FIDELITY ꞏ BRAVERY ꞏ INTEGRITY
"UNITY IN UNDERSTANDING"
GOI PRIMER
UNUSUAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CASEFILES
[ CLASSIFIED ]
These casefiles are the property of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Unusual Incidents Unit (FBI UIU). If you believe your access to these files are in error, please contact your immediate supervisor for dissemination clearance or classified material retrieval services.
ARTICLES
GOI FORMATS
| UIU File: 1933-001 | [+83] |
| UIU File: 1941-016 | [+117] |
| UIU File: 1948-019 | [+58] |
| UIU File: 1952-003 | [+50] |
| UIU File: 1970-034 | [+32] |
| UIU/PETRA File: 1974-028 | [+31] |
| UIU File: 1988-021 | [+81] |
| UIU File: 1993-273 | [+44] |
| UIU File: 1997-007 | [+80] |
| UIU File: 1997-024 | [+38] |
| UIU File: 1998-017 | [+26] |
| UIU File: 2001-023 | [+137] |
| UIU File: 2001-745 | [+16] |
| UIU File: 2008-021 | [+117] |
| UIU File: 2014-014 | [+143] |
| UIU File: 2016-004 | [+133] |
| UIU File: 2017-003 | [+215] |
| UIU File: 2017-102 | [+63] |
| UIU File: 2018-479 | [+46] |
| UIU File 2019-132 | [+55] |
| UIU File: 2020-650 | [+55] |
| UIU File: 2021-121 | [+16] |
Overseas Operations:
GUIDES/FORMAT
ON THE FBI UIU
The FBI UIU (or FBIUIU, FBI-UIU, etc.) is, in its singular base concept, a division within the Federal Bureau of Investigation that is dedicated to investigating paranormal or paranormal-related crimes. Overall, a very clear reference to the eponymous X-Files of the show with the same name. However, the popular interpretations of the UIU have changed along with the site's own evolution as well, resulting in a very wide range for authors to experiment with.
Almost more than a decade ago, the premiere view of the UIU was an underfunded unit of wannabe Foundation cops — where the moniker of "UIUseless" stems from. They were positioned narratively as the counterexample to the budget and competency of the Foundation in order to help justify the Foundation's existence in the name of safety through 'normalcy', both in-universe and to the prospective readers of these stories. In essence, a stereotypical punching bag in the same vein as early characterization of the CI as "generic bad guys". These stories often feel like wild flanderizations of the weaker X-Files episodes.
Very soon in the site's history, other authors realized the otherwise untapped potential of a Group of Interest so uniquely positioned. This was still a time where the GOI and the wiki as a whole had a strong adherence to the background info and popular lore set out for it. Thus, a middle position was born; not fully shedding its "UIUseless" name (now relegated to an insult in these works, despite their accuracy or not) but also taking on the responsibility of the determined-but-underequipped underdog in this era. Some of these works focused on the personalities and the little men within these organizations, but also framed them from Foundation-centric views as oddballs. These tend to draw more accurately from the X-Files.
As the changing standards of the wiki continue on, the early series interpretations petered out in favor of more nuanced takes of the GOI — some even almost entirely shedding any connection to the 'UIUseless' moniker. Modern interpretations of the UIU tend to highlight their general competency for their size and budget, even perhaps over highlighting these traits as a direct result of age-old stereotypes that still persist around the GOI. These stories may even slip into Men in Black's portrayal of a similar group, ditching the underdog feeling completely. Despite this, the wiki's rather recent acceptance of author freedoms in support of remixing concepts and lore also has given birth to a bevy of unique mixes of all eras of the UIU in new stories.
Personally, the UIU is best used narratively as a unique perspective on the anomalous world of the SCP Foundation wiki, and almost even a perfect stand-in for potential readers. Agents of the UIU by nature are aware of the anomalous, but may not be fully aware of all the nuances and knowledge of the world or of anomalies in general. They may not even be aware of Foundation internal procedures. As a newer reader, all of these traits may serve as similarities that helps them connect with a UIU Agent over a Foundation researcher — the same feelings that make Agent Fox Mulder or Agent Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks) relatable as average Joe characters despite their completely unique circumstances and experiences.
Of course, there is no canon, so you may do with the UIU as you wish! I just hope these words helped you potentially recontextualize your use of the UIU as an author, and maybe to avoid now-derisive portrayals of the UIU as "UIUseless". Good luck!