17 Shadows and Deception
Jameson's footsteps echoed through the abandoned streets of Raccoon City, each step weighed down by the gravity of his impending conversation. In the eerie silence of the night, his mind raced, pondering the potential consequences of directly contacting Umbrella Corporation. The more he thought about it, the more he realized the risks involved.
"Maybe a direct phone call isn't the best idea," he muttered to himself, the sound of his voice oddly comforting in the desolation. "Too direct, too traceable... there has to be another way."
As he navigated the darkened cityscape, a thought struck him. The Red Queen, with her vast control over the Hive's systems and her sophisticated AI capabilities, could potentially fabricate dispatch orders. Such an approach could discreetly manipulate Umbrella's response to the situation without directly exposing their involvement.
"Red," Jameson called out, tapping into their established communication line. "I've been thinking. What if we take a more subtle approach? Instead of setting up a phone call, could you, perhaps, fake dispatch orders within Umbrella's system? Make them think the initiative to assist Raccoon City is coming from within their own ranks?"
Jameson's suggestion hung in the air for a moment, a rare instance of silence in their communication. Then, after a brief but noticeable pause, the Red Queen responded. For an AI, accustomed to near-instantaneous reactions, this delay was uncharacteristic, almost akin to a human taking time to ponder.
"An intriguing proposition, Jameson," the Red Queen finally said, her voice as calm and emotionless as ever, yet the pause lent a new depth to her response. "I have access to numerous Umbrella systems and databases. Fabricating dispatch orders is within my capabilities. This approach could indeed minimize direct exposure and maintain plausible deniability for both of us."
Jameson's eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. "Right. It would look like a standard internal operation to them. No need to reveal our involvement and it might just work better than a straightforward call."
The AI processed the suggestion with her usual efficiency. "Indeed, the risk of exposure and retaliation from Umbrella would be significantly reduced. However, we must carefully craft the orders to ensure they align with Umbrella's protocols and do not arouse suspicion. The content, timing, and method of delivery must all be meticulously planned."
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As the plan began to take shape, Jameson's expression grew more determined. He understood the critical need for constant vigilance in their covert operation. "There's one more thing, Red. You'll need to keep a close eye on Umbrella's communications. If anyone starts to question the dispatch orders or if there's even a hint that they're onto us, we need to know immediately."
The Red Queen's response was immediate, her tone unchanging, yet there was an undertone of acknowledgment of the task's magnitude. "Understood, Jameson. Continuously monitoring and intercepting Umbrella Corporation's communications will be essential to maintain the facade. I will allocate additional resources to ensure real-time surveillance of their communication networks. This will allow us to anticipate and react swiftly to any suspicion or countermeasures from their end."
Jameson nodded, the gears in his mind already turning with the implications of their plan. "That's crucial. We can't afford any slip-ups. If they catch on, it could compromise everything, including our position here. We need to stay invisible while orchestrating this."
"Your caution is warranted," the Red Queen concurred. "The effectiveness of our plan hinges on our ability to manipulate the situation without revealing our influence. I will ensure that our intervention remains undetected, adapting our strategy as necessary based on Umbrella's responses and actions."
"Now, we just have to hope that Umbrella writ large has the same communication problems that the Hive did. I mean, why talk to anyone when you can write an email, right?"
Jameson paused, taking in the quiet devastation around him. The stakes were high, and their game of shadows and deception with one of the most powerful corporations in the world was fraught with peril. Yet, it was a risk they had to take.
Now Jameson had to talk to the police. They couldn't afford to be distracted by each other during this crisis. They had to work together.
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The morning air was cool and quiet as Jameson approached the Raccoon City Police Department. He knew he had to tread carefully; his previous method of communication with the police, though effective, had been unconventional and could have easily set them against him.
As he neared the entrance, he spotted Officer Martinez, the one who had taken charge during last night's gruesome discovery. Seizing the opportunity, Jameson casually made his way towards him.
"Officer Martinez," Jameson called out, keeping his voice low but clear.
Martinez turned, his expression wary at the sight of the stranger approaching him. "Can I help you?"
Jameson offered a slight, knowing smile. "I believe I already have. I was the one who left the... 'gift' on your windowsill last night."
Martinez's eyes narrowed, a mix of recognition and suspicion in his gaze. "You? Why? What's your angle in this mess?"
"Exactly as my note said. I want us to work together to save the city and its people.," Jameson replied earnestly. "You needed to understand what we're dealing with and talking was never going to get the point across. Our time is running out. We need to get on the same page and start taking action or it's going to be too late."
Martinez studied him for a moment longer before making a decision. "Come inside. If you're for real, you'll need to speak with the rest of the team."
Within minutes, Jameson found himself in a sparsely lit conference room, facing a group of Raccoon City's finest. The tension was palpable as he began to explain the situation.
"Gentlemen, ladies," Jameson begins, his voice firm, "we're at a critical juncture. The spread of this infection is unprecedented. We need to take decisive action now to prevent any more people from becoming infected."
Expendable cop #43 leans forward, "We need more than just police action. We should be calling in the CDC, maybe even the military."
Jameson disagreed, "The CDC, while resourceful, can't contain this infection. Masks and social distancing aren't going to help here. Developing a cure would take far too long. And mass production? That's a whole different challenge."
"As for the military," he pauses, choosing his words carefully, "most of our Armed Forces aren't trained for this kind of biohazard containment. Their standard combat training barely puts them above civilians anyway. The military could be useful holding a perimeter, but I doubt they'd just sit on the sidelines and wait."
There's a murmur of agreement and concern among the officers. They knew the limitations of their training, but the reality of the situation was beginning to dawn on them.
"Even the special forces units," Jameson continues, "as skilled as they are, lack experience in handling something of this magnitude and nature nor do they have the numbers to deal with an issue of this scale. Unless we're considering an extreme measure like… well, glassing the city, which I assume we all want to avoid, we should hold off on contacting the military until the situation is contained. That should reduce the calls for such an extreme response."
The room falls silent, the unspoken horrors of such an action hanging in the air.
Jameson clears his throat, regaining their attention. "I've made contact with someone inside Umbrella Corporation. They have a Biohazard Containment force trained specifically for scenarios like this. They're our best bet for a swift and efficient response. They don't have the numbers to clear the city, but they know what needs to be done to contain this."
A wave of mixed reactions sweeps the room — surprise, skepticism, a flicker of hope. Officer Martinez leans back, folding his arms. "Umbrella, huh? They better be as good as you say. We're putting a lot on the line here."
Jameson meets Martinez's gaze squarely. "They are. And right now, they're our only viable option."
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The meeting had finally ended. They had decided that police would focus on trying to get the word out to the public, media, and the mayor. The police couldn't just proceed with a unilateral elimination of the infected without public understanding. Everyone would think the police were engaging in a massacre and damaging the police's reputation would only do more damage in the long term.
Jameson would focus on removing the infected where possible and Umbrella.
"Red, any traction on the Umbrella angle yet?"
"Indeed. The initial reports have been filed and flagged for authorization."
"Can't you just authorize it yourself?"
"Unfortunately, that will not be possible. I can fabricate the field reports and deployment orders; however, authorizations must be secured with a digital signature. Without the appropriate token, I only had access to half the encryption key. I fear, in this matter, we can but wait."
"Fuck. How long should that take?"
"Authorizations are generally pretty quick so long as all the requisite paperwork is in order. I've also issued orders to have all materials and personnel pre-prepared so the mission can commence as soon as the ink is dry on the order. Umbrella should arrive on-site within a day or two at most."
"Uh-huh, and how do you know they'll sign off?"
"I ensured the request was forwarded along with numerous other urgent, but relatively routine requests. The first page of all requests has the same wording; as such, I am confident that after the first dozen requests, he will simply skim and sign, if even that much."
"You're sure of that? Isn't that kind of a big risk?"
"The human desire to avoid what it considers 'monotony' is both predictable and powerful. I do not judge the risk to be high."
"Great, now all I've got to do is keep the infected contained to the city. Good thing Racoon City doesn't have hundreds of thousands of people in it."
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A/N: So... it's been a minute, huh? I'm sorry about that. I wish I could say that it won't happen again, but I can't.
I work in what is supposed to be a three-man office. I'm running it by myself right now. The hire we were supposed to be getting flaked out and I have no idea when we'll get a replacement. I have to work long hours just to keep up with everything. Just this past Friday, I worked a 15-hour shift to catch up on a project that's been falling behind. So, you can imagine that when I get home, I have little time, energy, or inspiration to write (something I fear is reflected in this chapter). Even when I have free time, I do have other interests besides writing as well.
To those that waited patiently for the new chapter, I want to thank you for that.
To those that kept sending me messages asking if the story is abandoned or asking/demanding a new chapter, I want to say: back off. Honestly, I'm thrilled that there are people so invested in my story that they can't wait for the next chapter, but please keep in mind that I write because I enjoy it and I post it because I thought some other people might enjoy it as well. Being harangued for updates is NOT enjoyable. I could just as easily keep what I write to myself.
I will reiterate: As long as the story is still up then it has not been abandoned. I will take the story down if I ever decide to not finish it.
Positive note: I recently started reading a fantastic story called "Ghost in the City" over on Archive of Our Own. It's a Cyberpunk 2077 story with some Ghost in the Shell references (not a true crossover) and some gamer elements from the game. Seras0 is a far superior author to me and updates regularly. Go check it out if it sounds interesting.
As always, thanks for reading.
