Chapter 23: The End of the Show
Léonard sat in the command center, his eyes scanning the multiple screens displaying the ongoing operations across Paris. The atmosphere was tense, but there was a sense of control returning as reports of successful engagements and neutralizations filtered in. Then, with a loud *ding*, a notification flashed on his main console.
[ Ding ! Congratulations to the host for containing SCP-035. ]
[ Ding ! It is detected that the system is being updated. You will receive your rewards at the end of this update. ]
"Oh fuck," exclaimed Leonard.
---
Léonard allowed himself a brief sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair for a moment before a voice came through on his headset. It was the leader of Mu-12.
"Overlord, this is Mu-12, reporting in. SCP-035 is contained and neutralized. We're ready for further instructions."
Léonard's focus snapped back to the task at hand. There was still work to be done.
"Mu-12, this is Overlord. Good work on the containment. I'm ordering you to proceed with immediate evacuation of SCP-035. Take it to the secure extraction point located outside the city limits, Zone Echo. A tactical team will meet you there for transfer to Site-17."
"Yes, sir," the voice of Mu-12's leader responded. "We'll move out immediately."
"Also," Léonard continued, "I want you to coordinate with the DGSI. The GAO is already in the field, and we need full cooperation with them to wipe out the remaining corrupted forces. All corrupted police officers, military personnel, and rogue elements are to be neutralized. Leave no pockets of resistance."
"Understood, Overlord. We'll make contact with the GAO on-site."
The connection cut off, and Léonard shifted his attention to the larger screens that showed live feeds from various drones and surveillance cameras around Paris. The streets were far from peaceful, but the tide had turned decisively in their favor. However, there was no room for complacency. Every last corrupted officer needed to be eradicated, and the city needed to be fully secured.
---
The low hum of engines filled the air as a wave of military vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and tanks rolled into Paris. Above, helicopters soared overhead, scanning the ground below for any remaining hostile forces. The sky was painted with streaks of smoke, and distant explosions reverberated through the streets as the final battles continued to rage on.
Amidst the chaos, a news crew from France's largest national network was reporting live from the frontline. The journalist, a young woman with a determined expression, held onto her microphone as she stood beside a convoy of military vehicles. The camera focused on her as she delivered her report to the millions watching from their homes.
"We are here live in the heart of Paris, where massive military reinforcements have just entered the city in response to the ongoing crisis. Tanks, helicopters, and ground forces are being deployed in every district as the army joins forces with special units already on the ground to combat the remaining rogue elements that have brought chaos to the capital."
Behind her, soldiers in full combat gear disembarked from their vehicles, their expressions grim but focused. The sound of gunfire echoed from nearby streets, but the soldiers moved with confidence, knowing that the battle was finally turning in their favor. The camera panned across the scene, capturing the image of tanks rumbling through the narrow streets, their turrets swiveling in search of targets.
"The French military is working closely with elite counter-terrorism units and local law enforcement units to secure key areas of the city," the journalist continued. "Their goal is to eliminate the last of the insurgents who have been identified as either corrupted by an unknown influence or part of a coordinated attack on the city's law enforcement."
The camera then focused on a group of soldiers who were moving toward the sound of gunfire, their weapons raised as they prepared to engage the enemy. The tension in the air was palpable, but the soldiers' resolve was clear.
"We have been informed that these forces are highly trained and prepared for the worst, and they are committed to restoring order to Paris as quickly as possible," the journalist added, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding her. "For the people of Paris, and for France, today is a turning point in this crisis."
Suddenly, an explosion rang out in the distance, and the camera jerked toward the source of the noise. Smoke billowed into the sky as the soldiers moved swiftly to engage what appeared to be a rogue group of corrupted police officers. The journalist and her crew followed cautiously, documenting the intense firefight that broke out.
The soldiers quickly outmaneuvered their adversaries, laying down suppressing fire and advancing methodically toward the enemy positions. Within minutes, the corrupted officers were subdued, either dead or incapacitated. The area was once again secured.
"The situation remains dangerous," the journalist said as the gunfire died down, "but with these reinforcements now firmly in place, it is only a matter of time before the city is fully under control."
She then looked directly into the camera, her face resolute.
"The fight for Paris is not yet over, but with every passing hour, the forces of order are regaining the upper hand."
The camera zoomed out, showing the military convoys continuing their push through the city, leaving behind a scene of destruction but also hope as the corrupted forces were gradually being extinguished.
---
Léonard watched the live broadcast from his station. The sight of tanks rolling through the streets of Paris, supported by helicopters and infantry, filled him with a sense of grim satisfaction. It was a harsh but necessary response to the unprecedented crisis that had gripped the city.
"Commander," an officer interrupted his thoughts, "Mu-12 has successfully evacuated SCP-035. They are en route to Zone Echo."
Léonard nodded, his mind already shifting to the next steps. Paris was slowly being reclaimed, but the work was far from finished. He turned his gaze back to the map of the city, marking the areas still in need of attention.
"Good," he said. "Now, let's finish this."
—
Inside a dimly lit briefing room at the Centre Pompidou, both GAO agents and Foundation operatives gathered, the air heavy with urgency and determination. Maps of Paris adorned the walls, pinpointing key locations where SCP-035's corrupt influence still held sway. The two forces had come together, aware that their cooperation was vital to ending the chaos that had gripped the city.
Standing at the head of the room was the commander of Mu-12, his face a mask of calm authority. Next to him, the GAO's commanding officer, equally composed, exchanged a brief nod of acknowledgment. This was no longer about jurisdictions or protocols—this was a battle for the soul of Paris.
"Alright, listen up," the Mu-12 commander began, his voice cutting through the low murmur of the room. "We've successfully contained the anomaly, but the fight isn't over. The creature's influence has corrupted several key points across the city. We've identified the following hotspots: the 4th Arrondissement, several police stations in the Marais, and a fortified zone near the Hotel de Ville."
He paused, letting the weight of the situation sink in.
"Our objective," he continued, "is to wipe out the remaining corrupted forces. We will work with the GAO and local military units to secure these areas. We've got ground forces, air support, and artillery ready to engage. However, precision and control are paramount. We cannot allow further civilian casualties."
The GAO commander stepped forward. "This is our city, and we've bled for it. Now it's time to take it back. We'll be coordinating with the army, which has begun to push reinforcements into Paris. Their tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopter units will hit hard, but it's up to us to lead the assault into the toughest areas. The GAO and the … "RAID/GIGN" will engage any threats, rescue civilians, and clean out every last vestige of this Entity corruption."
He paused, eyes sweeping over the faces of the agents and operators. "We have fought in the shadows for too long. But now, in the heart of Paris, the world is watching. This is our chance to show them what we're made of. Today, we don't fight for just the organization or the DGSI—we fight for Paris, for France, for humanity."
A ripple of murmurs ran through the room, the weight of his words landing on every agent present.
One of the GAO operators, gripping his rifle tightly, raised his voice. "Let's send these bastards straight to hell."
A roar of agreement filled the room. The mood had shifted—what had started as a tense alliance was now a united force, ready to strike.
---
The operators of both the GAO and The Foundation stormed out of the briefing room and onto the streets of Paris, where chaos still reigned. With the plans finalized and their spirits bolstered by the fiery speech, teams spread out across the city.
Each operator knew their target, each squad had its orders. Streets once dominated by chaos and fear now witnessed the precise and relentless efforts of highly-trained tactical teams reclaiming them, step by step. Hostage situations were dealt with swiftly and efficiently. In one instance, a GAO operator rappelled from a nearby rooftop, crashing through a window and taking down a group of corrupted officers before they could even react. He then signaled the all-clear to the civilians who had been hiding in the basement.
Another team, composed of Foundation and GAO agents, cleared a small square near the Hotel de Ville, where a group of heavily armed corrupted police officers had entrenched themselves. The firefight was fierce, bullets ricocheting off cars and stonework, but within minutes, the joint forces had overwhelmed the hostiles, securing the area.
As they advanced through the city, citizens peered from their windows, some in fear, others in awe. Slowly, those who had been cowering inside began to realize that the tide was turning. The remaining corrupted forces were being pushed back, their influence over the streets diminishing.
Cheers began to echo from buildings and balconies. Parisians, witnessing the liberation of their city, began shouting encouragement and waving the tricolore from their windows. Videos started surfacing online—clips of the joint GAO and Foundation forces clearing the streets, saving lives, and taking down the enemy. The footage went viral within hours, news of the battle spreading across the world.
Around the world, people watched as the situation in Paris unfolded on live television. News anchors discussed the soldiers who bore the insignias of RAID and GIGN but fought with an otherworldly precision and coordination. Speculation ran rampant. Was this a new elite unit? Were they foreign operatives?
In reality, they were witnessing the combined might of the SCP Foundation and France's most secretive security agency. And slowly, inch by inch, they were winning.
---
By late afternoon, most of the city's key locations had been liberated. The final holdouts of SCP-035's corrupted forces were holed up in a few buildings scattered across the 4th Arrondissement. Here, the resistance was at its most desperate, with heavily armed troops fighting to the last.
GAO units, flanked by Foundation operatives, moved in tight formations, clearing one building after another. Explosions and gunfire echoed through the narrow streets as the joint forces breached and secured rooms, ending the corruption with ruthless efficiency.
At one point, an intense firefight broke out in a small plaza near the Centre Pompidou. A group of heavily fortified enemies had taken civilians hostage. The GAO moved in, their lead operator giving a signal to the Foundation sniper team perched on a nearby rooftop. In a matter of seconds, the hostiles were neutralized, and the hostages were safely evacuated.
As the sun began to set over Paris, the last of the corrupted forces were finally neutralized. The city, still scarred from the battle, began to breathe again. The streets that had been filled with fear and violence were now quiet, save for the distant hum of military helicopters and the clinking of glass as locals began to emerge from their shelters to assess the damage.
In the command center at the Centre Pompidou, the GAO commander and the Mu-12 leader stood side by side, watching the final reports roll in. The mood was somber but relieved. The worst of the battle was over.
The Mu-12 commander turned to the GAO leader. "Paris owes its survival to you and your men. My organization could not have done this alone."
The GAO commander nodded. "We've lost many. But today, we stood together. And that's what won us this fight."
As they shook hands, a voice crackled over the radio of The Foundation Agents, it was Overlord: "All stations, this is Overlord. The mission is a success. SCP-035 is contained. Stand down and begin evacuation protocols. Paris is safe."
A round of cheers broke out among the agents and operatives, though it was subdued by the memory of the cost. Nonetheless, victory had been achieved. The streets of Paris were free once again.
—
As the final orders were issued and the cleanup began, the commander of Mu-12 stood amidst his unit, his expression unreadable beneath the weight of the battle just fought. He gave a brief nod to his men, signaling their departure from the Centre Pompidou. They had done what they had come to do—SCP-035 was contained, and the corruption was quelled. But as he turned to leave, the commander of the GAO stepped forward, his voice stopping the Foundation officer in his tracks.
"Wait," the GAO commander said, gripping his arm with a firm but respectful hand. "We need to know… How do we contact you? How can we reach your group again?"
The Mu-12 commander paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering the implications of the question. It was not their usual protocol to leave traces, but these were not ordinary circumstances. The battle they had fought together had forged an understanding, a tentative bond between shadow and state. He knew he couldn't simply disappear without acknowledging the cooperation that had saved Paris.
Reaching for his radio, the Mu-12 commander contacted Overlord. His voice was low, steady. "Overlord, this is Mu-12. The GAO commander requests a method of contact with us. Awaiting instructions."
There was a moment of static, followed by Overlord's crisp, authoritative voice. "Mu-12, establish a rendezvous. Inform them of a meeting at the Palais de l'Élysée with a high ranked staff of the Foundation, one week from today. Authorization granted to reveal our name. Ensure discretion."
The Mu-12 commander nodded, acknowledging the orders. He turned back to the GAO commander, pulling a small notepad from one of his chest pockets. With deliberate precision, he wrote down the date and location of the rendezvous: *Palais de l'Élysée, 1 week, 1400 hours*. Then, after a brief hesitation, he added the name—*SCP Foundation*. Tearing the page from the pad, he handed it to the GAO commander.
The GAO officer took the slip of paper, his eyes scanning the brief but potent message. When he looked up, the Mu-12 commander had already turned to rejoin his team. But then, as if some unseen force held him in place for just a moment longer, the Foundation officer stopped. He didn't turn around fully but angled his head slightly back, his voice a low murmur but with a resonance that cut through the air like a final proclamation.
"We die in the Shadow so that humanity may live in the Light," he said, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. "We are the SCP Foundation. We secure, we contain, we protect."
Without another word, the Mu-12 commander walked into the gathering dusk, his figure blending into the maze of alleys and ruined streets. The remaining GAO officers watched him and his unit fade into the distance, their minds racing with thoughts of what lay beneath the cryptic exterior of this shadowy organization. Yet one thing was clear: they had fought together for Paris, and today, at least, the light had triumphed over the darkness.