Palladius-2

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: The entrance to SCP-XXXX is located in the basement of the XXXXXXX Hotel in Mexico City. The XXXXXXX Hotel has been purchased by a Foundation front company and is now internally designated Site-355. In order to avoid notice the restaurant on the ground floor of Site-355 operates as normal, staffed by Foundation personnel. Any civilian attempting to access a restricted area of Site-355 should be asked to vacate the premises by a member of staff in a private security uniform. Individuals who fail to comply should be detained and incarcerated onsite for interrogation.

The sub-basement in which the entrance to SCP-XXXX is located should be equipped with no less than four remotely controlled turrets mounting thermal cameras and GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon, sufficiently armoured to resist small arms fire up to .50 calibre BMG. Each weapon should be supplied with no less than ten thousand rounds of ammunition at all times. Due to the hazard presented by the concussive forces of the turret weapon reports, the basement must be clear of all Foundation personnel when the necessity of using the turret weapons is anticipated.

The basement has been lined with 42mm XXXXXX-XXXXXXX armour panels to contain weapons discharges from a breach event. These panels must be inspected on a weekly basis or after a breach event and replaced if weakened.

In the event of hostile entities originating from SCP-XXXX overwhelming the initial defences, Protocol XXXX-Congreve should be enacted immediately. All members of Mobile Task Force Theta-80 must immediately deploy in full combat gear with thermal vision goggles and assault weapons loaded with tungsten-cored armour piercing rounds, as well as any available anti-tank weaponry. Any encountered SCP-XXXX-1 entities should be terminated with extreme prejudice. In the event of a large scale breach, suitably equipped units of the Mexican military have been briefed on the nature of the threat and are available to assist.

A large scale breach should be concealed by use of cover story 143; a wide scale release of aerosolised hallucinogens by a terrorist cell. Amnestics and mimetic agents of variable strength should be employed by Foundation officials to introduce inconsistencies into eyewitness accounts.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a stone doorway located in the basement of a Mexico City hotel, now designated Site-355. The opening of the doorway is a perfect mathematical square of side 3.8m, surrounded by a mantel consisting of five limestone blocks engraved with symbols in an as-yet untranslated language, though pattern analysis indicates the symbols form a series of complex mathematical equations. The doorway is commonly obscured by a black light-absorbing membrane that varies in opacity following the lunar cycle, being fully opaque at the full moon and fully transparent at the new moon. A graph of transparency against time shows a sinusoidal pattern to the variances.

For a period of six days centred around the new moon, SCP-XXXX’s barrier will become intangible and allow solid objects to pass through. Unlike the smooth variation in opacity, this transition is sharply binary; either the barrier is completely solid or completely intangible with the transition between the two states believed to be instantaneous.

SCP-XXXX has been categorised as a Type 3 dimensional gateway that leads to a similar location on an alternate Earth, henceforth referred to as Earth-XXXX. Specifically, SCP-XXXX leads to a high density urban zone believed to be an alternate version of Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztec civilisation, in a time period consistent with our own. Though inorganic materials both natural and artificial, as well as plant life, are physically common to both realities, an unknown effect renders all complex animal life on Earth-XXXX, including SCP-XXXX-1, invisible to any visible light based observation, though still observable by thermal cameras, echolocators, radar and other non-visual detectors. Based on examination of SCP-XXXX-1 corpses, it is currently believed that this effect also applies to SCP-XXXX-1 attempting to observe animals in our reality. This effect is believed to be a property of the doorway, rather than inherent to SCP-XXXX-1 and other Earth-XXXX animalia.

SCP-XXXX-1 is the designation given to human inhabitants of Earth-XXXX. At present, SCP-XXXX-1 display no unexpected variation from standard humanoid, though due to their cultural norms and objectives they are considered to be actively hostile.

Instances of SCP-XXXX-1 will invariably mount an armed incursion into our reality at least once during each new moon period, with the intent to commit wide scale abduction of civilians for unknown purposes. Though considered to be non-anomalous, the technology and equipment utilised by SCP-XXXX-1 raiders makes them a significant threat to Foundation personnel (see Addendum 1). In addition, SCP-XXXX-1 have begun to adapt their tactics to counter Site-355 defences, as well as escalating the scale of their incursions.

The Foundation has mounted three counter-incursions to date. Following the results of Counter-Incursion III, all further deployments through SCP-XXXX have been put on indefinite hold.

Reverse engineering technology originating from Earth-XXXX has resulted in several improvements to the equipment of Foundation mobile task forces to date. The potential benefits of further contact with Earth-XXXX are currently being debated by the O5 council.

Addendum 1: Equipment known to be used by SCP-XXXX-1

The most common set of equipment used by SCP-XXXX-1, believed to be ‘standard issue’ is as follows:

• 1 uniform, consisting of a plain deep red form-fitting hooded jumpsuit. Currently known to exist in eight different types, four different sizes for male and female body types.

• 1 set beige body armour, consisting of vest, shoulder pads, vambraces, cuisses, greaves and boots. Notable uncovered areas are the hands, neck and crotch. Vest is marked with a unique complex symbol on the right breast, believed to be a personal sigil or name, and between one and five concentric red rings on the left shoulder, believed to be a rank insignia.

• 1 beige full-coverage helmet. Helmet has an opaque faceplate with several button cameras on the outer surface and a liquid crystal display on the inner surface, and has a compact lithium battery inserted into a compartment located at the base of the skull. Helmet is capable of displaying visible light or thermal vision modes, as well as an inbuilt encrypted radio communications device consisting of a module over the left ear with a short vertical antenna.

• 1 compact coilgun-type assault weapon that fires tungsten-nickel flechettes 52mm in length using magnetic acceleration. Fed from an internal magazine replaced through break action, the weapon’s receiver hinging forward to eject the empty magazine and accept the new one. Rate of fire, accuracy and projectile speed all superior to Foundation-issue SCAR-L assault rifles, though lack of a fire selector and small magazine size necessitates regular reloads. The weapon also has a prominent rail along its underside used to launch rifle grenades (see below), and a laser targeting assist mounted below the weapon’s barrel.

• 1 close combat weapon consisting of a 42 cm arrowhead shaped blade on a telescoping handle which can be compacted to 50cm or extended to 3.2m. SCP-XXXX-1 tend to use this item as a stabbing weapon, akin to a Roman gladius in its compact form or a shortspear in extended form.

• 8 spare magazines for primary weapon.

• 6 rifle grenades. Payloads are universally non-lethal, with the three known types being: fast acting sedative gas; electromagnetic pulse; concussion charge. Despite this, the projectiles are launched with considerable force and a direct hit at close range is capable of causing fatal blunt force trauma.

• 1 tablet computer and stylus. Tablet computer can be affixed to an electronic device via a reversible adhesive and then manipulated with the attached stylus. Object is believed to be some form of hacking tool or remote access device, but appears incompatible with native computer systems due to fundamental differences in coding architecture and design philosophy.

• 2 aerosol cans containing unknown adhesive and counteragent respectively. Adhesive has thus far only been effective when applied directly to the skin of an endothermic vertebrate, and appears intended for securing of prisoners. Counteragent renders adhesive inert, but causes mild chemical burns to exposed skin.

• 1 canteen, capacity 0.83L, containing fluid consistent with isotonic sports drink. Commonly affixed to back, consumed using extendable straw that plugs into port on jaw section of helmet. Fluid comes in several different colours, though there is no apparent difference in flavour or nutrient content between the different colours.

• 6 ration bars, dark brown in colour and wrapped in plain white paper packaging. Bars appear to be made primarily from heavily processed rice and maize, and taste tests with D-Class personnel have identified three different flavours: tomato, avocado and cilantro.

• 2 spare lithium batteries, compatible with helmet and tablet computer.

• Miniature tool designed to be worn around thumb. Function appears to be access to battery compartments in helmet and tablet computer.

• 1 tube of paste that reacts on exposure to air, heating to several thousand degrees within seconds. This appears to be intended for use as a breaching tool.

Equipment that has been deployed less commonly, believed to be ‘special issue’ is as follows:

• Thicker, all-encompassing body armour that proved resistant to .50 calibre machine gun fire, prompting the upgrade to GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon in Site-355’s defences.

• A long barrelled coilgun-type rifle that fires flechettes 80mm in length, tipped with a shaped explosive charge and believed to be intended for use as an anti-tank rifle.

• A large shoulder-fired tube weapon lined with three rifle grenade rails and capable of holding up to twenty four rifle grenades internally, believed to be intended for use as a heavy area-denial weapon. Thus far only encountered loaded with sedative gas grenades.

• Heavy rectangular riot shield resistant to small arms fire.

• Autonomous three-wheeled rover with thick armour plating and mounted weapon similar to two standard issue assault coilguns mounted side by side with greatly expanded magazines.

• Autonomous three wheeled rover, lightly armoured and fitted with suicide explosive charge.

• Large crew served coilgun mounted on three wheeled carriage, fired through SCP-XXXX from the Earth-XXXX side prior to raid.

• Small aerial drone propelled by three miniature jet turbines and armed with a variation of standard issue assault coilgun.

• Large quadrupedal beasts genetically related to the African black rhinoceros, showing evidence of genetic and surgical alteration into living battering rams. Resistant to all small arms fire, requiring anti-tank weaponry to put down. Creatures lack eyes and are believed to navigate using a form of echolocation.

• [DATA EXPUNGED]

• Canisters of a highly corrosive gas that causes extreme chemical burns to exposed skin. Controlled testing has shown that a standard Foundation MOPP suit was compromised within fifteen seconds of exposure, and testing was terminated when the gas began to degrade the walls of the isolation chamber.

• A small obsidian dagger with a 17cm blade. Blade is a high level mimetic-kill agent when unsheathed, though the invisibility effect of SCP-XXXX effectively neutralises it when wielded by SCP-XXXX-1.

Addendum 2: Theorised history of Earth-XXXX

Based on evidence gained from Counter-Incursions I and II, it is believed that the history of Earth-XXXX diverges from that of our own reality around the year 1350, when the Aztec civilisation began to take several rapid technological leaps. By the year 1500, the Earth-XXXX Aztecs had developed metalworking and firearms, and thus when Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés besieged Tenochtitlan in 1521, the Spanish force was defeated by Aztec soldiers armed with muskets and steel armour. Over two hundred years of sporadic conflict followed, culminating in the successful Aztec invasion and occupation of Portugal in 1744.

Documentation recovered from Earth-XXXX has shown that the Aztec Empire controls the majority of the Americas, excluding parts of Canada and Alaska, as well as significant territories in East Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. Through examination of documentation and battle trophies observed in Tenochtitlan’s military quarter, it is believed that there are at least three other extant civilisations on Earth-XXXX: an English-speaking pan-European Christian theocracy; a wealthy, secular and democratic Arabic-speaking federation of independent city states in the Middle East and North Africa; and an East Asian nation which displays a mixture of Imperial Chinese and Edo-era Japanese traits. These nations appear to be in a perpetual state of war.

Despite evidence of the widespread use of nuclear fission reactors, it appears that for an unknown reason the inhabitants of Earth-XXXX never developed atomic bombs. Analysts familiar with Earth-XXXX theorise that any power that developed atomic bombs would extensively target population centres, and rapidly ascend to the dominant power on the planet through way of an atomic holocaust.

It is unclear exactly how widespread anomalous items are on Earth-XXXX, though the Earth-XXXX Aztecs are known to deploy at least one type of weaponised mimetic hazard.

Addendum 3: Significant incursions by SCP-XXXX-1 entities

Incursion #: 001
Date: XX/XX/1994
Number of attackers: 14
Extent of breach: Attackers were unopposed and abducted at least 34 civilians from the XXXXXXXX Hotel
Outcome: Foundation becomes aware of SCP-XXXX and establishes Site-355

Incursion #: 002
Date: XX/XX/1994
Number of attackers: 21
Extent of breach: Incursion halted in basement by deployment of claymore mines and machine gun fire
Outcome: Mobile Task Force Theta-80 established and granted operational control of Site-355

Incursion #: 035
Date: XX/XX/1997
Number of attackers: 41
Extent of breach: Incursion reached ground floor of Site-355 and was repelled with extensive casualties on both sides. 3 civilian Foundation employees were abducted.
Outcome: Thermal detection devices within the basement were hardened against electromagnetic pulses.

Incursion #: 089
Date: XX/XX/2002
Number of attackers: 57
Extent of breach: Defenders failed to contain the incursion to within Site-355 and combat spilled onto the streets. 12 civilians were abducted before the incursion was repelled.
Outcome: Mobile Task Force Theta-80 was issued anti-tank weapons to counter future deployments of rhinoceros ram creatures.

Incursion #: 181
Date: XX/XX/2009
Number of attackers: 104
Extent of breach: Attackers were equipped with uncommonly thick body armour, thus able to resist fire from the basement turrets. Mobile Task Force Theta-80 suffered 58% casualties in containing breach.
Outcome: Turret weapons replaced with GAU-8/A Avenger Autocannon.

Incursion #: 195
Date: XX/XX/2010
Number of attackers: 187
Extent of breach: Site-355 perimeter compromised. Wide-scale deployment of corrosive gas weapons caused heavy casualties among Foundation personnel, civilians and Mexican Army units deployed to contain intruders. Three city blocks rendered uninhabitable.
Outcome: Due to the high likelihood of this incursion being a retaliatory strike following Counter-Incursion III, all further counter-incursion activity was placed on indefinite hold.