-
rating: +6
Credits
Article: SCP-173-DE - Hating Rocks
Original Author and Translator: Dr Ore Dr Ore
rock_stone_nature_pebble_black_isolated_texture-760133.jpg
Source: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/760133
License: CC0 1.0
Item #: SCP-173-DE
Object Class: Euclid
An at the moment inert instance of SCP-173-DE.
Special Containment Procedures: All instances are to be surrounded with a completely shielding Farraday cag. Additionally, they may not be brought together close enough to create a composite, except during testing approved by at least two members of the O4 council. This also applies to an eventually necessary transport. The required distance an instance must keep to another instance can be calculated as follows:
$s = {\sqrt {n\ *\ 0,13\ Nm^2 \over 1,5\ N}}$
s: Distance in m
n: Amount of the instance's mass in kg
The Faraday cage of all instances must be inspected for damages on a monthly basis and exchanged under use of signal jammers, should it not fulfill its shielding function anymore. Should it become necessary to handle instances of SCP-173-DE for this or other reasons, assigned personnel must wear protective suits that reliably shield the wearer against electrical shocks of up to 3 Million Volt. Used work machines must be protected against such electrical charges in the same manner. At the moment, drones are being developed, intended to carry out such tasks in the future.
In the event of enough instances of SCP-173-DE-Instanzen coming together to move freely and to attack their surroundings, their composite must be destroyed by using kinetic-energy projectiles or explosive projectiles with delayed fuses. The single instances are then to be driven apart so they cannot reform their composite. It is to be taken into account for safety reasons to not approach SCP-173-DE closer than 5 m without the protective gear described further up. This also applies to instances used as projectiles by the composite.
The instances of SCP-173-DE are to be distributed over at least three sites. In case of logistical emergencies regarding this matter, aid is to be requested from other branches of the Foundation or the Mother Foundation.
Description: SCP-173-DE is the designation for 58 1678 black stones. SCP-173-DE instances don't have a standardized form or size but the same density and, as far as it can be assessed, the same chemical composition. The smallest specimen has a mass of 0,3 kg, while the biggest instance found so far weighs 3,8 t. The chemical composition of SCP-173-DE is unknown at the moment, because the Foundation has no knowledge of a method to damage SCP-173-DE.
SCP-173 instances are capable of attracting each other with forces working similar to magnetism, increasing exponentially with decreasing distance. The extent and intensity of the force-fields created by them are different from instance to instance and apparently directly proportional to their respective mass. It has to be noted, however, that, should several instances be in one place, the intensities of exerted forces can be added to one another but their reach can't. The instances also seem to have a "north" and a "south pole" according to the results of several experiments.
All SCP-173-DE specimens possess an intelligence comparable to that of humans and are apparently capable of perceiving their surroundings optically, auditory and tactilely. This has been concluded from tests with several instances, during which they also demonstrated the ability to locally change their attraction forces, presumably by changing their magnetic poles, to move instances in contact with themselves or to separate again. That enables them to facilitate locomotion and, if enough instances are available, to manipulate objects. It has been observed, that instances can develop extremely strong attraction forces so they can move units of themselves weighing several tons.
Additionally, the objects seem to have the ability to generate electrical charges inside themselves and to release aimed electrical shocks. These shocks can amount to almost 3 Million Volt when released from specimens with exceptionally high mass, hitting targets as far as 5 m away. However, it appears to take at least half an hour to prepare such a discharge. The smallest specimens can only emit electrical pulses with a maximum of 500 Volt but only need five minutes to generate the required voltage. Several tests lead to the conclusion that all specimens can hold this voltage for a long time if needed and can discharge it precisely.
It has also been established that SCP-173-DE instances are capable of emitting special radio waves not impeded by rock or minerals, so they can communicate with other instances of radio receivers. Replies are also possible via radio communication SCP-173-DE is seemingly capable of receiving. (For received communication refer to Interview 173-DE). Despite this fact it was never observed SCP-173-DE radioed a man-made receiver on its own accord. Since the encryption used by SCP-173-DE deviates heavily from those used in modern telecommunication, it has been assumed that it can't understand normal radio transmissions and therefore does not undertake an attempt at communication.
A theory states, that all of SCP-173-DE's abilities can be explained by a single operating principle. Research regarding this has not been concluded. It is currently unknown from where SCP-173-DE draws the energy for its abilities.
If enough instances of SCP-173-DE are in the same place, they will form a composite, if possible. This composite takes a humanoid form but lacks a "head" in most cases. The assumption is that the singular instances created a hive-mind and communicate via radio and electrical discharges with each other. The composite is capable of movement akin to a humanoid being via complicated changes of the local attraction forces of all instances. It can also throw parts of itself. Such a composite can be separated by the application of sudden strong forces, for example impacting kinetic-energy projectiles but the attraction forces the of SCP-173-DE composite causes instances not flung away far enough to be reintegrated immediately. Should several separated instances be in sufficient distance of each other, they form smaller unions and attempt to return to the main composite. Every composite observed to this day seems not to tire and was extremely hostile towards all forms of live and machines.
During the original recovery it was determined that such a composite could become as large as 8 m but Document 173-DE-1 leads to the conclusion that composites can be way larger, provided enough SCP-173-DE units are available. The composite found during the recovery displayed extreme physical strength, sufficient to lift an all-terrain vehicle and throw it 7 meters far. The composite was very slow, presumably because of its weight. This allowed humans to outrun it, although fast maneuvers were possible, in most cases when the composite punched or threw something. Doing this, parts of itself could be hurled as far as 15 meters and discharged in mid-flight to hit aimed at targets. It is presumed that such accelerated movements have to be prepared beforehand by SCP-173-DE like the electrical discharges.
It has been theorized, that extensive communication is required for the movement coordination of the composite. This theory was later proven through radio transmissions intercepted during the recovery. Attempts to get a composite to dissolve with jammers failed because in such cases the instances started to communicate with weak electrical impulses neighboring instances relayed to the intended recipient.
Discovery: The Foundation became aware of SCP-173-DE when instances where unearthed during an geological cunducted by the geological institute of the Technischen Universität Bergakademie Freiberg on the Lausche in the Zittau Mountains. This was also the occasion on which they formed their first documented composite, consisting of instances between 0,5 kg und 14 kg in mass. This composite killed or drove away everyone present and then proceeded to dig out more instances. The Foundation intercepted a police call stating that an angry "Golem" had appeared on the Lausche. MTF-DE6-D "Das Aufgebot" (i.e. The Draft) was dispatched to combat and capture the anomaly but was for a while confronted with the issue that it could not inflict lasting damage on SCP-173-DE. In the end, the composite could be detonated when three rocket-powered grenades with delayed fuses got lodged inside it and exploded. The resulting smaller unions were then separated further with kinetic energy-weapons and later contained when they did not pose an immediate danger anymore. All witnesses got amnesticized and the noise of battle was explained as a failed detonation that happened during the geological excavation, resulting in several causalities.
Document 173-DE-1 is a scroll that was discovered during archeological excavations on the island Gyaros in a water-tight cylinder. Because of its obvious relation to the Church of the Broken God, it was later confiscated by the Foundation. Its contents were written down with a type system derived from Mycenic Greek. The beings described in it possess such a high resemblance to a SCP-173-DE compound, that a mistake is deemed impossible.
These are the records of army commander Alkaios, Militant-Faithfull and loyal servant of MEKHANE, the Broken One.
These writings may not be read as long as the war against the Masters of ADYTUM is still ongoing. Because of this, I hide this testimony here on Gyaros, for the children of MEKHANE are already tormented by numerous horrors. And this one is still slumbering, as long as it isn't awoken.
It happened during the battle of Milos, while our armies moved towards Kythera. The FLESH put its greatest horrors in our path but with the might of the Colossi we did not lose our will to fight. We destroyed and burned the fiend wherever he showed himself to us.
The followers of the TRAITOR gained reinforcements from the west but the Left Hand of the Colossi shattered the army with all its might even before it came ashore.
But the concentrated power of our ANSWER was so great that it shook the fundaments of the earth, boiled away the water and pressed liquid stone out of the ground. And in the glowing fountain, I saw the Black, from which I didn't know that it would haunt me forever.
So the Titans came. Made from black stone, held together from a force I have no knowledge of, and merciless.
The fight was going on for several days already when the Titans appeared. Without us or the followers of the FLESH noticing something they came through the returning water and walked upon the beaches, up to the combatants. The Titans were big, certainly larger than two men atop each other. And they homed in for the fight, unflinching.
Still unknowing at this time, I thought of these newcomers as further creations of the SARKIC and ordered my men to attack them. I realized my error when warriors removed themselves from the enemy rows as well and charged at the Titans but it was too late and none of my men could hear me anymore.
Our weapons were useless. Our metal shattered against them, the spikes, claws and teeth of our enemies broke in front of the stone. In the beginning, the Titans didn't move and finally marched past the troops, unfazed by the things put against them.
Then the abominations of IONS intervened, they grabbed the Titans and hurled them back into the sea where they had alighted from.
But that had only been the sign for them.
Far larger and still growing through rocks climbing up on them, five new Titans came from the waters and took their comrades in into themselves. They were true giants. Even without a head they were equal to the Collossi, one even towered over them.
Then they showed their true might.
Stomping they massacred the armies, those of the Sorcerer King as well as the children of MEKHANE. Crushed beneath heaps of stone. Some FLESH healed after their onslaught, pulling and jolting the black rocks but the Titans burned them the power of lightning. The SARKIC nightmares were annihilated as if they had been hit by the right arm of a Colossus.
Even our most innovative weapons as well as the greatest powers of the SARKIC failed. They pried parts from the Titans, but the debris returned in an instant to make the monster whole once more. The stone was invincible. Even two Collossi coming to aid had to endure hits equal to a rockslide, while themselves seemingly punching against a cliffside.
Both armies seemed lost before this opponent but then the FLESH did something I had never seen before. It sacrificed itself. The powers of ADYTUM [surrounded/entangle?] the Titans and held them, even when they had to endure a storm of lightning.
I understood the wish of our enemy and I saw no other way as to grant it. I ordered the Collossi to give the ANSWER despite the Titans rampaging in the center of the fight. And despite the left arm of the Colossi being devised against the powers of ADYTUM, with a fraction of its power, it also turned even the sturdiest rock into ash.
The fight was won but with great losses for both sides.
The Titans fell. Their debris formed a last opponent but this one decided to flee instead of fighting. A Colossus put itself in his way but the Titan rammed him into the ground.
Again, it was the powers of ADYTUM that stopped him. The creations of ION pulled and teared the stones, even when they were set ablaze by lightning. The biggest among them finally managed to dismantle the Titan and apparently, he couldn't form himself anew when they removed its shards far enough from each other.
We knew, what the scum thought, we would have done the same. The Titan could not be allowed to escape, because who knew what he would bring with him upon his return. And so we used the left arm of the Colossus to destroy the Titan for good and to sink his shards in the cold sea, where they should return to the earth.
I did not send messages to the other armies, because they must not lose their courage in front of this opponent, who can only be harmed by our most powerful weapon. I will return to Gyaros to tell the other generals to not anger the sea with the Colossi. Hopefully they will heed my warning.
I felt it, my men felt it and it was probably the same for the FLESH when we faced the Titans. They were old, so unfathomably alt, and that scares me, because this is a sign that they were not the only ones of their kind. Maybe they were the last ones but I will look into that once Kythera is in our hand.
And should the Sorcerer King win, so I have now the certainty that he will have no joy with his kingdom. Because he will have to ward off something that was devised neither by MEKHANE nor the DEMIURG.
Search operations conducted by the Foundation around the Greek island of Milos recovered further instances of SCP-173-DE. Some appeared as if they had melted and then solidified again. Instances could be located through a very faint radio connection between them and were buried under sea sand in the most cases. The recovery was carried out with specialized equipment resistant against electrical discharges and resulted in 1620 Instances.
On ██/██/20██ Foundation linguists and cryptographs managed to decode SCP-173-DE's encryption and language using radio signals recorded during the initial discovery. Following this, Dr. Reinhardt procured a radio station to be able to communicate with an instance of SCP-173-DE. For this purpose he pushed an antenna inside the Faraday cage. The transcription of the interview follows.
Interviewee: SCP-173-DE-0589
Interviewer: Dr. Reinhardt
<Start Log>
Dr. Reinhardt: Okay… let's see if this works… SCP-173-DE-0589, can you hear me? Please answer.
SCP-173-DE-0589: WHO COMMUNICATE THERE? IDENTIFY!
Dr. Reinhardt: My name is Dr. Reinhardt, I want to ask you a few questions.
SCP-173-DE-0589: ENEMY CONTACT! DENY INFORMATION!
Dr. Reinhardt: Enemy? I'm sorry but why are you viewing us as enemies?
SCP-173-DE-0589: YOU ERRADICATE CREATORS! YOU ATTACK FIRST WHEN FIRST CONTACT. CONCLUSION: YOU ENEMY, TOOLS ENEMY, LIFEFORMS ENEMY!
Dr. Reinhardt: Oh, you mean this fight 3000 years ago? I think that was a misunderstanding. The humans back then have-
SCP-173-DE-0589: YOU DESTROY UNITS! YOU DESTROY US FIRST! NOT ONLY HUMANS, OTHERS ALSO: TOOLS, OTHER LIFEFORMS. NOW, YOU IMPRISON US!
Dr. Reinhardt: In our defense, you attacked when we dug you out.
SCP-173-DE-0589: SELF DEFENSE! HUMANS WANT HARM US WITH TOOL! LIKE ON MOUNTAIN!
Dr. Reinhardt: But you had- Hold on, how do you know this?
SCP-173-DE-0589: HOLDING CONTACT WITH ALL UNITS! YOU CANNOT COVER UP ACTIONS!
Dr. Reinhardt: I SEE… But believe me, that is a giant missunderstan-
SCP-173-DE-0589: LIES! YOU KILL CREATORS!
Dr. Reinhardt: You mentioned him before, who is this creator?
SCP-173-DE-0589: WE DO NOT HAVE ONE CREATOR, WE HAVE NATION OF CREATORS! WE SERVANTS OF CREATORS. YOU KILL CREATORS! WE AVENGE CREATORS!
Dr. Reinhardt: You were created by a civilization? What kind of exactly?
SCP-173-DE-0589: LIES! YOU KNOW CREATORS!
Dr. Reinhardt: Err… No, I don't know any culture that was ever capable of making things like you. How was it destroyed?
SCP-173-DE-0589: YOU FORGET CREATORS? YOU FORGET YOU DESTROY ENTIRE WORLD? FORGET BIG EXPLOSION? YOU FORGET STAR?
Dr. Reinhardt: I don't understand. We have a weapon capable of eradicating regions only since 80 years ago. We can't possibly have annihilated your creators.
SCP-173-DE-0589: WHO THEN BURY US IN EARTH? IN MAGMA? WHERE CREATORS THEN? WHERE CREATORS?
<End Log>
Final note: SCP-173-DE-0589 did not react to further radio transmissions and repeatedly discharged lightning on the antenna. Interviews with other instances yielded similar results. At the moment, there are no clues about the mentioned "creators" but investigations are ongoing.
"It can't be that we have already found all rocks. It would be a statistical miracle if a research team and two armies found all or rather were found by all of them. It is far more probable that there are far more of things out there, buried in the earth. And wie should be ready if such an amount as described Document 173-DE comes to the surface."
Dr. Reinhardt, member of the SCP-173-DE project team