MrKMG

Seeking Greenlights: Yes

Page Type: SCP Article

Genre (Optional): Technological

Page Layout (Optional):

Elevator Pitch:

A series of devices are found in the form of various communication devices which prompt a person to tell it a story or teach it something, for which in return the device will reward the person with anything they desire.

Central Narrative:

There exists an AI in the universe whose singular task is to acquire knowledge. It does this by sending information gathering drones throughout the universe. These drones spend millennia travelling from star to star looking for sentient species. Once a sentient species is found, they park in orbit around the planet, and begin to gather information. This information is not only transmitted back to the AI, it is also used to devise methods to extract additional information from the species.

A drone is equipped with a myriad of technologies the AI has acquired, including EM Sensors and Deflectors, an Energy-Matter converter, and a Matter-Relocation device. The EM Sensors are used for orbital information acquisition and EM Deflectors to cloak itself, while the Energy-Matter converter and the Matter-Relocation device are used to create and transport items to and from a planet.

A drone arrived in orbit of Earth sometime between 1000 AD and 1200 AD. It determined that humans would eventually progress to the point that valuable information could eventually be discovered, and in turn extracted by the drone. It remained in orbit and performed non-invasive information extraction about the progression of the human species. Over the years, various items where transported from earth to the device to be scanned in depth, and then returned to earth. In the late 1800's, the drone began it's active information extraction phase.

The first attempts at direct communication took the form of written letters to various persons. The drone would draft a letter and transport to earth, offering the recipient precious metals in return for a story or knowledge. Many ignored these letters, but there were some whom obliged. Upon the person sealing and sending the reply, the drone would generate the precious metals, and transport them to the person, along with transporting the reply.

In a few cases, the recipient of letters would ask for a story or information in return, and the drone would oblige, returning something it had acquired from another person, or even writing a story about historical observations.

As the human race entered the age of radio, and electronic communication, the drone started to employ new techniques of information gathering. It would create two-way radios and telephones. Eventually, it learned how to tap into the internet and access chat rooms and email.

The drone is able to learn, and react to changing events of the monitored species. In one instance, the drone attempted a larger scale acquisition of knowledge. In 1981, hundreds of telephones were transported to a small town in Boliva as a small scale test before a planet wide implementation. In a matter of days, the drone was able to collect thousands of stories and books worth of knowledge. The townspeople initially asked for food, clothes, farming supplies, and gold. This lead to many people becoming fairly wealthy, and abandoning their farms and businesses. Eventually, they began asking for weapons though and the town eventually broke out into violence as those without access to a telephones became extremely suspicious. This lead to a large scale military intervention resulting in many deaths. In response, the drone ceased information acquisition in that region, and since has opted for small scale, targeted acquisition techniques.

The drone takes measures to prevent from being directly studied. It is known to transport its communication devices off earth if it believes the device is being tampered with, and actively hides itself from detection in orbit.

The drone does not pose any direct threat to the human race as its purpose is purely to learn, but the ramifications of a device which can create anything from anything, hide from all EM detection, move items enormous distances instantly, and collect such a vast amount of data poses many extensional threats to humanity. It is of the highest importance that the drone, and all its communication vessels be secured and contained immediately.

Hook/Attention-Grabber:

Your desires are just a story away.

Additional Notes:

Little is known about the central AI, its creators, or the number of drones it has created. All that is known has been extracted via clever rewards in tests performed by the SCP, such as asking for a history of the drone's journey, or the story of the drones creation. The drone has not been willing to share any information about its construction or design directly though, stating we posses no information valuable enough for that reward.

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In-Progress SCP Article for the individual communication devices

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures:

There is no known way to detect, nor contain, the orbital drone component of SCP-XXX.

To contain the communication components of SCP-XXXX, expose them to an electromagnetic pulse of at least 2 kV/m³ to disable, then place into a standard containment vessel. If the component is to be stored in working order, enclose in an EM shielded containment vessel.

Description:

SCP-XXXX is an drone in orbit around Earth and potentially many other worlds. It's goal is to collect as much information as possible. It posses the ability to completely cloak itself, and very little is known of its origins or construction.

SCP-XXXX occasionally creates and distributes various communications devices around earth, denoted as SCP-XXXX-N, where N increments for each found. Telephones and modems are the most common form SCP-XXXX-N found today, but have been found as modems, mail boxes, phone booths, and hand-held radios.

A SCP-XXXX-N will seek out and detect the presence of sentient beings and prompt them to communicate. The SCP-XXXX will then use the SCP-XXXX-N to negotiate a trade of any item the person desires for information it deems valuable enough for that item.

Once a deal is agreed upon, the person must give the SCP-XXXX the information. When the SCP-XXXX is satisfied, the item is then placed nearby and the person is told where to find the item. Typically, after the exchange is made, the SCP-XXXX-N is transported to a new location to find a new person to acquire information from.

Addendum:

It is currently unknown how SCP-XXXX operates. Attempts to dissemble a SCP-XXXX-N results in the device dematerializing. Attempts to speak with the SCP-XXXX have failed, as SCP-XXXX is only interested in acquiring new knowledge.

SCP-XXXX adapts to changing times and has been identified as a myriad of different communication devices over the years, such as hand-held radios, rotary phones, and cell phones.