After Action Report: 0-21B-04/25/11-7C
Contributing Agents: James Harlow, Samantha Dader, Miss Militia, Armsmaster, Gallant
0027 - Reports of shots fired in the area of Jackson Street. Algorithmic analysis suggested Empire 88 activity in the area.
0029 - Seismographic monitoring of traffic (See: Traffic Efficiency Initiative, Dragon) showed a convoy heading from known Empire territory to the O'Grady and Sons paper mill (Derelict since 1998). Traffic and security camera footage identified Empire capes flying above the convoy.
0031 - Approval was granted (Authority of Director Piggot E.) for full Protectorate deployment against the Empire in this case.
0032 - 911 call made by victim (Ms. Gabel, A.) of attempted mugging. Saved by unseen cape, described use of Grue's (See: Undersiders) power. Not identified at the time as being connected.
0035 - Armsmaster and Miss Militia were redirected from their patrol route (See: Patrol Schedule B-04/25/11). Velocity and Dauntless deployed with PRT rapid response team 3.
0046 - Armsmaster and Miss Militia arrived on scene. They engaged Empire capes but were heavily outnumbered and were forced into retreat. Hookwolf, Kaiser, and Abwehr prevented any attack on the Empire soldiers while they evacuated elements of their base, likely money and weaponry. Once reinforcements arrived on scene the Empire evacuated with heavy use of explosives to prevent pursuit. Dauntless and Velocity gave chase but were unable to maintain line-of-sight while defending against cape escorts and the convoy was lost.
0051 - First known reports of attacks by unknown cape on low level gang members (street level soldiers, pimps, and dealers), amended to this document owing to proximity and similar injuries profiles.
0122 - With the area was secured and a perimeter established, investigation of the mill began. In addition to standard investigative team, in attendance were Armsmaster (Certified Forensic Tech, Tinker Class) and Miss Militia (Certified Forensic Assistant, Certified Detective).
0137 - Responding officers for proximal attacks finish taking custody of the victims.
0208 - Injured Empire 88 members officially taken into custody.
0230 - Arrested parties secured in Brockton Central for treatment. Processing begun by arresting officers.
Investigation Report (O'Grady Mill) (Armsmaster):
The majority of the building was empty. Signs -cigarette butts, tracks in dust, recent scuff marks- were found of regular patrols in the outer corridors and guard presence at external windows. The most likely conclusion is that the mill has been a major staging ground and storage site for the Empire, requiring appropriate guard presence. Majority of guard are likely to have been unpowered soldiers.
This conclusion is supported by the remains of a makeshift armoury and the three unconscious soldiers (all junior) discovered in the main factory room. All three were injured, sprawled near the exit corridor in a manner that suggests they were dropped by those attempting to carry them out of the area.
The cargo elevator at the centre of the factory floor had been torn apart from underneath, however the shaft was almost completely filled with an unidentified and extremely durable metal. Distribution suggests that it was poured in at a consistency close to thin cement, or possibly pumped in from below, then once the shaft was filled the metal became solid. No signs of high temperature were found, likely suggesting the metal has exotic properties beyond toughness. Ultrasonic readings were taken, these suggested basement levels and tunnels, all of which were either collapsed or filled with a solid of density differing from the surrounding rock, likely the same unknown metal. A sample of elevator shaft plug was taken for full analysis.
I consider it very likely that the Empire has a new Tinker. It is too early to determine if they are a new trigger or a transfer from Europe, however they seem to be adept at large scale works on short notice. I recommend that priority be given to learning more about this cape, especially as the Empire will likely début them publicly soon after these events so as to ensure control of their initial reputation and name.
Subsequent interrogation of the recovered soldiers revealed that there is an extensive network of tunnels beneath the mill. EDITED (04/26/11): Unfortunately the tunnels were completely sealed by the time the proper equipment could be brought on scene. It appears that the Tinker responsible for the metal is also capable of filling in tunnels seamlessly with stone identical to that of the surrounding stratum. Attempts to search for underground rooms in the area that were not filled in have proven fruitless, given that searching further would require a broad warrant (owing to the overlap of the search with occupied and utilised basements, sewers and maintenance tunnels) for more populated areas and that the docks are famously riddled with tunnels, I recommend breaking off the search for the Empire's underground assets.
EDITED (05/02/11): An agreement for temporary transferral of Tecton to the Brockton Bay Wards has been reached. Kid Win is participating in the exchange following his enthusiastic request to be considered for it. Note: He is a passionate fan of the Chicago Bulls. A publicity event with the team and the Chicago Wards is scheduled for August, I have submitted a formal request that it be moved forward to coincide with his time in the city.
Interrogation of the suspects (Weapons charges pending on all 3, drug charges pending on 2 of the 3) also determined that the events of the evening were triggered by an attack on the mill by the Undersiders. Given their usual methods, and the description of the events provided by the suspects, it seems that they attempted to infiltrate the mill via stealth, but were discovered. This lead to a large scale battle in which Grue's power was used to great effect.
More disturbingly, the Undersiders either have a new member, or else they have been holding back significantly up until now. All three suspects corroborated a version of events in which, once cornered, the Undersiders easily defeated both Crusader and Stormtiger, obscured by Grue's power. Methods suggest use of Hellhound's dogs, however they seem to have acted with intelligence and dexterity not seen before. Her control may be improving.
Victor was also downed at range, with a speed and totality that does not match Regent's previous record. Though Othala's healing was effective in restoring him. As all three suspects were taken down shortly thereafter, it is unknown how the battle proceeded thereafter. The absence of the Undersiders when the Empire convoy arrived would suggest that they escaped, or were captured and taken away with the convoy when it escaped.
Absence of Hellhound's dogs, makes the former more likely. The convoy lacked trucks with the space to carry them, and suspension analysis (based on helmet cam footage) suggests none of the vehicles were overloaded.
Suspect (Kristoff J.; weapons charges, drug charges, severe narcotics addiction) eventually admitted that the mill was guarding something extremely important (as suggested by numerous guards and parahumans) down in the tunnels. I suspect that it was the lab of the new tinker.
Addendum (Unknown Attacks) (Miss Militia):
Attacks were initially assumed to be the work of an unidentified vigilante. Algorithmic analysis determined a link between the reports and suggested the 911 call by Ms Gabel was the first attack in a sequence, the route of which can be plotted as a meandering path through the area, moving directly enough to suggest flight or easy travel over rooftops.
It has since been confirmed that Grue and Regent's powers were used in some of these attacks. This is extremely out of character for a gang of thieves, especially since they did not steal anything from any of the victims.
The description of several attacks mentions large creatures attacking from behind or above. Initially this was thought to be Hellhound's dogs, however seven of the accounts agreed that the creatures had hands.
Taken with the events at the mill, it seems there is a new cape among the Undersiders. This new member appears to have tipped them over into more reckless and direct tactics. The Empire will almost certainly retaliate after a blow to their reputation from such a small group.
Injuries were not fatal in any of the cases, and are unlikely to be crippling beyond the short term. Numerous broken bones were common. In two cases victims suffered seizures consistent with what Regent is thought to have done to Victor, they have no permanent damage beyond muscle strain and injuries from hitting the ground/walls.
Note: It is likely that one of the victims, a pimp going by Big Al (Born Alistair Leslie Graham), will attempt to press charges of excessive force against Agent Dader. I would like to note pre-emptively that Mr Graham was belligerent and insulting prior to making movements easily mistaken for attempting to draw a weapon. Agent Harlow came to her aid and they had subdued Mr Graham by the time I could get close enough to safely intervene. My estimation is that both Agents used appropriate force given the potential for lethal threat that Graham posed.
The stack of paper hit the wall with a growl, barely missing Carlos' face.
Sophia squashed the urge to yell at him for barging into her room. He'd just poked his head around the door and it was open anyway. Instead she took a deep breath and cocked an eyebrow at him.
Her team leader snorted with a slight grin and nodded to the papers scattered around her floor.
"So I guess I don't have to remind you to read the report."
It was all she could do not to scream. That piece of shit and his shitty team were getting stronger and they didn't even know details. Ruthlessly crushing the fear and the memory of floating in endless dark with all her speed stolen away, Sophia tried to summon the words to -politely- tell her fellow Ward to piss off and leave her to brood. Maybe she'd even give Emma a call and rant at her for a bit, her friend wasn't volunteering tonight...or was she?
Carlos cut through her composition, "Wanna come watch a movie with us?"
"...okay."
It was weird.
Sophia knew that she rubbed most people the wrong way. She wasn't stupid. She couldn't be, or else she'd never have managed to get through all the dumb 'we need to make sure you're not violent' hoops that the PRT made her jump through. She knew damn well how most of her classmates talked about her when Emma wasn't around, and how the Wards did almost the same.
Refusing to act like a weakling meant making enemies. Not letting anyone give you any shit meant making enemies. Telling it like it was meant making enemies. Reminding people of their proper place definitely made enemies.
Except one day, a couple weeks ago on a day like any other, she'd gotten into a fight with that pathetic shitstain, Hebert, and suddenly it had all changed.
Well, not the school part. The girls that followed Emma around still smiled at her face and ran their mouths behind her back. Cowardly little bitches, the lot of 'em. Emma was braver than every one of them put together.
The Wards though...
"Hey Soph! Come tell this idiot that we're not watching Guns of Fury again."
"It's Guns of the Fury. The." Emphasised Dennis. Vista ignored him and kept beckoning Sophia over to the stretched out sofa she was sprawled on. The little spitfire even smiled when she sat down, offering her some of the big bowl of popcorn she was holding.
Things at work had changed beyond anything she'd ever imagined. Like she'd walked into an alternate earth without noticing. Earth Doppel she'd call it.
The day after the fight they'd actually stood and clapped when she came in. The day before, she'd gotten a few grunts and a "'lo" from Vista, then she'd saved the idiots at her school from that drooling retard and suddenly her teammates started talking to her. Congratulating her and saying how great what she did was and...
...and she'd almost fucked it up.
At first she'd ignored them. Just kept going like always, figuring that the good mood wouldn't last long enough to be worth reacting to. She'd turned down invitations to play games or watch movies, and taken every chance to hang out with Emma instead.
Until she told Emma about it, and her best friend almost bit her head off.
"You can't just waste this opportunity! This is your chance to show them just how great you really are!"
The rant had gone on for a while. Would have lasted longer if Sophia hadn't left before Emma finished.
Still, the next time she went to work after that, Sophia had said tried to be friendly. Or at least, she'd resisted the urge to snap at anyone who annoyed her.
Just like that, she stopped seeing glares out of the corner of her eye, or hearing mutters when she left the common room. Dennis had even apologised and gone on about a bunch of times he'd said stuff about her that she really didn't give a shit about. Though it was kind of nice that he realised he'd been wrong.
Vista asked her to go shopping, and she'd gone along with it with a minimum of mocking the shaker for her desperate attempts to grow up. Carlos had started to ease off on his usual strictness with her and her duties. Dennis still stared at her ass like a creep, but he was actually kind of cute when he was hitting on her rather than just staring. Like a brain damaged kitten.
Then...well...Chris had asked her to help him with a report one day, and she'd actually gone and done it.
It made sense when she thought about it, even if she'd barely understood why she did it at the time.
Chris might act like a meek little sheep, but he had guts deep down. He wouldn't be in the Wards otherwise. Wouldn't jump into the rare fights that they were allowed into. So he had to be strong, even if he didn't always act like it. Helping him was just like saving Emma, a way to get someone strong to actually act like it.
Which was how things should be. The strong should act strong, the weak should know their place, and the scum like Hebert should stay on the ground where it wasn't stinking up the place.
Now that they knew she was strong, knew they could trust her, the other Wards were starting to act strong too. They asked her if she wanted to do stuff with them and they listened when she told them to piss off, without being all pathetic and getting their panties in a twist just because she wasn't soft and polite when she told them to piss off. They were starting to see things her way.
At least that was Sophia's explanation for it. Emma had suggested that maybe they'd always been like this and she'd just never noticed, but that was bullshit. Definitely. Sophia had said so and then thrown Emma's pillow at her.
Whatever.
She shook her head and got back to paying attention to the movie, just in time to see Vista reach out without getting up and pop in a disc ahead of Dennis and his obsession with that one prettyboy parahuman actor guy. The screen announced "The Princess Metal Movie" in a blur of cartoon decapitations and everyone except for Dennis cheered.
When it was over, and the snacks were eaten, Vista had drifted to the console and the others went off to do their own shit and Sophia just sat on the couch as it slowly returned to it's normal shape and length. Chewing her way through the last handful of popcorn.
When it was done she swung her legs to the floor and set off back for her room and a nap before her patrol. She'd have Vista with her and that meant they could go off the route a bit. The kid wasn't a stickler for rules, and she knew how to fight dirty.
'Not like she can fight any other way, weighing two pounds and all...'
They had sparring scheduled for tomorrow. As she slid her door closed behind her, Sophia played with the thought of actually getting involved properly for the first time...since that stupid fight with Carlos months ago. When she'd got mad and broken the rules and-
A little white square drew her up short. A rectangle actually. A folded page sitting innocently on her bed, even though nobody else had been in here since she left the room.
"What the fuck?" She muttered under her breath. Reaching out, Sophia readied herself to use her power on a hair trigger and picked it up.
Nothing.
It was just paper.
She unfolded it, "Heh, probably Dennis sneaking in a love...poem..."
It wasn't.
It was almost blank.
Just two lines.
Six words between them.
Printed, not hand written.
'I know.'
Her gut plummeted through the floor. The voices echoing through the thin walls faded away beneath the pounding of her heart and the terror coursing through her.
Still, she couldn't tear her eyes away. Couldn't stop herself from reading the rest.
'I'll be in touch.'