Per 
WARNING: Sensitive Information Ahead
In accordance with the Mercurial Protocol, this document has been declassified. You have been asked to wield the content of this document with discretion. This file previously required both O5 and HMCL approval to view.
Site-III's entrance to SCP-001 and GoI-001 "Disciples of Eschatos"
Item #: SCP-001
Object Class: Exodus
Special Containment Procedures: Full-scale containment of SCP-001 has been deemed impossible. Foundation efforts are instead focused on the Mercurial Protocol as a viable substitute for containment. Five Sites, collectively designated Site-001, have been established near Kâhtaçay, Turkey to aid the progress of the Mercurial Protocol, each with specific, delegated roles in an attempt to complete the Mercurial Protocol before the inevitable activation of SCP-001.
Site-V is a large industrial complex and airbase containing a construction site 30,000 m2 in area. This area will be used to generate a functional model of the vehicle designed by Site-IV with an expected payload of 2.86 x1011 kg. This project is projected to be completed by March 18th, 2024. This date is currently outside of the upper bound of the predicted SCP-001 activation period. If SCP-001 activates before the completion of this project, the Overseer Council must convene to give a final ruling on Elenkhos's Proposal.
Site-IV is a Research and Development facility with Level 5 Classification Exemption. All personnel of Level-4 Clearance or greater are permitted unrestricted access to SCP objects within reason. This site is tasked with designing a viable space-faring vessel for the purposes of the Mercurial Protocol. Significant research and engineering feats must be accomplished including resolving unsolved problems in Aeronautics, Efficient Fusion1, Superconductive Materials, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, and Machine Learning. Maintenence of the veil and SCP Containment are deemed a lower priority than developing this vehicle.
Site-III was a small-scale preliminary outpost at a previously unexplored cave that has since become the de facto point-of-contact location to GoI-001, SCP-001-A, and SCP-001 proper. Site-III is additionally tasked with providing accommodations for Members of GoI-001. Interviews with each member of GoI-001 and SCP-001-A are to be performed on a weekly basis, and all relevant data provided to Director Ayers.
Site-II is a newly-developed Public Information department with the purpose of sanitising, declassifying, and releasing Foundation documentation into public media. All the details are to be presented in a manner digestible to the average citizen — the threat and scale of SCP-001 is to be accurately reported as much as possible without inciting panic. If necessary, the use of Memetic Pacification Agents and Ennui-5 are permitted. Site-II also is the Foundation's Talent Acquisition site, which is to recruit volunteer engineers, scientists, and mathematicians indiscriminately.
Site-I is the Oversight facility for all of Site-001. All 13 members of the O5 Council are to remain on-site at all times and will act in full administrative capacity without Ethics Committee veto until such a time as either the Mercurial Protocol has been completed or a final ruling on Elenkhos's Proposal has been decided.
Description: SCP-001 is a colossal mass of undifferentiated and dividing cells residing below the Earth's Asthenosphere, partially submerged within the magma chamber of Karaca Dağ. Based on the depth, mass, and location of SCP-001, it is suspected that it originally came into contact with earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago, in the same event believed to be responsible for the creation of the Moon.
Analysis of the cell lines shows SCP-001 is converting the geothermal energy of its location into metabolic energy. Seismic analysis shows that SCP-001 has been proliferating within the Asthenosphere exponentially. Increased growth of SCP-001 has been linked with increased seismic activity detected worldwide. The frequency and intensity of these seismic events have been increasing exponentially since 2014. Given the intensity of these seismic events, it is likely SCP-001 will be ejected through the Earth's crust within two years. Additionally, these calculations indicate that due to its size, should the mass of SCP-001 be forced through the Earth's crust, the resulting debris and volcanic ash would result in an opaque dust cloud, inevitably resulting in a GH-Class "Dead Greenhouse" Scenario as a result of trophic collapse.
The associated Group of Interest, GoI-001 "Disciples of Eschatos", was formed from agents of Neo-Sarkic and Serpent's Hand members who have come into extended contact with SCP-001-A. Members of GoI-001 rarely leave the vicinity of SCP-001-A, and in absence of stimuli are observed to revert to a lowered metabolic state while adopting a still, seated position. Animal and human corpses have also been found within the GoI's base of operations, with carbon dating ranging the date of these corpses from approximately 575,000,000 BC to present.
SCP-001-A is a human male who claims to have a direct connection with SCP-001 itself. Further research is ongoing.
Discovery: SCP-001 was discovered via reflective seismology in 1997, originally thought to be a geological abnormality of the Anatolian Block. Subsequent remapping of the region showed that the abnormality was increasing in size at a rate far surpassing normal geologic timescales. Foundation Mobile Task Force Epsilon-6 "Village Idiots" was sent to investigate. Site-III (formerly Preliminary Outpost Omega-3) was established while investigations continued.
Addendum 001.A: Initial Contact Exploration Log:
A still frame captured from E6-1's camera during 001-Initial Exploration.
[Begin Log]
[Footage begins at the exterior of the cave entrance, showing a stone large stone wall giving way to a cave mouth set with stairs engraved in the rock. E6-1, E6-2, and E6-3 stand before the cave. The camera is attached to the helmet of E6-1.]
E6-1: We're moving out. Weapons hot, people. Intel isn't clear on what's here, but it's dealt with more than one Sarkic killsquad.
[The group mobilises and secures the perimeter around the cave mouth. E6-3 approaches the cave wall to inspect the glyphs engraved into it.]
E6-3: Not any Sarkic rune I've ever seen. It's old, whatever it is. Greek? Phrygian, maybe? Gotta get a sample to linguistics to confirm. You guys go on, I'll catch up.
[E6-1 and E6-2 begin descending into the cave, with darkness quickly broken only by the shafts of light projected from helmet-mounted flashlights. Despite the cave's remote location, footstep patterns in the dust indicate relatively recent use.]
[Descent continues for twenty-seven minutes before the narrow passage widens into a large space with decorative religious artefacts; many candlesticks are also present, but none are lit. Most of the cave remains in darkness, but several figures are revealed seated on the cave floor near the cave opening as the group emerges. The seated figures do not move, nor respond to the light.]
E6-2: [Whispering] Are they… dead?
[E6-1 motions for cover and moves forward to approach the nearest seated figure. Their legs are crossed and their head is bowed forward. They appear extremely malnourished, but after a few moments of observation, their chest can be seen to rise and fall with extremely slow breaths.]
[There is a brief sound of movement from a distant portion of the cave.]
E6-2: [Shouting] Hey, who's there? Don't come any closer!
[Camera feed quickly turns towards E6-2, then follows their line of sight to the edge of the portion of the cave illuminated by task force headlamps. An unidentified figure wearing robes embroidered with the sign of the Serpent's Hand is standing at the edge of the light.]
Unidentified: Do not harm them. They don't have whatever it is you're after. Please, leave them be.
E6-1: That doesn't answer the question. Identify yourself. [E6-1 rises and holds out his hand for weapons to be lowered.]
Unidentified: I am… Matthias, I think. Yes, that sounds about right.
[Subject begins to wander along the cave wall, coming to sit near one of the unmoving figures.]
Matthias: Forgive me, my vision has become attuned to the cave. The light is blinding.
E6-1: [Gesturing towards nearby seated figures] What are they doing?
Matthias: Deciding. Weighing up the options.
E6-1: Is that what they're doing? Deciding? On what? I don't understand… how long have they been here?
Matthias: Most were here when I arrived. Probably much longer than that. I think… it is time for me to join them. Go see Elenkhos, in the antechamber below… tell him… I am not yet ready…
[Subject lapses into silence, with breathing rate drastically slowing to match the other seated figures.]
E6-2: The briefing said the Black Lodge sent their first recovery group a little over a year ago, right? [E6-2 gestures towards a remote portion of the cave where a group of four withered and emaciated figures wearing dark robes commonly used by members of the Hunter's Black Lodge are seated.] So what are they doing here like this after all this time?
E6-1: I'll head in deeper to see if we can find this "Elenkhos" and figure that out. You post up here and see how many of the recovery targets you can identify.
[Further access restricted to Addendum 001.E]
Calcidius's translation of Timaeus.
Addendum 001.B: Recovered Materials
Note: The following document was translated from the Original Greek to Latin by Calcidius. While no records of the original or Cicero's translation remain, a single copy of Calcidius's partial translation has been recovered. It should be noted that some of the meaning may have been lost in translation.
The manuscript was found in the possession of the GoI-001 "Disciples of Eschatos" with the following addition which is not found in the original text:
Timaeus: And now it is as it ever has been, from fire to all things, and all things to fire.
Socrates: This has been discussed prior, Timaeus. And what of life, if it does not trouble you, nor our other partners? If Critias and Hermocrates approve, I wish to recount the union of the classical elements into man, sculpted by the hands of the gods.
Critias: By the eagerness in the eyes of Herocrates, I see that we are all in agreement.
Timaeus: As you wish. Mere moments from the eternal fire of the cosmos to form the archai we enjoy today, there were fire and rock alone. The Earth was barren; not water nor air nor salt. As it follows, from chaos to order. From beyond the celestial spheres as we know them, a perfect mind with the form of titanic flesh fell into the primordial flames of Earth.
The flesh, ever starving, gorged hungrily on her fledgling fire. Therefore we see flesh cleave to fire as a babe to its mother. The living vessel — as all do — acquired a spirit and naturally, heart, life, and psyche followed. But as a cutting from a tree, the first form of Man rebelled and stole some fire from his mother. Thus it becomes obvious there is no mystery to the rise of man upon the world.
Thus the flesh is the progenitor of man, and fire is the progenitor of that. The flesh shall feast on the primordial fire at the centre of our world until the day the Earth runs cold. Like discarded scraps, we shall be tossed aside as it maneuvers towards its true goal.
Critias: How is it you have come to know all of this?
Timaeus: In the contemplation of the sensible, I came into contact with a vagrant. This man, if one could call him such, knew much of the natural world. Though brief, my contact with Elenkhos, who imparted this ancient knowledge onto me, showed me the primordial flesh at the centre of our world.
Socrates: And what of the flesh's true motivation? Shall it abandon us, despite giving us the flesh with which we enjoy our world? Shall it abandon us, despite giving us the lives we cherish? What purpose could be so great a Father would destroy their own flesh and blood?
Timaeus: You misunderstand, Socrates. We are the illegitimate children of the flesh; can we assume even that it does love us? It desires only fire, and though the fires of the world are vast, the progenitor's hunger grows vaster. In fear of starvation, will not even a loving mother abandon her child when she believes there is food enough for neither?
There is a fire older and greater than this world's. For how long will the Earth's flames entice it before it abandons its progeny and seeks to darken the fires of the Sun?
Addendum 001.C: Updates Regarding Extranormal Event-551
[TODO: AYERS REQUESTS MORE FUNDING TO CONTINUE HIS SMALL, PRELIMINARY SITE TO STUDY SCP-001, SCP-001-A, AND GOI-001.]
[AYERS IS HEDONISTIC, QUICK TO ANGER AT STUPIDITY, BUT ALSO OTHERWISE LIKABLE. REMEMBER: HE OVERCOMES HEDONISM, BUT THE QUICKNESS TO ANGER IS HIS DOWNFALL.]
Addendum 001.D: Telegraph Communications
Dear Overseer Council,
Two months ago I received the go-ahead to create Preliminary Site Omega-Three to investigate Extranormal Event Five-Five-One. During this time we identified an anomalous entity of geologic proportions below Turkey submerged in the Asthenosphere.
The geological survey and seismic reports are clear: this entity is capable of destroying Earth, and will likely do so within two years. I have gathered my Containment Team and liaised with containment specialists from Sites 17, 19, 39, and 65 — we are all of the opinion that any feasible attempts to contain this entity would take longer than this timeframe provides.
With the research that we have conducted at this time the only practical alternative to containment is the immediate evacuation of Earth. I have redesignated my team and available resources to aid with the Mercurial Protocol. With the timeframe provided, there is no room for delay — with full access to SCP Objects and the scientific capabilities of the Foundation, it may be possible for humanity to survive unscathed.
I am requesting the full support of the Overseer Council to facilitate the completion of this project.
— Director Ayers
Director Ayers,
In response to your telegraph the Overseers convened at 08:00 last Monday and decided that while the scale and impact of Extranormal Event Five-Five-One were indeed alarming, no immediate and drastic action needs to be taken at this time. The Overseers believe you and your subordinates are receiving adequate support for the time being.
I hope you understand that this decision was made with the Foundation's best interests in mind. The specifics of the meeting are classified and no further details will be disclosed.
Secretary Tabia Diemer on behalf of
The Overseer Council
Dear Overseer Council,
In the kindest way possible, I do not accept the results of this decision. In tangent to this letter, I am requesting an in-person audience to truly display the damage that this negligence will cause. This flagrant dismissal of clear warning signs — of explicit, unambiguous data — will have a devastating effect on our chances of success.
I cannot, in good conscience, allow this rejection to stand. My team and I cannot complete the Mercurial Protocol without the full efforts of the Overseers and, by extension, the Foundation.
— Director Ayers
Director Ayers,
Your concern has been acknowledged and was taken into consideration during the Overseers' deliberations. Your audience with the O5 Council has been denied. In lieu of this, O5-2 has requested that I personally survey Preliminary Outpost Five-Five-One and report back to see if further discussion is required.
Secretary Tabia Diemer on behalf of
The Overseer Council
SCP-001
Addendum 001.E: SCP-001-A Initial Interview [TODO: REWRITE! - RE-CHARACTERIZE ELENKHOS]
[Continued from Addendum 001.A]
[E6-1 continues deeper into the cavern beyond additional seated figures. Five further minutes of video feed are spent descending the engraved stone staircase. A figure becomes visible around a corner of the cave, basked in red light and overlooking a deep crevasse, and does not turn around as E6-1 enters.]
E6-1: Are you Elenkhos?
[The subject raises its arm towards the crevasse in a slow, almost ritualistic fashion before dropping it back quickly, exhausted. E6-1 approaches the figure to gain a better look — the figure is extremely old and frail, little more than a corpse.]
[The light inside the cavern darkens, briefly. A tendril of red, magma-looking substance approaches the cliff ledge from below and splits off an approximately 10cm3 droplet before the figure. As it cools, vasculature begins to form on the surface and limbs begin to protrude. Slowly, yet desperately, the figure swallows the squirming flesh.]
Unidentified:2 I am.
E6-1: What was that?
SCP-001-A: Ancient flesh. Your forefathers called her Eschatos. A different way of looking at things, I suppose.
[E6-1 approaches the magma chamber, looking into the sea of red below]
E6-1: I don't understand… where'd it come from?
SCP-001-A: From where… who can say? She is not from terra, that much is clear. This cave is where life started, birthed from the flesh before you. From the very beginning, life decided that it was better off away from mother's loving embrace.
E6-1: And that's why you're here?
SCP-001-A: I have remained in this cave for many lifetimes. My purpose is clear: guide those who wish to feel their mother's touch once more.
E6-1: [Gesturing to a nearby seated figure] Is that what you're doing to them? Guiding them?
SCP-001-A: Yes. And no. The ones you see before you are the non-committal, undecided ones. As for those who are, well… [Gestures with both arms towards the chasm.]
SCP-001-A: [Gently chuckling] Perhaps you could call it a leap of faith.
E6-1: That's barbaric.
SCP-001-A: Please don't misunderstand. It is their choice to join the flesh. And they do not die — like myself, the flesh will allow you to continue on. She does not consume flesh, only fire. The flesh we willingly sacrifice — the flesh that makes up our vessel — joins her whole.
E6-1: That's not living. You'd become this… this mindless thing in a cavern.
SCP-001-A: Yes, my child. And what, exactly, would happen if you were to die? You'd become this mindless thing in the ground. At least, by joining the flesh, your life joins hers. Is it not more logical to live on forever, in an immortal God?
[Silence]
SCP-001-A: I would ask you to sit and contemplate for a while. But I'll think you'll find it very enticing — only one man has ever walked into this cave and left the way he came.
Addendum 001.F: Announcement Regarding SCP-001-A
[ELENKHOS HAS BEEN CORRUPTING MEMBERS OF STAFF AT SITE-III. AYERS STATES IT ISN'T MEMETIC COMPROMISATION, BUT IDEOLOGICAL COMPROMISATION. STAFF IS GOING MISSING, AND IT IS ELENKHOS THAT IS TO BLAME. THEY ARE JOINING GOI-001 AND AIDING ELENKHOS. THE SENIOR RESEARCHER, DIEMER, HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND FEEDING ELENKHOS' PHILOSOPHY TO THE COUNCIL AND CASTING DOUBT ON THE MERCURIAL PROTOCOL.]
[AYERS IS TAKING RISKS WITH THE MERCURIAL PROTOCOL. HE IS EXPANDING IT OUTSIDE OF THE OVERSEER'S BOUNDARIES. HE IS DESPERATE. HE ORDERS THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL SITES. HE IS OVERCOMING HIS HEDONISM, BUT HE IS OVERSTEPPING HIS BOUNDS.]
[TODO: THE OVERSEERS ARRIVE ON SITE. DIEMER CASTS DOUBT ON THE PROTOCOL SOME MORE, AYERS, IN A DESPERATE BID TO SAVE HIS PROJECT, BREAKS THE VEIL. WITH ENOUGH PUBLIC SUPPORT, HE BELIEVES, THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED. THE OVERSEERS ARE FURIOUS, BUT AYERS STATES THAT THE VEIL WOULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN ANYWAY BY SCP-001. NOW, HE STATES, THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HELP RESEARCH SCPS AND BUILD THE SPACESHIP.
AT FIRST, THE PUBLIC IS IN DISBELIEF BUT DECIDES TO HELP. AT FIRST, IT LOOKS FULL OF PROMISE. BUT THEN, DIEMER CASTS MORE DOUBT ON THE PROJECT. HE STATES THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. BUT HE STATES THAT ELENKHOS CAN HELP, THAT ESCHATOS CAN HELP. DOUBT GRIPS THE POPULACE, AND DESPAIR KICKS IN.
DOUBT, LIKE A VIRUS, BEGINS TO TAKE ITS TOLL ON THE PROJECT. ELENKHOS IS INTERVIEWED BY NEWS OUTLETS, BY MEDIA, EVERYTHING. HE WEAPONISES DESPAIR AND KILLS THE MOTIVATION OF THE FOUNDATION. THE PROJECT GOES FROM LIKELY, TO FEASIBLE, TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE POPULACE PRESSURE THEIR LEADERS THAT FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO THE FOUNDATION, BUT TO HELPING PEOPLE JOIN ESCHATOS.
THE PROJECT FAILS. GOI-001 IS A MASSIVE RELIGION. ELENKHOS COVERS THE NEWS CYCLE, PREACHING HIS HEDONISTIC DEMAGOGUARY TO ALL. MILLIONS CONVENE AT SITE-III AND JOIN ESCHATOS, FURTHER REDUCING THE TIME BEFORE ACTIVATION.]
Addendum 001.#: Director Ayers's Resignation [TODO: SPRUCE UP]
They are so beautiful.
Dear Overseer Council,
Effective immediately, I am resigning. After my 23 years of employment I will not be
I am not able
I am leaving my position as Director of Site-III. It is with great sorrow
With a heavy heart
I tried, I sacrificed, and I lost everything. I wanted to help. I wanted to do something.
It was not enough. It was never going to be enough.
There's nothing left to do. Nothing that one man can do, anyway. It's just a matter of time.
I'm burning inside, but the fight is over. I lost. We lost. What's left to do? My voice is hoarse and my eyes sting, but my chest is empty. How can I feel so much and so little all at once?
Shall I wait for a miracle? Some Deus Ex Machina to save us all? No, the only thing that will be lifted from this stage will be me.
I will go quietly. With grace. Eight leaves, that should be enough. I could even brew a tea.
What went wrong? I did everything right.
The stars were at our fingertips. All we needed was one last push towards the finish line. We would leave behind a dead planet and behold the stars. Our children would have told stories on alien worlds about how, in our darkest hour, mankind gathered together to dig, with bloodied and tired hands, a way towards the sky and grasp the heavens. Ad Astra…
It would have been a great story.
But not this time.You lived in the light. Now, we die in the dark.
— (Ex) Director Timothy Ayers