 Item No. SCP-186 Object Class Euclid Special Containment Procedures The site of SCP-186, comprising an approximately 300 km2 area, is to be closed to the public under the auspices of a Habitat Restoration Initiative for the European Bison. An automated security perimeter is to be established, monitored by staff at Remote Site-355. Every personnel must patrol SCP-186 every two weeks. Any anomalous phenomena observed within the security perimeter must be documented and reported to the Research Director. All known primary sources documenting the events of SCP-186 have been secured by the Foundation. These materials are to be stored in the Site-23 archives. Due to the age of the materials and the potential for deterioration, all access to these documents must be approved by the Site-23 Archivist and handled per their instructions. All instances of SCP-186-1 are to be secured in the munitions wing of Site-23. Description SCP-186 is the site of unrecorded military engagement occurring from July 24, 1917 to August 13, 1917 between elements of the Imperial German Army and forces of the Russian Provisional Government as part of the larger conflict of World War I and the continuing effects resulting from its aftermath. This conflict came to be known to its participants as the Battle of Hustiation Woods and surviving accounts. In July of 1917, an armed engagement between a detachment of approximately 500 German soldiers and the remnants of a Russian division scattered during the German counterattack to the Kerensky Offensive took place at the location of SCP-186. The forces met in heavily forced terrain outside the town of Hustiatyn and was currently Chernobyl-Oblast, Ukraine. On both sides of the conflict, combatants deployed anomalous weaponry using technologies as yet to be duplicated or understood at present. This battle eventually resulted in the death or permanent incapacitation of all forces involved and approximately 300 civilians in its general vicinity. SCP-186-1 consists of recovered weaponry dating from the initial containment of SCP-186 in 1917 and includes the following. A heavily modified weapon resembling the Skoda M1-909 machine gun capable of causing extremely rapid tumor-like growth to appear within the body of any organism larger than a common lab rat. Mortar shells specially designed to be fired from a mortar D-58mm Type-2, containing a gas that causes animal cells to become unable to cease life function. Concertino wire coated with an unknown hallucinogenic compound that permanently affects human test subjects upon entering the bloodstream. Remnants of an unknown incendiary device believed to have been detonated at the close of the conflict, accounting for what is estimated to be 34% of total casualties. British Empire issued number 27 type grenades containing a gas capable of passing through all tested gas mass filtration systems and causing humans to constantly experience the sensation of being on fire. 8x50mmR French rifle cartridges containing powdered human bone instead of gunpowder, purpose unknown. Historical records indicate that the German detachment involved in the Battle of Hussation Woods at the behest of a Hungarian military advisor named Matias Nimes specifically pursued the group of Russian forces in retreat, which at the time included French scientist Dr. Jean Durand. Based on documents of the era since suppressed by the Foundation, it is believed that these two individuals are responsible for the development and limited manufacture of SCP-186-1 and had attached themselves to opposing sides of the Eastern Front for the express purpose of deployment of these weapons in a combat setting. British Log 186-7 Notable Anomalies Documented at Site-186 April 11, 1923 A three-kilometer square area in the southwestern portion of SCP-186 experiences a spontaneous die-off of trees. Decomposition occurs on an extremely accelerated timescale, and area is completely clear to trees and other plant life within two weeks. January 13, 1927 Despite temperatures consistently at negative fifteen degrees Celsius, no snow is visible throughout central portion of site. Temperatures measured at site are consistent with surroundings. September 2, 1932 The sounds of sporadic gunfire are recorded throughout the site, despite lack of observed presence of any civilians. Sounds persist for three days. May 30, 1936 Agents Chekhov and ████ failed to return from routine patrol of SCP-186. No subsequent traces of either person are ever recovered. May 15, 1941 Acting in accordance with intelligence sources embedded in the Third Reich, Foundation personnel evacuated SCP-186 in advance of Operation Barbarossa. Subsequent to decommissioning observation posts, faint glow visible from 150 meters documented by staff to move through site. Defended to visual contact unestablished prior to evacuation. October 29, 1945 Containment of SCP-186 re-established after discussions with Soviet Union officials. Upon initial patrol after re-establishment of containment, 13 corpses dressed in uniforms and insignia of the German 4 Panzer Army, and 27 corpses in Soviet 22nd Army uniforms are discovered in advanced state of decay. No identification of personnel are successful, as all identifying documents and insignias have been removed prior to Foundation containment. February 19, 1959 Following the formation of a large sinkhole in the northeastern portion of SCP-186, four men are observed wandering the immediate area in the state of extremist orientation, dressed in what are later identified to be severely decomposed in degraded World War I-era military uniforms of both German Empire and Russian issue. Subjects detain and routed to Site-23 for subsequent research. April 2, 1959 After an extensive evacuation of the site of the northeastern sinkhole, 23 persons are discovered buried at a depth of 15 meters in a mass grave, alive despite decades of internment and various wounds and injuries. As was subject discovered earlier, most are dressed in remnants of military uniforms of the World War I-era and are presumed to be participants in the original SCP-186 event. Extensive research at Site-23 yields little information, as subjects are unable to provide any meaningful information or communication to Foundation staff due to extensive psychological trauma and profound mental disorders. Foundation staff attempt to euthanize subjects after three weeks of research but fail in all attempts. Subjects subsequently tranquilized, anesthetized, and incinerated. July 29, 1962 Prior to upgrades to containment facilities, security perimeter of SCP-186 found to be almost 85 meters longer than originally documented. Inquiry later rules out clerical error as source of discrepancy. December 13, 1975 Localized weather phenomena documented occurring entirely and exclusively within SCP-186. These include sustained winds up to 120 km per hour, 20 cm of rainfall, and temperatures temporarily reaching 48 °C. August 12, 1987 Paxil wolves, numbering an estimated 200 total individuals, travel to SCP-186, mass at a point in the central region of the site and immediately disperse. March 3, 2009 A stand of three spruce trees observed in the southwestern deforested area. The first documented plant life since the 1923 event, estimated age of trees of 50 years. Transcripts of selected SCP-186 documents. Document 186-3 A flyer advertising a May 1911 lecture given by Dr. Durand to the Royal Institute of Chemistry. To end all wars, our presentation by visiting scholar Dr. Jean Durand, formerly of the Academy of Sciences, on the promise of modern science to create weapons of such terrible deterrent power so as to render future wars obsolete. Dr. Durand shall explain the convergence of chemistry, ballistics, alienism, and other emerging scientific fields of endeavor that will enable mankind to usher in a new age of peace and modernity. To be given on the 19th of May, Derby Shire Lecture Hall. Document 186-11 A opinion piece published in the January 2, 1912 edition of the Hungarian newspaper Napsiba, authored by Matias Nimes. To my fellow subjects of His Highness Emperor Franz Josef, truly the greatest of human glories is the unification of numerous indisperate people into a single unstoppable purpose, that our marvelous kingdom should embody this inescapable principle should go without saying from Vienna to Budapest. But there are those, both within our territories and elsewhere on the continent, that would see us splintered into a thousand shards and stand in the way of our destiny. What is to be done with such agitators and malcontents? While traders and radicals are hung properly in the manner of the dogs that they are, there is no execution sufficient to quell the embers of treachery that burn in the hearts of the Balkanites. How are we to demonstrate our unity or purpose, our power, our God-given place at the head of the European procession? By force of arms, the hangmen can only strike fear into the heart of dozens, a proper army can strike it into the souls of millions. Perhaps we have the numbers, but in this we are not alone. The Russian and the Moslem can rally hordes to their banners, but for all their masses are mere unruly nuisances. What sets man apart from the animals is not his numerical superiority, no, but a superiority of mind, demonstrated through quick wit and artifice. My fellow subjects, I have dedicated my life to the construction of such demonstrations of artifice that none may stand against my weapons save the Almighty. It is through the force of superior arms that we will achieve our grand design, both within our borders and without. Give me the factories, give me the manpower, give me the chance to serve our empire through my industries, and I will deliver to the people the flaming sword that will light the way to a civilized Europe. It is through these means, and only these means, that we will solve the questions that plague us today. Document 186-32, Telegram sent by Jean Durand to Matias Nimes from Paris, April 22, 1912 Have considered your proposal. Just decline, methods inferior and derivative of own research. Your aims are of conquest, mine are of peace, regards Jay Durand. Document 186-39, Undated Memorandum from General Felix Graf von Bofmer of the Imperial German Army to unname subordinates. Effective immediately, Lieutenant Nimes is assigned to your unit as an advisor. Experimental armaments are only to be deployed on Lieutenant Nimes' orders, despite potential for a breakthrough on the Romanian front. Unwise to use these ungodly things until more is known of their efficacy. Rumors of similar developments among the Tsarists remain unsubstantiated. Document 186-52, Letter from Private Peter Avtukov, Participant in the Battle of Hussation Woods. Dearest Nadja, I have heard rumors of the madness happening at home. Be confident that it is nothing like the madness that is happening here. We thought that four years of war had taught us everything we had to know and did more. We learned nothing. The damnable Frenchmen, as the men elected to lead them, spoke of peace. He spoke of weapons so terrible that we could make the enemy surrender on the spot. We were fools. We had run at trenches with dead men's rifles and sticks in our hands. We believed him the way we believed anyone that had supplies. We never thought where this man came from. We didn't wonder why he had the weapons he did. We didn't care. We wanted to live. We never considered that the enemy had the same things we did. I do not think the Frenchmen did either, or at least I hope he did not. I cannot imagine any man who would walk into this knowing what would happen. Maybe the Frenchman is not a man. Maybe he has something else. I am sitting now in a hall I have dug in a forest somewhere. I should have run the second I saw the German take aim at Gylyov. There was no bullet fired at him. I could not look anymore after his face came apart and he was still screaming. I thought I saw hands pulling his head apart. Somewhere in the distance, Yolikov is screaming that he can see devils roasting his children. He has been screaming about the same thing for five days. I should have run away so many times. The Frenchmen gave us a new gas weapon. We refused at first, remembering what had happened in Romania, but he promised us that this was different. But this would put our enemies down without harming them. Who wants any more bloodshed, he asked us. We could not argue with that. We fired mortars at a position ahead of us. A strange blue gas seeped from behind the trees, but the Frenchmen cautioned us against advancing. One more thing, he said. He took one of our rifles and taking aim took a single shot. Before we could ask what a scientist could know of shooting, we heard a scream. He had hit one of the Germans. He handed me a pair of field glasses. Take a look, he said. I saw the German missing half of his head, still screaming. I have seen everything in this war, but I have never seen faces like those of that German's fellows as they watched their comrade. The Frenchman in his terrible calm voice explained that his shot had to have destroyed at least a quarter of the soldier's brain tissue. Enough to cause instant death, he said, but watch. I kept watching through the field glasses. The German didn't stop screaming, at least ten minutes I watched, unable to move away. The Frenchman smiled. He smiled at the scene. The gas, he said, ensured that death would not come, regardless of injury. The Germans were too horrified by the comrade that noticed that they were not behind cover and the Frenchmen lined up another shot. The rest of the soldier's head was now gone and the screaming was replaced by some sort of low grunting, the likes of which I have never heard from men. No, the Frenchman said. No harm at all. I have bestowed the gift of life on your opponents. Who could possibly stand against that, he asked. I had to leave and vomit behind some bushes. I had not done that since the first trenches. Who indeed could keep fighting after such a thing, but fight they did. Once a grip of us were ambushed and chased to a meadow, the first men through the trees were hit with something that took their skin. I cannot describe why seeing men blown apart is not as frightening as seeing a neatly flayed corpse on a battlefield, but our group scattered. We are no longer armies, not anymore. We are animals, trapped in a forest together, uncomprehending. Sometimes when Bolikov sleeps, I hear the Frenchmen in the woods yelling and Hungarian, yelling and laughing. I would almost rather listen to Bolikov. I am going to die in his hole. I am too scared of what is outside of it to do otherwise. Bolikin is going to try to brave the horrors in the woods to escape. I am sending this letter with him in the hopes that he does. As I gave it to him, he joked that he would get a civil service commission after the war for delivering a letter from hell. I am not starting his wrong. Goodbye. Peter.