Mission Breifing

Monday, 8:00am, Greenflame Institute HQ, Northern Minnesota.

You arrived at your desk and logged in to your computer to find the usual slog of mission reports and updates from the higher ups. But one message has been flagged Urgent, the status reserved for initial assignment details. You've been asked to join Staff Agent Janice Pulanski in Conference Room 4.

You are now seated with your own tablet containing the very short mission briefing files. A Wikipedia link to Little Falls, Minnesota. Seven pairs of photographs of people, one alive and one dead each. Finally a link to a map with five red dots marking certain locations; A Walmart Supercenter, Little Falls High School, Oakland Cemetery, A Pizza Ranch restaurant, and Little Falls Golf Course.

"Good morning agents." Staff Agent Janice Pulanski begins dryly. "Sorry to start your week off with this, but the higher ups think you are going to have the best luck on this one. Seven individuals independently committed suicide this weekend in the city of Little Falls. That is an incredibly high rate for that small of a city, not to mention the somewhat public nature of each of the acts. None of them chose to take their lives in the privacy as one might expect. At this time, we are working under the assumption that a demon is behind these events, but to what extent is unknown. These seven individuals have almost no known connection beyond the proximity of their deaths. We have one couple and two business partners, but that's it from the public records. Your mission is, obviously, to get on the ground and eliminate the threat. There's a bit of leg work to be expected. We want the standard six hour check-ins and daily progress reports. Brass is giving you three days to asses the situation and deal with the problem. After that your reports will be subject to special review. Questions?"

What do we know about the local LEOs? Any reliability in access or information from them? Additionally, are you going to be our primary handler for this, or do I have to deal with 'Gregory' again? Edgar says, a hint of posh condescension emphasizing the name.

"Gregory has transferred to the Department of Quartermasters. I will be your handler here at the Institute. We were contracted by the governor of Minnesota. Local law enforcement has been informed that you are consulting and should cooperate within the bounds of the law, however, as we all know that these relationships have a tendency to go pear shaped from time to time." Janice is completely deadpan in her response.

"The couple, Anastasia Mia Holt and Chet Banks, died two hours apart. According to our information Banks took his life in a...creative...manner first at Little Falls Golf Course where he worked as a waiter in the clubhouse restaurant. He broke into the grounds keeping staff garage and used a branch trimmer. Holt was informed by her boyfriends parents, approximately two hours later. Her suicide took place at the Walmart. She threw herself under a departing semi truck.

The business partners were both in the Oakland Cemetery. Donald Salinas used his personal 9mm. Lenard Truman, the partner, then approached, collected the weapon and turned the gun on himself. No more than a minute or two could have passed." The file confirms these details.

All brutal ways to go. Do we know anything about the business Donald and Lenard were in? To at least have a starting place? Edgar says as he flips through the victim files.

Also, we'll need to hit the armory, pick up a few extra magazines for safety's sake.

The file tells you that Heartford Property Management group owned three different apartment complexes in the city of Little Falls. While not the best accommodations available, they are affordable for the most part. The company also owns several rental houses around town, in addition they manage rentals for clients who live out of state.

"Little Falls is relatively small. These guys aren't slum lords, but as close as anyone in Little Falls can get. As for equipment, please file your request with the Quartermasters and I'm sure thy can do something for you."

Sanderson, you have any additional questions that can't be sussed out of the vic profiles? Edgar asks the newer member of the Institute, not lifting his eyes from the file himself.

Then let's be about it! No sense wasting valuable time. Edgar says, standing and tapping the tips of his fingers to his brow in a small salute to Janice.

We'll make our requisitions from the Quartermaster. I'm thinking standard sidearm with two extra magazines apiece, shoulder holstered to fit under a jacket. That should do us for this visit. You made many trips into the field yet Sanderson or you still greenhornin' it?

Janice tucks her tablet back under her arm and looks at the two agents. "Sounds good. Good luck out there."

The quartermasters office is situated in a detached warehouse like building next to a three story parking garage that houses the company fleet. The garage has two green Airbus EC130 T2 Ecureuil helicoptors parked on top. The rest of the space is filled with hunter green Escalades and Malibus, about a third of these are marked with the institute logo.

There are four staff agents in the main office. Two are packing a medium sized container with various bits of gear; ammunition, two body armor chest pieces, and medical kits. The third staff agent is checking off a list as they pack. The fourth agent, a small thin man with a long thin nose greets you as you enter, "Good morning Agents. Are you the team headed to Little Falls? First ones out this morning." His tone is neutral, but pleasant.

Sanderson here has the right of it. Out to Little Falls we go. Looks to be a pretty nasty dust up if it is all related. On top of all this kit out, we'll need a pair of the M&Ps with a pair of backup magazines with shoulder rigs, if you haven't already dumped it in the go boxes for us. Edgar says as he looks over the packing work the staffers are doing. We driving out, or heli-lifting?

The staff agent laughs when you mention air lifting to Little Falls. "Right, the brass has put a strict 'no fly' order on Agents. We used to have five helicopters. Look up the report on the Benevolent Order of Reality Folders. It'd be tragic if it wasn't so damn funny." His grin is a little crooked, but he continues. M&Ps...two extra clips...we'll put in a box of bullets, just in case. An additional 40 rounds never hurt anybody. Well...you know what I mean."

The items are added to one of the packed crates. You are each asked to sign off on the receipt. Then they hand you a key to one of the Escalades parked on the second floor, one without the institute logo. They all wish you good hunting and leave you to find your way.

Here ya go Sanderson. You do the driving down there, at least the first leg of it. We're looking at a 4 or 5 hour drive, provided the weather doesn't get stupid on us. I'm going to do some more reading up on these guys. We'll change over around Bemidji, sound good? Edgar says, tossing the key at the junior agent. Without awaiting a reply, he turns and heads toward the passenger seat of the Escalade.

Driver picks, clearly. Edgar says with a smile.