October 16th, 1920
Lucia wakes up at around eight in the morning from the sound of cars rolling into the yard behind the police station. Before she did anything she quickly changed out of a makeshift set of pajamas of an oversized shirt and custom-made shorts. She then quickly put on a new pair of panties and a custom sports bra. Before finally putting on a somewhat tight pair of pants and a suit shirt and jacket. She then went to a local bathroom to do the rest of her morning routine.
After she finished getting ready, she went downstairs, where you bumped into Thomas,” Hey good morning, the police set out a tent to serve food in the parking lot, if you are hungry.” Lucia nods, “Hey, good morning as well.” Lucia greets Thomas as she walks past him. Heading to the food tent that Thomas mentioned. Which she was quickly able to see once she left the building.
She sees the somewhat large cloth tent, though it may be more accurate to call it a canopy that covers a significant area. Underneath it are sets of wooden tables and benches that have been acquired from somewhere. Towards the back of the tent are several, metal serving tables that are in front of a small makeshift kitchen that has literally sprung up overnight. The makeshift canteen is already somewhat busy with police officers from various departments enjoying a somewhat early breakfast.
Lucia walks down one of the paths between two sets of tables to, where the food is being served. Seeing that it is a rather average breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, and whatever the police could find at a moment's notice. Leaving the choices rather bare. Though Lucia can hardly fault them as shed doubts that anyone would have thought something like this would be required 24 hours ago. What's more, she can already see some cops preparing for the arrival of the national guard who is set to start arriving less than four hours from now. Even so, Lucia grabs her food and takes her time eating as she has nothing to do until she has to start organizing with the National Guard when they arrive. Though beyond that she is unaware of her exact role in this situation. Since she doubts that she will be part of the group storming the estate. Though she will probably be put with a headquarters unit to help lead.
After Lucia is finished eating, one of the cops manning the serving table approaches Lucia, “Chief Fox asked for me to tell you that he is expecting you in his office once you are done eating.” He says while taking Lucia's dirty dishes as she thanks him for both the message and for taking the dishes off her hands. Since she truthfully was unsure of what she should do with them.
Though as she makes her way to Chief Fox’s office. She can’t help but wonder what her personal and group relationship with the government will be as her company gains more attention? Along with new and continued partnerships with local police departments. Such as the one she has with New Bristel. As cases such as this one will no undoubtedly require friendly relations with the police. For them to operate effectively. Though how will their relationships work with the Federal government and outside of New England where the Belladras name holds sway with local and state governments? As of now, she can only hope for the best in the future. Though she also has to wonder how the government will respond to the increased encounters with cults and strange creatures. That may target the population, innocent or not.
Though those thoughts have to be put on hold as she finally reaches Chief Fox’s office which she opens without knocking. The interior looked turned into more of a briefing room than an office. This makes Lucia wonder why a different room wasn’t chosen instead. Though after a brief thought she shrugs it off as inconsequential and makes her way into the room. Inside there are a group of senior police officers that are going over what appear to be blueprints of the Brewer estate. She recognizes several faces, including William, Robert, and Chief Fox himself. Who looks up from the blueprints to greet her. “Come over here, we want your input on the map. As well as the reports from last night. Start with the latter.” He says while pointing at an open spot near the table. Lucia does so before answering the questions asked.
“First, I should preface that we should take any blueprints we can find with a grain of salt. If they are stockpiling weapons on the scale the evidence shows. Then it isn’t hard to believe that they have done additional construction on the estate. Especially underground. As these types of groups seem to be attracted to building underground. Since the case also contained an example of a well-defended basement. I sadly think that this will be no different. Though I do think that the general location of the buildings will be accurate. ” The police nod in agreement. As she says that she looks at the map of the estate and notices that it looks more like a compound than a mansion with an estate. With large portions of the ground filled with buildings. Though their intended uses are unclear.
Though one of the police officers inquires, “What do you mean by sadly.”
To which Lucia responds, “ I mean that with the additional manpower, it will be hard to guess how large the underground structure may or may not be. If it is large, then it will most likely have to be cleared since it offers a highly defensible place where the cult can retreat to. Since it was planned to be defensible. This means that the entrances can be turned into kill zones by the cults making entering extremely difficult. As well as giving them an even larger home turf advantage. As they could have a purpose-built structure designed to force us into extremely tight spaces. That is prone to ambushes and kill zones. I could go on, but I think you see my point.” At this, the officers hesitantly nod their heads. While silently hoping that there isn’t an underground layer.
Then after that Lucia went to address the second half of the question. “As for the second question that you asked, about the creature spotted last night. From what I have heard, it seems to be a larger version of the creature that was fought in the raid yesterday.” With that answer, Lucia heard several murmurs, of “that's what I thought,” or something similar.
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That description was true, though Lucia decided that it would bring up to many questions if she revealed too much about it to the police. Since they may end up questioning where she learned about the creatures. Which is from her previous life, something she would hope to avoid.
Thankfully they don’t seem to press her on it and continue making plans to storm the estate. Though they do take her advice, a messenger is sent to give a message to the police watching the Brewer Estate. To try and map out the estate, to then compare it to the already existing structures.
Then over the next half hour, the police set up plans for the police side of the operation. Which entailed perimeter security and helping to deal with the wounded and captured. While the national guard consists of the strike force. So planning for that will have to wait until they arrive. Though from Lucia’s perspective, the planning that the police do seem to be doing seems to be effective.
Though as they are discussing, the officer is sent to receive a report from the cops watching the mansion.
“What's the report?” Chief Fox asks. Though Lucia then notices that the cop is somewhat shaken.
“Sir, before I start, I should point out that reinforcements are needed since our positions are being engaged by forces inside the compound. One officer is dead and another two are injured.” The officer reports shakily, causing the room to fall silent.
Lucia takes the initiative to respond. “We should provide reinforcements, though we should have the scouts and reinforcements pull back to a light surrounding of the estate. We could also have them bring the weapons we captured yesterday”
Police Chief Fox nods and implants it, sending another officer to implement the suggestion of both sending reinforcements and arming them with captured weapons.
The shaken officer then continues with his report. “Moving on to the scouting report, the people inside have started erecting barricades and defensive positions. We have spotted at least three if not more machine gun positions. Lastly, the building by the gate seems to have been turned into a strong point with seemingly being filled with defenders. Also, most of the people we have spotted are heavily armed with bolt action rifles, though some have carbines or shotguns. We haven’t managed to determine the number of people, but the area seems to be swarming with them.”
Chief Fox nods, “Ok, thank you, go get something to eat.” He says kindly and the officer smiles appreciatively and walks out the room a bit less shaken. Though the same can’t be said for the people who have just heard confirmation of the armed status of the group.
Lucia wonders if 300 national guardsmen and a hodgepodge of around 100 police officers who will most likely not take place in the actual raid will be enough to take the estate. Lucia also doesn't wish to imagine the number of causalities will happen before the Brewers are stopped.
Though afterward another round of planning goes on, broken up by several breaks and early lunch for Lucia.
Though at around noon a police officer enters the room, “Chief, first units of the national guard are arriving and among them seems to be their commanding officer.” He says, before leaving the room.
Chief Fox then starts to head out, motioning for Lucia and Robert to follow him, and they both promptly did so. As they walked to the parking lot area, Lucia could faintly hear the sound of trucks. Which gradually rose as they got closer to the door.
Once they did so, the door was opened up to the scene of trucks streaming in and parking in the police yard but also an empty field nearby. With national guardsmen filling out of them, setting up tents.
Though nearby she also saw a car painted army green. That had the driver, who appeared to be a segregant open the door for a captain and a Major, and a Captain. The Major takes the initiative to start the round of greeting, introducing himself as Albert Mclemore and the officer next to him as Captain Mark Hammer. Fox then introduced Lucia and Robert before bringing the two national guard officers to the war room of sorts.
There Fox briefed Albert and Mark about the current situation. At the end of it, both were thoroughly troubled. “This does seem like a major problem that seems to be solved as soon as possible. Do you think we have enough manpower?” To which Albert received a round of shrugs, as no one, not even Lucia, knew how many people they would need to take the compound. So the next half hour was debated on what plan they should proceed with.
The result being, that they would activate an additional national guards unit and have them come in as reinforcements. In the meantime, an assault would be attempted today, once the rest of the already allocated guardsmen arrive. Though the Abandoned would mill is allocated to be cleared before that with a force of police and national guardsmen. That would be led by Captain Mark and Lucia.
The total force would be around 20 cops and 30 National guardsmen. Even though it was reported to have been abandoned by the cultists, it was agreed that they should act as if it wasn’t abandoned and fully clear it out. With enough men to fight a pitched battle.
So Lucia moved to gear up before heading to the staging area where she saw the police and guardsmen assembling.
Once she arrived she helped organize the unit and then waited for Captain Hammer to arrive. While she did that, she hoped for a quick clearing. As the day was already slated to be chaotic and she hoped that this mission would be a chance to clear her head. Though deep inside she knew that it probably would not happen.