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Special Containment Procedures: Research Station-05 has been built directly above SCP-4431-A. Seismometers across Antarctica will monitor activity from SCP-4431-A and report any irregularities in the anomaly's behavior. At least one boring probe and an ice sheet drilling mechanism are to be kept at the station in the event that investigation of SCP-4431-A is necessary.
Contact is to be maintained with all Foundation and non-Foundation research stations in Antarctica for reports of SCP-4431-B manifestations. If a manifestation is reported, personnel at the station are advised to monitor the manifestation and resultant SCP-4431-C instances. Objects left by expired instances are to be transported to the nearest Foundation facility. Mobile Task Force Xi-1 ("Dispatch from Miskatonic") will be deployed for containment if necessary. Non-Foundation personnel that witness these anomalies will be administered appropriate amnestics on leaving Antarctica.
Cover stories regarding the Dayton Bannard Antarctic expedition have been disseminated, reporting the expedition's ship as having vanished en route to the Filcher Ice Shelf. As surviving personal accounts from Bannard describe a wide variety and number of anomalous phenomena beyond SCP-4431, all information on the expedition has been acquired by the Foundation.
Potential links between the events of the expedition and SCP-4431-A's current activity are of high concern.
Overhead view of Research Station-05 in the Antarctica Plateau.
Description: SCP-4431 designates two subterranean artificial structures (SCP-4431-A and SCP-4431-B) and a collection of psionic organisms (SCP-4431-C) present in East Antarctica.
SCP-4431-A is a machine located 3,400m below the Antarctic Plateau1, buried in the bedrock under the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The object's depth renders it undetectable by ice-penetrating radar, preventing full analysis of its appearance and size. Current size estimates include a minimum width of 20km. As drilling investigations to examine the structure invariably end in failure (refer to Discovery), no further information on SCP-4431-A is known.
SCP-4431-B is a cylindrical tunnel constructed from a rhodium-platinum alloy, with a 11m interior radius. The tunnel extends for 39m before reaching a sharp vertical drop, which descends for a distance estimated to be a minimum of 3,000m. SCP-4431-B will manifest in a region of the Antarctic Plateau on a bimonthly basis, rising out of the terrain until a majority of its entrance is exposed.2 A variable number of SCP-4431-C instances will then exit, often between one or seven. After a period of time ranging from eight hours to three days, SCP-4431-B demanifests, retracting into the ground. Connection with tracking devices placed on the structure during demanifestation are all lost after two hours, preventing observation of SCP-4431-B's relocation.
The body structure of SCP-4431-C instances can vary, though consistent details have been determined. These details are as follows: 1m tall upright conical bodies, with the main body and each limb segmented in a manner similar to arthropods. The main body is divided into three sections.
Four or more legs attached to the base of the body.
Variable numbers of 3m long tendrils on the body's midsection, each ending in a claw.
A toroidal mass covered in small, unknown biological structures, affixed around the top of the body. Presumed to be a form of sensory organ.
A set of mandibles on the bottom of the cone.
Anatomical deviations tend to include features that aid in withstanding Antarctic conditions or other purposes. Tumorous growths acting as heat radiators have been observed, along with cybernetic flamethrower implants. Many instances possess conical protrusions on their body, which open to dispense environmental monitoring devices.3 Rarely, instances are found with the tops of their bodies replaced by antennas and clusters of spherical machinery that serve similar purposes.
Following SCP-4431-B manifestation, SCP-4431-C instances will attempt to construct makeshift structures from any surrounding materials, presumably intended to be shelters. Instances typically expire in a few hours from environmental factors, though ones brought into containment have average lifespans of 11 hours. Primary cause of death is the gradual degradation of internal organs. Following this, all organic matter on the instance dissolves into a bright pink fluid (hereafter referred to as haemorozin).
Instances possess psionic abilities, used for the manipulation of objects, surroundings, and entities. Limited telepathic communication has been displayed on occasion.
Information on the suspected origins of SCP-4431 is restricted.
Addendum.4431.1: Discovery The first reports of SCP-4431 are from 1919, when an Antarctic expedition lead by former British naval officer Dayton Bannard repeatedly encountered SCP-4431-B and • • • • • SCP-4431-C instances (refer to Addendum.4431.1). Accounts of SCP-4431-B manifestations continued after the first Antarctic research stations were established, leading to SCP-4431-B and SCP-4431-C being classified as anomalies in 2000.
SCP-4431-A came to the attention of the Foundation in March of 2019, when Foundation personnel operating at Research Outpost-02 in the Antarctic Plateau detected abnormal seismic activity originating from an underground location. Based on Foundation simulations of Earth's tectonic plate movement, it was determined that this could be the possible location of a ring-shaped lake depicted on SCP-2651-A, presuming it was not destroyed by geologic activity and prehistoric K-Class events after ~700 million years.
Plans for excavation were proposed when the source of the activity triangulated to a region 10km in radius.4 The boring probe and initial borehole.
In June of 2019 a specialized boring probe was sent through the ice sheet and drilled into the bedrock, attaining a depth of 3,400m before entering a cavern with an oxygen- rich atmosphere and contacting a metal surface. Images from the probe show the surface to be covered in an array of mechanical appendages that were in the process of excavating the cavern ceiling. All readings from the probe were lost an hour after contact. Retrieval attempts failed due to the sudden collapse of the sub-bedrock section of the borehole and the formation of frozen haemorozin within the main drilling mechanism. All subsequent drilling investigations have experienced similar outcomes.
SCP-4431-A was registered as an anomaly in August of 2019. Of note is that, since the first drilling investigation, the number of recorded SCP-4431-B manifestations has increased.
Addendum.4431.2: Dayton Bannard Journal Excerpts The following are relevant excerpts from the personal journal of Dayton Bannard, written during his expedition to reach the South Pole. Bannard failed to keep dates for a majority of entries; the excerpts are suspected to have been written during spring of early 1919. Recovered photographs are included.
▼ Bannard/4431 Excerpts 1 ▼ ▼ Bannard/4431 Excerpts 2 ▼ ▼ Bannard/4431 Excerpts 3 ▼ Earlier to-day I woke Abner and Palmer to tell them about last night's events. There was no doubt we had to move. Everyone else was sleeping and I had seen Richard go deep into the tunnel with two beasts, so we quietly packed whatever supplies we could.
Palmer accidentally woke Esben, who we told that we would be departing to survey the land, though Esben was luckily sane. He pleaded to come with us, saying that the rituals Richard's started seemed entertaining at first but are now incredibly disturbing. Although I am wary I brought him along. More hands on deck is always better.
Our trek outside was uneventful, though the ecosystem the beasts had been creating with the dirt is now flourishing. I barely know where I can begin describing the The amount of "plants" has increased to the point where much of the purple ground is covered in strange yellows and blues. "Insects" would scurry out of our path before I could get a good look at them, and the slugs (now as large as horses) were feasting on the remains of something long. We were all happy to be out of there.
I am currently writing this within the hut we abandoned. I don't know how long it will stay standing. Once it does fall, I don't know where we will go. Our supplies will last us for a few days, but when they run out I know Lewin's crew will be too far away to aid us. God help me.
When we left yesterday someone had to have been listening to our move. Through one of the windows I can see Richard, Shaw, Shelton, and Cy, standing side by side in the distance. I think they are watching the hut. I've told the crew and we'll be staying on guard.
It's an hour later. Richard, Shaw, and Cy have left for the cave. Shelton seemed to "fall" into the snow and vanish. I occasionally see brief movement under the snow but it feels like my mind is playing tricks on me.
An hour after my last entry Shelton broke into the hut. I heard the shattering of glass and I found that he had lunged through the window at Abner, trying to strangle him. I kicked him off and the four of us got him restrained and tied up to a chair. His skin had paled since we last saw him, and a metal cylinder, warm to the touch, had been embedded in his chest. We tried to get him to talk but much like Richard he went quiet and stared nowhere.
Esben then knelt down by the chair, whispered a sentence in the language Richard was so fond of, and he started shaking. He told us that Richard wanted to speak with me, a statement he kept repeating again and again (either that was all his brain let him say or he needed to keep quiet about something else). Mid-sentence he went quiet, gurgled a bit, then his whole head started to melt and sink below the collar of his jacket. Like a heated wax statue his whole body liquified and all that remained was a pool of pink blood.
After much deliberation, I will head out to meet with Richard. I can see him from the window, standing at the edge of the ecosystem. If I don't return I'll leave Abner in charge of what little remains of the expedition. He'll make it to the Pole in my honor.
I survived. When I arrived the only people there were Cy and Richard. I was hoping that the pink blood stains wouldn't be obvious on my clothes, but now that I inspect them it's clear they could see it. They knew what happened. Richard made some sort of noise (a chuckle?) and he said that "they" did not mean the world harm, that after this shaky start it would improve.
Richard's body, for lack of accurate words, unfolded. His body spasmed open and a cylindrical spire shot out of the fractured remains, growing like a deranged plant. I recoiled, with Cy taking the chance to start choking me, not noticing the ice axe I had brought (I am cleaning the viscera off it as I write).
Once the regrettable deed was done it was far too late for Richard, though. The spire was thicker than his entire torso and was growing by the second, pulling the rest of his mass and the surrounding terrain inwards with twisting metal tendrils. Every single apparatus the creatures had left behind was pulled in and incorporated into its mass, with similarly shaped protrusions forming on the sides. The last words I heard from him were "protect existence." His head was pulled in with a sickening crunch right after.
All I could do was run. The rest of the day has been spent with the crew, watching from the camp in horror as the tower grows taller than the highest steeples. The Antarctic night is setting in and bright red lights are flickering along the tower's sides.
The next seven pages consist of drawings. It is unknown what many of the drawings represent, though several have been identified as SCP-4431-C instances, vehicles resembling those found at Martian impact crater Herschel, unknown organisms, and sketches depicting the tower previously described. The only text present is the word "spreading." Under those unearthly lights of the flora and tower I can spot someone entering a vehicle, almost like the "tanks" my military friend spoke of. Unless they are operated in unimaginable ways, these will be our best chance at reaching the pole. First priority is halting the beasts. I won't let myself be responsible for not ending this when I had the chance. God give us strength.
In the "morning" the crew and I gathered any tools that could serve as weapons and our best supplies, then set out to the tower. With Cy and Shelton dead and Richard effectively gone, the only dangers would be the beasts, the creatures of the ecosystem, and Shaw. As we moved, the beasts—levitating around the tower's exterior and adjusting its external machinery—melted into a pink rain, which I hoped had rid us of one more problem.
Once we entered the ecosystem much of the fauna ignored us, more interested in violently attacking each other or mating in bizarre manners. After several minutes we finally saw the tank up close. The vehicle's main mass is a sideways egg-shaped contraption, with large treads attached on either side. Above each tread is a massive mechanical structure, reminding me of the bulky front limbs and claws of crabs.
Problems emerged right as we reached it. Shaw opened the tank's hatch and stepped out, noticed us, then began shouting. Esben shouted something back before being pushed against the tank by an invisible force. Two men, each with bodies built like Richard's but with the exact same face as Shelton, stepped around the tank's edge and babbled in more of that language before running towards us. Abner fired his rifle but the same force made the bullets slow and drop like stones. Palmer made a similar attempt by throwing his lamp but it was tossed far off behind them, breaking and starting a fire.
When they were pressed against the side as well I was certain I was done for, but they froze and stared at me. They were waiting for me to make a move, to have a reason to retaliate. My body was freezing and without shelter inside the vehicle I would perish.
Panicking I scurried around, looking for anything I could use when I found a small slug, likely only recently spawned. Disregarding any rational thought I grabbed it and threw it at one of the Shelton duplicates, who didn't so much as flinch. The slug emitted a gurgling screech and a larger entity shambled out of the darkness, resembling one of the slugs but standing on six spindly legs. Its head split open into massive tentacles and the Shelton was pulled into its maw. Esben and Abner fell onto the ground and rushed to open the hatch.
The last Shelton pulled me toward them, folding their mouth open and releasing a long silver structure. In a stroke of luck I still had the ice axe on me, and once I reached them I could save myself from whatever fate awaited me. I crashed onto the ground and sprinted for the hatch, which Esben had holding open as Palmer got in. When I reached it one of the blasted beasts suddenly emerged from the darkness, wrapping its tendrils around the door edges and grabbing onto poor Esben. He was whipped off into the darkness, screaming until a series of metal scrapes and wet cracking sounds rang out.
I shut the hatch and the area instantly warmed. In a stroke of luck the tank's interior is designed as if its makers intended for men to operate it, with various easily accessed storage cabinets along the sides and a ladder leading to a hatch on the top. Abner was at a seat in the front, looking at an array of glass panels suspended by mechanical structures. Each panel glowed and presented views from outside the tank, despite none of the panels being connected to any wall or having any movie projector. He slowly experimented with every button and mechanism until we started moving forward, colliding into the tower.
My memory of the next events is heavily broken, and trying to recall it brings on intense mental pains. Abner began ramming against the tower while pushing with the tank's claws to make it topple, and with each thud I heard the "voice" of Richard. It shouted at me, telling me that I was idiotic, and with every collisions it screamed louder to call me a murderer and "A KILLER OF HUMANITY'S FUTURE" (why do I write it in capitals?). The last I remember was the "voice" sobbing.
The next moment I can remember is us driving away from the tower, which had just collapsed and crushed the cave. Through the panels I can now see massive gashes in the tower's exterior flashing impossibly vibrant colours. The next several hours have been silent reminiscing. I've told Abner to drive faster, as I know this cannot be a safe object to be around.
Abner beckoned the two of us over to see what was happening on the panels. The colours from the tower had grown bright enough to be like the rising sun, and the surrounding snow and rocks were being lifted into the air around it. I then witnessed a sight I can't stop thinking about. A number of large, black tendrils pushed out of the ruins of the cave and began pulling the tower into the snow. It was as if the tunnel had come to life and wanted needed something that was in that infernal pillar.
There was a violent explosion soon after. I felt the entire vehicle get lifted into the air and thrown back down, which we think has broken one of Palmer's ribs from a collision with the ladder. Looking outside now the site where we had been is now a white inferno, illuminating the sky and creating the illusion of a sunny day.
[IRRELEVANT TEXT EXPUNGED] We were driving when we a heard loud, wet slam come from right outside the vehicle. I opened the hatch to look out, and lo and behold, Richard had come for a visit. His torso was little more than an amalgam of metal, pulling itself through the snow with three broken arms, a comet trail of pink and red blood stretching out of the crater he made in the snow. I ordered Abner to stop driving but he kept at the wheel (not even making eye contact with me). He didn't even consider how important this was. I yelled as much as I could until the fool stopped.
I went to sit by Richard as his two wound-shaped mouths began babbling like a dying phonograph. I caressed his its head (never have I seen metal crumple so much beneath single presses), whispered apologies to the holes in its face, and swung my axe down over and over [ILLEGIBLE: Text scribbled out]. Not a word has been spoken since I returned.
I remember my departure from England, how I spoke of being able to witness grandeur none in my village would ever see. Sure enough I have seen a world no other man will come to witness, one that puts Amundsen's kiddy sight-seeing to shame. [ILLEGIBLE: Paper stained with blood]. If the map this machine shows is to be believed we are getting closer to our destination by the second (I never needed Abner to drive). Sadly my ink is nearly run out and my pencils mere stubs, so my entries on what's left of the journey will be far less frequent.
For the crew members who have died, I am sorry, and I do not ask that you forgive me. I will continue in your honor. I will reach this damned pole, and may God cast me out of Heaven if I don't.
Notably, a ring-shaped stain of haemorozin is present on the upper left corner of this page.
No further entries are present.
The journal and photographs were discovered after MTF ξ-1 located the "tank" vehicle of Bannard and the remaining crew in July of 2000, 11km away from the South Pole.
Although the tank had retained power and heating due to its anomalous power source, one of the treads had been heavily damaged and prevented continued movement.
Inside the tank was the decayed cadaver of a male human, who had expired from repeated penetrations on the body, matching those caused by an ice axe. The identity of the cadaver has not been determined.
The fate of the Bannard crew is unknown.
Addendum.4431.3: South Pole Incident On 20/09/2019, severe seismic activity occurred at the site of the Geographic South Pole. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole station only experienced minor damages, but its crew reported the emergence of an unknown rocky spire, 51m from the station.
Foundation assets were scrambled to the area.
Excavation of the rocky spire found that it extends for an approximate depth of 40m into the Antarctic Plateau. However, fragments composed of its material extend for far deeper, with the lowest at a depth of 110m. It is considered likely that the fragments stretch to the Antarctic bedrock. The upper portion of the spire contains the remnants of a tube similar to SCP-4431-B, though at a width at which a human individual could fit inside with moderate difficulty. Broken pieces of an ice axe blade surround the tube, and a bloodied coat is embedded into the spire nearby.
A compacted soil-like substance, designated SCP-4431-D, comprises the spire.
Materials such as ice and rock that come into contact with SCP-4431-D are gradually converted into further SCP-4431-D. The means by which this is achieved are unclear, but are presumed to involve alterations to the subatomic structure of contacting materials.
Visual details match those of the soil described in Bannard's journal. Trace amounts of human gene sequences have been found within the compounds.
The excavation of past sites of SCP-4431-A seismic activity is considered a high priority.
Footnotes 1. A large section of East Antarctica, over 1,000km across in diameter at an average elevation of 3,000m.
2. All observed manifestations have occurred in the Antarctic Plateau, though records from non-Foundation research stations describe similar phenomena in other regions of the continent.
3. Said devices record information on atmospheric gas concentrations, the strength of Earth's magnetic field, radiation levels, etc.
4. Radar imaging found no unusual structures within the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, suggesting that the seismic activity source exists within the bedrock under the sheet, which is 3,000m deep in this region.
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