Per 
Document #087-IV: Exploration IV
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
The following exploration log has been heavily redacted in favor of potentially valuable research data.
The full log is available to all authorized Level-4 personnel.
Furthermore, highly sensitive data has been additionally redacted in both versions of the log.
Per O5 directive, it will not be made available to any research personnel, regardless of access level.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
A five-member Research Task Force (designation RTF-Gamma-77) was specifically put together for exploration of SCP-087. After the failure of Exploration III and the loss of the third D-class subject, the Foundation Ethics Committee intervened, arranging an RTF for a possible recovery of D-9884 and unveiling the nature of SCP-087. Dr. ██████ was temporary relieved of mission control, which passed to Ethics Committee agent Dr. Jeremiah Cass. The Task Force was equipped and briefed according to challenges faced by previous exploration attempts.
RTF-Gamma-77, in full gear, stands on ground level landing of SCP-087. The flood lamps illuminate only the first 9 steps. Team is wearing color-coded LED vests.
Radio communication established.
Dr. Cass: Testing radio link. Radio link is good on our side. Please confirm.
77-4: Confirmed.
** Dr. Cass:** Establishing designations for record.
Dr. Jeremiah Cass - Control 1 - C1
Dr. ██████ - Control 2 - C2
Lt. Marshall Ricks - Team Leader - 77-1 (color coded Blue).
Simon Ling - Demolition - 77-2 (color coded Red).
Dr. Natasha Petrenko - Medic - 77-3 (color coded Gold).
Donnie Wilkins - Comms and Navigation - 77-4 (color coded Green).
Dr. Rita Campbell - Science - 77-5 (color coded Purple).
After comms check, 77 proceeds down the staircase.
C1: One, progress report.
1(Blue): We've reached the third platform. Vocalizations are audible. We're moving at moderate pace. With all that equipment, one bad step is a broken neck.
C1: Understood. We confirm reception of vocalizations over radio. Carry on. We will contact you with mission updates roughly every five minutes to track connection status. Mission time 05:00.
[REDACTED]
4(Green): So what's your take on this thing here?
5(Purple): The "child"? I don't think there is a child down there. The "face"… I don't know. It may be just a projection. So far we have no data of it physically harming anyone. All of the D-class experiments sustained either psychological trauma, or physical trauma caused by their own actions. I believe we'll be ok.
[REDACTED]
C1: Mission time 10:00. Progress report?
1(Blue): We are on the 8th platform. All clear.
C1: Roger.
C2: Keep in mind that the earliest contact with 087-1 happened on the 51st landing. Each subsequent encounter has been deeper down. Technically the thing may appear at the next platform, or you may not see it for 600 more.
1(Blue): Understood.
[REDACTED]
C1: One, report.
1(Blue): We're on the 15th platform. We're picking up the pace. No contact.
C1: Roger.
C2: Rita, I'd like you to take some measurements. For reference. Spectrograph, sound and radio.
5(Purple): Okay, Control. Guys, I need you to stop and be silent, just for a moment.
Team halts movement. 77-5 takes a spectrograph reading, while background audio of crying and pleading child is being recorded. After thirty seconds of recording are complete, 77-4 commissions a radiogram. Radio station beeps and whirls for a minute, then transmits readings to Control.
C1: Ok, we got the data, starting analysis. Carry on.
1(Blue): Roger. Come on, guys.
Team starts moving down towards 16th platform. Weak vibrations are felt on the stairs and walls.
1(Blue): Halt.
Vibrations end.
C1: Sitrep.
1(Blue): Vibrations on the entire structure. Clear now. Wilkins, talk to me.
4(Green): The vibrations were vertical. That's not a fault line quake. Felt like landslide or cave-in. Both are theoretically impossible around here, we're on a bedrock. I'd say it's anomalous.
C1: Noted. Confirm on assessment, nothing was felt up here. Proceed with care.
1(Blue): Roger. Air is a bit dusty now, but visibility remains unchanged. We're moving on. Come on, guys.
3(Gold): What do you think that might have been about?
5(Purple): Who knows. That's the first time this has happened on record, and we have no point of reference for anything down here.
C1: Guys, Control here. We have preliminary analysis results. From what we're seeing so far, it seems you immediate environment is pretty well lit. I don't suppose you can confirm that?
1(Blue): Negative.
2(Red): It's darker than 682's ass in here.
C1: In that case we must deduce that the sense of darkness is psychosomatic.
5(Purple): That explains why brighter lights have no effect.
C1: In addition, audio analysis of vocalizations points to a natural source. There are variations in pitch, speed and echo frequency, meaning it is either not automated, or it is a very realistic simulation of an actual child trapped in a stairwell. As for radio waves - we are seeing some ultra-low frequency pulsations coming from below. Not consistent with any known phenomenon.
1(Blue): Understood. Let us know if something else comes up.
[REDACTED]
C1: Mission time 20:00, how far down are you, guys?
1(Blue): We are approaching platform 28. No contact.
C1: Roger, we have established your average speed of descent, you should reach 50 in about 15 minutes. Since we've established baseline metrics, radio check frequency will now be 10 minutes. You can keep up chatter if you like.
1(Blue): Roger, Control. Guys, we're pretty deep now, I suggest focusing on our surroundings instead of small talk. From 30 onward we'll assume corner clearing formation. Two, you take left wall, I want light and barrel pointed at every new flight as we approach. I'll take frontal. From this point on, guns are hot, confirm?
2(Red): Roger.
3(Gold): Roger.
4(Green): Um, roger?
5(Purple): Okay.
1(Blue): Three and Five, stick behind us, you are on outlook. Four will watch our backs.
4(Green): If you say so, boss.
1(Blue): Let's pick up the pace a little, I'd like to hit 50 in ten.
Team remains relatively quiet over the next few minutes.
C1: Mission time 25:00, sitrep?
1(Blue): All clear. We're approaching 46.
C1: Confirmed.
1(Blue): Team, slow down and keep quiet. We are approaching initial contact point.
5(Purple): Guys, I think at least one of us should have a calming agent, in case 087-1 turns out to cause psychosis on sight.
1(Blue): Give me the details, doc. What's the expected effect?
5(Purple): Well, depends. You can either have HHDR1, which will negate panic and phobia and will cause calmness, but won't negate depression, and might cause lethargy, or you can have HMDR9, which will negate phobia and depression, but might enhance panic or aggression.
1(Blue): Two, you are to take the calming agent. Five, you will also give Two the calming and aggressive agent. Two, your orders are, if the rest of us lose control, to inject us with whatever you deem appropriate on spot.
2(Red): Got it.
1(Blue): Also, put your weapon on safe. We don't want panic-induced automatic fire in a tight hallway, ricochets will shred us.
2(Red): Roger.
5(Purple): Ok, here goes.
77-2 uses the inhaler, provided by 77-5.
5(Purple): How do you feel?
2(Red): Fine. Doesn't seem to do anything.
5(Purple): The effect is not noticeable unless in a stressful situation. Trust me, it works. Here are the inhalers. Technically spraying the face could work, but for maximum effect, try to get it in the mouth.
[REDACTED]
1(Blue): Focus, guys. Two, sitrep.
2(Red): I'm fine.
1(Blue): Could you elaborate?
2(Red): Everything is cool. No problems. Safety engaged. I'll spray you with one of these if you start freaking out.
1(Blue): Okay. Team, ready for contact. Move.
RTF-Gamma-77 proceeds at moderate pace down the stairwell.
1(Blue): Control, we're on platform 50. Peeking 51 in 10 seconds.
C1: Roger.
With 77-2 keeping watch on the corner of the next flight, 77-1 pushes to the bottom of 50 and onto platform 51.
1(Blue): Clear. Proceed.
77-2 takes position on the outside wall of platform 51. 77-1 takes point and pushes down the stairs. Flood lamp illuminates a face at the bottom of the flight.
1(Blue): Contact! Nobody move.
C1: Wilkins, team status.
Silence.
2(Red): Wilkins, Control asked you a question.
C1: Ling, team status.
2(Red): Team seems fine. Wilkins is being dumb.
5(Purple): Guys, let's get outta here!
4(Green): What are you looking at me for?
2(Red): Control asked you a question.
4(Green): No, they asked Wilkins.
3(Gold): What's happening?!
2(Red): You are Wilkins.
4(Green): No, I'm Four.
2(Red): Four is a number. Your team code is Four, your color code is Green, and your name is Wilkins.
C1: Ling, sitrep! Now!
2(Red): Contact with 087-1. The entity is static, staring at me.
3(Gold): It's staring at me, though!
5(Purple): Oh, god…
2(Red): Control, entity is capable of making eye contact with the entire team at once. Anomalous property, or suspected hallucination.
C1: Team status!
2(Red): Ricks is on point, steady…
77-2's speech sounds mildly slurred.
2(Red): …keeping eye contact with 087-1. I am… fine. Nat and Rita are on the platform, seem quite disturbed. It's not that scary, it must be affecting them mentally. Besides that, they seem okay. Wilkins is on the previous flight, he's confused. Overall, we're fine.
C1: …Ricks, sitrep!
77-1 fails to respond to contact from Control. An anomalous amnestic-dissociative effect of 087-1 is established, causing team members to forget their names. 77-2 is instructed to administer aggression agent to 77-1.
77-2 approaches 77-1 and administers HMDR9 - aggression agent. 77-2 proceeds to gradually lose consciousness, but Control re-establishes contact with 77-1.
[REDACTED]
77-1 proceeds down the stairs. 087-1 suddenly jerks towards 77-1. 77-1 produces a shot from his firearm. The bullet seems ineffective against 087-1, hitting the wall behind it. However, soon after the shot 087-1 accelerates towards 77-1 and dissipates in the air before making physical contact.
[REDACTED]
77-5 administers calming agent to 77-1 and aggression agent to 77-2 in order to neutralize the extreme effects of the previous treatment. 77 members recover and proceed down the staircase at moderate pace. Next half hour goes without incident. Vocalizations remain distant.
1(Blue): Control, we've reached the 89th landing. Confirmed visual on the hole.
Video feed confirms a hole, seemingly identical to the one encountered by D-9884.
C1: Understood. Mission time is 01:08:00. Observe, take measurements, and proceed.
Team shines lights down the hole. Perceived vision range remains consistent with the rest of the stairwell. No light is observed at the bottom of the hole. Green lasers seem unable to reach bottom or walls of the hole. Rangefinders report depth at about 4.3 kilometers.
1(Blue): Four, how much rope do we have?
4(Green): About 1km of total length.
5(Purple): Control, if we lower the spectrograph along with the lasers 1km into the hole, won't you be able to construct an approximate model of the inside?
C2: Seems possible. Good call, Campbell.
5(Purple): Who?
2(Red): Mate, are we the only ones who remember their names?
1(Blue): I suppose it has to do with the psycho… sprays, or whatever they're called.
5(Purple): But… my name is Purple, it has always been.
C2: Ok, Purple, disregard this topic for now. You need to attach the spectrograph to the end of the rope, along with the lasers, pointing at random directions and at random angles. Once they are securely attached, lower the rope into the hole and start turning and swinging it, for maximum coverage. We'll let you know when we have sufficient data, shouldn't take longer than ten minutes.
Team proceeds to build improvised spectrograph-laser beacon. 77-4 connects ropes for maximum length. 77-2 proceeds to lower the device in the hole. 5 minutes later maximum rope length is reached at roughly 990 meters from landing 89. Team starts swinging and rotating rope. Spectrograph data stream provides control with timed estimates of light waves, reflections and amplitude for each laser. Roughly 12 minutes later, a 75% complete estimate of the inside of the hole is modeled by mapping software.
C1: 77, we have a rough map of the cave. It appears between 4 and 4.5km deep, cylindrical-shaped with incline of about 10 degrees, bearing 229 when descending.
1(Blue): We have no compasses here, bearings aren't of much use.
C1: The back wall of the landing you are currently on, if we assume the staircase is as straight as it appears, should be bearing 200-ish. Meaning the cave extends roughly 30 degrees to the front-right, when facing the wall. The entrance is not centered, you are closer to the slope. Also, not sure if this is a spatial anomaly, but the cave takes place where the rest of the stairwell should be.
4(Green): See, shoulda had an anchor…
C1: The cave appears somewhat smooth, although not unnaturally so. The bottom, however, appears glass-smooth. Control suggests, if possible, examine this cave as part of secondary objective. Whether now or upon establishing of base is up to Team Leader, but remember - there might still be a girl in need of medical aid down there, so time is of the essence.
1(Blue): Roger. Come on, guys, pull this thing up and prepare to move on.
5 minutes later the mapping device is extracted and disassembled, and 77 moves down the next flight of stairs.
1(Blue): Control, we have a problem. The stairs are gone.
C1: We're seeing it too. Is this landing 90 that appears to be missing?
1(Blue): Affirmative.
C1: Please try to shine on the stairs to landing 91 through the railing.
77-1 shines his floodlight across the railing, revealing only darkness.
1(Blue): That seems to be gone too.
C1: Alright, fall back to 89 and wait one.
77 falls back to the hole entrance and waits for instructions. 10 minutes pass.
C1: Mission time 1:49:00. Alright, we believe the stairwell collapsing into the cave was the "quake" you guys felt earlier. Thanks to the cave's incline, you still have the means to descend. The slope is roughly 1100 meters down from your current position, but you can reach it at around 200 meters at an angle. So if you let a rope down with one of you, preferably Four, he can swing, reach the slope, and attach some fixing elements to allow the rest of you to climb down. The slope is rough enough to allow controlled descend. If you are ok with this plan, we'd like you to try it.
4(Green): Sounds possible. At what angle is the 200 meters contact point?
C1: Um… around negative 20.
4(Green): That's too aggressive, we'll contact at 300 meters, which means I'll have to use 400-ish meters of rope. That means we'll have around 500 meters remaining, as once it is fixed, this part will remain here. We can use the other 500 and a series of cams, for safer descend.
C1: Sounds like a plan, four, you know what to do.
77-4 fixes one end of the rope with a series of devices, to the edge of the hole, the railing, and the stairs of the upper flight.
77-4 leaves behind the radio station per Team Lead's request, and starts to lower himself into the cave where the missing staircase is. 5 minutes pass.
4(Green)(over comms headset): I've reached the end of the rope. No monsters so far. Problem is, I have no sense of direction down here. One of you must swing the rope on the correct axis.
2(Red): Alright, let's see. Bearing 229 is that way, meaning… like this…
77-2 leans over the edge while holding himself with his feet to the railing, and is further held by 77-1 by his vest. 77-2 starts jerking motions on the rope in direction roughly perpendicular to the expected cave slope.
The rest of 77 receive word from 77-4 that the rope is sufficiently secured, and start climbing down. 77-1 goes first, followed by 77-3 and 77-5. 77-2 goes last, after picking up the high-gain radio station. After one hour of controlled descend, the team reaches the bottom of the cave.
1(Blue): Control, we're at the bottom.
C1: Mission time 03:11:00. What's your situation?
1(Blue): Team is in good condition. Lighting conditions remain unchanged, it's still dark. The floor surface is indeed glass-smooth, similar to the cut in the wall at landing 51. Since our target landing 650 doesn't seem to exist anymore, we'll set up base camp here and examine the cave. Status of Primary Objective is inconclusive.
C1: Agreed. Focus on Secondary Objective until data is uncovered on the condition or location of D-9884. Then we'll run a new priority assessment. Control out.
77 establishes base camp at the cave floor, directly underneath the rope. Team runs a supply estimate and rations food and water for 2 day stay, and estimated 12-hour climb back. 77-5 reassembles the spectrograph-laser mapping device and leaves it running at base camp. Control builds a 99.9% complete mapping of terrain in 500m radius around base camp. Map establishes the expected semi-rough wall composition, and mirror-smooth floor, with the exception of a single 6m x 10m region about 300 meters from base camp. At roughly MT 05:45:00, an expedition consisting of 77-2 and 77-5 is launched to ascertain the nature of the region. 77-2 is equipped with 77-1's live AV-streaming device.
1(Blue): Control, two and five have left base camp.
C1: Two, Five, comms check.
2(Red): Check.
5(Purple): Check.
1(Blue): Mission parameters - establish nature, apparent anomalous properties, and threat level of unmapped region. Keep constant radio connection. Do not enter unmapped region. After 10 minutes of no contact, we will launch a rescue party. Don't count too much on it, though, and be careful out there.
2(Red): Roger, boss. Purple, did you bring the spectrograph?
5(Purple): Of course. Initial mapping shows this lines up perfectly with the top end of the stairwell. I bet it's a continuation of the stairwell.
2(Red): So that would mean this entire cave happened after the thing was built?
5(Purple): It's a possibility.
2(Red): It looks artificial though. Perhaps something went wrong with it, perhaps 087 suffered some sort of malfunction, causing this weird hollow thing to appear in the middle of it.
5(Purple): Or it may be another SCP or a group that interfered with it. Either way, we're getting close.
2(Red): Control, entering visual range now.
C1: Roger, standing by.
5(Purple): …Oh, really?
2(Red): Control, Five was right, it is the staircase again. It starts right off from the floor. It's smooth cut.
Video feed, albeit a bit degraded from distance, clearly shows a laser-fine cut in the concrete of the staircase and the metal railing. The entire surface that is part of the cave floor is converted to glass-smooth material. The rest of the staircase appears ordinary.
5(Purple): No.
2(Red): What's wrong?
5(Purple): No, I… I don't know… We've got to get out of here.
77-5 starts stepping away from the stairs.
2(Red): What's wrong, talk to me.
5(Purple): It's… it's all wrong, it's… it's messed up. Oh God. That's not natural.
2(Red): Well, we're in an SCP, of course it's not natural…
5(Purple): No, you don't understand! This is wrong.
2(Red): Ok… alright, look. We'll go back. Ok?
C1: Two, we would like…
2(Red): Control, shut up for a second, please. Purple, look at me. We're going back. We'll go away. Okay?
5(Purple): Yeah.. Yes. Thank you.
2(Red): In order to go away, we must first do this.
77-2 sprays 77-5 with a mixture of HHDR1 and HMDR9. 77-5 appears to immediately calm down and enter a relaxed, but cognitive state.
5(Purple): Oh. Right. Thanks!
2(Red): No problem, Purp. How are you feeling?
5(Purple): Much better. I don't know what that was… I'd like to get some readings from those stairs.
2(Red): We're not supposed to enter them.
5(Purple): Well, we're supposed to ascertain their anomalous properties…
It becomes apparent on record that 77-5 speaks in a higher pitch than normal.
[REDACTED]
77-5 steps on the first concrete step beneath the cave floor level.
77-5 rips out AV equipment from herself and 77-2.
[REDACTED]
C1: Control here, One, please go and get those fools.
3(Gold): No, wait. Control, this started after Red sprayed her with the calming agents. Both of them. Both Red and Blue were also sprayed.
[REDACTED]
Rescue team consisting of 77-1, 77-3 and 77-4 arrive at the new staircase
[REDACTED]
77-1 picks up his discarded AV streaming device and rushes down the staircase, immediately followed by 77-3. 77-4 remains at the entrance.
[REDACTED]
77-3 approaches 77-5 from behind and puts her in a head lock [REDACTED]. 77-3 uses the moment to inject her with anesthetics. 77-5 loses consciousness. 77-3 throws the syringe to 77-1.
77-1 catches the syringe and injects the rest of the anesthetics in 77-2, who also loses consciousness. 77-3 and 77-1 proceed to drag 77-2 and 77-5 out of the stairwell and onto the cave floor.
4(Green): Are they okay? Are they dead?!
3(Gold): They'll be fine.
[REDACTED]
77 heads back to base camp.
C1: Mission time 06:30:00. Sitrep.
1(Blue): I think everyone should respond to that individually. I'm fine, a bit tired.
2(Red): I have no idea what the fuck happened. Control, did you see anything?
C1: We saw too much.
3(Gold): I'm okay. The new staircase gives off a very repulsive vibe.
[REDACTED]
C1: Okay, here's the revised plan. You will have two hours rest. Drink plenty of fluids, even if that means compromising rationing - you've got to clean up those chemicals. After rest and detox, One and Five will head down the staircase, followed after 5 minutes by Two, Three and Four. You are to proceed 100 floors down. If no accidents occur and nothing of significance is found, you are to head back to base camp, do recon of the far side of the cave, and then exfil. Confirm.
1(Blue): Confirmed.
C1: In case anything interesting happens on the staircase, we'll assess.
2(Red): I got to assess a bit, I think…
5(Purple): God damn it, Red…
C1: Enjoy your rest, Control out.
Two hours pass without incident.
C1: Mission time 08:35:00. Sitrep.
1(Blue): Team reports 100% efficiency. Toxins seem to dissipate in accordance with Control's estimates. We are ready to proceed.
C1: Good to know. Need re-briefing on the plan?
1(Blue): No need. Me and Five go down first, tailed by the rest in 5 minutes. Go down 100 levels. If no incident, retreat, scout cave, and exfil. If incident, improvise.
C1: Affirmative. Proceed when ready.
1(Blue): Alright, guys, everyone up for this?
4(Green): Let's go.
Team nods.
77 proceeds to staircase entrance. 77-1 and 77-5 begin descend.
1(Blue): Ok, we're on the first landing. Nothing out of the ordinary. Proceeding down the second flight.
Video feed shows the second landing is significantly larger than normal. It extends into a room of roughly 10m x 10m area. Visibility reverts to normal, illumination by flood lamps lights up the entire room. The pleading vocalizations are immediately identifiable as in close proximity.
1(Blue): Control, are you seeing this?
C1: We are. Move carefully.
77-1 moves slowly into the room. Upon looking around, video feed shows that yet another flight of stairs continues further down into darkness. 77-1 moves towards the far wall of the landing. The wall appears to be covered with reflective liquid similar to mercury, that is moving in calm, random fashion, consisting of both ripples and bumps. The wall emits uneven dim white light. The sound appears to be coming from the other side.
1(Blue): Ling, keep your eyes on that stairwell, please.
2(Red): Sure thing, boss.
77-2 assumes position on the top of the descending flight of stairs and readies his weapon.
1(Blue): Purple, what's your take on this?
5(Purple): It appears to be some sort of a barrier. No way to tell if spatial, temporal, both, or other. Spectrometer says it emits on almost every frequency, especially short-wave UV.
3(Gold): Short-wave UV? It's a germicide then? Could that be this place's version of decontamination protocol? I should take a probe…
77-3 takes out a vial and approaches the wall. Upon touching the wall, the liquid immediately flattens into a perfect mirror surface. It reflects all members of the team, but not the room. Instead, it shows a chamber roughly the size of a baseball field. The chamber contains five visible, assumed total of six, sarcophagus-shaped objects with dimensions of approximately 20x7x5 meters. The objects are arranged in circle, facing a center column. 77-3 appears to have switched places with her reflection, the reflection appearing as a transparent hologram-like apparition on the staircase side of the mirror. 77-3 seems confused to see other team members on the other side of the mirror. About 5 meters behind 77-3, the body of a young woman is seen lying curled up on the ground - assumed to be D-9884. Vitals can not be established. 77-3 appears to notice D-9884's reflection and turns around.
1(Blue): Ling, assume command.
77-1 walks towards the mirror and upon contact, also switches places with his reflection, the reflection is again projected as an apparition in the staircase room.
77-3 has reached the body. Upon touching the body, the wall immediately transforms into a regular concrete wall, losing all transparent and reflective properties. Contact with 77-1 and 77-3 is lost. The room is once again consumed by darkness. Pleading vocalizations stop.
2(Red): God damn, what the fuck now…
5(Purple): They're in there.
77-2 touches the wall - no effect manifests.
2(Red): Purp, how do we get them out?
5(Purple): The gateway seems to have closed… No idea…
2(Red): Ricks, respond. Ricks. Nat, respond. Gold? For fuck sake, Green, can that thing be boosted?
4(Green): The radio station?.. Yeah, but it will run out of juice sooner. We may lose contact with Control.
C1: You are allowed to modify the station and attempt to restore contact with One and Three. If that fails, you are to exfil immediately. Copy?
2(Red): Copy. Green, time?
4(Green): It's by design, I just have to flip a switch. Gimme a second. There, done.
2(Red): Ricks! Are you there? Natasha! Anyone, respond!
Radio receives audio of rapid heartbeat and a low cracking noise for 5 seconds, after which goes back to silence.
2(Red): Alright, plan B. Control, are you reading me?
C1: Go for Control.
2(Red): I'm blowing up this son of a bitch.
C1: Two, the area has already experienced one seismic even, we strongly advise against this course of action.
2(Red): They may be right over that wall for all we know! We have to try! Green and Purple - you are to retreat back to the rope. The top staircase should be stable enough. The glass bottom of the cave should absorb the shock. Even if it doesn't, it's not likely to translate to the upper structure. Go now, double time.
5(Pruple): Wait…
2(Red): Go, for fuck sake, I'm not leaving them behind, but I'm not exposing you to this either. Go. That is a direct order.
At that point radio contact with RTF-77 is lost for approximately 44 minutes. At around MT 09:11:00, seven minutes after contact is lost, seismology center in proximity to SCP-087 reports a light reading consistent with C4 detonating underground. At around MT 09:48:00 crackling sounds are heard on radio frequency, designated for contact with RTF-Gamma-77. At around MT 09:50:00 contact with the remnants of RTF-Gamma-77 is established.
4(Green): Control? Are you there? This is Green.
Crying and pleading is heard in the background.
C1: Four? What happened? Where are you?
4(Green): We're up on the staircase. Platform 89 or whatever… That crazy son of a bitch blew it up…
C1: Four, we are hearing the crying vocalizations again, can you confirm?
4(Green): What? No, that's Purple.
C1: Is Two with you?
4(Green): No, aren't you listening? He fucking blew himself up, that's why she's crying.
C1: Clarify, you are saying 77-2 is KIA, is that correct?
4(Green): Yeah. Well, no, I can't really be sure, but that explosion was fucking huge.
Crying and wailing continues in background.
C1: Ok, so it's just you and Five? One and Thee are still behind the gate, and Two is presumed KIA?
4(Green): That's right. Tell us what to do, I don't… I jerry-rigged that thing with flood lamp batteries, I don't know how much juice it has left, we may lose contact any moment.
10 seconds of muffled dialogue in Control.
C1: Exfil immediately. Climb up at careful pace. Do not overstrain yourselves. Take rests every 20 platforms. This mission is over. Save whatever equipment, probes and records you can.
4(Green): So we're leaving them?
C1: Their fate is in their own hands now. Come up. Over.
Contact with 77 is once again lost. Roughly two hours later a loud banging is heard on ground level door. 77-4 identifies himself and the door is opened. 77-4 and 77-5 extract successfully from hot zone and are debriefed. Amnestics are not issued, but 77-5 is kept under anesthesia for an unknown period of time due to fragile emotional state.
Over a period of 2 weeks following Exploration IV, several members of the staff and students from the [REDACTED] campus reported knocking at a variable rate from the interior of SCP-087. Initially, the science team assumed 77-2 may have actually survived and reached the surface, but object failed to identify himself or produce a coherent signal or knocking typical to a human being in distress. Once enough statistical data on the knocking was gathered, over the course of two weeks, the team picked a time at which it was least likely the entity producing the knocking would be present at the ground level door, and dispatched a team to perform express insulation of the door. The operation was synced, timed and executed to perfection over the course of 11 seconds. The gate was opened, industrial-grade insulation foam and sealant were sprayed over the internals and all contact surfaces, and the door was closed. Construction team members were prohibited from looking at the staircase. No incident has been recorded since. 77-2 was never recovered.
At March 11, ████ - almost a year after the events of Exploration IV, the bodies of RTF-Gamma-77 members 1 and 3 were discovered by natives, at 7,600 meters above sea level, near a cave entrance on the south-eastern slope of mount Nanga Parbat in Pakistani Himalaya (roughly ████ kilometers from SCP-087's location). Autopsy revealed cause of death as severe hypothermia. Their equipment was salvaged, albeit severely damaged by cold and humidity. Video was too degraded to be salvageable from local storage, however after over a year of processing and reconstruction, audio clips were salvaged. After the recovered audio files were examined by Level 4 staff and elevated to O5 attention, along with the full mission log, an executive ban of any test and exploration activities regarding SCP-087 was issued.
