Item #: SCP-023-IT
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Twenty-five specimens of SCP-023-IT are contained in the Containment Area 05 of Site Vittoria for research purposes; the containment structure is made of reinforced concrete and is about 3 m tall. The area is under video surveillance and patrols of not less than three armed guards must verify the integrity of the structure and the possible presence of eggs. Once every three days, an adult bovine must be brought into the Containment Area to feed SCP-023-IT.
Description: SCP-023-IT is a genetically modified organism, created by the CFO using the gray wolf ("Canis lupus") as its genetic basis and integrating its genome with that of various species of arthropods currently unknown. The adult specimens of SCP-023-IT measure 120 cm in length (tail excluded) and weigh around 26 kg; their body is hairless but presents chitin plaques on a large part of the skin surface, with the exception of the joints, part of the abdomen, and tail. The spine, the last four pairs of ribs and the bones of the limbs are made of cartilage, which lightens the skeleton and can make movements otherwise harmful or impossible for a bony skeleton. A complex trachea system ensures a high supply of oxygen to the muscles, allowing SCP-023-IT to run and fight for extended periods of time without fatigue.
SCP-023-IT is oviparous: females lay up to nine eggs in holes which they cover with decaying plant matter. The young are born after about a month of incubation and reach maturity at eighteen months; however, most of them die during the first year of life due to severe malformations resulting from the unstable genome. SCP-023-IT is gregarious and forms packs led by the older individual or a human being. The members of the group communicate both with howls and growls and with the emission of pheromones from the skin, allowing a high degree of coordination during attacks. The methods by which they attack targets are extremely variable but they all rely on exhausting the victim before attacking them en masse.
The CFO has been using SCP-023-IT at least since 2001, the year in which a squadron led by the First Triumvir attacked Area 11-IT with a pack of at least 70 specimens. The battle ended with a triumph of the Council, which took the security teams by surprise with the new Chimera, defeated their defenses and took possession of the structure and SCP-███-IT, contained in the area. From that event onwards, SCP-023-IT has been used both in offensive operations and to defend the Bases from intruders.
Addendum 1: In 2013, an agent infiltrated in ██████'s police, in the province of Bologna, participated in the investigations regarding a possible pack of wolves that had been attacking cattle in the area's countryside for over a year. The agent conducted part of the interrogations and, recognizing SCP-023-IT in the description made by the breeders, alerted the Foundation. The SSM-IV ("Pugnus Ferri") was sent to the area and, over the following days, captured 11 specimens and destroyed 31 of them. Following the operation, the area was placed under surveillance by order of the Council of Superintendents.
Addendum 2: In 2017, investigations by undercover agents in ██████ led to the discovery of a CFO base used to breed and train SCP-023-IT and which, almost certainly, is the place from which the herd of 2013. The SSM-IV and -IX ("Machinamenta") were deployed to assault the structure. The Special Teams managed to win the clash and recover a large number of encrypted documents, most of which related to SCP-023-IT.
The following document was coded with a much more complex code than the others; for this reason, it was the first on which specialists focused. Due to its content, it is reserved for Level 4 or above staff.
"CAOS FABRICAT ORDINEM"
To Director Marciano,
The Dictator and I discussed the Chimeras A-50 at length and concluded that they now require to be improved: out of fifteen eggs per brood, six do not hatch and three of the cubs die before they are even three months old. The costs of maintaining your facility are too high, and the results are tolerable at best. With this I do not intend to diminish your work, on the contrary: the Dictator has absolute confidence in your abilities and has specifically asked me to entrust you with the task. We are both sure that you will not disappoint us.
We do know, however, that the Foundation suspects the existence of Base 8. Our infiltrators were unable to find out how, but the Third Triumvir confirmed that his men were guarding possible undercover agents right in your area. I asked for reinforcements to be sent, but the proposal was rejected. Those idiotic Triumvirs don't seem to realize that without you and your efforts they wouldn't have the A-50s to fight.
In any case, I will try to speak to the Dictator again, in the hope that he will listen to me; in the meantime, keep a low profile, we can't afford to lose your facility.
I'll contact you soon, good luck.
Second Consul.
⎰ SIC DICTATOR DIXIT AC VULT ⎱
Addendum 3: In 2013, the Superintendence gave the permission to start for a study project on SCP-023-IT, currently still ongoing. The main observations made by the researchers are listed below; complete documentation is available in Site Vittoria's archives.
Log Date: 11/09/13
Researcher: Dr. Michele Barbato
Purpose of the observation: Preliminary observations on the behavior of SCP-023-IT.
Data obtained: SCP-023-IT displays intelligence comparable to that of a typical specimen of adult Canis lupus; in particular, the techniques used during predation remind those of the organism on which it is based, even if they are more refined thanks to the ability to secrete pheromones to communicate with the other members of the pack.
It should also be noted that specimens of SCP-023-IT are invariably hostile towards humans whom they identify as Foundation personnel. The CFO is believed to have found a way to create and maintain this behavior, but it is currently unknown.
Log Date: 11/15/13
Researcher: Dr. M. Barbato
Purpose of the observation: Preliminary observations on the behavior of SCP-023-IT
Data obtained: SCP-023-IT proved to be more cunning than expected: today, four specimens attacked the guards on duty, attracting the attention of the staff; in the meantime, the rest of the pack took advantage of the distraction to escape the containment area. The breach was resolved thanks to the intervention of the SSM-IV, which tracked down the specimens that had managed to escape and brought them back.
Three guards and an SSM-IV agent were injured, but are expected to recover quickly. Greater caution is recommended during interactions with SCP-023-IT.
Log Date: 04/01/14
Researcher: Lt. Alessandro Draghi (SSM-IV)
Purpose of the observation: Assessment of the capabilities of SCP-023-IT in order to develop effective countermeasures
Data obtained: SCP-023-IT favors the targets alone or frightened. From the observations made, it is clear that the most effective hunting strategy is to isolate the victim with weak attacks but aimed at making them perform reckless actions, such as moving away from their group and acting in panic, and injuring them to weaken them. At this point, SCP-023-IT converges on the prey in groups of 4-10 individuals and attacks it from multiple sides to kill it.
Isolated specimens tend to avoid being seen and stalk prey from afar or hide, waiting for a favorable moment to attack. Thanks to their very flexible skeleton, SCP-023-IT can use the most disparate places for its ambushes: in particular, some specimens capable of climbing exploit the ventilation tunnels and raised points, so as to maximize the visual field and reduce the chances to be seen.
Moving in cohesive groups is the best way to maintain an important advantage over SCP-023-IT; It is essential to remain calm and focused when fighting against SCP-023-IT, as hesitation and fear can be fatal. In principle, the main target must be the pack leader, usually the largest specimen or a human trainer - if it is eliminated, the rest of the group loses cohesion and tends to run away.
Log Date: 04/15/14
Researcher: Dr. M. Barbato
Purpose of the observation: Study of the parental behaviors of SCP-023-IT
Data obtained: In early March, SCP-023-IT females had laid a total of 34 medium-sized eggs; fifteen of them were taken by drone for study and observation purposes. In the middle of the month, twenty of the eggs hatched and, at the time of writing, only twelve of the cubs survived.
The whole pack takes care of the young ones, with an adult always present to watch over them. Since females lack mammary glands, SCP-023-IT feeds the cubs by regurgitating partially digested food for them.
A special note deserves their "education": the learn to fear and hate the staff of the Foundation both by example, as adults have more hostile attitudes when they assist, and with attacks when they interact with the staff. We believe that the latter method has been used by the CFO to train SCP-023-IT and that they imitate it to educate the little ones and maintain this characteristic; the observation of the isolated specimens will allow to verify if this theory is correct.
Log Date: 09/05/15
Researcher: Dr.ssa Ginevra Marino
Purpose of the observation: Observation of isolated specimens of SCP-023-IT
Data obtained: The specimens of SCP-023-IT that we isolated about 17 months ago do not show the aggressiveness of the parents; instead, they show a very sociable attitude similar to that of domestic dogs. This confirms the hypothesis of dr. Barbato and will allow staff to study SCP-023-IT more closely and without taking excessive risks.
In particular, we have already seen the autonomous formation of a pack with a well established internal hierarchy, the designation of a human leader in the person of Dr. Barbato and, in general, to interactions between individuals without their actions being altered by human presence.
Log Date: 11/09/15
Researcher: Sixth Superintendent
Purpose of the observation: Incident Alpha 12, 08/09/15
Data obtained: On 08/09/15, SCP-023-IT specimens hostile to the Foundation breached the containment in conjunction with the Alfa-12 Incident; this exacerbated the situation and forced the security forces to eliminate all the escaped specimens. The accident caused 9 deaths and 20 injuries, including 7 for which full recovery is not expected.
To prevent further similar events from occurring, the Superintendence prohibits the capture of further specimens of SCP-023-IT and their importation into the Foundation's Sites and Areas.
Log Date: 08/12/17
Researcher: Dr. Barbato, with the collaboration of the Cpt. Alessandro Draghi (SSM-IV)
Purpose of the observation: Interactions between SCP-023-IT and humans
Data obtained: Over the past 45 days, the staff assigned to SCP-023-IT has authorized and observed some exercises of the SSM-IV with the specimens contained. This led to a marked improvement in the agents' performance in the clashes against the CFO, but also to the formation of a bond between them and the pack: the research team has in fact noticed how the prolongation of the time between one exercise and the other affects negatively on the mood of the specimens, in particular the younger ones, who become less active and sociable.
It is evident that SCP-023-IT has empathy developed enough to experience complex emotions: considering this, I propose to the Superintendence to extend the exercise period and, in the near future, to train the specimens of SCP-023-IT for use by Foundation agents, especially security officers and SSM members.
Note from the Seventh Superintendent: Considering the observations made by Dr. Barbato and the risk posed by hostile specimens of SCP-023-IT, the Superintendence has ordered that the training of SSM agents with SCP-023-IT will be extended for twelve months. If no accidents or other noteworthy events should occur, the Superintendence will assess whether to further extend this period of time and whether to proceed with the training of SCP-023-IT for the suggested purposes.
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