Chapter 22: Intelligence Squad 13

Structure of the New California State Police Hierarchy in comparison to Old-World Police Force, a paper written by DataDelving Journalist Kashim Mirja.

While originally just a police force when New California was established by Mazhyr in the late 22nd Century, the New California civil war in the 2440s following the Fourth Swarm sent the leadership structure fracturing in three directions. The corporate faction sought to join the Five Corporate Nations as a SynTec affiliate, the Free-California faction delegated for even less integration of the corporations into the city and finally, the Iron-Sword faction sought to establish themselves as new power within the city. Mostly consisting of immigrants from The Floridian Gulf and existing Police members.

In a brutal war lasting six years which only ended due to the Yellowstone Earthquake, the city was torn apart until a treaty was signed delegating peace across all three factions. The Free-California and Iron-sword factions had turned to each other to combat the resources of the corporations. Although the exact details of the treaty cannot be surmised, it is known that power over the city was split between the three factions. The Free-California set up an electoral system and frame of law in which existing corporations could work, while the Iron-Sword were orchestrated to take control over the city’s security.

This was the formation of the modern Military Police State, in which the Police Director contains equal power to the decade-elected Mayor of the city. Currently, the police appear to hold a combination of ranks from both military and old-world crime-fighting organizations such as the CIA, FBI and standard USA police.

Integration of Implants into the police ranks differentiates Officers from Investigators, with 28% of the police being Officers and the rest being Investigators or higher ranks.

While both Officers and Investigators are split into three ranks, the latter has a unique exception in the Associate Special and Special Investigator. Considered an exception since it’s delegated specifically to Investigators who opt out of the option of applying to further leadership positions — through becoming a Corporal — and instead prefer a higher control of on-ground operations. S.I themselves are not equally graded among themselves, being differentiated through four sets of rankings. Department, Precinct, District and State. Depending on the ranking of the S.I, they may hold an officialized authority of a rank higher than Corporal. For example, an S.I Ranking in the State’s top 10 are known to apply the same authority as a Captain, while the top 3 each hold their own to Majors.

The rankings and their responsibility are listed as follows:

Corporal (In charge of 1-3 squads); Sergeant (In charge of around 3-6 Cpls.); Staff Sergeant (In charge of a department); Lieutenant (Oversees a Precinct); Captain (Oversees 2-4 Precincts); Major (Oversees a District); while the ranks of Colonel, Major General, General and Director all hold ranks overseeing the general military affairs of New California as a whole.

2:47 PM June 9th

Diana

The proceedings ended with a funeral ceremony in which Jacob Grazhe was posthumously double-promoted to the ranking of Major. I felt bitter at that, especially with how shit things were going following his death… a man of his importance should have held the ranking well into his life — or perhaps this City was right for withholding it from him. I couldn’t claim to have known the man personally enough to feel true anger… as his family could.

Anabelle and Anthony Grazhe, his daughter and her nephew, were stone cold and pale throughout the ceremony. I was thankful that Anthony had sobered up, or maybe he was just drunk with grief with the shaking I could see through him. By the end of it, we were all told to resume with our normal police duties.

Which for me, meant formally meeting the members of my squad at the Intelligence department — located on floors 31-45 of the First Precinct tower. Floor 38 was higher than I’d ever been allowed but my updated Sigil easily passed through the elevator’s identification and took me there.

I navigated the cubicles and artfully arranged well-being centers ranging from scenic gardens to meditation and fitness spaces, past a few restaurants and stores of every kind until I received a warm welcome to the section of squad 13. Which was ranked 13 out of the 48 squads, so thankfully it wasn’t the stony and bland offices of the lower ones primarily dedicated to crunching DataShields away.

There was some life to this place in the form of walls painted with Old-world depictions of a more peaceful time and decorative trees and appliances over the space, a contrast to the dreary warnings and protocols and commemoration of the former Lieutenant.

If I had to hear the words ‘commemorate the dear life…’ one more time…

“You’re here, Investigator Jones.” It was Rorsche who spotted me, the shorter man measured just about my height but sported enough muscle to toss a human around… and he was one of two First Investigators here. “It’s a pleasure to have you with us. Indra told me you’re more interested in the on-field jobs here, so we’ll be sorting you with them for the time being, later on in the day you can meet the investigation and analyst teams. Busy day, so we’re going to have you put to work immediately.”

“That works for me.” I said with my best pleasant smile, not too bright so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea but kind enough that I wouldn’t give off that ‘bitchy’ vibe Yvette said I always carried. I just… wasn’t too much for pushing myself to socialize.

He carried on with no particular notice. “In case you’re wondering, I primarily keep control over the field operations and some input into investigation.”

“An on-field Datadelver? That’s unusual.” I questioned.

He shook his head, long brown hair swaying over his glasses. “Oh no, I manage operations from the safety of my office, but I have my ways of being present on-field. And as far as I’ve heard, you already have some experience. Corporal Shetty gave you that job with the Snake Fangs correct? Guess it must have come pretty quick if they couldn’t get anyone from Intelligence to do it.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I rolled my eyes. “Please, he told me upfront that he just sorted all available staff into an algorithm of who was most likely to get in the good graces of the club’s management. When it used the parameters: non-visible Shadware, gene-modded women in their early 20s… I uh, yeah, I came up first.”

He chuckled, before completing with a warm smile. “It also put in attractiveness, which you can guess where you were ranked at.”

I stiffened, a warmth shedding from my ears as I took a cool breath to calm myself… I’ve dealt with my fair share of flirts. Rorsche was an attractive guy, very much so, but… he my commanding officer and I knew how this game of office politics was played.

“Thank you.” I replied swiftly.

“You must hear it all the time. Never seen an officer with silver hair before, it’s a good look.” He continued, to which I tried to brush aside.

I let a lie slip through my tongue. “Ah, actually, I just dye i-”

A tough and raw voice yelled from behind us. “First Investigator Rorshe! Third Investigator Jones! If you’re done philandering then meet in the hall now!”

I spun on my heel, tilting my head down to salute Special Investigator Risa Wicket. She was about a foot shorter than me so I dipped my head slightly. To which I only got yelled at for.

“Keep your head high when you salute, Jones! It’s only more disrespectful to look down on your commanding officer!”

Shit, she was right about that. “Yes ma’am! I apologize!”

“Tch…” She clicked her tongue with an amused grin. “I think you won’t be half bad, get her used to how I run things Rorsche! I want her to be able to navigate this place with her eyes closed by the day’s end!”

He sighed, giving her a tired salute. “Yes madam!”

“Don’t say it like that, you make me sound old!” She snapped. “Take a lesson from Jones or else it’ll be her getting to Special Investigator before you!”

I jerked a little at hearing that, but it wasn’t surprising since everyone had dreams of getting somewhere beyond First Rank. The S.I route was a risk, perpetual stability was one of the perks of the general hierarchy, but as an S.I any inactivity or failure to produce results could send you plummeting down the rankings and losing out.

Which is exactly why I was going for it, it was the only way I could climb as quickly as my Gold had the capacity for. The bureaucratic sequence of promotion required too much politicking for my comfort, I was best when I was on the field and in motion.

So, head still held high, I proclaimed with every ounce of belief. “I have every intention of doing that to you, First Investigator Rorsche.”

The S.I didn’t laugh, which is what I was hoping for, but she did share an amused look with Rorsche. “Be careful, Rorsche. You’ve got a dangerous one here, I’ll be leaving her in your care.”

Risa Wickett carried herself powerfully, I could feel the self-respect radiating off her with how she walked, and as she did just that away from us, I felt relieved that I got into a squad I could see myself spending a year or more in.

“She’s a personality.” Rorsche commented, an easy smile on his face. “As long as you show etiquette and bring in good results, she’ll like you. Which is what you’ll want if you do intend on getting there before me. That’s a dangerous thing to say, by the way, never know if I’ll do everything in my power to slow you down.”

Rorshce walked me through the hallway, casting me a sarcastically threatening look as I passed through a doorway he opened for me.

“Try it.” I cast an equal glance back at him, returning the serve, as they said in tennis. I think. It’d been years since I played, but they had a court somewhere in this building.

It wasn’t long before I met up with the rest of the squad. Everyone was present except for Anthony Grazhe who was given a few days off to grieve with family, something I was internally grateful for. His aunt, the new Lieutenant of my Precinct, wasn’t offered the same grace.

The day went by pretty peacefully, wandering the hallways and getting my own office was a highlight. Occupying a fourth of the 38th floor, the squad had considerable real estate and every Investigator had an office overlooking the cityscape. I was never bored of that sight, from high up here, it would be easy to get lost with how far you could look both down and up and never quite see everything this City had to offer. Great Lake Lanes, or its more colloquial term of The Pleasure Lanes, had a few good memories attached to it.

Then it came to case briefings, in which I didn’t have much of a choice as most of everything was already smooth and running, nothing new had come up yet… for a rookie to the team, anyhow. I questioned internally as to whether I should bring up The Toxin Club case, but it wasn’t yet time.

Rorsche scanned a file, relaying to me what I needed to know. “So then, Diana, we’re assigning you to the case of Johnathon Kubrick’s murder alongside Choirmen. A simple case of an inheritance gone wrong, his brother hired a merc known as Tonguelasher to kill him… You can imagine how they found the body. Everything traces to him being Sharded out, expected Iron which means probably a high Tier I. Other than that, a warrant’s been put out for his brother’s arrest so we should expect a ping on him soon that I’ll have a few Officers head for — we’ve put a BOLA out on his car so results should come soon. As for the merc, previous investigation from Harmony has identified several vehicles of Tonguelasher’s as being sourced by an Autorepair shop at Eastside by the Carlton Hills, an area influenced by a small-time crime-family known as the Jaegers. Warrant’s ready, so you’re free to enter. Have any further questions?”

I did. “Mentioned a crime family… Jaegers. Anything I should know about them?”

“Third-generation immigrants from SynTec soldiers brought in during the Fourth Swarm, they brought over weapons from South America’s Free City and have a pretty firm grasp on Standard Grade arms dealing. We don’t know if Tonguelasher is in their pocket, or just an associate, so tread carefully.”

That was when a man rushed in, still in civilian-clothes. Anthony Grazhe, and I immediately clenched my fist as he stumbled into the meeting with pursed lips as though he was trying to pretend like this was normal. When he wasn’t drunk at 9 AM he was surprisingly well-dressed and articulated in his appearance, his gray hair and eyes were about as gene-edited as mine.

Rorsche smacked his tongue at the intrusion, his voice gentle yet firm. “Investigator Grazhe, you’ll be assisting Jones and Choirmen. Get ready and depart in 10 minutes, two cars. Everyone else already has their cases, so get your asses to it!”

We were running now? I hadn’t even gotten a new gun yet?! Rorsche noted my confusion and raised a hand as the rest of my squad scattered to their duties. “Right, I nearly forgot Diana, you put in a request for a new gun a week ago? Don’t worry, I’ve got it transferred right here.” He reached for the side behind a drawer, pulling out a small case no larger than my hand.

“Oh. Thank you.” I took the case, unlatching it to view the gun… or more precisely the new Braceshocker I’d been given. A sparkling steel bracelet that could at an instant could form into a snub-nosed pistol to shoot pellets of electricity. Within the box was clearly a labelling of Iron and a few cartridges the size of my fingers each holding… a lot of energy.

I commented, puzzled at the Iron Grade of the weapon. “I only put in a request for Standard, though.”

“I know, but the S.I holds the view that we shouldn’t skimp out on outfitting our agents. Life’s dangerous in the brooks, Jones… Now be on your way, read up on the case while you can.”

Slipping away as I clamped the weapon on my arm and slapped the remaining magnetized ammo clips onto my belt, I saluted a farewell as I hurried into the operations elevator that allowed direct access to the Intelligence Squad 13 Motor vehicles.

It was time for my first operation as an Investigator, and I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.