Memo

The Rotting Archives

The Archives File

Each entry is a crossword style clue to its answer. In addition the Ind.No. clues two pieces of info, the letter to extract in the final answer and the length of answer to the clue. (ie. Ind.No. 2.7 indicates to extract the 2nd letter of a 7 letter answer). First, scientists must determine the answers to all 11 clues.

Ans Len	Riddle	Answer
7	Quarantine is required for all Element 115 poisoning cases marked by fever.	FEBRILE
7	In the event of suspected Element 115 release, contact the head of the fire department.	MARSHAL
7	Researchers can resume testing of Element 115 on any cephalopod.	OCTOPUS
8	Element 115 should NOT be covered with breadcrumbs or grated cheese or both.	AUGRATIN
6	Use of the Element 115 alarm in non-emergency events will result in chaos.	MAYHEM
8	Do not disconnect Element 115 monitoring devices.	SEPARATE
10	Research projects related to Element 115 having two contrasting aspects are paused pending further safety review.	JANUSFACED
7	Stone fruit extracts have been shown to provide temporary relief from symptoms of Element 115 exposure.	APRICOT
8	Tools used in the processing of Element 115 must be discarded in the scrap area for possible resale.	JUNKYARD
10	A new Element 115 research facility will be opened in an undisclosed Canadian province.	NOVASCOTIA
13	Element 115 researchers are no longer required to begin the day with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (writer of the original regulation has been terminated).	JULIAWARDHOWE

From the answers, it can be noticed that the front of each answer begins with the abbreviation for the first 11 months of the calendar year (JAN-NOV). This indicates the order to sort the answers in before extracting the final letters from the answers.

Index	Answer	Month	Extract
6	JANUSFACED	JAN	F
2	FEBRILE	FEB	E
4	MARSHAL	MAR	S
7	APRICOT	APR	T
5	MAYHEM	MAY	E
7	JUNKYARD	JUN	R
11	JULIAWARDHOWE	JUL	O
4	AUGRATIN	AUG	R
5	SEPARATE	SEP	R
4	OCTOPUS	OCT	O
8	NOVASCOTIA	NOV	T

The extracted letters give the phrase FESTER OR ROT, a crossword clue for the answer DECAY (That starts with DEC for the 12th month).