Chapter Eight- Authorized Authority

Nick's point of view

24 hours later

All the officers in the police department stood in front of a large monitor that was blank, then the chief appeared in front of it "officers, let me first make something clear, the fact that I am back on duty does not matter right now" "what does is that thanks to your intel on potential suspects and on the recent terror attack, my team has managed to track down one valuable suspect" the screen turned on and went to a picture of a Texas Longhorn "Damian Hornby, our intel suggests that information on this group could be here" the screen went from the picture to satellite images of what looked like a compound in Savannah Central "to a suspected safehouse in downtown Savannah Central" Bogo finished.

Three white arrows saying "Alpha/Bravo 0-6, Echo 3 and Alpha 4-3" appeared on a layout of the building "three SAS teams will go in and connect the dots, as well as SWAT forces, we need the rest of you to continue working on finding leads, SWAT teams be advised, there may be noncombatants on target, check your shots" the chief stood in front of Manson "now . . . any questions?" We watched almost everyone raise their hands.

As the two of them started answering questions, everybody cleared a path for a gazelle walking into the crowd and showing a badge, eventually walking up to the stage and grabbing the microphone "this operation is now compartmentalized" the chief got angry "what the hell does that mean?!" "It means you no longer have clearance Chief, Frederick, with me now" this is our move Carrots, I whispered as the two of us followed them into the chief's office.

"This isn't your call Laswell" "and it's not yours either, I already told you that command doesn't want this turning into an international incident" the female voice said as we listened in on the conversation and slowly opened the door. "Listen Laswell, we NEED SAS on this assignment" the gazelle shook her head "that's not advisable captain" Manson pressed his fingers on his head then looked at the two of us "Hopps, Wilde, explain the situation" we . . . "I know the situation on this captain, leave it to the CIA, not to yourself" are you really turning down a guy like this? C'mon lady, if your part of the CIA then you should know better, I said joining the conversation.

"I'm sorry but this is classified" I looked back at Judy who slammed the door and locked it. Now it is, why don't I introduce some logic here? Look, we know where information on this guy is, so why aren't we going to get it? "We can't take the risk, we know little to nothing on this cell" okay but if there is then we'll at least have something to go off of, make sense? The room went quiet until the gazelle walked up to the chief and Manson "you really want to do this?" "I think you know the answer to that Laswell" she looked at the chief and then at us. "Fine . . . You now have Authorized Authority on this" she looked at Manson with narrowed eyes "just don't turn Zootropolis into a war zone captain" he chuckled "I don't guarantee it but we'll try. I want SAS on this though" she shook her head "well . . . Since you've now turned this into a military operation, I don't doubt they wouldn't be willing to get involved" a joint operation with the ZPD, right? She looked at us "most likely, Chief . . . Don't get yourself killed again" he nodded "fool me once" "we'll keep you all in the loop on what we find, who are they?" she asked looking at us "Officers Nicholas P. Wilde and Judy Hopps, two of my best officers" she seemed to be taken aback by our names "good work taking down Bellwether" well it's just one big baddie after another for us, I said as she walked over to the door "I'll notify command on this and I want CIA to have eyes on this operation too" Manson nodded "copy" and then she left.

Who the hell was that? He took out another cigar and lighter "Lindsay Laswell, she works with the CIA" "you really called the CIA on this Manson?" Bogo asked angrily "well she's right, we can't cross anymore international lines here" "why?" Judy asked joining the conversation "because we don't know if any country is supporting these terrorists and if there is, having KIA will mean bad news" . . . That's probably putting it lightly, the chief nodded "what about those SAS teams?" Manson stuck the cigar in his mouth "I'll have them here in a few days, have your men ready Adrian" he said before walking out of the room, I was gonna follow him but the chief stopped us "Wilde, Hopps, I want you in on this operation" surveillance? He shook his head "no . . . You're with the SAS on this one" "but chief . . ." Judy was cut off "no questions, now go" 10-4 chief.