ASAP had just manifested in a dictatorship-governed country, and naturally, my thoughts immediately went to the strategic advantages of dealing with such governments. Democracies are messy—too many leaders cycling through office, constant negotiations, repeated memory wipes of officials who might gain knowledge of the Foundation. In dictatorships, however, power remains concentrated, long-term, and predictable. You only need one agreement to maintain control, and officials don't constantly rotate in and out of positions, making the administration of anomalous containment far simpler. Supporting a dictator occasionally to ensure their stability isn't a problem as long as they remain cooperative; the benefits far outweigh the minor ethical compromises.
Lincoln's preexisting relationship with this particular dictator proved invaluable. Through him, we were able to secure access to the area affected by SCP-035 without the kind of red tape that would normally bog down operations. Normally, this SCP wouldn't be a massive problem—our teams could quietly acquire and contain it. But this situation was different. The Mask had possessed a dark sorcerer, which meant it could wield potent magical abilities far beyond its typical capabilities. The possession amplified the Mask's already dangerous potential exponentially, allowing it to manipulate the environment, summon destructive spells, and target anyone who approached carelessly.
Containing SCP-035 in this scenario required precision. We needed permission to evacuate large areas, block off the city sectors where the Mask was active, and deploy specialized personnel capable of countering both sorcery and anomalous objects. We brought in magicians, exorcists, and sorcery-specialized MTF units to handle containment, while tactical teams secured the perimeter and monitored for potential breaches. Without Lincoln's diplomacy and the dictator's cooperation, this would have been impossible.
I watched the operation unfold through the secure site monitors in my office. Every movement had to be coordinated with surgical precision: evacuation routes were mapped, containment teams were deployed in overlapping grids, and magical interference was continuously monitored. I also kept an eye on our own specialists—trained in magical anomalies—ensuring they weren't overexposed to the Mask's influence. Despite all precautions, SCP-035 remained extremely dangerous. The sorcerer's possession allowed it to actively resist containment protocols, manipulate telekinetic and elemental forces, and even attempt to control nearby personnel through fear and magical suggestion.
I noted how the situation highlighted the broader point I often make during O5 council meetings: dictatorships are far easier to work with in anomalous incidents. While ethically questionable, having a single, consistent authority figure meant decisions could be executed immediately. We didn't have to navigate legislative bureaucracy, councils, or elections that could compromise security. Dictators allowed us to swiftly establish containment perimeters, secure sensitive anomalies, and deploy our specialized teams without endless negotiation. The efficiency was critical when dealing with threats like SCP-035, where even a minute of delay could result in casualties or the loss of containment.
Meanwhile, I monitored the evacuation. Civilian transport units, facilitated by Lincoln's network, moved populations out of harm's way efficiently. Emergency medical and containment teams were stationed strategically around the perimeter. All incoming data fed into my neural interface, allowing me to overlay magical energy readings, the Mask's positional tracking, and predictive movement simulations of the possessed sorcerer. Even with all this, I remained cautious. One miscalculation, and SCP-035 could devastate an entire district before containment forces could respond.
By the time the Mask was neutralized, I reviewed the efficiency of the operation. The dictator's cooperation allowed us to act as if the country were an extension of the Foundation itself. No leaks, no interference from local authorities, and no delays. The lesson was clear: the Foundation's preference for dictators was not merely convenience—it was strategy. We could operate at maximal efficiency, containing anomalies in ways impossible in most democratic systems. And when the mission concluded, all necessary clean-up, memory wipes, and reinforcement deployments were executed seamlessly, leaving the local government none the wiser to the true nature of SCP-035.
This situation reaffirmed the importance of political control in anomalous management. Democracy, with its turnover and procedural bureaucracy, would have slowed every aspect of containment, potentially allowing the Mask to escape or exploit civilian infrastructure. Dictatorships, by contrast, allowed rapid decision-making and total operational freedom. I made a mental note to review other high-risk SCP events globally, considering which regions could benefit from similar arrangements. Efficiency and safety in containment often hinged on politics as much as on raw anomalous power.
Once the operation was complete, I returned to my private studies and research. The SCP was secured, the dictator's cooperation remained intact, and Lincoln had demonstrated why his connections were invaluable. This was the ideal model for how the Foundation could leverage geopolitics to its advantage: one central authority figure, decisive action, and coordinated deployment of specialized personnel. Every element worked seamlessly in tandem, reminding me that strategy and planning were as critical as raw power when dealing with entities that could destroy entire cities—or worse.
By the end of the day, I reflected on the balance of ethics versus efficacy. Dictatorships were morally questionable allies, yet the survival of humanity and the containment of anomalies often required such pragmatic decisions. As I returned to Site 999, I documented the incident for future reference, noting the role of politics in containment strategy, the extraordinary risk posed by magically enhanced SCPs like SCP-035, and the undeniable benefits of a concentrated political structure. In the end, efficiency, control, and safety would always take precedence over ideology in the ongoing struggle to protect the world from the anomalous.