Reply to Guest (Previous Chapter): Yeah, it gotta happen eventually. It's only a matter of when...
USDO Inter-Agency Meeting 03051989 Transcript
DOC: 05 MAR (Sunday) 1989
-TRANSCRIPT START-
Director Cliff: What is the agenda today?
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: We have a delegation from the Townsville Police Department - two separate delegations, in fact.
Director Cliff: Is that right? This is going to be interesting.
General Blackwater: The TPD has never gotten their shit right, ever.
Doctor Vanum: We gotta give credit where it's due though. Some of them are heroes, and they've lasted this long so far.
General Blackwater: Pah! What do you know, egghead? As it stands, even an apocalypse can't root out a police department in the US. They'll just turn into something else. Something Un-American.
Director Cliff: Is there anything else, Liaisons?
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: Sir, the second delegation from the TPD is requesting to meet only after the first delegation has left the building.
Director Cliff: Departmental politics, I take it. That's really interesting. What else?
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: Yes. The mayor of Townsville, Mayor Wilford, has something to discuss. He has brought along his advisors and mayoral security.
Director Cliff: Any idea what they want?
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: It could be anything, sir. He might want to make more arrangements for law enforcement efforts in the city - it's always been about that. It might also be something to do with the celebration they're planning next weekend.
Director Cliff: Yes. That. Ill-advised. Thoroughly, incompetently ill-advised.
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: Better not let him hear that, sir.
Director Cliff: Right. Anything else?
Liaisons Head Yorkshire: The FBI and the CIA both want to meet the USDO, sir.
Director Cliff: (laughs) Looks like we're becoming celebrities! Let's get to work, then, people. Townsville isn't going to save itself.
(5 minutes passed. There is some banter in the background. The first TPD delegation passes through the door, which could be heard opening and closing. Greetings were exchanged.)
Police Chief Feig: So this is how the insides of the USDO headquarters look like!
Director Cliff: Let's get straight down to business, shall we? We're all busy people here.
Police Chief Feig: You got that right. It's Sunday and you people are still out working? I'm really busting my ass here just to put on my uniform on a Sunday and walk in here.
Director Cliff: What can we do for you, chief?
Police Chief Feig: It's your… urm… What do you call that? Powerpuff program - thing. I'm dissatisfied with the turn it's taken.
General Blackwater: Is that right? Even when we're mopping the floor with criminals you and your TPD couldn't handle in decades?
Police Chief Feig: That's all well and good, but I prefer the Powerpuff Girls - those kids, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup - doing the job rather than whatever else it is you've been putting out there.
General Blackwater: You mean our soldiers? They are hardly fancy, chief, but they are getting the job done.
Police Chief Feig: Soldiers? Don't think I don't know what you federal types are up to! The crime scene at the port - the evidence aren't exactly pointing to soldiers who're 'hardly fancy'. What have you people been whipping up? Another batch of weird psycho mutants?
Central Motorpool Officer Longshot: You have no right to interrogate the general, rusty copper!
Police Chief Feig: Back off!
Director Cliff: (sternly) Last I recall, you are here to discuss the partnership and cooperation between the USDO and TPD, Feig. I suggest that we not deviate from this agenda.
Police Chief Feig: Like I said, I want Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup on the case, not whatever else you're using.
Director Cliff: Why? Why the obsession with the Powerpuff Girls?
Police Chief Feig: Call it a tradition. A 'rusty copper's hunch. Call it… camaraderie if you will. We, as police officers in the TPD, prefer to work with people we trust. And we've come to trust the Powerpuff Girls. Isn't that what you want? Isn't that what you've been aiming for?
General Blackwater: Director sir, we are still… primed to use our current model of policing rather than the former. Switching back to using the Powerpuff Girls will hinder the strides we've made in improving our law enforcement protocols!
(Note: General Blackwater was avoiding any mention of B-50's existence and involvement in recent black ops missions.)
Director Cliff: Hmm… (He sounds like he was mulling over his decision)
Police Chief Feig: I represent the TPD, and I am losing trust in the USDO. Do you want the TPD to lose trust in the USDO?
Director Cliff: Very well. The Powerpuff Girls will return to duty-
Police Chief Feig: Excellent, my friend!
Director Cliff: -After a grace period to allow them to rest and recover from their most recent operation.
Police Chief Feig: That works for me. Eh- how long is this grace period?
Director Cliff: (counting) Make it two days. They will rest today and tomorrow. They will back the TPD up from Tuesday onwards.
Police Chief Feig: I can smell a good deal when I see one. I'll take it.
Director Cliff: That goes for the both of us. Is there anything else?
Police Chief Feig: Just a few things. You do know that I'm the man in charge when it comes to cleaning up the streets, right?
Director Cliff: Apparently.
Police Chief Feig: It's going to be over soon. I can feel it. I'm going to need more help if we are to push our way to the end. Can I get a guarantee on that?
General Blackwater: Are you telling us that you don't have enough police officers at your disposal? Did the mayor flush his police funding down the drain this quarter?
Police Chief Feig: Oh no, nothing like that, of course. As you know - with the situation this delicate - officers you can trust are… limited in number. You get what I mean?
Chief of Intelligence Rook: Yes, we do.
Director Cliff: You have my guarantee on that. Trust between the USDO and TPD is important. We are, after all, after the same thing, aren't we?
Police Chief Feig: Yes. Eh - one other thing. Can my task force get more of those Duranium guns you guys seem to have in abundance in your armory?
Director Cliff: No.
Police Chief Feig: Fine. I knew I was pushing my luck anyway. I guess I'm done here. I don't know about you folks, but I still have a weekend to enjoy…. whatever is left of it.
General Blackwater: Be on your way then.
(There was the sound of a chair being pushed back, footsteps and finally, doors being opened and closed)
Director Cliff: Will the Powerpuff Girls be ready for deployment in two days, Blackwater?
General Blackwater: They will actually be ready by tonight; most of their injuries are mostly healed by now.
Medical Director Simmons: Are you so sure about that? I believe I've seen photos and documentations sent in by Professor Utonium. I wouldn't send them out so quickly after they'd sustained THOSE injuries.
General Blackwater: I thought you know better than that, doc. Those injuries are superficial even if they're hard to look at. By Enhanced standards, they're little more than cuts and bruises. You're too backward in your thinking, Simmons.
Medical Director Simmons: Getting chopped up by swords and machetes hardly qualify as minor injuries, general. I've seen how you've treated Bunny. I know you care about her, and how you care about Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup-
General Blackwater: You're out of line, doctor. Are you suffering from dementia again? You are becoming unprofessional, doc. What I feel has nothing to do with my job and our mission objectives.
Psychiatrist Alice: Blackwater. You're forgetting the psychology of the Girls! Can you imagine putting children through all that? Getting shot at, chopped up with swords and sabers and machetes- facing adults and degenerates who wish them dead?
General Blackwater: They'll have to get used to it.
Psychiatrist Alice: (sound of a chair being pushed back) I don't think they can! Why can't you seem to understand!?
General Blackwater: You're underestimating them.
Psychiatrist Alice: No, I'm not! I've seen them! Just yesterday! If they were any other bunch of kids, they would've been put in a psych ward by now! You care nothing about your soldiers! And you treat those kids like- like- they're expendable. I bet Bunny could be killed the next day and you'd just go on drinking your coffee like it's just another day!
General Blackwater: You lab rat! (chair pushed back, table was slammed) How dare you!? You think you know everything about me-!
Director Cliff: I think the three of you have bickered enough! We will discuss USDO matters while we wait for Mayor Wilford to show up.
(10 minutes of status updates and organization responses to changes were discussed.)
(There was the sound of doors opened.)
Mayor Wilford: Oh my, this place hasn't changed much since the last time we're here!
Townsville Liaison Bellum: It's mostly because the USDO is more austere than aesthetic, sir.
Mayor Wilford: Oh, nevermind. It's good to see you, Mister Cliff. Er- That was your name, right?
Director Cliff: Yes, it is. Please, have a seat.
Mayor Wilford: I apologize, my memory's been slipping lately.
Director Cliff: Now what brings you here, Mister Mayor?
Mayor Wilford: Hmm, yes. It's about something I've been planning for a while. It's something this town surely needs while it is undergoing this… high fever of crime and urban warfare.
CFO Silverslick: That's a good one, sir.
Mayor Wilford: Hmm, yes, thank you. We have a celebration coming up and I've decided that the USDO should be involved in no small part.
Director Cliff: I've heard of it. Humor me, Mister Mayor, what is it about?
Mayor Wilford: Why, gladly, Mister Director! Your Powerpuff Girls have been doing a lot for Townsville lately and giving them their victory parade is the least we can do. It's, of course, technically your victory parade too, of course - since the USDO are the ones who brought them here.
Director Cliff: You do realize that we'll be painting targets on those kids' backs, right? Anyone involved in this 'celebration' of yours will be vulnerable.
Mayor Wilford: Well, that is why I've brought half the TPD into this. I've even alerted the Townsville National Guards to be on standby for the event. It's why I've come, in person, to bring you into this. It would be nice to actually have the actual Powerpuff Girls at the head of the victory parade, rather than just balloon imitations…
Director Cliff: I'll tell you exactly how I see it. I think it's only a courtesy to be shared between leaders. I think it's a horrible idea, and I think it's premature, considering that we're still in the middle of the war.
Police Commissioner Davis: My top police chiefs are predicting an end to all this mess within months, if even that. They're losing and badly, director. Thanks to Police Chief Feig - I think you've seen him just now - we've been able to cut the head off the snake - no, the heads off the snakes - in record time. Thanks to your Powerpuff Girls, too, of course.
Director Cliff: Even then, it would be a security nightmare and a disaster waiting to happen.
Police Commissioner Davis: I'm putting three thousand officers on the Powerpuff victory parade. Yes, not a hundred, not a thousand - I'm putting three thousand officers to guard the entire route of the parade. I'm throwing in the cream of the crop - all the top dogs for this. I will have SWAT teams, snipers and even the STARS teams on the ground, with helicopters in the air. Even a foreign army would think twice before attacking the parade.
Director Cliff: Still, what will all this achieve? It feels like a luxury I would rather not have. We're in a bad neighborhood - no offense, Mayor Wilford - and you don't walk around with golden necklaces and rings and designer bags and sneakers in the middle of gang territory.
Mayor Wilford: On the contrary, the urm… Urm… Oh, fie! I'm sorry, I've lost my train of thought there…
Townsville Liaison Bellum: Director Cliff, sir-
Director Cliff: It's good to see you again, Miss Bellum.
Townsville Liaison Bellum: Yes, it is, sir. I think Mayor Wilford was going to say that the Powerpuff victory parade is pivotal. It'll bring hope to everyone. It'll tell every criminal in the city that it's no longer in their grip. The Girls will appreciate it. This parade is the Mayor's baby, and his way to say thanks to Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup - and the USDO, which he really wanted to do.
Mayor Wilford: Eh- er- Yeah, that's all of it. I think. I know I might sound like a foolish old man, but when you've gotten to a certain age, you'd want to say everything you ever want to say…
Director Cliff: What do you think, General Blackwater?
General Blackwater: Morale and public opinion is an important factor to winning a war. I don't plan on this being a second Vietnam War. We could guard the victory parade with our soldiers and make it far safer than it already is.
Mayor Wilford: Oh, the USDO gets to be at the head of the parade too, by the way. Why not put your tanks and stuff up front?
General Blackwater: You know we have tanks?
Mayor Wilford: I assumed you have tanks.
General Blackwater: Of course we do. The Powerpuff Girls will be vulnerable. We will deploy our tanks, APCs, humvees and a marching contingent ahead of them.
Mayor Wilford: That just made the parade even better. It's a little heavy-handed, but I'm sure the crowd will appreciate it as a sign of the changing times.
Director Cliff: Mister Mayor, are you alright?
Mayor Wilford: Well…
Townsville Liaisons Bellum: He's not.
Mayor Wilford: I'm afraid so.
Townsville Liaisons Bellum: Early-stage dementia. It's been two months now.
Director Cliff: That's regrettable.
Mayor Wilford: I've been talking to Miss Bellum here - she's been telling me about your medical technology. I have a favor to ask…
Director Cliff: And I know what it is. Doctor?
Medical Director Simmons: Most of our advanced medicine are prophylactic, mayor. They were meant to prevent, rather than cure.
Mayor Wilford: Oh…
Medical Director Simmons: However, we've applied what we have to aging personnel before, back when our anti-aging medications were novel. Many of them showed improvements in mental and physical performance and were able to serve this country for far longer than nature would have allowed. I know, because I'm one of them.
Mayor Wilford: Well then, what are we waiting for?
Medical Director Simmons: I don't want to get your hopes up, Mister Mayor. I said 'many', not 'all'. There are many factors at play. You're too close to being a centenarian, and that's a huge factor. It's basically a coin toss. Even then, we don't know if your early-stage dementia will be completely reversed, partly or not at all. We MIGHT only arrest its development, but there's a good chance you'll be stuck in the early stage.
Mayor Wilford: When I approached the very hospital I built and gave my name to, they couldn't even give me a sliver of hope of coming back from this. They told me to retire, get my business in order and enjoy the rest of my days while I still can.
Director Cliff: Why not?
Mayor Wilford: Townsville needs me, now more than ever. I've seen the other candidates who're eyeing next year's elections. They're either incompetent or in the pocket of the mafia. This term and the next… That's all I'm asking for. It's all I need. If Townsville's ever going to see the sun again, we'll- urm-
Townsville Liaisons Bellum: We've discussed at length about this at his office. He's saying that it will take this term and the next to weed out enough crime and corruption for the next mayoral candidate to be clean. At least, that's the projection.
Mayor Wilford: I know it sounds egotistical, but it's all I have left. I knew all about winning in my earlier days. The last two decades had just been one shameful failure after another. I want to see it end, and I want it to pay off before my very own eyes.
Director Cliff: You and me both. We have the diagnosis and the prognosis, doctor. Will you begin treatment?
Medical Director Simmons: Immediately. Gotta save as many of his brain cells as possible!
(5 minutes of an ongoing discussion on USDO matters. There was then the opening and closing of doors after that.)
Director Cliff: Agent Mudler of the FBI and Agent Booker of the CIA, I presume?
Agent Booker: That's our name, yes. But that's the least of your worries, for now.
Director Cliff: Have a seat. What does the FBI and the CIA want with our fledgling agency?
Agent Mudler: Fledgling? I don't think so. But I'm sure we're not here for a history lesson, are we?
Director Cliff: I assume you've done your homework, then.
Agent Mudler: Always have. The USDO left quite a mess near Citysville's bridge. Grey humvee with a dead engine and six dead bodies, five in uniform. Sounds familiar? I have photos if you want.
Director Cliff: That's a God damn tragedy if there ever was one. They were good men. One of them ran the agency's logistics arm. He was irreplaceable.
Agent Mudler: Any reason why they were out there? So far away from Townsville?
Director Cliff: They were prosecuting a mission.
Agent Mudler: With an unarmed civilian on board?
Director Cliff: There were supply problems with our outpost in Citysville. Serious supply problems. You know how it is with counter-terrorist operations.
Agent Mudler: Any idea who attacked them?
Director Cliff: The Foundation did it, based on our own analysis of the crime scene.
Agent Mudler: The crime scene. It's odd, isn't it? That it took your agency twice as long as us to get there.
Director Cliff: Boy, no matter how you look at it, we're a fledgling agency, at least when it comes to 'open' operations like this. We're used to covert ops and intelligence gathering, not unlike your CIA buddy over there.
Agent Mudler: Right. The Foundation has access to military-grade explosives and armor-piercing rounds?
Director Cliff: Sometimes, yes. They may look like a ragtag bunch of 'freedom fighters', but they do pull surprises like that on occasion.
Agent Mudler: Like with their meta-humans? That's a believable story.
Director Cliff: It's a fact, and you better believe it.
Agent Booker: But we're not here to listen to it.
Director Cliff: Then why are you here?
Agent Booker: The FBI and CIA have been jointly investigating some - pardon my french - fucked up shit in Citysville, and we were handling your humvee mishap at the bridge jointly too. We would like to return to Townsville, but this time, in a joint operation with the USDO. How 'bout it?
Director Cliff: That's all well and good, but what use are the FBI and CIA? We've got intelligence and law enforcement covered.
Agent Mudler: We've been operating longer, and we have the manpower, something I understand you're still trying to build. We can help each other.
Agent Booker: Three agencies are better than one.
Director Cliff: Perhaps I did not explain myself clearly. What use are the FBI and CIA? If I remember my history correctly, the FBI was driven out of Townsville years ago, am I right? And I think the same goes for the CIA? The USDO has lasted longer, and we will continue to last.
Agent Mudler: The USDO hasn't lasted longer by much. We know why we failed. We can help you avoid the same pitfalls.
Agent Booker: The CIA, at least, has put a few men in Townsville as advance agents. We know that the forces at work here are moving against you, big time. If you think you've had it rough, they have more in store.
Agent Mudler: The FBI has put a few agents in Townsville too. I can concur with Agent Booker here. The fact that we have put our agents here in Townsville right under your nose should be a cause for worry-
Chief of Intelligence Rook: You're assuming that we don't know, of course. Agent Scullie was heading the FBI's advance team in Old Town, am I right?
Agent Mudler: Yes. You are.
Chief of Intelligence Rook: And Agent Mitchell is heading the CIA's advance team in the Tenement Area, I take it.
Agent Booker: How did you-
Chief of Intelligence Rook: Oh, I can't take all the credit. My predecessor's been monitoring the activities of rival agencies since this whole thing started. He's a great teacher, and I merely graduated.
Director Cliff: I would be more worried about my own advance party if I were you. Sit back down, Rook. I think we've shown our fangs long enough. The FBI and CIA are welcome to attend to their unfinished business, on one condition.
Agent Mudler: What condition?
Director Cliff: You will fall in line, and follow our lead.
Agent Booker: It's all we want; the same thing you've been providing the TPD. Inter-agency cooperation.
Director Cliff: I wouldn't call it cooperation. We're taking charge, and we're doing things our way because as far as I can see, we're making progress.
Agent Booker: Fair enough.
Agent Mudler: So when you ask us to jump, we ask you how high…
Director Cliff: You don't have to like it. This is not about pride here. We're about to solve a decades-long problem, save the lives of countless thousands and make the lives of millions better. I don't need more problems that could fuck it up, especially from other government agencies that should've known better. We're getting enough of those from the TPD.
(10 minutes passed. Another group enters as indicated by the sound of doors opening and closing. There were more footsteps.)
General Blackwater: Lieutenant Mullens. Finally, someone from the TPD I actually want to see.
Lieutenant Mullens: I'm not big on ceremonies. I'd rather walk the walk, but I don't mind the occasional chat.
General Blackwater: Lieutenant Wednesday. Sergeant Mullens and… Patroldog Stanley Talker.
Sergeant Mullens: You can call me Olivia.
Animal Subject C143: Ri'm surprised you row ry name. Don't think that ri've forgiven you.
General Blackwater: Right. Detective Mullens - is there a reason why that talking dog is here?
Lieutenant Mullens: He's a valued member of the task force. He's earned his place from the way he sniffs out the evidence and digs them up. The rest of my task force is busy. That talking dog is filling in for them.
Director Cliff: Shall we?
Lieutenant Mullens: I'm here for one thing and one thing only. The Powerpuff Girls.
Director Cliff: Your best buds from Precinct 77 just came by. We've already agreed to bring the Powerpuff Girls back into active service within two days. Now, if there's nothing else-
Lieutenant Mullens: It's not strictly about that. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are running with the wrong crowd. Feig is a bad influence.
Director Cliff: Police Chief Feig has been using them to topple one major gang after the next.
Lieutenant Mullens: It's an open secret within the TPD that he's got connections with the criminal underworld.
Director Cliff: Don't all of you police officers? You mean informants, right?
Lieutenant Mullens: No. I meant that he's dirty.
Director Cliff: Proof?
Sergeant Mullens: Here. (Sound of chair moving. Pictures sliding on a conference table)
Lieutenant Mullens: We still don't have an ID on who that person he's meeting, but-
Director Cliff: So you have no proof? If it's such an 'open secret', why hasn't anyone done anything about this guy? Why didn't Commissioner Davis do anything about him?
Lieutenant Mullens: He's a weasel, that's why. Keeps his meetings and correspondences tight. He made damn sure to look like a big damn hero by solving all the big cases unaffiliated with certain gangs.
General Blackwater: No offense, lieutenant, but how do I know if this is all just some rivalry between the two of you? I've seen how it's like in the city. It's a jungle. Survival of the fittest. How do I know if it's not just you trying to one-up an otherwise clean cop? Just so you know, lieutenant. I don't like politics. I think they're a waste of time that only children indulge in. Explain yourself.
Lieutenant Mullens: As I was saying, he's been steering clear of most cases involving certain gangs. I've gone through his history. Most of his cold cases involved the Lombardi family. But he's a weasel, and he had made arrests on Lombardi associates and made-men - but those were nobodies, likely fall guys to make him look good. That means he's been making arrangements with the Amoeba Boys. It all makes sense. What better inside man than the man on top? A police chief, for instance?
Director Cliff: Still, it is just a theory, right? You said you have no evidence to support this.
Lieutenant Mullens: Which is why I need the USDO's help. My hands are tied in the TPD. It's a forest of red tape in there, and I'm being blocked by my supposed superiors at every turn.
Director Cliff: And how do you think we can help you with this possible betrayal?
Lieutenant Mullens: Take the Powerpuff Girls off Feig's hands. We don't know what he's planning. My investigations are going nowhere without them - the Amoeba Boys know that I'm onto them, and they've been beefing up their fronts such that I'll have to risk too much to even put my foot in.
Director Cliff: Rook, what do you think?
Chief of Intelligence Rook: If we take the Powerpuff Girls off Feig's hands and put them together with you, it'll be far too obvious a move and raise suspicions. There is, however, an… alternative.
Lieutenant Mullens: What alternative?
Animal Subject C143: Ri don't rike the sound of that…
Chief of Intelligence Rook: You don't have to hear it if you don't want to. I'll get my intelligence officers and agents to find evidence of Feig's involvement with the Lombardi family. Give us a few days and we'll have something.
Lieutenant Mullens: And what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Are we supposed to just sit on our hands?
Director Cliff: I'm sure you'll find some other avenue of investigation to get at the Amoeba Boys. Leave this one to the USDO.
Lieutenant Wednesday: I have a few ideas in mind. The Lombardi have their claws in everything, including anything that would be considered vices.
(After about 9 more minutes of discussions, there is the sound of footsteps, and doors opening and closing.)
-TRANSCRIPT END-
