Downfall: Resident Evil II
Chapter One: Fallen S.T.A.R.S.
MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION ROCKS THE ARKLAY MOUNTAINS
July 24th, 1998 by Ben Bertolucci
This morning at about 6:00 AM, residents on the northern side of Raccoon City were awoken by what was described by witnesses as 'a brilliant flash of light'. This flash was then followed by a rumbling in the ground that made many residents worry that an earthquake was happening. The origin of the blast, although the source of which is currently unknown, appeared to come from high up in the Arklay Mountains, near the edge of the area known by locals as the 'Forest Zone'. Authorities claim that the incident is being investigated, and that details will be made available to the public as they develop.
ARKLAY MOUNTAINS EXPLOSION LINKED TO CANNIBAL MURDERS
July 31st, 1998 by Alyssa Ashcroft
Sources inside the Raccoon City Police Department have shared information that the explosion reported by residents last week was both intentional, and linked to a police operation conducted by the R.P.D.'s Special Tactics and Rescue Service. This S.T.A.R.S. team was investigating a potential hideout of those responsible for the attacks on campers and hikers, which began last spring.
According to our sources, the S.T.A.R.S. team suffered heavy losses during the operation, and then through means unknown, triggered an explosion powerful enough to both destroy the historic Spencer Estate, and cause fire damage to several acres of protected State Forest. Neither R.P.D. Chief Brian Irons, nor Raccoon City Mayor Michael Warren could be reached for comment.
SURVIVING R.P.D. S.T.A.R.S. PERSONNEL SUSPENDED
August 2nd, 1998 by Ben Bertolucci
Pending a full review of the incident that took place during the operation in the Arklay Mountains two weeks ago, R.P.D. Special Tactics and Rescue Service members Christopher Redfield, Jillian Valentine, Bernard Burton, Bradly Vickers, and Rebecca Chambers have been placed on administrative leave. No official word has yet been given from the police force as to the progress, or any findings of this investigation, but the people of Raccoon City can rest assured that the Raccoon City Press will be monitoring the situation closely for further updates.
DISGRACED S.T.A.R.S. MEMBER OFFERS DISTURBING ACCOUNT
August 15th, 1998 by Alyssa Ashcroft
Speaking with the press for the first time since his suspension from the Raccoon City Police Department last month, Christopher Redfield contacted the Raccoon City Press for what he referred to as a 'last-ditch attempt to get the truth out'. His account of the events that unfolded last month will not be listed in full detail due to their graphic nature, but a censored version will be released in tomorrow's issue.
Mr. Redfield's account details a mission that was sabotaged from the start, said sabotage resulting in the almost complete destruction of the organization's Bravo Team, and allegedly caused by the S.T.A.R.S. overall Commander, Captain Albert Wesker. According to Mr. Redfield, Wesker was acting under orders from the Umbrella Corporation to terminate any investigation into the Cannibal Murders, in order to cover up the fact that the historic Spencer Estate had been converted into a laboratory designed for the production of biological weapons.
When asked about the disturbing account of Mr. Redfield, Police Chief Brian Irons was quick to dismiss the claims, stating that although any possible evidence had been destroyed, 'an internal police investigation had determined that the Arklay Mountains incident was the result of poor judgement in the field'. Irons also went on to say that the R.P.D. was appalled by these 'disgusting allegations', and that he 'wanted to issue an official apology to both the city, and to the Umbrella Corporation for the unprofessional, and downright slanderous conduct of Mr. Redfield'.
CITY ON EDGE: 'CANNIBAL' ATTACKS REPORTED WITHIN CITY LIMITS
August 22nd, 1998 by Ben Bertolucci
As the people of Raccoon City begin to move on from the disgraceful actions of 'rogue elements' of the police force during the month of July, the Raccoon City Press has been informed that 911 calls from the northern-most areas have dramatically increased, especially in the areas of violent crime. Recordings from police radio traffic have confirmed that the amount of residential break-ins have tripled in the past month, and almost all have involved some kind of violent assault on the victims, in some cases including attempted murder.
The element of these reported crimes that concerns most citizens is that a good number of the perpetrators, although unarmed, resorted to biting their victims upon being confronted. When confronted about these new developments, both Mayor Warren and Police Chief Irons denied any allegations that these attacks were being committed by the same group responsible for the Cannibal Murders, and Chief Irons went on to say that 'all evidence pointed to the deaths of those responsible for those horrendous crimes during the disastrous operation carried out by S.T.A.R.S. personnel back in July'.
NEIGHBORHOODS BLOCKED OFF: POLICE CLAIM RIOTS
August 31st, 1998 by Alyssa Ashcroft
Residents were forced to move quickly late last night when Raccoon City Mayor Michael Warren ordered the evacuation of all residential areas north of Raccoon Street, with barriers being placed in the streets beginning at the south side of the St. Michael Clock Tower. The official statement given at this morning's press briefing at the R.P.D. was that 'there is a full scale riot in progress, with several dangerous fugitives on the loose, but those fugitives will soon be apprehended'.
Residents who were forced to leave their homes seem to confirm this statement, many of them giving reports of seeing neighbors being savagely attacked during the evacuation, with the alleged rioters going so far as to attack police officers during close confrontations. So far no such incidents have been reported in the areas south of the barriers, and Police Chief Irons was quick to credit the efficiency of the newly formed R.P.D. Special Weapons and Tactics team, which was created as a replacement for the disbanded S.T.A.R.S. Current projections for resolution of these riots claim that order will be restored in a matter of days.
RIOTS CONTINUE: BARRICADED ZONES EXPANDED
September 6th, 1998 by Ben Bertolucci
The so called rioters continued their rampage for the third straight week, forcing police to expand the barricaded areas southward to Euston Street, officially blocking off everything north of the Raccoon City Community College. Most citizen concern comes from having several of the city's exit roads blocked off, leaving only a few avenues of escape should the violence spill over into the rest of the city.
Responding in an official statement during this afternoon's press conference, Police Chief Irons expressed desire to remind the people that 'although the crisis faced by the city is a severe one, the brave men and women of the R.P.D. will prevail against these aggressors'. His statement also included the announcement that several more officers were going to be added to the precinct, including some from outside the city in order to combat this threat.
Many citizens, however, do not share this optimism, citing the disgrace and dismissal of the surviving members of S.T.A.R.S., whom many are starting to wonder if they had been telling the truth all along. However, there have been no sightings of any members of the group since Christopher Redfield's last interview. More details on this developing story as they unfold.
IT'S ALL OVER: RACCOON CITY'S GONE TO HELL
(Unpublished, maybe last report, I don't know) September something, 1998 by Ben Bertolucci
That's it, it's all over, the cops couldn't stop this from happening, Umbrella couldn't stop it from happening, and well, I'm pretty sure that no one else can stop it either. I got trapped here in the police station the last time they moved the barriers… not that those matter anymore. I don't know if there are any cops left around, and things are all quiet around here lately… not that I'm about to go out and check.
I should've left the city when Alyssa and those others were going to, but no, I was an idiot, and I thought I would be safer with the cops. Stupid cops, stupid Umbrella, they're both to blame, and I should've known that it was all a cover-up… not that that matters now. We should've listened to those people from S.T.A.R.S., but no, everyone wanted to feel safe and just shut their eyes.
Well, everyone's getting to shut their eyes now, damn it. The saddest part about all this is that right now I'm living through the biggest story of my life, but there's no one around to read it. There's no one around at all. I think… I think I'm all alone… am I really the last one? Imagine me, Ben Bertolucci, the last man in Raccoon City… and my old man told me I'd never amount to anything.