Foreword: After several unmanned explorations and exposure tests utilizing animal subjects and D-Class, manned exploration of the next SCP-XXXX instance was approved on 11.12.2019.
This resulted in the exploration of the instance beginning manifestation on 24.1.2020, consequently dubbed 2020A, which manifested in the town of ████, ██████, affecting mainly the ███████ Housing Complex and it’s immediate surroundings. The exploration was conducted after the provisionary containment ring was established and all civilians in the immediate area were evacuated under the pretense of an accident during transportation of asbestos dust.
Involved Elements:
3 sections of MTF Ny-1, maintaining the provisionary containment ring, collectively designated as ANVIL
2 sections of MTF Ny-1, standing by for termination, designated HAMMER
Aerial reconnaissance drone circling the area, designated HAWK
D-13688, D-13202, equipped with portable speaker systems optimized for prolonged emission of ban sounds and various tools, designated ALPHA and BETA respectively
D-20105, equipped with portable speaker system optimized for prolonged emission of ban sounds, a hand-held radio, a head-mounted camera (remote feed), a flare gun with 3 flares (red), various measuring instruments, designated OBSERVER
Transcription of footage covered by and radio exchanges with Observer:
The footage starts with Observer activating the camera and adjusting his clothing. Alpha and Beta watch him. Hammer and their equipment are seen in the background.
Command: Observer, do you read?
Observer: Loud and clear. Do we go now?
Command: Yes, proceed as briefed.
The exploration team enters the affected area via the ███████████ bridge. The fog visibly “recoils” from the exploration team, keeping a distance of around 5 meters.
Alpha: So, what are we here for?
Observer: Didn’t pay attention or what?
Beta: You’re the only one to actually get told shit. We just know to follow you around.
Observer: Really? Well, we essentially just have to wander around until the whitecoats tell us differently.
Alpha: But why, though? If they know how to dissolve this stuff, what else do they need to know?
Observer: Beats me. Maybe they think we would find something their machines overlooked.
Beta: Maybe we are to search for survivors?
Observer: Nah. If anybody still lives in here, they’ll die when they try to leave.
Beta: Lovely.
The team reaches the other side of the bridge, with the ███████ Housing Complex visible to their right.
Command: Enter and search the area to your right.
Observer: Anything we are looking for, in particular?
Command: No. Keep your eyes peeled and report anything unusual.
Observer (to Alpha and Beta): Well, you heard the man.
The team enters the complex via the south ramp. They continue moving in a north-eastern direction, looking up into the windows while passing by.
Alpha: What do you think, how many people were here when that [gestures vaguely around her] happened?
Beta: It was in the middle of the day, so not all that many I’d think.
Alpha: That’s at least something.
The team keeps walking for a few minutes.
Command: Observer, environment check.
Observer: Stand by. [Observer takes out and checks his measuring devices] Temperature 7.26 degrees Celsius, Humidity 98.7%, Radiation 117 counts (per minute), Aerosols [pauses for a few seconds, slowly waving the chemical monitor around] no significant amounts, Background noise [pauses for a few seconds] 29 decibels.
Command: Copy, how do you feel?
Observer: [while stowing away his equipment] The air feels heavy and clammy. Visibility is around fifteen meters clear, shapes for maybe fifty.
Command: Continue as before.
The main building of the complex comes into view.
Alpha: We don’t have to climb that. Please tell me we don’t have to climb that!
Observer (to Command): Command, the large building up ahead, anything to do for us there?
Command: Do you see any lights or movement in the windows?
Alpha (mutters to herself): Oh, right, power. [giggles]
Observer (to Command): No, I don’t see anything.
Command: Okay, continue.
The team moves on, continuing north-east. A few minutes later Hawk reports a heat signature in a nearby building.
Command: Attention. We have a heat source in a building ahead, it’s building number [talks away from microphone] Get me the plans!
Observer: …yes?
Command: Look for building number 13. The source is up on the 4th floor, south-side. Investigate, but be careful.
Observer: Copy that, we’ll watch out.
Alpha: Would you look at that, survivors!
The team fans out slightly, looking for building No. 13.
Alpha: 8, no… 9, no…
Beta: Over here, 13!
Observer (to Command): Found the building. 4th floor, due south, correct?
Command: Yes. Be advised, the source is moving.
Observer: Should we take them with us?
Command: Be careful, it is unlikely that this is a resident.
Beta: [tries to open door] It’s locked.
Observer (to Command): We can’t get in, what now?
Command: Beta carries a sledgehammer in his pack.
Observer (to Beta): Heard that?
Beta: [setting down and opening his pack] Yes. Gimme a minute with this.
Beta smashes in the glass panel in the door. The team enters through the hole and takes the elevator up to the 4th floor.
Command: Observer be advised, you have a thermal monitor in your pack, it should be able to pick up the source from here. Also, Alpha carries an ax in her pack. If necessary, break open the door.
Observer: Working on it. [gestures towards Alphas pack while taking out the thermal monitor] Yes, I see, uhm, something. It’s beyond that [points at wall] wall. I’d say maybe half a meter tall, about the same width?
Beta: And what is it?
Observer: No idea. But that’s why we’re here.
Beta: Well then… [begins to hack into the door near the lock with the ax while Alpha stows away the sledgehammer]
High-sensitivity microphones begin picking up barking between the impacts, which is not noticed by the exploration team nor Control.
Observer (to Alpha): No, no, keep that! Just in case.
Beta: [stops swinging the ax] Ready?
Alpha and Observer nod, Beta kicks in the door. Aggressive barking is now audible.
Observer: Back! Back!
Beta: [looks to his right] It’s just a beagle, and a tiny one at that.
Observer (to Command): Command, it’s a dog. Do we take it with us?
Command: Negative, continue external observation. [talks away from microphone] Keep Hawk on that dog, have Hammer bag it for examination.
The team exits the building.
Command: Observer, another environment check.
Observer: Okay, gimme a moment. [takes out and checks his measuring devices] Humidity 98.4%, Background noise [pauses for a few seconds] 26 decibels, Aerosols [pauses for a few seconds, slowly waving the chemical monitor around] no significant amounts, Temperature 7.19 degrees Celsius, Radiation 109 counts (per minute). [begins stowing away equipment] Still heavy and clammy, slight wet taste.
Command: Taste?
Observer: Yeah, damp. Like in fog.
Command: Check your speaker systems!
The team checks each other’s speaker systems.
Observer: Batteries are all above 75%, all are running.
Command: Good. Visibility?
Observer: Still bad, same as before.
Command: Continue exploring.
The exploration team continues north-east, hits the complex’ boundary after approximately two minutes and continues west.
Alpha: So silent and gray… feels like another world.
Beta: Never been in fog before?
Alpha: Of course, but… this is different. Maybe just because they told us it is different, but…
Observer: Do you feel uneasy, or something?
Alpha: [small pause] Watched. Intensely.
Observer (to Command): Reporting, Alpha is feeling intensely watched.
Command: Do you or Beta share this feeling?
Observer: [looks at Beta, who shakes his head] No, not really.
Command: Check her speaker system again and continue on.
// Alphas speaker system seems to be working normally, the battery indicator displays 78%. The team continues west, noticing a light in a window.//
Observer (to Command): Command, we have a light, up in building number 23. It’s on the [pauses to count] 3rd floor. Do we investigate?
Command: Make your way there and stand by for additional intel.
The team breaks the glass in the entrance door and enters in the same way as with building No. 13. Hawk conducts a fly-by while the team is using the elevator and then returns to continue monitoring the dog.
Command: No heat signatures in the building, be careful anyway.
Observer: Will do command.
While Beta is breaking down the door, Anvil reports increased interest of the civilian population. Due to the urban location of the instance, Anvil may be unable to stop forced entry and requests a begin of termination. Command confirms and orders Hammer to begin.
Observer (to Command): Command, we’re in. Nobody is here, everything looks like a normal flat. Maybe someone forgot to turn off the lights?
Command: Stay in there and keep looking around. Wait for extraction by Hammer.
Observer: Awaiting pickup. (to Alpha and Beta) Looks like this is it.
Afterword: Hammer managed to terminate the instance within two hours, resulting in no additional victims. A total of four bodies were found during the subsequent cleanup operation. The dog found by the exploration team did not display any abnormal characteristics or carry any micro-organisms.