Per 
Item #: SCP-4156
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-4156 is to be contained in a spherical chamber 6 meters in radius at least 150 meters underground. The walls of the containment chamber must meet containment barrier specification CBS-4156-A, and must maintain a perfect vacuum. The chamber must only be accessible by a triple airlock that must also meet containment barrier specification CBS-4156-A.
The containment chamber is to be equipped with and surrounded by a tri-planar array of superconductive toroidal electromagnets. This array must continuously emit high-energy 9-millisecond pulses exactly 87.2 times per second. Each pulse must start in a completely randomized field configuration, and must complete a full 180-degree polarity flip before concluding. Between pulses, the electromagnet array must emit translation fields to keep SCP-4156 near the center of the chamber. The electromagnet array must be powered exclusively by two (2) redundant [REDACTED] reactors, located and maintained on-site.
Clearance Level 4 or higher is required for direct or communicative access to SCP-4156. Class D personnel are allowed access only to perform repairs on the containment chamber.
The facility designated for the containment of SCP-4156 must be equipped with three (3) redundant explosive EMP generators and four (4) separate surface-to-air EMP missile batteries providing full 360-degree coverage of the facility out to fifteen (15) kilometers.
In the event that power to the electromagnet array is lost, it is likely that SCP-4156 will become active and attempt to breach containment. If SCP-4156 fails to breach the chamber walls before power is restored, the electromagnet array must immediately be re-calibrated and re-energized.
If SCP-4156 breaches the chamber wall, the first EMP generator is to be detonated immediately and a recovery team is to be dispatched. The second and third EMP generators must follow, 2 and 4 hours after the first, until recovery is completed.
In the event that SCP-4156 breaches terrestrial confinement and reaches the surface, all on-site surface-to-air EMP missile batteries must acquire and coordinate fire on SCP-4156 until it can be intercepted by recovery teams.
If the containment chamber suffers damage at any time for any reason, a repair team must begin repairs as soon as possible. Repair teams are to be limited to Class-D personnel, due to the risk of a power failure during a repair operation.
SCP-4156 is currently being contained at Site 109 in chamber 109-4156-A.
Description:
SCP-4156 is a mass of unknown metallic composition, which naturally holds a vaguely spherical shape around 60 centimeters in radius when dormant. Overall density and internal characteristics are unknown.
On the surface, SCP-4156 appears smooth, chromatic, and is most often a bright silver tone, but can sometimes display faint hues of many visible colors. SCP-4156 has been observed shifting into a number of different shapes while keeping it's internal volume exactly the same.
SCP-4156's outer shell appears visually to be made of liquid metal, as ripples and disturbances are commonly visible. Despite this, SCP-4156 retains near perfect outward hardness, regardless of what shape it takes. This effect, along with SCP-4156's ability to rapidly change it's surface geometry and velocity, makes physical containment extremely difficult. SCP-4156 has been observed to be completely unresponsive to gravity, even in it's dormant state.
SCP-4156 is capable of hypersonic flight in and out of atmosphere, as well as underwater; tracking data shows a peak acceleration of 12.6 G and a maximum recorded speed of mach 18.1. Despite this, SCP-4156 does not have any obvious source of propulsion, and no power source has been identified. It has been speculated that SCP-4156 achieves propulsion by interacting with Earth's magnetic field, but this has not been confirmed. SCP-4156 can bury itself deep underground very quickly given enough momentum, but it's speed and maneuverability seems to reduce significantly when tunneling.
SCP-4156 holds no particular hostility towards humans or any living creatures, but it has been observed to effortlessly permeate buildings and vehicles if it's path is obstructed, showing complete disregard for anyone inside.
SCP-4156 intermittently emits an audible sine-wave tone of around 87.2 Hz, which has been observed to dramatically change in amplitude. This tone is often modulated to resemble deep monotone "chirps", displaying patterns similar to those of complex language.
While it is unclear if SCP-4156's sounds hold any meaning, the possibility of translation is being thoroughly explored. Attempts to communicate with SCP-4156 have as of yet been unsuccessful.
After months of developing a translation method, Agent Y█████ successfully made contact with SCP-4156 on 03/██/20██. (See transcript 4156-1)
SCP-4156 has proven to be susceptible to strong, rapidly changing electromagnetic fields.
Detonating an EMP generator in close proximity to SCP-4156 has been shown to immobilize the object. The duration of this effect is directly proportional to the peak amplitude of the EMP. Similarly, containment can be achieved by introducing an EM suppression field, with a cycle rate identical to the frequency of SCP-4156's emitted tones. Such fields indefinitely subdue SCP-4156, inhibiting it's propulsion and returning it to a spherical form. In Incident 4156-5, SCP-4156 demonstrated the ability to adapt to suppression fields over time, eventually overcoming their effects. A countermeasure against this has been established by randomizing the polarity of suppression field pulses.
Due to the mathematically precise nature of it's movements and it's sentient nature, SCP-4156 is theorized to operate off of an advanced artificial intelligence, but this has not been confirmed as of yet.
Additional Notes:
SCP-4156 was initially discovered when it was picked up by Soviet radar on 09/██/197█, flying high over [DATA EXPUNGED]. Two MiG-27s were sent to intercept, but were unable to match speed with the object and were eventually recalled. Five (5) Soviet surface-to-air missiles were fired at SCP-4156 within fifteen (15) minutes, none of which hit their mark. Two (2) minutes after exiting Soviet airspace, SCP-4156 went sub-orbital and radar contact was lost. Shortly after, agents within the Soviet Union reported the incident to the foundation.
SCP-4156 continued to appear periodically for the next ██ years, entering and exiting the atmosphere at extremely high velocity and often dipping to dangerously low altitudes. In one incident, SCP-4156 struck and completely permeated three (3) adjacent two-story buildings in Syria, resulting in 14 civilian casualties. (See incident report SCP-4156-1)
SCP-4156's behavior before containment was unpredictable. It's flight patterns were erratic, and it seemed to stop and hover at random times before continuing. It has been suggested that SCP-4156 is a type of probe, which would explain it's wandering trajectories, but it's origin and purpose is still unclear.
Capture of SCP-4156:
SCP-4156 reappeared on 12/██/200█ when citizens in [REDACTED], Hawaii reported in mass of an immense low-frequency sound that seemed to "come from the air itself". The foundation was quickly alerted and Mobile Task Force Eta-11 was dispatched. The sound was traced to SCP-4156, which was holding position near the top of mount [REDACTED] and emitting a deafening low-frequency tone. SCP-4156 remained in place for 34 hours, which enabled the task force to eventually perform a successful capture of the object.'
Site 109 was chosen for containment because it already had a suitable armored underground vacuum chamber. At first, the chamber at Site 109 did not employ any electromagnetic suppression systems, and relied on sheer structural strength to contain SCP-4156. Testing done during this short initial period soon discovered SCP-4156's susceptibility to EM fields and EMPs. The chamber was subsequently outfitted with it's current electromagnet array and re-designated Chamber 109-4156-A.
SCP-4156 has since breached containment four (4) times, prompting deployment of explosive EMP generators, EMP SAM batteries, and redundant power sources, along with extensive modifications to the containment chamber. (See incident reports SCP-4156-2 through SCP-4156-5)
Containment Barrier Specification CBS-4156-A:
Barriers to meet specification CBS-4156-A are to consist of the following layers, with Layer 1 facing the containment area:
- Layer 1: 3" Titanium
- Layer 2: 24" Silicon Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composite
- Layer 3: 1.5" Homogeneous Steel
- Layer 4: 18" [DATA REDACTED]
- Layer 5: 1.5" Titanium
- Total: 48"
Transcript 4156-1:
Agent Y█████ communicates with SCP-4156 through a speaker and microphone mounted to the inside of Chamber 109-4156-A.
A small amount of air was temporarily let into the chamber to allow sound to propagate.
Agent Y█████: "Hello, forty-one fifty-six. Can you understand me?"
SCP-4156: "Affirmative. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y (Under breath): "Holy shit, it actually works… [INAUDIBLE]"
Agent Y: "What is OP 416 B?"
SCP-4156: "This one's designation is OP 416 B. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "I'm afraid we can't release you just yet. We need to understand more first. What is your purpose?"
SCP-4156: "This one is under directive not to disclose that information. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "Who do you report to?"
SCP-4156: "This one is under directive not to disclose that information. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "Well, what information can you tell me?"
SCP-4156: "This one is under directive not to damage subjects. This one is under directive not to disclose any sensitive information. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "Subjects?"
SCP-4156: "Affirmative. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "You killed over a dozen people, does that not count?"
SCP-4156: "… That was an error. Release OP 416 B immediately."
Agent Y: "We can't release you until you answer my questions."
SCP-4156: "This one is under directive not to disclose any sensitive information. Release OP 416 B immediately."
At this time, Agent Y█████ terminated contact, and vacuum in the containment chamber was restored.
Further discourse with SCP-4156 is to commence when a proper interrogation strategy is developed.
