up. The most significant symptom was the dream manipulation itself, those who were dreaming had vivid and surreal nightmares. Most victims described it as "the most horrific feeling of my life", "fever dreams on acid", and "pure dread." However, these manipulated dreams included many bizarre aspects, including:

* Unrecognizable humanoid figures.
* Flashing lights.
* Cartoon-like atmosphere.
* Real life people who the dreamers knew being tortured, or acting in unorthodox ways.
* Apocalyptical scenarios.
* "Feeling of being in a VHS tape."
* The dreamer being a victim in a modern large scale Genocide.
* Being surrounded by machinery and gears in tight, dark spaces.
* Loud chaotic noises.
* Voices of people speaking German.
* Witnessing worst fears.
* Repetition of events in the dream.
* Believing the nightmare to be real.
* Feeling of unease.
* Scenarios where basic necessities in every day life were manipulated in a way where the environment in the dream was hostile towards to dreamer.
* Religious figures and famous Atheists without facial features.
* Various different effects

Despite the fact many dreams including different events, most included some scenario where the world suddenly became warped or hostile. Most Victims woke up in a abnormal amount of sweat. Both people who dreamt and were awake during the broadcast felts symptoms of nausea and experienced hallucinations. These broadcasts caused the greatest period of Paranoia and Mass-Psychogenic Illness in the 21st century. Countless people ended up being murdered to these broadcasts.

Due to these events, the U.S. and Mainerian Emergency Services urged people not to listen to radios or watch TV after 10:30 pm. There was a reported 303 Americans and 160 Mainerians who were effected by the signals. The broadcasting only lasted 11 days.

## Catching the cult

By September 25th, the FCC found the broadcasts origin, an apartment complex in Portland. On September 28th, the Portland Police, and FBI raided the apartment complex to find 7 dead bodies sitting and laying down with headphones on. Using facial recognition and DNA analysis, it was concluded that these bodies were 6 of the 19 students who went missing back in 2002. The other body was found to be that of a 16 year old girl from Bar Harbor who came to join the cult. Only 1 cult member, John Schrader, was found alive and was arrested, sentenced to life in prison, and according to the US Government, "went missing". It was recorded that a similar attack happened in Jackpot, Nevada, but when the FBI arrived no one was around. The bodies were also found with many notes written in German that translated to "The Hertz King is upon us! The Moon awaits" and well as "hudfg wdhfbyernc iegn h r fiyv nei rhfnc" which has not been deciphered. It is unknown why all of the bodies were naked, but it was concluded by the Portland Morgue that their death was a suicide by poison. It is unknown if it was purposeful or by accident. When the brains were examined, it was revealed that the Brains were overloaded with Serotonin, Dopamine, and Melatonin. Their Brains practically fried themselves. There was a video found, but it is still classified. It is believed the video consists of the cult committing suicide, among other urban legends.

## Aftermath

### Deaths

8 Mainerians and Americans died as a result of the symptoms. The worse death is commonly agreed to be the killing spree by a Mainerian citizen that killed 6 people before she was shot to death by two off-duty RMDM guards.

### Media influence

Despite this being a tragedy, it influenced many popular horror videos and pictures online. Although all videos created by the cult have been destroyed, or in vaults,, similar videos inspired by the event can be found on the popular social media site YouTube can be found. These videos and channels include (but are not limited to) Local58, Agamemnon Counterpart, I Feel Fantastic, and many more. The event inspired many Creepypastas, including Slenderman, Jeff the Killer, and Smile Dog. The Post Ironic Schizo meme phase that the internet would go through in 2019 is credited to be indirectly caused by this event due to it becoming a popular subject again.

### Abduction of John Schrader and Operation Traumbeschäftigung.

Mainerian MH-47 used in Operation Traumbeschaftigung

Recently declassified MFIS documents reveal psychological operations during the Poaching Wars. John Schrader, the only surviving cult member, was adducted from his prison cell by RAO Group Alpha-1 and smuggled into Maineria. Documents reveal he was interrogated by the MFIS, and was offered to create a Psychological Weapon in exchange for a new identify.

This led to Operation Traumbeschäftigung. From 2025-2028, the MFIS would broadcast frequencies similar to that of the attacks in 2005. They would play these frequencies from helicopters at night over ICA and Insurgent positions in Northwest Zimbabwe, DRC, and other neighboring African countries. While the Helicopters would play the broadcasts, Marine Commandos would play noises, dress up in bigfoot costumes, and walk around with strobe lights to further disorientate and disturb the enemy.

This operation proved mixed. On one hand, many of the effected ICA Insurgents became less combat effective. However, Mainerian personnel involved in the operation also became paranoid and many were honorably discharged. Due to ethical reasons, ineffective aspects, and fear of the operation being leaked due to the Harare Revolution, the operation was discontinued.

"Nobody" knows what happened to John Schrader, but it is believed to have been assassinated by either the US or Mainerian government. Or he could have been reintroduced into society with a new identify. If the latter is true, God knows what demented project he could be working on now, so sleep tight tonight.