FritztheMan

"Stay in Sight"

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: Due to nature of SCP-XXXX, Site-XX has been constructed around the cave entrance. Site-XX should contain the necessary personnel and equipment for field research capabilities. Five to ten armed security personnel are to be on standby at the entry at various times, making sure that at least three are on guard at any one time. An exclusion zone of five kilometers has been established around the entrance to SCP-XXXX to prevent entry by non-authorized personnel. If non-authorized personnel are found within the exclusion zone, they are to be given Class-A amnestics and given a generic "Geological Hazard" cover story by security personnel. Under no circumstances should personnel enter SCP-XXXX alone. When entering SCP-XXXX, all personnel within should always remain in sight of one another.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a large cave network located within ██████, Manitoba, Canada. Within SCP-XXXX is an entity of unknown size or shape, henceforth known as SCP-XXXX-1.

The apparent depth and length of the tunnel network within SCP-XXXX is always shifting, with the only constant being the entrance and the first twenty meters of tunnel, as well as a large basin of water located approximately two-hundred-fifty meters below sea level. The water basin measures twenty meters wide, thirty-two meters long, and fifteen meters deep. Any attempts at finding heat signatures within this area failed, as the basin seems to be boiling hot at all times. The shifting of the tunnels seems to be entirely random, with branching tunnels appearing suddenly, and entrances slowly closing over by rock formations through unknown means. The sheer randomness of the tunnel changes prevents any sort of exploration in its entirety.

While one may become lost within the confines of SCP-XXXX, the real threat posed is by SCP-XXXX-1. When any person is alone or is out of line of sight from the rest of their group, SCP-XXXX-1 will attack the victim, swiftly disemboweling its target. If line of sight is lost with the body, the body will seemingly vanished. Foundation researchers assume it is SCP-XXXX-1 taking the body away for sustenance at a later date. These attacks and vanishings can occur within the blink of an eye. It is unknown at what time interval SCP-XXXX-1 chooses to attack, as some attacks haven't occurred until hours have passed, and the victim is deep within the SCP-XXXX network. What is known is that attacks will not occur until past the twenty meter mark within SCP-XXXX.

Discovery: SCP-XXXX was discovered on 05/12/20██, when a local news story leaked about the disappearances of five teenagers, as well as two local police officers dispatched to find them. A Foundation agent, embedded within the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police was dispatched to the last location of the police officers, when he too disappeared, the Foundation swiftly deployed a rapid reaction team composed of members of Mobile Task Force Sigma-22 ("Tunnel Rats") to investigate the cave system. Their objective was first and foremost ascertain whether or not this anomaly qualified as an SCP, and secondly locate the missing Agent. None of the team came back alive.¹

Access Exploration Log: SCP-XXXX-A

[BEGIN LOG]
Corporal M. █████ activates his helmet-camera. As he pans around, four other Agents of MTF Sigma-22 are visible. Date shown: 05/15/20██

The Rapid Reaction Team is composed of Corporal M. █████, Captain J. ██████, Corporal W. ███, Sergeant F. █████, and Corporal B. ██████. [Note: This mission was Corporal B.'s first with the Foundation.]

The team leader, Captain J. ██████, begins to address the rest of the team.
J: "Alright men, check your weapons over once more, we have zero idea what lies within this cave, all we know is Agent ██████ went missing inside. Be prepared for anything."
The next several minutes are spent double-checking equipment, after all four junior members give the signal, the Captain J. takes point.
W: "[EXPLETIVE DELETED], it reeks in here!"
J. "Cut the chatter Corporal, we need to remain quiet, hand signals from here on out, understood?"
The other four respond with an "all-clear" hand signal, and Captain J. nods in acknowledgement.
The team moves past what we now know as the "twenty meter mark."
After walking for another thirty minutes through the tunnels, Captain J. suddenly stops.
J. "Something doesn't feel right…" The Captain turns around. "[EXPLETIVE DELETED]! Where is [Sgt. F.]!"
Corporal B. begins to visibly panic as the squad begins searching the immediate area.
J: "Calm down, Corporal! We're gonna get out of here! Alright, lets get back to the surface and radio Command!"
As the rest of Sigma-22 turn away from B., his panicked breathing suddenly stops. Corporal M. turns around and catches a glance of Corporal B.'s corpse on the ground, seemingly disemboweled.
M: "Captain! [Cpl. B.] is down!"
Captain J. gestures for Corporal W. to keep moving towards the surface.
J: "Come on Corporal, we're gonna call for reinforcements, lets move, we can recover him later!"
After turning to leave, Corporal M. glances back at the body, which although appears to have vanished on the camera footage, the blood stain is still there. It should also be noted that at this point, Corporal W.'s vital signs flat-line on the Heads-Up-Display of Corporal M.
Ten minutes pass, and the recording suddenly cuts out. No contact was made with Captain J. Subsequent MTF Sigma-22 squads recovered Corporal M.'s helmet and rifle, but not the Corporal himself, nor the rest of the squad.
[END LOG]

Footnotes

1. Helmet-camera footage from Corporal M. █████ was recovered by the second MTF team deployed.