Ni-hao! AkaneKitty here. This is the Prologue of "Silent Justice."
The swearing in of a new District Attorney marks new changes in MegaKat City when a common criminal tries to take down the SWAT Kats by using the legal system against them. But, there is more to this criminal than meets the eye. Can the SWAT Kats handle these new changes, or will it give the Enforcers a chance to shine?
Author's notes: I know I'm insane, but I've wanted to write another canon series for a while. This series is heavily influenced by the show Law and Order, as well as my criminal justice classes, so look out for some legal terminology.
Thanks a bunch to KS Claw and Renee Twist for reading snippets of this while I was devolving this.
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
*************
Silent Justice
Prologue
*************
"Today marks the first day of office for District Attorney Thomas Mau. The newly elected DA states that he will uphold the laws of MegaKat City and plans to have no tolerance for repeat and violent offenders. We now go clips of the DA's swearing in ceremony..."
Chance Furlong and Jake Clawson watch the TV as they see a spotted silver kat raise his right paw. They also spot Mayor Manx and the Deputy Mayor Briggs standing besides him as well. Chance stuffs a piece of pizza into his mouth.
"I wonder how this new DA will fit into the scheme of things?" Chance asks, finishing of the slice of pizza.
"What do you mean?" Jake asks, taking a swig of milk from a can.
"You know... Callie... Us... The Enforcers." Chance says.
Jake thinks about that. "That is a delicate triangle."
"I wonder who the DA will work with? Callie or the Enforcers?"
"Callie if he knows what's good for him."
Chance laughs at that as a familiar alarm sounds. "That's Callie!"
Jake leaps over the couch and runs to the comm. Link. "Yes, Ms. Briggs?"
"SWAT Kats, I have a request." Callie's voice fills the room.
"Anything wrong?" Jake asks as Chance walks up to him.
"No, thank goodness." Callie says. "I have a request from the DA: He wants to meet you guys."
Jake and Chance look at each other. "Us?"
"Yes. He requested Commander Feral as well. He wants to get acquainted with everyone. Will you come?"
"Of course!"
"Great! Meet me at City Hall. We can then go to the DA's office. It's in the building next door."
*****************************************************************************
"Felina, I'll be at the DA's office if you need anything."
"Yes, uncle. Good luck!"
"Thanks...and keep Steele away from our new communications system. It's not finalized yet."
Commander Ulysses Feral parks his patrol car into City Hall's parking lot and steps out. A huge gust of wind blows in, playing with a strand of Feral's hair that had escaped its knot: He had decided to grow his hair out a little. He gradually tucks it back in.
"Somebody! Grab that paper!"
"Huh?" Feral turns to the source of the voice, but ends up with a piece of paper plastered to his fast. He peels it off.
"Thank you so much! Those are my briefing notes." A fawn colored she-kat with long black hair with brown highlights jogs up to him, out of breath. She places her paws on her knees.
"Isn't it easier to type this on a computer?" Feral asks, looking at the she-kat and giving her the notes. She had to be Siamese, he thinks. The brown-tipped ears and tail gave it away.
"Yes, but I do my best thinking with a pencil or pen to a writing pad." The she-kat looks up at him and smiles, revealing a pair of piercing, almond shaped blue eyes. She then notices Feral's uniform. "You're an Enforcer, right?"
"Yes..."
"And, judging by your overcoat and bars, you're a high ranking officer." The she-kat straightens up and thinks for a moment. "Commander?"
Feral smiles a little at that. "Very astute."
"Thanks...Though, to be honest, I grew up in a family of military brats." The she-kat smiles at him. "But, it is good that I ran into you. I'm Executive Assistant District Attorney Naomi Ling."
Naomi holds out her paw, and Feral shakes. "Commander Ulysses Feral. Your boss wants to meet me."
"Yes, and I'm supposed to be already up there." Naomi sighs a little. "Not a very good first impression..."
Feral gets a sudden thought. "On the contrary."
"Hmm?"
Feral holds out his arm to Naomi. "Ever hear of the term 'Fashionably late?'"
*************************************************************************
"Well, we get to see Feral again. It's been awhile."
"Me, too."
"Really?"
Callie nods as she walks down the hallway to the DA's office, with the SWAT Kats flanking her. "Feral hasn't been seen for a while, but rumor has that he is retooling the Enforcers."
"Retooling how?" T-Bone asks.
"I've heard that he has been recruiting for new officers in other cities, and upgrading his equipment." Callie says.
"Wow...Is he trying to give us a run for our money?" Razor asks solemnly.
"In his dreams!" T-Bone laughs. "The kat's...."
"Really, Commander? You come from the East as well?"
"Yes. My family made their home in the East when I was growing up."
"Huh?" The SWAT Kat's look each other. "Isn't that..."
The voice come closer, and both the SWAT Kats and Callie meet up with Feral at the DA's office door. On his arm was a striking Siamese she-kat. They couldn't believe it. Not only did Feral have a she-kat on his arm, he had also grown his hair out!
Callie breaks the silence. "Who..."
"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" Feral smiles a little. "ADA Ling, this is Deputy Mayor Calico Briggs with her consorts Tweedledee and Tweedledum..."
"Who are you calling Tweedledum!" T-Bone snarls, as Naomi giggles.
Feral looks at him. "You. I got tired of calling you clowns all the time."
"Why you...!"
"That's enough!" Callie steps in front of T-Bone before the kat could advance. "What's gotten into you, Commander?"
"Nothing. I only speak the truth."
"Commander!"
Feral just looks at her. "What did you expect me to say? My heroes?"
Callie crosses her arms. "That's not what I meant and you know it!"
Naomi clears her throat. "Well, it is nice meeting you three. Though I must say the only other vigilantes I meet are the ones I prosecuted."
"Why?"
"Obstruction of justice." Naomi smiles. "So, this poses a unique situation for me."
"I see..." Callie gives the she-kat a once over. "Have you known the Commander long?"
"No. Just met." Naomi focuses her eyes on the Deputy Mayor. "Why?"
"...Nothing."
Naomi narrows her eyes but opens the office door. "Thomas! Everyone is here as you requested!
The group walks in as Naomi perches herself on Mau's desk. The spotted kat, appearing to be in his early forties, looks at her. "Where have you been?"
"I was preparing for that Edwards case."
"And it took you that long?"
"You know I do my best thinking away from the office."
Mau sighs and looks at the group. "As Naomi said, I'm Thomas Mau. Pleased to meet you all."
Feral leans up against the wall as Mau continues. "Naomi will be the Enforcer liaison and I will be to the Mayor's office until everything settles down around here."
"That' fine." Feral says as Callie nods in agreement.
"Ms. Briggs." Mau stands up. "I am very aware of the current 'tensions' between the Enforcers and the SWAT Kats. Please be advised that I must apply the law equally."
Callie looks at him. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I must remain neutral as the District Attorney. Any and all evidence must be considered when it's presented to me."
"So..."
"So it means that Mau must consider the SWAT Kats as private katizens that are doing illegal activity." Naomi speaks up.
"What?" Callie is taken aback. "But, they have saved this city countless times!"
"And I am aware of that." Mau sits down. "But trials are tricky. I just want to cover my bases and save the taxpayers a little money."
"The Enforcers are held to a higher standard in the eyes of the law." Naomi says. "They can't do things like your SWAT Kats, and..."
"What do you mean *my* SWAT Kats?"
"Well, it *is* a little obvious..."
Callie crosses her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ms. Briggs, your public support of the SWAT Kats can cause us problems in a court of law." Naomi says. "By declaring ourselves neutral, we hope to rid ourselves of a lot of potential problems."
"I still don't think...'
"*I* don't get why you're protesting so much." Naomi interrupts. "I thought all government officials had to at least try to appear neutral..."
"And it obvious that you are going to be biased in favor of the Enforcers."
Naomi smiles at that. "Well, *somebody* has to...and I could afford to."
Callie starts to protest more, but Feral's phone begins to ring, He answers it.
"Feral."
"Uncle, there has been a silent alarm at Pumadyne's research department." Felina's voice is clear.
Feral's mood turns serious. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Kenneth thought it was a glitch in our new system, but a double check yielded that it was. We're sending our patrol units. ETA is five minutes."
"Fine. You and Kenneth go over there as well. I'll be there as soon as I can." Feral hangs up the phone and turns to the group.
"I'm sorry to cut our meeting short, but there is something that I must attend to immediately." Feral walks towards the door. "Please excuse me."
"Is there a problem, Commander?" Callie asks.
"Nothing that the Enforcers can't handle."
"And where have we've heard *that* before?" T-Bone thinks aloud to which Razor chuckles.
Surprisingly, Feral smiles at that. "We'll see who has the last laugh, SWAT Kats."
"Oh, Commander..." Naomi speaks up. "Before you leave, please know that I will be stopping by your headquarters to meet your Investigations Unit."
"Sure...and Naomi..."
"Yes?"
"Please call me Ulysses." Feral walks out of the office.
It was quiet for a while...until a gentle purr fills the room. Mau clears his throat.
"Naomi...Naomi! You're purring too loud!"
****************************************************************************
...CONNECTION TERMINATED.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRACE DETECTED.
INITIATING COUNTER MEASURES.
CONNECTION REROUTED TO SPECIFIED TARGETS.
"...Not bad. I thought the law around here was incompetent."
A hum of a computer is heard as a she-kat stares at one of her computer screens, brushing dyed blue hair from her eyes. She swivels her seat to reach her laptop, her blue eyes reflecting the screen.
TRIPLE LEVEL DATA ENCRYPTION DETECTED ON FILES RETRIEVED.
CRACK FILES?
"Of course."
The tan she-kat presses a key, at which the laptop begins to copy the files to a CD while printing the files at the same time. She smiles, sitting back in her chair.
"Well done, Krystal...Huh?"
The computers beep as a message appears on her laptop.
ENCRYPTED PRIORITY CALL RECEIVED.
PRIORITY LEVEL: URGENT.
ANSWERING CALL...
A video of kat appears on the screen. Krystal adjusts herself. "Have you retrieved the files?"
"Of course."
"Any problems?"
"Not at all...However..."
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure we're focusing on the right kats? I don't question your plans, but the Enforcers may prove more of a problem than the SWAT Kats." Krystal says. "They tried to trace me right away."
"Be that as it may, it is the SWAT Kats that caused our forbearers great problems." The kat says. "And I will not fall into the same traps they did. We deal with SWAT Kats first, then the Enforcers."
"I see."
"Your concern is founded, however. We may be giving the Enforcers their chance to shine. But the SWAT Kats are the biggest threat to the organization."
Krystal nods. The kat continues.
"Proceed according to plan. Deliver those files when contacted and await further instructions."
"...Understood."
The kat disappears. Krystal takes one last look at the screen.
...TRACE TERMINATED...
*****************************************************************************
...TRACE FAILED.
"Damn it! The hacker halted my trace!"
SORRY! TRY AGAIN LATER!
"Smartass..."
A muscular, reddish-brown kat sits back in his chair, staring at a blinking cursor on his laptop. He begins to seethe.
"Calm down, Major." Felina walks up to him, placing a paw on his shoulder. "You tried your best."
Major Kenneth Laquor sighs, disconnecting his laptop from Pumadyne's computers. "Kenneth will do."
"Just adhering to protocol." Felina shrugs.
"If that was the case, you wouldn't be calling the Commander 'Uncle.'"
"Point taken."
Kenneth laughs, standing up to stretch and adjusting his long officer's coat. "Well, that was a bust. I was hoping to have something for the Commander."
"Like what?"
Kenneth turns and salutes Feral as he walks up. "I was hoping to have more clues to this hack, sir. I attempted a trace, but they thwarted it."
"Was it Hard Drive?"
"I don't think so. I would have registered a power spike from him jumping into the system...and besides, I think Pumadyne's machines would have caught him."
"I see..." Feral looks at the computer. "What was taken?"
"Several high security development files." Felina says. "We don't know what they contained since they were encrypted."
"Anything else taken?"
"No."
"So they knew what they were looking for..." Feral ponders this. "Kenneth, think you could handle any other hack attempts?"
Kenneth shakes his head. "I'm out of my league on this one, sir. All I know is my COM systems."
Feral nods as an officer walks up. "Sir, we have some reporters wanting to talk to you."
"They must have been listening to our frequency..." Feral turns back to Kenneth. "Kenneth, I want you to release this message to all Enforcer units: I am imposing a media blackout for this case. No talking to the press unless through authorized channels."
"Consider it done!" Kenneth salutes Feral and walks away.
"What now?"
"Think your brother would be up for a temporary transfer?"
Felina looks at him. "You mean Leo? What for?"
"He's apart of the Cyber Crimes Unit of the SpecialOps." Feral says. "We'll need his expertise."
"But..."
"But?"
"Are you sure MegaKat City is ready for Leo?" Felina asks. "He doesn't act like us."
Feral smiles. "Well, the city needs something new. Let's get back to headquarters."
****************************************************************************
Meanwhile...
"I don't think the ADA likes you, Ms. Briggs."
"The feeling's mutual."
The SWAT Kats flank Callie as they step out of MegaKat City's Legal Administration building. T-Bone crosses his arms.
"So, we're private katizens doing illegal activities." T-Bone mulls. "What does that mean to us?"
"I'm guessing it means we're subject to arrest on her call." Razor replies.
"Feral's been trying to do that for a while now!"
"Yes, but he didn't have the support of the DA's office behind it." Razor points out. "Speaking of which, I think Ling is interested in the Commander."
"...Obviously." Callie mumbles.
"Huh?"
"It's apparent that Naomi won't be giving you guys any slack. I'd be extra careful if I were you." Callie straightens up a bit. "I'm sure her giving the OK for the Enforcers to actively go after you would help her position with him."
"I'd bet..."
"Callie!"
Callie turns to see Ann jogging up the steps of the Administration building, coming towards them. "Ann...What's going on?"
"Did you hear the latest?" Ann pauses to catch her breath. "The Commander has imposed a media blackout!"
"Media blackout?"
"Yes! It prevents the media from talking to the Enforcers except through authorized channels." Ann continues. "I was shocked. It's the first time he actually imposed it since I've been here."
"What happened to cause it?" Razor asks.
"I'm thinking it has something to do with that incident at Pumadyne."
"What incident?"
"I don't know. Even my sources there are being tightlipped about it." Ann shrugs. "We picked up Enforcer traffic asking for the Investigations Unit, so we knew something was up."
"Hmm...That might have been the reason Feral rushed out of the meeting." Callie says. "But, I don't see why he did the blackout."
"It's called controlling the flow of information, Ms. Briggs."
Callie sighs as Naomi walks up to the group, briefcase in paw. "What do you want?"
"Nothing concerning you. I'm here to meet Ms. Gora." Naomi holds out her free paw to the report. "ADA Naomi Ling. Pleased to meet you."
Ann's initial shock wears off as she shakes Naomi's paw. "You said the Enforcers are controlling the flow of information...Why?"
"I don't know the details yet but any case involving Pumadyne is high profile. By controlling information, the Enforcers can present a much tighter case to the District Attorney's office. Also, the suspects wouldn't know what leads the Enforcers might have."
"Besides...By imposing the blackout, it also restricts what Enforcers can say to external parties..." Naomi continues, smiling at Callie. "...Like you."
"What...!" Callie glares at Naomi. "Feral has always reported to me!"
"Not anymore. DA's office takes priority." Naomi glances at her watch and turns to Ann. "Ms. Gora, you can see Thomas at any time. But now I have a bail hearing to go to. Ladies...and gentlekats...Good day."
Naomi proceeds down the steps and Callie begins to seethe. "That little minx! She's just upsetting the applecart!"
Ann ponders that. "Isn't it already upset?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Ann starts toward the building. "I have to go meet the DA now. If I find out anything I'll let you know."
"Thanks..." Callie sighs. "I'm going to have to deal with that she-kat for four, long years...Maybe I should have made Mau keep the former staff..."
****************************************************************************
"Smithy! Hurry it up! I have to get this evidence to the courthouse soon!"
"Hold your horses, Major. Need I remind you that half of this stuff is frozen? It needs special packaging."
"Yeah. Because of the SWAT Kats, who decided it was fine time to test their new fire-extinguishing bomb. What was it called? Celsius, I think...which promptly froze 50% of the evidence and destroyed two warehouses instead of one!"
"And, messed up a nice crime scene, right?"
"Exactly."
Major Marie Sheridan impatiently drums her claws against the wall leading to the evidence room while Smithy slowly stored the frozen evidence. The light brown she-kat look with dread to the day she would be called to testify. The evidence tying Dr. Kyle Edwards to the warehouse arson was flimsy at best, caused in large part to the SWAT Kats' interference. In fact, when the SWAT Kats got involved, most evidence was flimsy, due to the amount of destruction that usually followed them.
Marie relished the thought of tackling a major case like Pumadyne without the vigilante's 'input'.
"Here you go, Major. Frozen evidence and all." Smithy pushes a large cooler and a clipboard towards her. "Sign here."
"Sure." Marie brushes her short, black hair from her eyes as she signs.
"There you are, Marie."
"Sir." Marie turns to face Feral, who was coming towards him. She salutes him.
"Signing out evidence?" Feral asks.
"Yes, sir. For the Edwards case." Marie motions towards to the cooler. "Half of it's frozen."
"My sympathies."
"Thank you, sir."
Feral looks at her. "Any new developments in the Pumadyne case?"
"Negative. Since the files are encrypted, we need a subpoena to open them. They are defense technologies." Maria crosses her arms. "And, we're no closer to capturing the hacker. My techs are stumped."
"I'll get you some help for the hacker." Feral says. "And, let me handle the subpoena. I think we have an ally in the DA's office."
"That's good to hear."
"Oh! And, Marie..."
"Yes?"
Feral leans in closer to her. "This is our chance to start off with a clean slate with the new DA. I want everything to be followed by the book. We don't need any additional problems."
Marie nods. "Yes, sir!"
****************************************************************************
Later...
MegaKat City's Municipal Courthouse was always full of activity, especially for those that had bail hearings. Two kats huddle in a corner of a busy courtroom, trying to talk.
"Listen to me, Kyle: When the Judge asks for your plea, you say 'Not Guilty'. No more, no less."
"Aww...You don't want the other 'me' to come out and make a show for you?"
Ross, a distinguished looking bluish-gray kat, glares at Kyle Edwards, a disheveled looking tabby. "Especially not that. You are Dr. Kyle Edwards the chemist today, not the pyromaniac."
"I see."
"Come on, Edwards. You're up." An Enforcer bailiff walks up them.
Kyle smiles. "Lead the way."
The bailiff leads the pair to their respective tables as Naomi walks up to her position. A court clerk picks up a clipboard.
"Docket number 5418: Katizens vs. Kyle Edwards." The clerk reads. "The charges are: Arson in the first degree and vandalism in the first degree."
The clerk hands the clipboard over to the judge. "How do you plea?"
"Not guilty." Kyle speaks up.
"Katizens on bail?"
"Fifty thousand dollars, your honor." Naomi says. "Dr. Edwards committed a crime that can shut down commerce in the warehouse district for weeks."
"May I remind counsel that my client has no priors." Ross says.
"And he got off to a fine start." The judge says. "Bail is set at fifty thousand dollars. Next!"
The bailiff leads Kyle away, and Naomi gathers her things. Ross walks over to her. "That was a fine dance you did for the Grand Jury, counselor. The evidence against my client is weak and circumstantial."
"It was enough for them indict him." Naomi shrugs.
"The Grand Jury would indict a rock. But, regardless..." Ross pulls a wad of papers out of his briefcase and hands to them to Naomi. "Motion to dismiss."
"On what grounds?"
"Due process violations."
"That's ridiculous! The Enforcers did no such..."
"I'm not talking about the Enforcers." Ross smiles. "It concerns the SWAT Kats."
"What about them."
"They were acting as government officials when they captured my client."
"How can they? They are private katizens!" Naomi crosses her arms.
"Who seem to be at the Deputy Mayor's beck and call. *That* is what makes them government officials." Ross continues to smile. "See you in court!"
Ross walks away, leaving Naomi little time before another bail case comes up, demanding her attention. She sighs.
"This is only the beginning...I know it..."
To be continued....
The swearing in of a new District Attorney marks new changes in MegaKat City when a common criminal tries to take down the SWAT Kats by using the legal system against them. But, there is more to this criminal than meets the eye. Can the SWAT Kats handle these new changes, or will it give the Enforcers a chance to shine?
Author's notes: I know I'm insane, but I've wanted to write another canon series for a while. This series is heavily influenced by the show Law and Order, as well as my criminal justice classes, so look out for some legal terminology.
Thanks a bunch to KS Claw and Renee Twist for reading snippets of this while I was devolving this.
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
*************
Silent Justice
Prologue
*************
"Today marks the first day of office for District Attorney Thomas Mau. The newly elected DA states that he will uphold the laws of MegaKat City and plans to have no tolerance for repeat and violent offenders. We now go clips of the DA's swearing in ceremony..."
Chance Furlong and Jake Clawson watch the TV as they see a spotted silver kat raise his right paw. They also spot Mayor Manx and the Deputy Mayor Briggs standing besides him as well. Chance stuffs a piece of pizza into his mouth.
"I wonder how this new DA will fit into the scheme of things?" Chance asks, finishing of the slice of pizza.
"What do you mean?" Jake asks, taking a swig of milk from a can.
"You know... Callie... Us... The Enforcers." Chance says.
Jake thinks about that. "That is a delicate triangle."
"I wonder who the DA will work with? Callie or the Enforcers?"
"Callie if he knows what's good for him."
Chance laughs at that as a familiar alarm sounds. "That's Callie!"
Jake leaps over the couch and runs to the comm. Link. "Yes, Ms. Briggs?"
"SWAT Kats, I have a request." Callie's voice fills the room.
"Anything wrong?" Jake asks as Chance walks up to him.
"No, thank goodness." Callie says. "I have a request from the DA: He wants to meet you guys."
Jake and Chance look at each other. "Us?"
"Yes. He requested Commander Feral as well. He wants to get acquainted with everyone. Will you come?"
"Of course!"
"Great! Meet me at City Hall. We can then go to the DA's office. It's in the building next door."
*****************************************************************************
"Felina, I'll be at the DA's office if you need anything."
"Yes, uncle. Good luck!"
"Thanks...and keep Steele away from our new communications system. It's not finalized yet."
Commander Ulysses Feral parks his patrol car into City Hall's parking lot and steps out. A huge gust of wind blows in, playing with a strand of Feral's hair that had escaped its knot: He had decided to grow his hair out a little. He gradually tucks it back in.
"Somebody! Grab that paper!"
"Huh?" Feral turns to the source of the voice, but ends up with a piece of paper plastered to his fast. He peels it off.
"Thank you so much! Those are my briefing notes." A fawn colored she-kat with long black hair with brown highlights jogs up to him, out of breath. She places her paws on her knees.
"Isn't it easier to type this on a computer?" Feral asks, looking at the she-kat and giving her the notes. She had to be Siamese, he thinks. The brown-tipped ears and tail gave it away.
"Yes, but I do my best thinking with a pencil or pen to a writing pad." The she-kat looks up at him and smiles, revealing a pair of piercing, almond shaped blue eyes. She then notices Feral's uniform. "You're an Enforcer, right?"
"Yes..."
"And, judging by your overcoat and bars, you're a high ranking officer." The she-kat straightens up and thinks for a moment. "Commander?"
Feral smiles a little at that. "Very astute."
"Thanks...Though, to be honest, I grew up in a family of military brats." The she-kat smiles at him. "But, it is good that I ran into you. I'm Executive Assistant District Attorney Naomi Ling."
Naomi holds out her paw, and Feral shakes. "Commander Ulysses Feral. Your boss wants to meet me."
"Yes, and I'm supposed to be already up there." Naomi sighs a little. "Not a very good first impression..."
Feral gets a sudden thought. "On the contrary."
"Hmm?"
Feral holds out his arm to Naomi. "Ever hear of the term 'Fashionably late?'"
*************************************************************************
"Well, we get to see Feral again. It's been awhile."
"Me, too."
"Really?"
Callie nods as she walks down the hallway to the DA's office, with the SWAT Kats flanking her. "Feral hasn't been seen for a while, but rumor has that he is retooling the Enforcers."
"Retooling how?" T-Bone asks.
"I've heard that he has been recruiting for new officers in other cities, and upgrading his equipment." Callie says.
"Wow...Is he trying to give us a run for our money?" Razor asks solemnly.
"In his dreams!" T-Bone laughs. "The kat's...."
"Really, Commander? You come from the East as well?"
"Yes. My family made their home in the East when I was growing up."
"Huh?" The SWAT Kat's look each other. "Isn't that..."
The voice come closer, and both the SWAT Kats and Callie meet up with Feral at the DA's office door. On his arm was a striking Siamese she-kat. They couldn't believe it. Not only did Feral have a she-kat on his arm, he had also grown his hair out!
Callie breaks the silence. "Who..."
"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" Feral smiles a little. "ADA Ling, this is Deputy Mayor Calico Briggs with her consorts Tweedledee and Tweedledum..."
"Who are you calling Tweedledum!" T-Bone snarls, as Naomi giggles.
Feral looks at him. "You. I got tired of calling you clowns all the time."
"Why you...!"
"That's enough!" Callie steps in front of T-Bone before the kat could advance. "What's gotten into you, Commander?"
"Nothing. I only speak the truth."
"Commander!"
Feral just looks at her. "What did you expect me to say? My heroes?"
Callie crosses her arms. "That's not what I meant and you know it!"
Naomi clears her throat. "Well, it is nice meeting you three. Though I must say the only other vigilantes I meet are the ones I prosecuted."
"Why?"
"Obstruction of justice." Naomi smiles. "So, this poses a unique situation for me."
"I see..." Callie gives the she-kat a once over. "Have you known the Commander long?"
"No. Just met." Naomi focuses her eyes on the Deputy Mayor. "Why?"
"...Nothing."
Naomi narrows her eyes but opens the office door. "Thomas! Everyone is here as you requested!
The group walks in as Naomi perches herself on Mau's desk. The spotted kat, appearing to be in his early forties, looks at her. "Where have you been?"
"I was preparing for that Edwards case."
"And it took you that long?"
"You know I do my best thinking away from the office."
Mau sighs and looks at the group. "As Naomi said, I'm Thomas Mau. Pleased to meet you all."
Feral leans up against the wall as Mau continues. "Naomi will be the Enforcer liaison and I will be to the Mayor's office until everything settles down around here."
"That' fine." Feral says as Callie nods in agreement.
"Ms. Briggs." Mau stands up. "I am very aware of the current 'tensions' between the Enforcers and the SWAT Kats. Please be advised that I must apply the law equally."
Callie looks at him. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I must remain neutral as the District Attorney. Any and all evidence must be considered when it's presented to me."
"So..."
"So it means that Mau must consider the SWAT Kats as private katizens that are doing illegal activity." Naomi speaks up.
"What?" Callie is taken aback. "But, they have saved this city countless times!"
"And I am aware of that." Mau sits down. "But trials are tricky. I just want to cover my bases and save the taxpayers a little money."
"The Enforcers are held to a higher standard in the eyes of the law." Naomi says. "They can't do things like your SWAT Kats, and..."
"What do you mean *my* SWAT Kats?"
"Well, it *is* a little obvious..."
Callie crosses her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ms. Briggs, your public support of the SWAT Kats can cause us problems in a court of law." Naomi says. "By declaring ourselves neutral, we hope to rid ourselves of a lot of potential problems."
"I still don't think...'
"*I* don't get why you're protesting so much." Naomi interrupts. "I thought all government officials had to at least try to appear neutral..."
"And it obvious that you are going to be biased in favor of the Enforcers."
Naomi smiles at that. "Well, *somebody* has to...and I could afford to."
Callie starts to protest more, but Feral's phone begins to ring, He answers it.
"Feral."
"Uncle, there has been a silent alarm at Pumadyne's research department." Felina's voice is clear.
Feral's mood turns serious. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Kenneth thought it was a glitch in our new system, but a double check yielded that it was. We're sending our patrol units. ETA is five minutes."
"Fine. You and Kenneth go over there as well. I'll be there as soon as I can." Feral hangs up the phone and turns to the group.
"I'm sorry to cut our meeting short, but there is something that I must attend to immediately." Feral walks towards the door. "Please excuse me."
"Is there a problem, Commander?" Callie asks.
"Nothing that the Enforcers can't handle."
"And where have we've heard *that* before?" T-Bone thinks aloud to which Razor chuckles.
Surprisingly, Feral smiles at that. "We'll see who has the last laugh, SWAT Kats."
"Oh, Commander..." Naomi speaks up. "Before you leave, please know that I will be stopping by your headquarters to meet your Investigations Unit."
"Sure...and Naomi..."
"Yes?"
"Please call me Ulysses." Feral walks out of the office.
It was quiet for a while...until a gentle purr fills the room. Mau clears his throat.
"Naomi...Naomi! You're purring too loud!"
****************************************************************************
...CONNECTION TERMINATED.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRACE DETECTED.
INITIATING COUNTER MEASURES.
CONNECTION REROUTED TO SPECIFIED TARGETS.
"...Not bad. I thought the law around here was incompetent."
A hum of a computer is heard as a she-kat stares at one of her computer screens, brushing dyed blue hair from her eyes. She swivels her seat to reach her laptop, her blue eyes reflecting the screen.
TRIPLE LEVEL DATA ENCRYPTION DETECTED ON FILES RETRIEVED.
CRACK FILES?
"Of course."
The tan she-kat presses a key, at which the laptop begins to copy the files to a CD while printing the files at the same time. She smiles, sitting back in her chair.
"Well done, Krystal...Huh?"
The computers beep as a message appears on her laptop.
ENCRYPTED PRIORITY CALL RECEIVED.
PRIORITY LEVEL: URGENT.
ANSWERING CALL...
A video of kat appears on the screen. Krystal adjusts herself. "Have you retrieved the files?"
"Of course."
"Any problems?"
"Not at all...However..."
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure we're focusing on the right kats? I don't question your plans, but the Enforcers may prove more of a problem than the SWAT Kats." Krystal says. "They tried to trace me right away."
"Be that as it may, it is the SWAT Kats that caused our forbearers great problems." The kat says. "And I will not fall into the same traps they did. We deal with SWAT Kats first, then the Enforcers."
"I see."
"Your concern is founded, however. We may be giving the Enforcers their chance to shine. But the SWAT Kats are the biggest threat to the organization."
Krystal nods. The kat continues.
"Proceed according to plan. Deliver those files when contacted and await further instructions."
"...Understood."
The kat disappears. Krystal takes one last look at the screen.
...TRACE TERMINATED...
*****************************************************************************
...TRACE FAILED.
"Damn it! The hacker halted my trace!"
SORRY! TRY AGAIN LATER!
"Smartass..."
A muscular, reddish-brown kat sits back in his chair, staring at a blinking cursor on his laptop. He begins to seethe.
"Calm down, Major." Felina walks up to him, placing a paw on his shoulder. "You tried your best."
Major Kenneth Laquor sighs, disconnecting his laptop from Pumadyne's computers. "Kenneth will do."
"Just adhering to protocol." Felina shrugs.
"If that was the case, you wouldn't be calling the Commander 'Uncle.'"
"Point taken."
Kenneth laughs, standing up to stretch and adjusting his long officer's coat. "Well, that was a bust. I was hoping to have something for the Commander."
"Like what?"
Kenneth turns and salutes Feral as he walks up. "I was hoping to have more clues to this hack, sir. I attempted a trace, but they thwarted it."
"Was it Hard Drive?"
"I don't think so. I would have registered a power spike from him jumping into the system...and besides, I think Pumadyne's machines would have caught him."
"I see..." Feral looks at the computer. "What was taken?"
"Several high security development files." Felina says. "We don't know what they contained since they were encrypted."
"Anything else taken?"
"No."
"So they knew what they were looking for..." Feral ponders this. "Kenneth, think you could handle any other hack attempts?"
Kenneth shakes his head. "I'm out of my league on this one, sir. All I know is my COM systems."
Feral nods as an officer walks up. "Sir, we have some reporters wanting to talk to you."
"They must have been listening to our frequency..." Feral turns back to Kenneth. "Kenneth, I want you to release this message to all Enforcer units: I am imposing a media blackout for this case. No talking to the press unless through authorized channels."
"Consider it done!" Kenneth salutes Feral and walks away.
"What now?"
"Think your brother would be up for a temporary transfer?"
Felina looks at him. "You mean Leo? What for?"
"He's apart of the Cyber Crimes Unit of the SpecialOps." Feral says. "We'll need his expertise."
"But..."
"But?"
"Are you sure MegaKat City is ready for Leo?" Felina asks. "He doesn't act like us."
Feral smiles. "Well, the city needs something new. Let's get back to headquarters."
****************************************************************************
Meanwhile...
"I don't think the ADA likes you, Ms. Briggs."
"The feeling's mutual."
The SWAT Kats flank Callie as they step out of MegaKat City's Legal Administration building. T-Bone crosses his arms.
"So, we're private katizens doing illegal activities." T-Bone mulls. "What does that mean to us?"
"I'm guessing it means we're subject to arrest on her call." Razor replies.
"Feral's been trying to do that for a while now!"
"Yes, but he didn't have the support of the DA's office behind it." Razor points out. "Speaking of which, I think Ling is interested in the Commander."
"...Obviously." Callie mumbles.
"Huh?"
"It's apparent that Naomi won't be giving you guys any slack. I'd be extra careful if I were you." Callie straightens up a bit. "I'm sure her giving the OK for the Enforcers to actively go after you would help her position with him."
"I'd bet..."
"Callie!"
Callie turns to see Ann jogging up the steps of the Administration building, coming towards them. "Ann...What's going on?"
"Did you hear the latest?" Ann pauses to catch her breath. "The Commander has imposed a media blackout!"
"Media blackout?"
"Yes! It prevents the media from talking to the Enforcers except through authorized channels." Ann continues. "I was shocked. It's the first time he actually imposed it since I've been here."
"What happened to cause it?" Razor asks.
"I'm thinking it has something to do with that incident at Pumadyne."
"What incident?"
"I don't know. Even my sources there are being tightlipped about it." Ann shrugs. "We picked up Enforcer traffic asking for the Investigations Unit, so we knew something was up."
"Hmm...That might have been the reason Feral rushed out of the meeting." Callie says. "But, I don't see why he did the blackout."
"It's called controlling the flow of information, Ms. Briggs."
Callie sighs as Naomi walks up to the group, briefcase in paw. "What do you want?"
"Nothing concerning you. I'm here to meet Ms. Gora." Naomi holds out her free paw to the report. "ADA Naomi Ling. Pleased to meet you."
Ann's initial shock wears off as she shakes Naomi's paw. "You said the Enforcers are controlling the flow of information...Why?"
"I don't know the details yet but any case involving Pumadyne is high profile. By controlling information, the Enforcers can present a much tighter case to the District Attorney's office. Also, the suspects wouldn't know what leads the Enforcers might have."
"Besides...By imposing the blackout, it also restricts what Enforcers can say to external parties..." Naomi continues, smiling at Callie. "...Like you."
"What...!" Callie glares at Naomi. "Feral has always reported to me!"
"Not anymore. DA's office takes priority." Naomi glances at her watch and turns to Ann. "Ms. Gora, you can see Thomas at any time. But now I have a bail hearing to go to. Ladies...and gentlekats...Good day."
Naomi proceeds down the steps and Callie begins to seethe. "That little minx! She's just upsetting the applecart!"
Ann ponders that. "Isn't it already upset?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Ann starts toward the building. "I have to go meet the DA now. If I find out anything I'll let you know."
"Thanks..." Callie sighs. "I'm going to have to deal with that she-kat for four, long years...Maybe I should have made Mau keep the former staff..."
****************************************************************************
"Smithy! Hurry it up! I have to get this evidence to the courthouse soon!"
"Hold your horses, Major. Need I remind you that half of this stuff is frozen? It needs special packaging."
"Yeah. Because of the SWAT Kats, who decided it was fine time to test their new fire-extinguishing bomb. What was it called? Celsius, I think...which promptly froze 50% of the evidence and destroyed two warehouses instead of one!"
"And, messed up a nice crime scene, right?"
"Exactly."
Major Marie Sheridan impatiently drums her claws against the wall leading to the evidence room while Smithy slowly stored the frozen evidence. The light brown she-kat look with dread to the day she would be called to testify. The evidence tying Dr. Kyle Edwards to the warehouse arson was flimsy at best, caused in large part to the SWAT Kats' interference. In fact, when the SWAT Kats got involved, most evidence was flimsy, due to the amount of destruction that usually followed them.
Marie relished the thought of tackling a major case like Pumadyne without the vigilante's 'input'.
"Here you go, Major. Frozen evidence and all." Smithy pushes a large cooler and a clipboard towards her. "Sign here."
"Sure." Marie brushes her short, black hair from her eyes as she signs.
"There you are, Marie."
"Sir." Marie turns to face Feral, who was coming towards him. She salutes him.
"Signing out evidence?" Feral asks.
"Yes, sir. For the Edwards case." Marie motions towards to the cooler. "Half of it's frozen."
"My sympathies."
"Thank you, sir."
Feral looks at her. "Any new developments in the Pumadyne case?"
"Negative. Since the files are encrypted, we need a subpoena to open them. They are defense technologies." Maria crosses her arms. "And, we're no closer to capturing the hacker. My techs are stumped."
"I'll get you some help for the hacker." Feral says. "And, let me handle the subpoena. I think we have an ally in the DA's office."
"That's good to hear."
"Oh! And, Marie..."
"Yes?"
Feral leans in closer to her. "This is our chance to start off with a clean slate with the new DA. I want everything to be followed by the book. We don't need any additional problems."
Marie nods. "Yes, sir!"
****************************************************************************
Later...
MegaKat City's Municipal Courthouse was always full of activity, especially for those that had bail hearings. Two kats huddle in a corner of a busy courtroom, trying to talk.
"Listen to me, Kyle: When the Judge asks for your plea, you say 'Not Guilty'. No more, no less."
"Aww...You don't want the other 'me' to come out and make a show for you?"
Ross, a distinguished looking bluish-gray kat, glares at Kyle Edwards, a disheveled looking tabby. "Especially not that. You are Dr. Kyle Edwards the chemist today, not the pyromaniac."
"I see."
"Come on, Edwards. You're up." An Enforcer bailiff walks up them.
Kyle smiles. "Lead the way."
The bailiff leads the pair to their respective tables as Naomi walks up to her position. A court clerk picks up a clipboard.
"Docket number 5418: Katizens vs. Kyle Edwards." The clerk reads. "The charges are: Arson in the first degree and vandalism in the first degree."
The clerk hands the clipboard over to the judge. "How do you plea?"
"Not guilty." Kyle speaks up.
"Katizens on bail?"
"Fifty thousand dollars, your honor." Naomi says. "Dr. Edwards committed a crime that can shut down commerce in the warehouse district for weeks."
"May I remind counsel that my client has no priors." Ross says.
"And he got off to a fine start." The judge says. "Bail is set at fifty thousand dollars. Next!"
The bailiff leads Kyle away, and Naomi gathers her things. Ross walks over to her. "That was a fine dance you did for the Grand Jury, counselor. The evidence against my client is weak and circumstantial."
"It was enough for them indict him." Naomi shrugs.
"The Grand Jury would indict a rock. But, regardless..." Ross pulls a wad of papers out of his briefcase and hands to them to Naomi. "Motion to dismiss."
"On what grounds?"
"Due process violations."
"That's ridiculous! The Enforcers did no such..."
"I'm not talking about the Enforcers." Ross smiles. "It concerns the SWAT Kats."
"What about them."
"They were acting as government officials when they captured my client."
"How can they? They are private katizens!" Naomi crosses her arms.
"Who seem to be at the Deputy Mayor's beck and call. *That* is what makes them government officials." Ross continues to smile. "See you in court!"
Ross walks away, leaving Naomi little time before another bail case comes up, demanding her attention. She sighs.
"This is only the beginning...I know it..."
To be continued....