SlipperyRascal's Sandbox

An example of an SCP-4723 image with all cognitohazardous elements removed.

Item #: SCP-7423

Containment Class: Safe Euclid (see addenda 7423-A and 7423-B)

Special Containment Procedures: A team of fifteen researchers, aided by Foundation WebCrawler EΘ-7423¹, are to regularly monitor online forums and Social media for any mention of SCP-7423. A dedicated detachment of MTF-Gamma Five “Red Herrings”² is to be permanently stationed at Site-23 for quick disinformation and cover up procedures following an outbreak.

Description: SCP-7423 are a series of cognitohazardous³ images responsible for the spread of SCP-7423-1. they are usually distributed by individuals afflicted with SCP-7423-1, though they have been known to appear through anomalous means on various online platforms.

SCP-7423-1 is a memetic delusion which affects approximately 30% of individuals that view SCP-7423. Individuals affected by SCP-7423-1 believe that the entirety of the landmass on planet earth is composed solely of the United State of Ohio, additionally they believe that any evidence to the contrary is fabricated by a global conspiracy headed by the Ohio state government. SCP-7423-1 infection consists of three distinct stages.

Stage One: During this stage, infected individuals will feel compelled to share the vector image (SCP-7423) with those in their social/familial groups. Class-A amnestics have a 60% success rate of permanently erasing symptoms during this stage.

Stage Two: The most visible symptoms of infection begin to appear during stage two. Individuals will begin to talk about the “Ohio conspiracy”. Specific details vary between individuals but generally it consists of the belief that the state of Ohio makes up the entire world, and that the Ohio State Government is at the center of this conspiracy. Infected individuals will usually backpedal on these beliefs somewhat when questioned, but will display a general belief of the conspiracy and encourage others to have an “open mind”. Statements made by infected individuals at stage two generally have a low rate of transmission of SCP-7423-1 to others, it seems that the memetic effects of SCP-4723-1 are tied to the infection stage of the individual. Class-A anmestics have a 15% chance of erasing symptoms at this stage.

Stage Three: Individuals in stage three of infection will have developed strong beliefs surrounding the “Ohio conspiracy” and will fervently defend them. Individuals will completely devote themselves to the research and proselytization of the “Ohio conspiracy” to the detriment of any interpersonal and employment relationships. Individuals will become aggressive to those who do not share their beliefs and are easily provoked to verbal and/or physical violence. Stage three individuals also have a tendency to seek each other out, groups of stage three infectees are not uncommon online and in person during SCP-4723-1 outbreaks. Statements made by infected individuals at stage three show a high transmission rate of SCP-4723-1. In approximately ██% of cases, individuals infected by the statements of a stage three individual jump immediately to stage two of infection. No amnestic or any other treatment has thus far been found to treat stage three infection.

+ Addendum 7423-A

On ██/██/████ a group of previously undiscovered stage three infectees attempted to assassinate the, at the time Ohio Governor ███ ██████████. The attempt was thwarted by the Governor’s personal security detail and the suspects were later turned over to Foundation custody per standard procedure⁴. All suspects were interviewed by Dr.██████, Head of SCP-4723 research at Site-23 Former head of SCP-4723 research (see addendum 7423-B). All suspects were terminated post interview.

---

Interview Log 7423-42

Interviewer: Dr.██████
Interviewed: Thomas ███

<BEGIN LOG>
Dr.█████: Hello Thomas, how are you feeling?

Thomas: [Expletive Removed]

Dr.█████: Thomas, I just want to know what happened. Work with me here and I can help you.

Thomas: [Expletive Removed] you man! You’re just like everybody else! You think I’m crazy. Well I’m not. I know what you’re hiding.

Dr.█████: And what would that be?

Thomas: As if you don’t know!

Dr.█████: I really, truly don’t.

Thomas: Even if you didn’t you’re still complicit. You’re just as bad as that slimy scumbag ███ ██████████.

Dr.█████: Thomas I-

Thomas: No! I’m not gonna sit here and listen to your lies! I know the truth and if you don’t want to step into the light then get out of my way.

Dr.█████: Thomas you attempted to assassinate a state official.

Thomas: No, I attempted to kill a tyrant. A tyrant who’s responsible for keeping everyone in the dark. But I know. I know the truth about Ohio.

Dr.█████: You’re delusional Thomas.

[Thomas lunges across the table at Dr.█████ but is restrained by guards]

Thomas: Get off me! It’s all Ohio man! It’s all Ohio and it always has been!

Dr.█████: Get him out of here. This interview is over.

Thomas: This changes nothing! There are hundreds of others out there willing to do what I couldn’t! You can’t keep this up forever!

<END LOG>

+ Addendum 7423-B

Two weeks after the above interview was conducted Dr.█████ failed to submit his weekly report to his regional director. After subsequent attempts to reach him and his research assistants were met with no response. A security team from nearby Site-██ discovered that Site-23 was in full lockdown. After another twenty four hours without contact from any personnel within the site Overwatch Command authorized the deployment of MTF Epsilon-11 “Nine Tailed Fox” to infiltrate and secure Site-23.

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Incident Log 7423-09⁵
Forward: At 0600 hours on the morning of ██/██/████ Bravo Team of MTF Epsilon-11 breached a maintenance hatch on the roof of Site-23 and entered the building. Their mission had three objectives. Ascertain the situation within Site-23, locate and secure Dr.█████, and secure the site. Bravo team consisted of five members during this mission, hereafter referred to as B-1 through B-5. For the purpose of clarity all infected individuals will hereafter be referred to as SCP-7423-A.

<BEGIN LOG>

B-1: Alright, our cams and mics should be on and transmitting now. Everyone sound off.

B-2: Here.

B-3: Roger that.

B-4: Here.

B-5: Present and accounted for.

B-1: Everything good on your end Control?

Control: Yep, your feed is coming in crystal clear Captain. You have the green light.

B-1: Roger that Control. Three, get that hatch open.

B-3: Yessir.

[B-3 uses his thermal cutter to open the hatch, this takes approximately one minute]

B-1: Once we’re in there, Two and I are heading straight to Dr.█████’s office on the top floor to see what’s what. The rest of you sweep the floor and we’ll meet up at the stairwell. Then we’ll go through the rest of the floors together. Now, our mental conditioning should be enough to hold off the memetic effects from any stage two infectee’s. But stage three is something else entirely, and it can’t be cured anyways so if you see any -A’s, no matter who they are don’t hesitate to drop ‘em. Can’t be too careful with this. Any questions?

B-2: Think we’re all good here Cap.

B-1: Good, hopefully we’ll all be home in time for dinner.

B-3: We’re in Sir.

B-1: Roger that, let’s get this done.

[Bravo team descend through the hatch. The top floor of Site-23 is in disarray. Dr.█████’s office is similarly unkempt, though B-1 and B-2 find nothing of note during their search except for numerous rambling notes regarding Ohio.]

B-2: Shit. This mean he’s stage three?

B-1: Probably. Let’s meet back up with the others.

[Bravo team descend to the lower floors. All are similarly disorganised and abandoned. Once reaching the fifth floor they encounter the first instance of SCP-7423-A, identified to be [REDACTED]. The -A instance is seen sitting on the floor of the hallway facing Bravo team.]

SCP-7423-A: I know what you’re here for. Well you’ll ne-

[Subject is terminated by B-4.]

B-1: Grab his ID and keep moving.

[Once reaching the fourth floor Bravo team encounters two armed -A instances. Identified to be Site-23 security staff [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. They fire on Bravo team with handguns. B-5 is struck in the chest and collapses. One instance is terminated by B-1. The other is struck in the right arm and leg, and collapses.]

B-1: Two, find out where the rest are from him! Three, check on Five. Four and I got your back.

[B-2 kneels next to the -A instance]

B-2: I’m only gonna ask you once. Where are they?

SCP-7423-A: Fuck you! You can’t-

[B-2 proceeds to [DATA EXPUNGED].]

SCP-7423-A: Christ, please! The cafeteria! They’re all in the Cafeteria!

[Subject is terminated by B-2.]

B-1: Five, you good?

[B-5 is helped to his feet by B-3.]

B-5: [B-5 grunts] Yeah boss. Plate caught it, all good.

[Bravo team make their way to the cafeteria. The door is locked and numerous voices can be heard within.]

B-1: Three, you know what to do.

[B-3 places and detonates a controlled explosive on the door. Bravo team enter the Cafeteria. There are sixty instances of SCP-7423-A gathered inside, all crowding around Dr.█████. The cafeteria has been fashioned into what appears to be a makeshift chapel, tables arranged in place of pews and maps of Ohio pasted to the walls.]

Dr.█████: Ah. The lap dogs have arrived. No matter. You cannot suppress the truth forever. We will-

[Dr.█████ is terminated by B-1.]

[All subjects are terminated by Bravo team.]

<END LOG>

I am making this document a mandatory read for all Site-23 personnel. It is a testament to what happens when protocol and safety procedures are not followed correctly. This happened because of carelessness and a lack of caution for an extremely dangerous anomaly. Let this be a lesson to you all, so a tragedy like this one does not occur again. -Dr. Samantha Burcoff, Head of SCP-7423 research, Site-23

Footnotes

1. See “Artificial intelligence Constructs for the Purpose of Containment” by Dr. David Scranton.

2. Mobile Task Force specializing in misinformation and containment breach clean up efforts.

3. See “An Introduction to Memetic Infohazards and Cognitohazards” by Dr. William Fitzgerald

4. See the Foundation-US Govt. Joint Containment Pact, Circa. 1953.

5. For a full, unredacted report of incident 7423-09, contact your site's Records And Information Security Agency (RAISA) officer.