The Mandoleer’s Folly glided into orbit around Dryden Prime, the crew on high alert. Inside Warehouse 2963, Renée Lachapelle
Inspector Renée Lachapelle is a distinguished officer who currently heads the joint anti-crime task force between the local Constabulary and the Royal Canadian Space Cavalry (RCSC) on Montreal Prime. Renowned for her sharp investigative skills and unwavering commitment, Lachapelle plays a pivotal role in maintaining law and order in the Quebec Sector of the Canadian Expanse. Early Life and Background... and J.J. Smith
John Jacob Smith is a seasoned police officer from Georgetown, known for his bravery and unique involvement in managing time anomalies. He has become a pivotal figure in handling temporal disturbances, working undercover as Agent 93 for a secretive organization tasked with protecting the temporal integrity of his environment. Early Career and Experiences John Jacob Smith has been a fixture... watched the activity with suspicion.
“Something’s off,” Renée murmured, observing the workers.
J.J. nodded. “Agreed. Let’s keep our distance but be ready to move. Troopers, surround the building but stay back for now. Renée and I will go in as bait.”
The troopers acknowledged the order, and Renée and J.J. stepped forward, walking casually into the warehouse. Almost immediately, a big burly man stormed over, his voice booming.
“Who the hell are you? You can’t be here!” he shouted, raising a fist threateningly.
Without missing a beat, Renée flipped the man like he weighed nothing, cuffing him in one swift motion. “Never threaten the RCSC,” she said, flashing her badge.
Chaos erupted as other workers grabbed tools, clearly intent on using them as weapons. J.J. signaled the troopers, and he and Renée drew their weapons, splitting up to handle the threat.
Renée aimed and fired non-lethal rounds, taking out two men with precision. J.J., wielding dual blasters, dispatched another two with ease. Despite their skill, they found themselves boxed in.
“Stay sharp,” J.J. called out. “More incoming.”
The foreman of the warehouse stepped forward, pulling out a gun and charging it. Before he could fire, a trooper neutralized him with a well-placed shot. Suddenly, the warehouse was flooded with troopers and constables, arresting everyone in sight.
Renée’s keen eyes spotted someone in an office above the warehouse floor. “J.J., up there!” she shouted, pointing.
Troopers intercepted a woman inside the office as she frantically tried to destroy digital records. She was hysterical, pleading, “They said they’d kill my family if I didn’t comply!”
The crime scene investigation team began combing through the warehouse. Renée cloned the records for a closer look.
Back on the shuttle, J.J. leaned over Renée’s shoulder. “What did you find?”
Renée’s face was grave. “This completes the information from Pierce McKenzie. It shows a network of shady dealings throughout the Ontario SectorOverview A Sector, commonly referred to as a Provincial Sector, is a designated area of space within the broader and diverse cosmic region known as the Canadian Expanse. These Sectors function similarly to provinces, contributing to the organization and governance of this vast territory. Structure and Division The Canadian Expanse is divided into thirteen Provincial Sectors, each with its own... and other areas.”
Her communicator buzzed with an alert. “The autopsy results are in. The drug used on Laura Duffy was a paralytic mixed with heavy narcotics, enough to kill someone ten times over. Whoever wanted her dead really meant it.”
“It would take a few hours to analyze the evidence scans,” J.J. noted.
They returned to the Mandoleer’s Folly and found Captain Ed Alvis
Biographical Information Also Known As: Captain Ed Alvis, Dr. Ed AlvisProfessions: Scientist, Musician, AdventurerAlma Mater: University of MarylandNotable Achievements: Ph.D. in Physics, Expertise in Structural Engineering Overview Ed Alvis is a renowned figure in both the scientific and musical communities, celebrated for his dual expertise as a physicist and a musician. His remarkable journey spans academic achievements, a profound musical... enjoying Chinese dumplings in the officers’ mess hall.
“Sorry to interrupt your dinner, Captain,” Renée began, “but we need to fill you in on what we found.”
“Join me,” Ed offered, motioning to the seats. “There’s plenty to go around.”
As they ordered their meals, Ed listened intently to their report. “This is troubling. There was an article in the Expanse Post
Overview The Expanse Post is a well-known tabloid newspaper within the Canadian Expanse, recognized for its sensationalist style and right-leaning political stance. Established as a source of entertainment and speculative journalism, the publication has carved a niche for itself by blending celebrity gossip, scandalous exposés, and political commentary. Founding and History The Expanse Post was founded in 2165 by media... revealing details not yet made public. Someone accessed the police records.”
J.J. frowned. “A leak?”
Ed nodded. “We’re bringing in the officer in charge of records at the local RCSC station. We need to find out who’s behind this breach.”
As they continued discussing the investigation over dinner, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, setting the stage for their next move in unraveling the conspiracy.
