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SCP-7503: The Holy Human Empire

Author: Kilerpoyo

⚠️ Content warning: This article contains a content warning: Religious Violence, Religious Satire

⚠️ content warning

Item#: SCP-7503

Containment Class: euclid

Secondary Class: argus

Disruption Class: keneq

Risk Class: danger

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-7503 is to be contained in Site-77, where no working personnel belongs to the Catholic Faith1. SCP-7503 is to be kept inside a standard reinforced storage container at the center of a standard 10 x 10 meters squared cell. Under no circumstances should a member of the Catholic Faith be allowed within a 5-meter radius of SCP-7503. At least two armed non-Catholic security personnel should always be guarding SCP-7503.

Any Catholic individual that has been in proximity closer than 10 meters of SCP-7503 should be given immediate amnestic treatment and kept in observation for a period of two weeks. If despite treatment they still present signs of being affected by SCP-7503, they should be kept under Foundation's detention with maximum security for human-level threats within a Foundation Site other than Site-77.

SCP-7503-2 is currently being contained by the Catholic branch of the Horizon Initiative.2 Due to possible information compromise in case of an SCP-7503 containment breach, it was deemed necessary for the Foundation to not be aware of any information regarding the location and containment procedures of SCP-7503-2.

Description:

SCP-7503 refers to the skeletal remains of an unidentified male dressed in renaissance period ecclesiastic garments and adorned with intricate jewelry made of gold and various precious stones and gems. Archeological assessment of SCP-7503 indicates the clothing and ornaments date back to the 16th century, while the skeletal remains are older, estimated circa before the 3rd century. The Archeology Department has hypothesized SCP-7503 to be one of the "Catacomb Saints".3

SCP-7503's anomalous effect triggers when a member of the Catholic Faith is within a radius of 5 meters from it. After 10 minutes of proximity to SCP-7503, around 10% of Catholics will become devoted to SCP-7503 and venerate it as a "Saint". After 1 hour, this percentage raises to 100%. Regardless of previous religiosity, they display a fanatical commitment to SCP-7503, declaring it to be the true representative of the Catholic Faith. They will also express an intent to help SCP-7503 in reclaiming the Holy See4 in Rome, even if by use of violence. To this date, there have been no records of aggressions against the Holy See related to SCP-7503.

SCP-7503 upon discovery

The only known method to prevent SCP-7503's influence over a susceptible individual is immediate amnestic treatment after exposure. Missing this treatment, SCP-7503's effect is presumed to be permanent. Due to fanatic behavior displayed by influenced individuals and the high risk posed by an SCP-7503's containment breach, the Ethics Committee is considering whether termination should be an option if first-line amnestic treatment fails.

In addition, individuals affected by SCP-7503 individuals will become obsessed with reuniting SCP-7503 with SCP-7503-2. SCP-7503-2 is a 6-meter tall mechanical construct, resembling a suit of 16th-century Italian armor, albeit with distorted proportions. Its exterior is composed of an unidentified golden metal of remarkable durability. This durability is likely anomalous in nature; since SCP-7503-2 is capable of withstanding modern heavy fire and artillery without suffering apparent damage.

Internally, it possesses a complex clockwork mechanism allowing it to move. This mechanism does not require an external power source in order to function. SCP-7503-2 is armed with several weapons including both medieval bladed and blunt weaponry as well as anachronistic ones such as Gatling-type guns, flame throwers, and rocket launchers. The Horizon Initiative is currently investigating SCP-7503-2's advanced weaponry, evidence pointing it to be anomalous in nature.

SCP-7503-2 is not capable of autonomous behavior, instead, it possesses a hatch to a compartment. It will remain completely dormant until SCP-7503 is placed inside of it. The Horizon Initiative has reported it will not activate with any other material, pending further testing. Individuals under SCP-7503's influence will try to place SCP-7503 in SCP-7503-2. This will, in turn, give SCP-7503 control over SCP-7503-2. When inside SCP-7503-2, SCP-7503 is capable of vocal communication through unknown means.

Discovery Log:

SCP-7503 and SCP-7503-2 were discovered during an archeological excavation in a catacomb near Benevento, Italy. They were located within meters of each other, in a previously uncharted chamber. Upon discovery, members of the archeological team came under the influence of SCP-7503. They placed SCP-7503 into SCP-7503-2, activating it. SCP-7503 emerged from the excavation site and began marching toward Rome.

Upon being informed of the SCP-7503 advances, the Horizon Initiative activated Protocol Gladius Petri, designed to protect the Pope from anomalous threats. His Holiness ████████ ███ was secured in a bunker, while the Horizon Initiative deployed the full strength of Project Malleus5 against SCP-7503, as well as the combined forces of the Swiss Guard, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Italian Army, and Airforce, as well as the Carabinieri6. The Foundation was also notified and assistance was requested. MTF Nu-7 "Hammer Down" was deployed as a response. Italian Airforce planes bombarded SCP-7503, while ground forces mounted a fortified perimeter around Benevento to stop SCP-7503 from reaching Rome. While proving to be highly resistant to damage from modern military weaponry, the continuous fire from both ground and aerial forces managed to stall SCP-7503's advancement until the arrival of Foundation reinforcement. Foundation airforces managed to incapacitate SCP-7503-2 with plasma cannons bombardment, allowing MTF Nu-7 members to approach it and remove SCP-7503, nullifying the threat. A large-scale cover-up operation involving misinformation and mass amnestic application was conducted in the aftermath of the incident.

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Footnotes

1. For the purpose of this file, the term "Catholic individual" or "member of the Catholic Faith" refer to anyone who has received the three sacraments of Christian initiation following Roman Catholic Rite: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, regardless of current religious affiliation.

2. GOI dedicated to the protection of the Abrahamic Faiths against the anomalous. The Catholic branch is led by the Ordinis Occulti Luminis.

3. Skeletal remains of ancient Christians exhumed from catacombs, exuberantly decorated, and worshiped as relics of saints during a period from the 16th to the 18th century.

4. The jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome and head-of-state of Vatican City.

5. Horizon Initiative’s combat forces.

6. The national gendarmerie of Italy.