In the dark of the night…

Wow. It’s been a while. I’ve totally neglected this blog, but I had quite a bit to do. Troubles of all kinds, as usual.

Anyways, I gotta write now. My own point of view, as a person who’s been there from the start. I know it’s been all over the news, but there’s more to it than just a spectacular operation…

Anyways, from the start.

I got first informations about new trade when I found Marty Spark – a scared, lost poleepkwa that managed to escape from one of their „bases”. Ever since then, ARFA was running its own investigation, figuring out the locations, smuggling routes, load points ect. Last night it wasn’t only trade HQ that went down. There were many, many other operations… Of course we wouldn’t manage that on our own. Hopefully I managed to convince Tanukashi to help – technically poleepkwa are still their „property”. They had every right to ask law enforcement services to help them retrieve what’s been „stolen”. And with a bit of work, we managed to get ARFA involved alongside the police. After all, we had all the intel and experience with aliens.

Operation got sped up after Marty and Solomon got kidnapped. Security footage showed what happened. Kurt abused our trust and wasted a chance he’s been given. Somehow he managed to lure Marty out to the garage, where he got tased and locked in the truck. Solomon, being an accidental witness, got kidnapped too.

Ever since then, we’ve been working like crazy, getting whole ARFA on full alert, completing teams, even getting some people from South American, European and Russian bases as a support. I must say, law enforcement guys were pretty surprised how well organised and informed we are.

The trade HQ was located several miles outside Los Angeles. Several warehouses, one 10 floor office building… everything surrounded with a solid steel fence and some visible surveillance here and there.

I was supposed to stay behind in the command center (a big-ass truck), alongside Commander, Paul and police coordinators, and enter any combat only if absolutely necessary. My real job there was to deal with any press and bystanders that were sure to appear.
Red, Viktor and Alexander were in combat teams, Shawn, who got here from Japan merely hours before operation, managed to convince the SWAT team to take him with them. Kris offered his help in taking down the power grid (including security cameras), apparently having some good deal of saboteur knowledge.

Contrary to what most media say, the operation didn’t started at 5 AM. In fact, it was good 4 hours earlier as we were set and ready, and teams moved out at 3.30 AM. Right after Kris (I guess it was him), turned out the power and support cut the entry holes within fence. Except SWAT, who were going from the top of the office, and therefore used the helicopter.

From what I knew, teams moved in pitch black, using a night vision goggles. I was sitting with headphones on my ears, tracking team movements on the screen. Funny how the perspective changes, if someone you know is in the team. Alpha team was where Red and Alexander were, Viktor went with Delta. My heart stopped for a second each time I heard one of those over our communication lines. Yeah, I was worried as hell. One of the coordinators must have seen that, as he just pat my shoulder in an universal „it’s gonna be OK” gesture. It was nice of him, but nonetheless, minutes felt like ages. I was mostly listening. The orders were from Jake, coordinators or team commanders, I did not comment, even though I was tempted to sometimes. But I was just listening and looking at the screen… Listening to reports, to intel given between teams, to any information appearing on our lines…

The operation was going quite smooth. Apparently the traders didn’t know what hit them. The ringleader, woman known as Venue Val, was trying to make a desperate escape from the office building. Some time later I heard some triumphant yell, I recognized Shawn’s voice. He got scolded by SWAT leader instantly, but actually reports weren’t needed then. The victory cry said it all – they got her. Venue Val was captured. Several people from her security was injured or killed, three of the SWAT injured. They were going to evacuate back to the roof, getting traders and injured to the helicopter. I switched the line to Delta Team. They’ve had several injured, but all seemed well. They were moving through one of the warehouses, that was turned into a „sleeping room” for poleepkwan slaves, taking down the „security” there. I switched to Alpha. They moved through another warehouse, also used as slave quarters. From what I heard of reports, the warehouse was clear. Most of hostiles arrested, a few killed. Several of ours injured, one poleepkwa got it quite bad and got evacuated to our field hospital.

Out of the sudden I hear Red’s voice in the headphones. He cursed in Polish, I heard in his voice he’s pretty shocked. I joined the line.
- What’s going on Red?
He didn’t reply, but as he left his mic on, I’ve heard some noise and then, a bit muffled, some talking.
- C’mon kid, look at me…
I heard a faint squeal in the background and understood the reason why was he so upset. Red kept talking, his voice changed a bit, like from strain.
- Marty, look at me. Don’t… don’t struggle, it’s okay now… It’s okay…
I tried again.
- Red! Red, what is it? How is he?
This time my brother replied.
- He… he’s alive but… this doesn’t look good… I’m getting him out of here, let med guys know.
- Roger that, Red.
I’m surprised my voice didn’t shake. I switched the line, told the hospital to await a nonhuman patient and threw the headphones on the table, running out the truck.

Red was carrying Marty out of the building, escorted by Alexander and some human I didn’t know. He put him at the stretcher medical team provided. Marty was barely lucid. It really didn’t look good. He was dirty, his clothes were gone, and what was worst, in addition to new cracks and bruises, he had that empty look of cat food addict. All of his addiction recovery, all our work to get Marty safe, to help him adapt in a new enviroment… all the trust we gained – wasted. At that moment I wished I could just shoot someone. Could be Venue Val, could be Kurt… any of those who did that would suffice. Instead I just took a deep breath and walked along the stretcher, trying to calm Marty.

Some time later, the press started to come. I guess you’ve all seen the official statements from Tanukashi, ARFA and all the law enforcement services involved, as well as the footage of the cuffed trade members, being lead to the police cars. Most of you probably didn’t notice a small scene at the background, a scene that made my heart feel warm. Marty, leaned on Red’s shoulder, observing the bad guys getting arrested. Red did the best thing possible. Showing Marty (and many other abused poleepkwa) that traders will get their punishment should help him recover after all he’s been through.

That’s it I think.

Ask Red, Viktor or Shawn for combat based details. Or Alexander, if you manage to get him off the kitchen…