SCP-553

SCP-553 is a safe class SCP in SCP: Unity. It was added in version 0.5.6.

Description
SCP-553 is a colony of approximately 140,000 winged organisms superficially resembling butterflies. They possess a silicon-based biochemistry and are composed primarily of calcium and silicate compounds. The body of a member of the species is mostly calcite, with some of the internal organs composed of a material similar to quartz with piezoelectric properties. This silicate impurity adds rigidity to the creature, giving it a rating from 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Although they continue to grow throughout their observed lifespan, the growth rate slows considerably once they have entered their adult stage. The average observed wingspan of an adult is 2.3 cm.

Members of SCP-553 primarily rely on a form of echolocation to sense their surroundings. They do this by creating a variety of ultra-high-pitched tones via scraping and striking their legs together, and appear to use their wings as a mobile array to detect reflected sound. Additionally, they appear to have a variety of chemosensors in their footpads, allowing them to determine the mineral composition of the surfaces they land on. Adult instances of SCP-553 primarily feed by scraping fungus and lichen from the cavern floor and, to a lesser extent, leaching minerals from stalagmites using a similar acid as used by the larval stage.

When any adult instance of SCP-553 suffers significant damage, it produces a unique sonar signature which alerts all other nearby adults to the presence of danger. Adults will swarm the perceived source of danger and proceed to attack it by attempting to slice it with their wings. The wings of SCP-553 members have an average thickness of 5 mm where they attach to the body, and taper rapidly to an average thickness of 0.05 mm with sharp, beveled edges. In testing, individual lacerations as deep as 1 cm have been measured. However, deeper lacerations usually result in some portion of the wing structure breaking off in the inflicted wound. These fragments typically continue to fracture in the wound due to mechanical stresses. The circulatory fluid of SCP-553 reacts with most carbon-based tissues in a necrotizing fashion, resulting in significant post-traumatic infections.

In-game
SCP-553 is found in its temporary containment chamber underground. The swarm of SCP-553 can be seen at the end of the tunnel. If you get too close, the swarm will attack, rapidly attacking the player for 1 damage each. Don't be fooled though, this damage stacks up easily, and the swarm will continue to chase until the player exits the room. SCP-553 currently has no impact on the game as a whole and is a showcase. However, some valuable loot is guarded by the swarm.

Trivia

 * Prior to its implementation, SCP-553 was kept secret, however not nearly to the extent that SCP-983, SCP-1762 or SCP-1176 were. This is due to the fact that the game was significantly less popular at the time so there was no need for a massive effort to hide it.