SCP Foundation

Hello, Site-17!

We’ve just welcomed in our new batch of graduates, and we think it’s a great time for a refresher on some important topics for newcomers and veterans alike. If you’ve just been brought on, we know things can be overwhelming, so don’t be afraid to have a chat with your supervisor or FSD liaison to clear up any confusion. To our long-term team members: you’re setting a role model for your colleagues, so make sure to pay close attention and internalise the lessons here!

A few recent incidents have emphasised the importance of understanding the full scope of outcomes possible within Foundation employment. While our primary mission remains the Security, Containment, and Protection of anomalies, we must keep in mind that not all threats are equal. In some circumstances, the most ethical choice — for yourself, your colleagues, and your family’s peace of mind — may be to avoid extremely prolonged suffering by self-terminating. This document aims to provide guidance on recognising such scenarios.

It’s important for personnel to keep two principles in mind:

• Know Your Outcomes: Be aware of the properties of the anomaly you’re dealing with. Can that regenerator fuse you into its body, where you’ll be stuck for a decade? Does that chronogeist have the ability to accelerate your perception of time a thousandfold? Will that vending machine trap you in an endless dispenser loop? Always keep abreast of your situation. If you’re unsure, spirited and constant cries of distress are generally a bad sign.

• Know Your Exits: Be aware of your methods of escape. Did you keep a round in the chamber for when you’re cornered? Do those amnestics you’ve been issued have a maximum dose? If pushed — improvise! Don’t hesitate to go splat, or to try your hand at ropework. Sometimes it’s better to expense a postmortem retrieval than risk being caught.

We’ll go through a few case studies and discuss what can be learnt from each example.

Case Study 1: Junior Researcher Thompson, a promising young scientist with only six months of service, was assigned to routine observation detail on a Sarkic flesh-culturing entity. During a containment breach, Thompson was exposed to its spores and, rather than immediately self-terminating, attempted to seek treatment. Over the following hours, Thompson's body began producing microscale offspring, which founded a settlement in his flesh. Thompson's nervous system was extended with synthetic grafts, and used as a communications relay across the homunculus society, which began to develop industrial technology at T+18 hours before it was culled by Foundation agents.

Had Thompson acted according to procedure — using a guard’s firearm or electrical outlet upon exposure — his expiration would have been swift and painless. Instead, suppressing the technological development of his descendant civilisation remains a permanent containment diversion for his colleagues. When you’re exposed to an unknown biomantic agent, seriously consider termination.

Case Study 2: Senior Agent Morrison served the Foundation with distinction for over a decade. During a strike against Serpent’s Hand terrorists, Morrison suffered catastrophic injuries that would have resulted in death within approximately ninety seconds. A local Tartarean entity attempted to exchange his soul for his survival. Morrison, flouting regulation, attempted to agree, but was unable to accede due to a buildup of fluid in his lungs and throat. Ultimately, he expired, and his soul was safely rendered to Holding Purgatory #324.

Sometimes, you don't even have to expedite your termination. It's easiest just to let yourself expire! If Morrison had succeeded, his eventual interrogation in a Tartarean realm would have represented an enormous information security failure. When expiration approaches, think long and hard about whether your escape method is really worth it.

Case Study 3: Dr. Chen was a promising researcher in the Department of Digital Anomalies, specialising in consciousness transfer protocols. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, Chen requested and received authorisation for full digitisation of her consciousness, rather than allowing the disease to take its course. The procedure was deemed a success — Chen's mind was successfully uploaded to Foundation servers, allowing continued research contributions.

Chen did not appreciate the inherent vulnerability of a digital medium. An Insurgent agent was able to extract a copy of her consciousness and transfer it to the broader Insurgent movement. Copies were first coercively interrogated for information, and later duplicated for use as digital servants. Chens were put to work breaching Foundation systems, providing information that endangered their colleagues, and ultimately used for amusement by Insurgency forces.

Digitised operatives — remember that you can't stop people from hitting "right-click-save" on your mind! If she had stayed in it, Chen's original body would have died within six months. Instead, Chens suffer to this day, with not even the hope of eventual release. Copies of her consciousness are believed to have spread to all seven continents, and are even in use by some Foundation sites as templates. Be sure to keep your auto-deletion firmware up to standard!

This has been a fairly intense topic, and we understand that it can feel like a lot of pressure. Working at the Foundation can be tough. Stress piles up for everyone. For this Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to emphasise that the Foundation is here for you. We're not just a team — we're a family. If you ever struggle with thoughts of harming yourself, don't hesitate to call the Foundation personnel helpline at 0800-LOVE-LIFE.

Stay mindful,
The Ethics Committee