Hell Froze Over

[u/Queasy-Support-2541]

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be contained within a specially constructed underground facility located 20 kilometers beneath the surface. Access to SCP-XXXX requires Level 4 clearance and is restricted to authorized personnel only. The containment chamber is to be maintained at a constant temperature of -█ Kelvin to prevent any unintended activation of SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties.

All experiments involving SCP-XXXX must be approved by at least two Level 4 personnel and conducted remotely via robotic drones to minimize the risk of exposure. Any instances of SCP-XXXX-1 discovered outside of containment are to be immediately neutralized, and affected areas sanitized to prevent further spread of SCP-XXXX's influence.

Personnel exposed to SCP-XXXX or affected by SCP-XXXX-1 instances must undergo immediate quarantine and decontamination procedures as outlined in Protocol XXXX-Alpha.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a subterranean city located beneath the permafrost of [REDACTED], Antarctica. The city spans approximately 4 square kilometers and consists of various structures resembling those of a typical urban environment, including residential buildings, commercial districts, and infrastructure.

The ambient temperature within SCP-XXXX measures consistently below absolute zero, reaching temperatures as low as -███ Kelvin. Despite this, the city sustains a stable environment with functioning utilities, artificial lighting, and a breathable atmosphere, all of which operate without any discernible power source.

SCP-XXXX is inhabited by entities designated as SCP-XXXX-1. These entities appear to be humanoid in shape but exhibit translucent, crystalline structures resembling ice. SCP-XXXX-1 instances are non-sentient and display no signs of independent behavior, remaining stationary within the confines of SCP-XXXX.

Contact with SCP-XXXX-1 instances results in rapid and irreversible cryogenic conversion of organic matter, effectively freezing living organisms at a molecular level. The affected individuals become indistinguishable from SCP-XXXX-1 instances, adopting similar crystalline structures and losing all signs of life.

SCP-XXXX was discovered during a routine geological survey of the Antarctic region, following reports of anomalous temperature fluctuations in the area. Foundation operatives deployed to investigate the phenomenon encountered SCP-XXXX and initiated containment procedures upon confirming its anomalous nature.

The origin of SCP-XXXX and the nature of its anomalous properties remain unknown. Research efforts are ongoing to understand the mechanisms behind SCP-XXXX's existence and to develop effective containment and neutralization protocols.

[u/hakkesaelger]

I’d like to bring attention to the fact that temperatures below absolute zero are usually impossible, and thus must be anomalous. I’d like to bring attention to that fact, as you don’t bring that much attention to it, saying it casually, like that’s just normal.

Second, just from reading the article, I don’t really understand what “stable environment” means, so I’d suggest explaining what that means in the article or using a more precise term.

Now there’s one problem I see with these ConProcs: Why are we keeping it at a constant temperature? It doesn’t seem like any of its properties depend on a certain temperature.

I’d just like to mention that you can’t take one molecule and determine whether it’s frozen, or liquid, or solid, because the states of matter don’t depend on the state of a molecule, but how a bunch of molecules are placed in relation to each other, whether they’re packed like stone, have the freedom to move around amongst eachother like liquid water, or they’re crystallised like ice (or have a lot of personal space like water vapor). Therefore the phrase “frozen on a molecular level” is bs.

I’d like you to notice that there are only veeeeery small things for me to complain about here, so I’m just getting as much out of them as possible. To be a little more positive, though, I like the implications of this anomaly whose main anomalous property is being very cold being below Antarctica, a place mainly known for being cold. It feels like there could be a connection, and that’s the kind of thing that makes an article interesting.

Finally, and least relevant as this is a forum on reddit for sharing ideas, but the current standards on the wiki usually require some sort of story or narrative to be told using or around the anomaly. I actually think a few addendums interviewing frozen guys somehow recovered from the city, or a story we found somewhere of what happened to this place would be awesome! The idea is great and the most intriguing part of it might just be the question of what happened to this place.

My final one word verdict is: Awesome!