>>4563>Location: Sanctuary City>Time: 9:30 AM
>Chase sits at his desk within the MRD Spire complex, as his technological data assistant, Aion, hovers beside him. They're both watching as Valkyrie gives her report on the matter, having taken the data from both Paradise City and Haven City in order to deliver a more comprehensive report on the matter."….As you can see, Director, this is likely a coordinated operation of some kind. The three major 'stronghold cities' in the United States, known for their exceptionally high Meta-Human populations, were deliberately chosen for this purpose. Whatever the perpetrator behind this operation aims to achieve - we know that it involves this unidentified technological cache - as it has also been found in Sanctuary City via our drone and camera network."
>Mirage, standing on the other side of Valkyrie, then speaks up as the images focus on the zoomed in visage of the same type of non-descript convoy."We don't have an ID on the vehicles. No driver's license, no general manufacturer chassis or design to speak of. These vehicles were custom built, and are highly resistant to remote electromagnetic pulse scans. The only signature we could receive was from the devices themselves."
>Chase thinks for a moment as Aion, hovering beside him, turns to face his master user.["Query: Is it possible that the perpetrator is likely engaging in a 'shell game' of sorts? A protracted exercise in diversion to potentially obfuscate their true agenda and goals?"]
>Looking at Aion with an amused look on his face, Chase then replies:"You took the words right out of my mouth, Ai. Jessica's lieutenant has the right instincts. This has 'distraction' written all over it. Something this elaborate and planned, operating simultaneously across three major population centers, with the exact same structural procedure cannot be coincidental."
>Leaning forward in his seat, Chase rests his arms on his desk as he examines the footage more carefully."It's also too brash and audacious to be a sincere attempt at covert operations either. It's an intentional gambit - betting on the idea that we'll take the bait. Unfortunately for them, we're not hungry fish who're looking for a line."
>Chase then stands up, nodding at Valkyrie as he says:"You're taking point on this one, Dianna. Coordinate with the other regional MRD Commanders and get me a preliminary assessment of the actual strategic targets. Find commonalities between Sanctuary, Paradise and Haven. National Banks, Supply Chain Distribution Centers, Technology Companies. Anything valuable that could be simultaneously found across all three cities. We'll need that info if we want to figure out what's happening."
>As Valkyrie and Mirage nod and leave the office, Aion then speaks to Chase, stating:["Query: Are we certain that the MRD can effectively parse the strategic and logistical aims of the perpetrator before they initiate their true operational goals?"]
>Sighing, Chase then picks up the phone on the table and begins to dial a number, saying:"As much as I like my subordinates, Aion, they're not equipped to figure out a multi-pronged, multi-layered, structural operation on a scale this large and this quickly. The perpetrator knows that. But they also likely anticipated that we'd figure this out eventually. Which means we've only got one option left."
>Chase then finishes dialing the number as he states:"We need to go for the unforeseen variable. The factor they likely know about, but also hoped we'd take too long to bring in. Them."
>As Chase brings up the phone to his ear, he gestures with his free hand towards the wall showing the various vigilantes of Sanctuary City, Haven City and Paradise City with investigative notes and strings connecting them to various villainous figures and notable locations."Can't say I'm surprised though. We always end up relying on them to clean up the messes one way or another."