Katyn II - The Reckoning

[ManBear]

The dark cemetery was illuminated by the combination of yellow and blue lights of a stationary Policja(Police) car. The four door hatchback was empty and the door ajar. If it wasn't for the lights, one could only tell it recently snowed by the soft sound of crunching snow as they walked through the forest. It would be a moment worth a picture if it wasn't for the sound of a small child screaming before a single sound overpowered it and not a single sound was heard again. Not even the night birds sang their lullabys. They were too afraid of the smell of gunpowder permeating the area.

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Brodnowksi Cemetary - Warsaw, Poland - 1000

"You are joining me now at the scene of a horrible crime. We are here in Brodnowski Cemetary where reports of several gunshots resulted in an armed Policja response being dispatched to the area. There the armed response team found an abandoned Policja car with its lights still flashing. After clearing the area of possible armed intruders, the Policja found a horrible scene." The camera pans across the ground to show a pile of frozen vomit before settling on a scene of police tape, police officers, detectives, and a makeshift white barrier blocking outside views of the crime scene. Above the white sheet one could see the memorial to the Katyn Massacre. "The only clue left to the identity of the killer was written in the snow in the blood of the victims. 'Katyn was the beginning.' We cannot release the age, sex, or name of the victims but we have been given permission to release that there were twenty-two bodies found. Each one was bound, blindfolded, and shot execution style. Two police officers who first responded to the scene are in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital. Hold on." The camera pans rapidly back to the reporter. "I'm just getting word from a representative that both of the Policja who first responded have died from their wounds. May God watch over their families during these dark times."

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Earlier That Night
Brodnowski Cemetary - Warsaw, Poland - 0130

"Shut up, Polski scum." The man kicked the woman in the side of the head as he looked out over the cemetery.
"Polish Soldiers. Hmph. More like cattle led to the slaughter. Couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag."

A second man pushed the larger out of the way. "Vlad, now is not the time. We will have our way with the Polski whores soon. But we have a job to do. We need to let these Polski scum know that they are never safe from their true owners."

"Get ready now."

Silence filled the area as the five men standing around the twenty-two men, women, and children raised their Kalashnikov rifles and racked a round into the chamber. They paused for a moment before the sound of gunfire filled the air and the smell of gunpowder burned their noses.

"Fuck. It jammed on me." The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the man struggling to pull the ejection port open. As he attempted to fix his firearm, the rest began digging a hole in the frozen ground with shovels. Their plan was to pose them in the hole but after a few minutes the sudden bright blue flashing lights of a Policja car erupted around them.

"Policja. Freeze." The two officers got out of their cars and pulled their service pistols out of the holster. They never saw the sixth or seventh man come out from behind a stand of trees before it was too late. A mixture of pistol and rifle fire filled the air for a brief moment before silence once again settled on the area only to be broken by the sound of a small child screaming in pain.

"You could have warned us, Gustav. They scared the shit out of us. Shit. One of the Polski scum is alive." The man calmly walked over to the source of the sound before pulling out a Makarov pistol. "Go to sleep, little shit."

"We have to get out of here Gregor. Vlad has been hit and they've sent an armed response unit. We don't have time to finish our mission."

"Get Vlad to the truck. Gustav. Ivan. Help me write something."

______________________

Polish Office of State Protection - Warsaw, Poland - 0900

"As our agents are still under training and orientation, we have been assigned a few people to assist us in this investigation." A large portly man puffed on a cigar as he talked to a room full of cops, civilians, and soldiers. "On our right we have six members of GROM who will be acting as our Armed Response Unit for now. They will be operating under normal rules of engagement and under my direct command. In the middle we have eight civilian attaches from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration. They will be running our computers and will sift through all the information we have uncovered and will uncover. On the left are ten of the finest members of the Policja that we have. Detectives, beat cops, and armed response. They will be our chief investigators. Now, each of your teams have been assigned a lead. Captain Nowak from GROM will be running that side of things. Dr. Adamik will be in charge of our civilians and liaising between Armed Response and Investigations. In charge of investigations we have Detective Kowalski. Now, take fifteen minutes and get to know each other. We have to figure out who is behind these Katyn Memorial Massacre. And soon. If something else happens, it will be my head on the platter to the King and the Sejm."

The portly man stepped out from behind the podium as the teams moved together and shook hands and introduced each other.

 

[ManBear]

Brodnowski Cemetary - Warsaw, Poland - 1100

"Thank you for your help, sir."

A notepad was placed back into a jacket pocket as the detective stepped back out in the cold air outside. Negative two centigrade before the wind chill factor, made Detective Novichek bury his face in his zipped Policja windbreaker. He hated being on the beat during this time of year. He much preferred being inside of his unmarked Ford Mondeo. His assigned partner, a member of Warsaw's Preventative Police force. Traditionally a uniformed police officer, the man opted to wear his normal civilian attire to blend in. Other than the Policja jacket they wore, both would be indecipherable from a regular civilian should the need arise.

"The shop keep wasn't hear and the CCTV has been broken for at least three months after a break in attempt. This is the fourth CCTV setup that has been tampered with. All within a three month window. This is starting to get more and more complicated. Lets get back to HQ and inform the boss of what we've found. He'll probably think its coincidental."

Novichek turned the key in the ignition, turning the cold engine over. He gave it a few pumps from the throttle before putting the vehicle into gear and merging into the early afternoon traffic. They could clearly see the white sheet blocking the crime scene from where they were at.

"This was the perfect spot to have a camera pointed at the crime scene. Too bad he never got it fixed," Senior Constable Yankovich spoke in his deep baritone. "Would have made our job certainly easier."

______________________

Underground Casino - Echa Lesne - Warsaw, Poland - 1105

Men wearing black tactical clothing and wearing balaclavas stood outside the industrial building as the waited for a signal. Their FB Mini-Beryl rifles were loaded and their vests had four spare magazines loaded in them. The lead operative held up three fingers. Two. One. The soft click-clack of the detonator sounded a full second before the breaching charge blew a man sized hole through the metal siding of the building.

"OSP. Put your hands up. OSP. Put your hands up."

The sound of gunfire erupted in the open area as one of the gang members pulled a Kalashnikov from under a makeshift bar. Three shots were fired before the sound of broken glass clattered across the ground. The criminal was dead before he hit the floor. The four man team moved quickly through the room as uniformed officers from the Policja flooded in behind them and began arresting the gamblers. All of their wallets and phones were seized and placed in a pile on the floor.

The leader placed his support hand on the radio before keying the talk key.

"Main area clear. Alfa Two move to the far door. Alfa Three remain here. Alfa One is heading towards the close door. Breach and bang. Repeat breach and bang." The only response from the other two operatives were double keys of the mics. They didn't need to talk. Just acknowledge orders.

Three fingers. Two. One. The sound of two doors being kicked simultaneously echoed through the metal building before the loud flashbangs detonated in the smaller rooms. Unrecognizable speech could be heard before gunfire could be heard from the far door.

"This is Alfa Two. Room clear but requesting a medic."

"This is Alfa One. Room clear. Two in custody. Building all clear. Repeat building all clear. Roll paramedics and prisoner transport."

Three paramedics ran into the building after the all clear and immediately ran in the direction of the far door. After a few minutes the three operatives reconvened in the main area to begin taking stock of everything recovered. Six Kalashnikovs chambered in 7.62x39mm, twelve Makarov pistols, two Glock pistols, and one hand grenade. Plus several hundred thousand in cash and a few pounds of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana had been seized.

One of the Policja waved to the operatives while pointing to an older, balding man with white hair.

"Command. Principle in custody. Repeat. Principle in custody. RTB."

The trio moved quickly to the man before dragging him out through the hole by his arms, moving too fast for him to get his feet under him.

______________________

Polish Office of State Protection - Warsaw, Poland - 1130

"Sir, Red team has successfully extracted the high valued target linked to an arms smuggling ring. They are en-route back to base as we speak with the principle as they call it. Blue team is still moving towards the secondary location but their communications equipment is down. Detective Novichek and Senior Constable Yankovich have finished canvassing the area around the cemetery and have reported that all the CCTV cameras have been damaged in the past three months. As of right now, we have no eyes of the night in question but we have uniformed officers going door to door asking for any information." The young woman wore a police officers uniform and had been assigned as the chief liaison between ground forces and the acting Chief of Operations.

"Very good, Constable. Keep me informed of any developments from Blue team. Have an investigator meet Red team when they arrive and get the principle in an interrogation room immediately. We need to know what he knows about the weapons used to massacre those poor souls. Tell them to do whatever they can to get the information from him. Within the letter of the law, that is." The portly man who gave the initial briefing had been placed in charge by the Minister of Justice himself after the massacre happened to lead the investigation. He was prepared to do almost anything to accomplish that goal.

______________________

Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland - 1143

"They hit the gambling den today. Kill three people and took a bunch of money and drugs into evidence. But those Polski scum won't find any evidence about us from that pawn. He doesn't have a paper trail or our identities. Just a van that's sitting on the bottom of the Vistula. What's our next target, Gregor?" Vlad was nursing a bandaged arm in a sling as he spoke. Having taken a round during the brief gunfight with Policja, he was in a sour mood.

"We hit these scum where it hurts. Their money." The large man unrolled a large scroll of paper, revealing it to be a blueprint of a PKO Polish Bank. "We will be destroying their money that has turned the Polski scum against their creator. Our goal is not to kill on this one. We are going to burn the money in the street before the Policja arrive. Vlad take a team and call in a bomb threat at a school in the center of Warsaw. Gustav, take a team and prepare to breach the bank and secure the money. I'll take a team and find another way to distract the scum. Go now. We have to act fast."

 

[ManBear]

Polish Primary School - Warsaw, Poland - 1256

"Pietr leave Irena be. I'll be calling your mother once free time is over." The matronly teacher called from her spot on the bench where she ate her lunch. The blond haired rapscallion had just pushed the blonde girl with pigtails onto the ground. Not for the first time today, apparently. The air was filled with the sound of children laughing and playing, their screams filling the air with joy instead of fear. While the teachers watched the little ones, beyond the fence behind them a simple white box truck manufactured by Jelcz pulled up and parked right in front of the play area. It was not uncommon for delivery drivers to park in the same spot before delivering whatever it was to the school.

The final call for the kids to return to class sounded. This warned the children and teachers they had 5 minutes before class was supposed to resume. The teachers were quick to wrangle the small tyrants together and begin leading them into the school single file when the air was filled with the sound of police sirens. Many of them. All of them were getting closer and closer until a member of Policja jumped the fence on the outside of the playground and shouted for the children to get inside. The screams of terror began screams of fear as everyone began racing indoors. The minutes ticked by as the children waited in silence in one of the bathrooms. They were waiting for one of the nice Policja to come tell them everything as okay. Suddenly, all they could hear was ringing in their ears and dust filled the room. Most of the children and teachers were screaming or crying as they tried to figure out what happened.

Outside of the building, the area looked like a warzone. A small crater sat where the box van once sat park, car alarms had been set off for blocks around. Windows on the immediate street were shattered and someone could hear call for medics over the radio.

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PKO Polish Bank - Warsaw, Poland - 1256

"Yankov, prepare to breach." Gustav spoke with conviction as he pulled his gas mask over his face. The military issued gas mask had blackened eye holes to fully hide his identity. Everyone else had similar masks on, though some has drawn on faces made with permanent markers. The sound of a controlled explosion went off as the side wall of the bank blew into itself. They had broken into the neighboring building and used a breaching charge to blow a hole in the bank wall. The filed into the dust and smoke filled lobby and fired rounds of the Kalashnikov rifles into the ceiling. They had moved quickly to dominate the area. Within five minutes the armed group had detained the customers with plastic cuff ties and grabbed the manager to open the vault.

Several large duffle bags were carted into the bank through the hole and set up to get the cash. It wouldn't take long to get what they needed.

________________________

Policja Headquarters - Warsaw, Poland - 1258

A box van similar to the one that was going to detonate at the Primary School, parked at the curb just outside of the main headquarters for the Policja headquarters for the Policja in Warsaw. The metal door, slid up and four men armored with military grade ballistic vests stepped out, all of them were carrying Kalashnikov rifles. One of the Policja who noticed them was able to draw his sidearm and get a single shot off before the automatic fire of the Kalashnikovs forced him to drop behind the concrete barrier. A call for help went over the radio as the sound of bullets impacting the wall of punching through the glass sounded throughout the building. Five minutes. That's how long they sustained their firing for before the shots stopped. Then there was a massive explosion that created a crate and ruptured a water pipe. Water jetted through the air as the pressure from the pipe kept it flowing. The gunman were no where to be seen but no one looked for a while. They had been too busy attending to their busted ear drums and wounded colleagues.

________________________

Polish Office of State Protection - Warsaw, Poland - 1300

"Sir we have multiple reports of explosions throughout Warsaw. The first was at a primary school in the central of the city. We're still getting reports in but all of them we have gotten is that there were no casualties among the student body. Or teachers. The second was at the Policja Headquarters here in Warsaw. Vehicle Base IED detonated outside of the headquarters after a group of armed gunman began shooting the place up. We don't have a fully casualty report yet but it looks pretty grim. It was pretty big explosion. A water main was destroyed because of it. We also have a bank alarm going off but all the Policja forces are responding to the two terror attacks. It looks like its a joint exercise. Hit two locations at once. It might be the work of the same group who killed those civilians at the cemetery." The female liaison had been receiving information from dispatchers and former colleagues for several minutes before she brought the attention to her new CO.

"Send in Alpha team to the School and Bravo team to the Police Headquarters. We'll need to make sure there are no more assailants waiting to take out first responders. It would result in more casualties on our end. Have Detective Novichek and Constable Yankovich go check out the bank. Bank robberies are also apart of the OSP's responsibilities. We need to show criminals we mean business." The large man looked absolutely terrified of the notion that they would have to deal with murderers, terrorists, and bank robbers all in the same day.

"Yes sir."

________________________

PKO Polish Bank - Warsaw, Poland - 1344

"So you're telling me that your father is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs? How did a blue blood like yourself become a beat cop? I'm sure you would have had your pick of assignments with daddy's position." Novichek was a blue collar man. Grew up in the slums by a single mother. As a teenager he realized he could choose to join a gang or die. So he chose the biggest gang around, the Policja. And he was never disappointed.

"I didn't want my dad involved, so I told him to stay out of it. My instructors back at the academy didn't even know who was dad was. I would like to keep the rest of our colleagues out of the know as well. I don't want...shit that guys got an AK. Get down." Yankovich ducked underneath the front seat as the windshield began spiderwebbing from fresh bullet holes carving their way through the glass. Novichek forced his door open and rolled into the street as he pulled Yankovich out with him. There is a Beryl rifle in the truck if we can get to it. A ballistic vest as well. You get it, I'll cover."

The detective pulled his sidearm from its holster and he popped over the hood and braced himself to fire. The sound of his nine millimeter pistol was quickly overpowered by the sound of the Kalashnikov rounds. The man's assault rifle cut through the police car like a hot knife through butter. The sound of the tires exploding from the bullets filled the streets with even more noise. "He's reloading, go now." The Novichek's voice sounded raspy. 'Really need to quit smoking,' thought the constable as he raised the trunk and grabbed the Polish assault rifle and ballistic vest. He didn't bother pulling the vest over his head before he popped over the top of the car and put three rounds through the man's chest. He had been a decent marksman in the military before he finished his mandatory time served. The lone gunman fell to the street as Yankovich dropped back down behind the vehicle. "Got him. Call for backup, Novichek." As he waited for a response, he pulled the vest over his head. "Novichek?"

The young constable looked over at his new partner only to see him sitting beside him, limp. He looked like he had just fallen asleep but the constable knew what was happening. Three holes across the top of the man's torso told the entire story. The detective was dead before he had even spoke. Yankovich didn't even know how the detective had been able to speak. He reached into the vehicle and grabbed the radio.

"Base, this is Yankovich. Man down. Repeat man down. Gunmen armed with assault rifles and military grade equipment at PKO Polish Bank. Requesting back. Repeat officer down."
"This is Alpha team. Five minutes out."

"This is Bravo team. Five minutes out."

"This is OSP Base. Clear the air. Constable, condition of officer. Over."

"Condition Black. Repeat. Condition Black. Over."

 

[ManBear]

Three Days Later

Czersk Cemetary - Gdansk, Poland - 1600

Seven rifles fired in unison. Twice more the shots sounded. A lone man carrying the Polish Flag presented it to a young woman with a small child sitting next to her. "For Detective Nikolai Novichek's selfless actions and faithful service to his country, we can only offer our greatest sympathies, ma'am. Please accept this flag on behalf of a grateful nation." The woman let the tears flow down her face as she took the flag carefully. It was beautifully folded and she didn't want to ruin the care put into it.

With a sniffle she looked at the officer one crutches and wearing a sling. His dress uniform was immaculate. Behind him stood the officers who had worked with the detective. Six men in military dress uniforms were apart of the group. She hadn't been told what he was doing for the newly established Office of State Protection but she was certain these men with determined looks on their faces would bring her husband's killers to justice.

"Mommy, where's daddy? You said he would meet us here."

________________________

Polish Office of State Protection, Sublevel 2 - Warsaw, Poland - 1900

"What terrorist cell are you with?" The sound of flesh hitting flesh was heard. "What is the name of your comrades." The sound of flesh hitting flesh could be heard again. "What is your name?" The man talking could be heard dragging an object across the ground. "You will tell me eventually, scum. You think you could blow up a school, shoot up a police station, and kill a member of the OSP and get away with it? Soon that gunshot will get infected. Then we will get to watch your body burn you alive trying to fight it. You ever seen someone got septic? They start hallucinating. All I have to do is wait for that. Or you could tell me what I need to know."

________________________

Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland - 2134

"Sir, Gregor was captured by those OSP cunts. He was definitely wounded so they will have to take him to a hospital. We just need to figure out which one and retrieve him. They are keeping a tight lid on that information though. We have men scouring every hospital in Warsaw and the neighboring areas looking for a John Doe. We will find him and we will get him back. Before he breaks."

________________________

Apartment Building, Apartment 3C - Warsaw, Poland - 2343

Crack, Crack, Crack. The sound of gunshots woke the sleeping man as he grabbed at his shoulder and winced. Three days and his shoulder still had a ball of fire in it every time he moved. He hadn't had a full nights sleep in three days. His partner's dead face kept him from going to sleep and the gunshots kept him from staying asleep when it finally claimed him. He needed to get back to work and figure out who these assholes are. He picked up the landline that sat next to his bed and began dialing a number from memory.

"Pietr, why are you calling so late, son?"

 

[ManBear]

Polish Office of State Protection - Warsaw, Poland - 0900

Voices chattered throughout the office space as fresh faces filled cubicles and offices. Everyone was new, save for those that had been working on the Brodnowski Cemetary case from the start. The new faces had finished their initial training and been assigned to their various departments. Each had been assigned a role to fill in the biggest, and only case, of the Office of State Protection. The Office had taken full control of the case away from the Policja and were now utilizing their considerable assets to work the case. It is in the bullpen on Floor 4 that the new head of Department II is speaking to his subordinates.

"My name is Piotr Krawczyk and I've been placed in charge of Department Two. With the help from our new agents, we can put all of our effort into finding those who are responsible for these heinous actions. Department Two will be heading the investigation while Department One provides intelligence and manpower where needed. You each know your roles. Armed Response will continue to be Special Operations teams from the Royal Armed forces and Armed Response from Policja if needed. Just a recap to catch the new faces up. We have Forty seven dead. Ten are children. The rest are civilians are Policja who were killed in the station bombing. We have one subject in custody and held on site within Warsaw. He is being interrogated by Department I and Special Operations teams. Any questions should be fielded to your immediate supervisors. They have all been on the case for since the beginning and are the most knowledgeable. Listen to the vets and your own gut instincts. There is a reason you all passed selection and given access to The Office."

The OiC Krawczyk would be interrupted by his secretary and handed a phone.

"It's good to hear from you Mrs. Novichek. Yes ma'am, I know why your calling. You know I can't give any information about your husband's case.

________________________

Church of St. James the Great - Białołęka, Warsaw, Poland - 1354

"In name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I has been five years since my last confession."

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

"I have killed and destroyed the homes and businesses of many people. Too many to keep count of. On four separate occasions I have gained carnal knowledge of both man and woman. I have rejected the teachings of the church every day for the past five years. I continue to plan on doing my duty as a soldier and that will require more to die at my hand. I have taken the lords name in vain too many times. I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life."

"And the Lord said 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' and 'But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. '"

"Your penance for these sins are as numerable and severe as the sins themselves. You must fast for a fortnight, recite the lord's prayer every day at noon for the next year, and finally you must practice almsgiving for the next two years. Give as you have taken away."

"O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and fear the pains of hell, but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and worthy of all my love. I firmly intend with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen."

"In nomine patri, et fili, et spiriti sancti. Go with god my son."

After the man left the confession booth, the priest sat there in the silence contemplating what he had listened to. Soldiers were asked to give their souls for society and many did not have the fortitude to ask for forgiveness for their sins. The Priest's inner thoughts were quickly interrupted by a bright light and searing pain. It felt as if his soul felt what eternal damnation felt like before god plucked it back to the gates of St. Peter.

________________________

Church of St. James the Great - Białołęka, Warsaw, Poland - 1532

"This is Anita Szymański with the Polish Press Agency. At approximately two pm today some kind of explosive device was detonated within the Church of St. James the Great. This church had survived within Warsaw since the sixteenth century. Survived the Germans and the Russians. Survived plagues and Prussians. All to be reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds. The scene was originally cordoned off by local Policja units but soon the relatively unknown agency known as the Polish Office of State Protection took over the investigation. They have erected plastic sheeting over the whole area to hide what they are doing inside of there. Or to protect the crime scene. Outside of the cordoned area, local parishioners have already started building memorials to the clergy who were inside at the time. We do not have a full list of casualties yet but we do know that there were several clergy inside. What's that noise?"

The camera panned from the young woman wearing a jeans and a white blouse to the source of the sound. A white box van, similar to the ones spotted before the explosions at the Policja station and the primary school was spotted being harassed by local Policja. A young man was pulled from the vehicle, shouting in Russian. Suddenly the sound of a single gunshot echoed through the street before the mourners began screaming and running. Through the video, one of the Policja officers could be seen discharging his sidearm directly into the back of the truck driver as they wrestled on the ground. The video was quickly shut down as several agents wearing jackets sporting the letters POSP on them came running by.

________________________

Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland - 1600

"Gregor is still unaccounted for sir. We are starting to think they have buried him somewhere. Luckily we were able to secure a new base before he ratted us out. Also, the St. James bombing went off without a hitch and the Policja are getting a bad rep for brutality after they shot that Russian deliveryman. They are trying to backtrack and say he had reached for the officer's gun but they are just becoming scared children. They are jumping from their own shadow."

"That may be the case Yankov but this Office of State Protection is worrying. Their agents are a different breed than their civilian counterparts. I'm pretty sure their Armed Response teams are Special Forces in origin. That is bad news for us. We have to start work on the final solution. Now. Begin reaching out to your contacts abroad. We need a new type of weapon."

 

[ManBear]

Criminal Court - Warsaw, Poland - 1345

"This is Anita Szymański with the Polish Press Agency coming to you today outside of the Criminal Court hearing where we are awaiting to hear the results of the trial against the Policja Officer who shot and killed Russian delivery driver Sergei Yushkinov. For those unaware, Sergei was a twenty year old delivery driver for local company who was shot during an altercation at the scene of the Church of St. James the Great bombing. The family issued a lawsuit towards the city of Warsaw and the Policja Officer now faces criminal charges of murder in the first degree. Hold on. I'm getting notified that the jury has come back with a not guilty verdict. Officer Wincenty Kowalski will be released from all charges and is free to go."

The Office - Warsaw, Poland, 1400

Agents worked tirelessly as the news hit them that the Policja Officer has been cleared of all charges. The young delivery driver had resisted arrest and fought against the officer. The officer had mistakenly identified the boy's wallet as a knife and pulled his service weapon. In the struggle the boy attempted to grab the gun and it discharged accidentally. At least that's what the official story was. The agents all knew what the real story was and they knew what they had to do next. They had to find those responsible for the attacks and bring them in. Whether that be warm or cold depended on those who perpetrated the act.

"I got something from one of the vans!" The shout came from one of the Agents going over the security footage from the Policja Station that got hit. Agents all rushed over to the computer set in the bullpen and were looking at what the agent had found. A convenience store camera had caught footage of the delivery driver parking his van to wait for the shift change. They had been waiting for the highest number of officers to be present in the building before executing their plan. They had a face now. A face they could identify. A face they could track and follow. And they set off to work. Printers roared to life as copies of the man's face began being etched onto the white paper. That face would be famous one day but now it was a target. Prey. For the hunters of the Polish Office of State Protection and Polish Royal Special Forces.

Polish Supreme Court - Warsaw, Poland - 1800

The streets outside of the Supreme Court Building were packed with groups of people carrying signs with a young man's face print on them and the words "Justice for Sergei" written upon them. They were unhappy. Yelling obscenities at the riot police standing opposite of them, torches burning in their hands as they demanded justice. Demanded that the Policja officer who has slain the young Russian man in cold blood be held accountable for their actions. They were unhappy and the riot police standing in opposition of them were stoic in their curses. Suddenly the order came down from their commanders. Visors slammed shut and shields were beat with batons in cadence. From behind the shield wall canisters of a white gas were tossed over and into the civilian crowd. In returned the torch-bearing mob began lobbing bricks hidden in bags and under clothes over the line. Screams could be heard throughout the streets as the two parties clashed in medieval fashion outside of Krasiński Palace which has stood since the Age of Enlightenment began. The Palace had seen many disturbances such as this in its lifetime and it wouldn't be its last.

Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland, 2000

"It appears our plans are working. We have a riot outside the supreme court. The population hates the Policja and the Policja hate the population now. We are going to bring this dictatorship down. Polski scum won't know what hit them. Yankov, how goes the search for the new weapon?" The man puffed on a cigarette as he spoke. The glass ashtray before him was spotless and clean save for the few specks of ashes in it. The oaken table under it, shined with a cleanness that matched the ashtray. The men that sat around the table all looked at the man at the far end.

"We are still approaching groups around the world and trying to get ahold of them. We are searching for a weapon that will surely bring these Polski scum to heel under their new masters. General Elections will be held soon and several of our members are in the running for key positions in the Sejm and the Senate. All in all, the plan is going according to plan. Gregor is still unaccounted for and can only assume he has been buried in a hole or he has turned traitor. I'm trying to get in contact with someone who has access to the POSP offices. Once he has gained entrance, we should be able to know for sure."

 

[ManBear]

Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland - 0645

"Sir, we have received the new weapon from our allies abroad. It will surely strike fear in the hearts of these Polski scum. We will see the Polski fall and the true leaders of this nation rise again. Comrades, it is time. Make your peace with your maker and get your equipment ready. We will strike the very heart of the nation.

The room erupted in low cheers and hands thumping the table sitting between them. Cigarettes and beer bottles littered the once pristine wooden surface as the sudden exuberance caused the glass to dance across the surface, some clattering onto the floor spilling their contents on the wooden floors.

________________

The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 1237

The black suits of the agents within the office scurried throughout the series of desks arranged in the fashion of a bullpen made famous in American Police Dramas. They had received some information and the entire room was abuzz with nervous energy. Calls were being made, phones were ringing, and people were talking loudly amongst themselves. They were not aware of the information but those locked in the secure meeting room were. The glass windows allowed those on the outside to see in but not overhear the conversation. It wasn't long into the meeting before the blinds were drawn shut but not before a young agent spotted a map of Warsaw with arrows showing movement and a house circled in red marker. He suddenly had to bring himself into the bathroom with his cellphone.

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46 Okrętowa - Warsaw, Poland - 1358

"Two minutes until Operation Commences. Sync watches. Now. We go in quiet. Do not fire unless you have positive ID on a weapon. We HVTs alive to answer questions. Dead men do not reveal secrets. Secure detainees as quickly as possible. Authorization to gag HVTs has been granted to stop any attempted suicides. Bind hands and feet together with zip ties and continue at the back of the group. Anyone goes down, we step over them and continue the fight. We will need every gun in the fight until its over. Do you understand."

The masked man speaking was a team leader of GROM who had been attached to the Response Team of Department II. Ten of the thirty men were also members of GROM. Due to the nature of the targets they were after, GROM had been given operational authority over the Operation and were using their well earned experience in leading their lesser trained teammates through the operation.

"30 Seconds. Lets roll."

The engines of the vehicles roared to life as the men clamored into the Policja vehicles commandeered for this operation. The vehicles drove for a two minutes before they stopped on the cross street of Okretowa and they dismounted to move in on foot. The GROM special operations soldiers led the way with their suppressed Heckler and Koch 416 rifles at the ready. The POSP operatives followed behind with a mixture of suppressed FB Beryl rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. They moved quickly up the side of the street, with GROM soldiers pointing at different points to alert which teams were supposed to separate and provide cover. Once all teams were in position the ten GROM members popped the chained gate with a pair of bolt cutters before swinging the gate inwards.

The radio calls were short and simple. Open door left. Door left clear. Stairs. Stairs Clear. Proceeding up. Each callout came calmly and at a steady pace signifying the operatives were taking their time to minimize risk of contact. Then it came.

"All clear. Building clear. No HVTs inside. Begin recovering of HVAs. All electronic devices. Books. Papers. Anything that could be used to pass messages along."

"Sir, come to the cellar, you have to see this."

In the cellar sat a wooden table with ashtrays and beer bottles strewn about. Sat on it was a map of Warsaw. Circled on it were the locations of four hospitals, two museums, and the Supreme Court building. All were circles with Xs drawn through them. The one that caught their eye was the University Clinical Center. It was common knowledge the Queen of Poland was currently hospitalized there after some sort of medical emergency.

"Get The Office on the line." He glanced at his watch as he spoke. 1415.

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Warsaw, Poland - 1410

The hospital loomed over the ambulance as it pulled onto the side of the street leading towards the hospital. The three armed men glanced around at each other before making crosses across their body.

"Set the timer for ten minutes. Then we will drive into the building and announce to the world that Poland should dispose of these traitors currently in charge of Poland and return to the old ways."

The beeping of the timer steadily beeped as it counted down. The thoughts of the occupants of the vehicle were driven out by the incessant droning of the fans that had been plugged in and turned on to blow towards every window on the ambulance.

The engine roared to life as the ambulance speed down the street blaring its sirens. Yet, it did not slow down as it neared the emergency entrance of the hospital.

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Warsaw, Poland - 1419

Gunfire echoed throughout the halls of the hospital, drowning out the screams of those inside. No one had been shot as far as they were aware. But the gasmask wearing gunman were definitely threating anyone not listening to their demands with death. Soon the Ambulance situated where the intake desk used to be made a loud bang noise. Maybe the bomb had been a dud? No. There it was.

Yellow smoke began to fill the Emergency Room as the fans from inside the van assisted in spreading it throughout the building and into the ductworks. The screams of terror were replaced by the sounds of coughing. Whatever the smoke was, was not meant for human lungs.

A doctor glanced at his watch. 1420. That was the last thing he saw before the explosion he never saw nor heard vaporized him and pushed the yellow gas out onto the street and further into the building.

 

[ManBear]

University Clinical Center - Warsaw, Poland - 1425

The room the woman woke up in was not the same as the one she went to sleep in. This one featured military medicine posters instead of the civilian ones present in a civilian hospital.

"Ma'am we moved you to the Military Hospital in Krakow while you were unconscious. It was under orders of his majesty's orders while he was gone. He wanted you on a military base where it was safer. Which is why I hate to inform her that there has been a terrorist attack in Warsaw today ma'am. You're Husband is fine, he is currently in Oslo attending the European Summit."

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Hospital - Warsaw, Poland - 1440

Sirens blared as a group of armed men in military hazmat clothing and gas masks made their way from the military cordon and rapidly into the hospital that was missing the majority of its face. Not one of them spoke. They used hand signals to give directions and communicate with one another. They wore no unit badges or name tapes on their uniforms. To onlookers they looked like a well oiled machine who would bring death and destruction to anyone who wished to do Poland harm that was still inside. Once inside the building, the yellow smoke intermingled with the grey and black from the explosion made it difficult for them to see. The lights that had not been obliterated, hung from the ceiling and flashed with life every so often which further complicated their ability to see. But they were professionals and they would complain greatly about it.

"Alpha Team, I can't see shit in here. Switch to oral commands when necessary. The gas and smoke is making it impossible to see hand signals. Bravo team, continue left and secure anyone who looks hostile. Charlie, search for survivors in cleared areas and get them to safety."

The three teams split. Each ten man team would move to their designated locations they had went over before entering the building. And like this they proceeded to clear each floor of the building. As they neared the middle floors they heard what they were after.

A metal canister rolled into the room before exploding in a deafening bang and loud flash. It repeated the effect until it sat motionless on the floor but those inside the room wouldn't get the opportunity to simple watch the metallic object bounce across the floor. No. As soon as the first bang went off, ten men entered the hallway and began shouting orders. Orders that would result in their deaths if they didn't follow them. Two gunshots drowned out the yelling as a gun was raised and the target was dropped without hesitation.

"Alpha Actual to command, we have three in custody. One tango KIA. Send Delta to finish clearing floors we are bringing prisoners out. Over."

"Command to Alpha Actual, All copied. Proceed. Over."

A single gunshot to the head of the dead terrorist, to insure he wasn't merely unconscious, before the ziptied men were lead out of the building and unceremoniously thrown onto the pavement of the road outside. Each one would find a suppressor placed on the back of their head and a military boot firmly placed on their back to insure they didn't attempt to fight their capture. These soldiers were not to be trifled with.

"By the way, dickhead. This is the wrong hospital, she was moved to a different one after he location was leaked." The suppressor forced the man's head onto the pavement with even more force to reinforce the notion that he was an idiot.

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Undisclosed Location - Warsaw, Poland - 1500

"Sir, we have three operatives in custody. A fourth dead. Only a few civilian casualties and structural damage done on the hospital. We failed in our mission and must pass the reigns over to the the Epsilon team."

A single Makarov pistol was placed on the table, removed from the speaker's pocket. The man sitting at the desk looked defeated as he looked at the aging relic from a time long past. He hadn't touch this Makarov since he worked for the secret police in Warsaw in the 70's. With a sigh he picked up the weighted piece of metal and cocked the hammer back. Three loud reports barked from the pistol as he finished his end of the bargain. He had already sent the message to the forum his teams monitored for news. He took the last drink of whiskey from the glass before pressing the warm barrel to his temple. A simple squeeze of the trigger and then nothing but blackness.

________________

Undisclosed Location

The mean sitting in the corner of the coffee shop scanned the message board until he found was he was looking for. With a flurry of movement he grabbed his telephone and held one to speed dial the only number on it.

"Hey, Chopin's Corn Poppies died. How are the French Lilies doing?"

 

[ManBear]

"The french lilies have been delivered to the hospital. She always did like those french lilies. Hopefully they will ease her passing," came the reply on the phone before the line went dead.

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Basement Sublevel 3, The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 2340

"Cut the music." The loud polish metal music slowly dimmed down to where it could barely be heard.

"Tell me what I want to know and I'll make it stop. Otherwise we go back to drowning you repeatedly while we listen to Decapitated's cover of Mandatory Suicide. I gotta say they did remarkably covering Slayer."

The bloodied man dripped blood and water as he sagged helplessly from the roped suspending him from the ceiling. The man showed no fear to the torture awaiting him if he didn't answer. "What time is it?"

The man wearing jeans, hoodies, and balaclava laughed as he raised his wrist to look at the watch that rested on the underside of his wrist. "Twenty till midnight. You got a date you're standing up, Dmitri?"

This time is was the hanging man's turn to laugh. With eyes cast down, looking at the puddle of bloody water at his feet, he never saw the meaty fest connect to his jaw. He did feel a few teeth come loose as the taste of copper filled his mouth The stars he was seeing were his only companion as he felt two sets of hands grab him and lower him on his back before a wet rag was forced over his face.

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Hospital - Warsaw, Poland - 2410

"Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen."

A dozen robed priests moved amongst the bodies of those who had perished in the fateful bombing earlier that day. No one had asked them to come. They moved through the bodies like they were the Grim Reaper plucking the souls from the bodies themselves. As they moved and recited Eternal Rest to each person they would take drops of water from the flasks attached to their robes and draw the cross on their foreheads. Their once white robes were now stained in red and grey. Blood and Dust. These men bore tears on their faces but they did not cry. These poor souls needed them to remain strong for them. For they were the instrument of God and God would welcome them to paradise with open arms. Doctors. Nurses. Patients. Men. Women. Children. Would all be accepted into Paradise after such a heinous act of the devil. They were certain of that.

Cameras would follow these apparitions of faith as they moved amongst the hundreds of bodies positioned on the streets as emergency personnel continued to remove them from the rubble and debris.

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The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 2415

"Current tally of dead is two hundred and forty-five. Injured is approaching one hundred. Experts at the Military Hospital believe seventy percent of them won't make it. The combination of damage from the explosion. The chemical agent we are saying is a combination of Chlorine Gas and Ammonia gas. Clever of them to be honest sir. The first firefighters on scene used water to put out the fires which cause the Ammonia gas to form ammonia hydroxide. So not only did first responders have to deal with toxic gas inhalation they had to deal with emergency personnel with chemical burns. We have three of their operatives in custody on site undergoing enhanced interrogation. They won't last long I believe. I just came from down there. I don't know how they could withstand that kind of interrogation. Or how strictly legal it is. Sir."

The large man looked out the window towards the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles as they raced throughout the city. It seemed even the city's criminals had decided to take a night off in the wake of what had happened. One could say many things about the Polish people but they had each others backs when push came to shove.

"Call the Polish News Agency. I'm going to make a press briefing at six in the morning. They have until then to get answers."

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Basement Sublevel 3, The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 2456

The hacking cough of someone who had just experienced drowning for the hundredth time that time drowned out the blaring heavy metal music.

"Listen Dmitri. As soon as you tell me who you leaders are and who the other members of you cell are this will all stop." The Polish Intelligence Agent was nursing a hurting hand as he spoke. Even the gloves he wore did little to protect the hands with hours of beating a man. They protected the knuckles from breaking but they did not stop the bruising from forming.

"Alright. Alright. I'll talk." The choking man could barely talk between coughs as he tried to force imaginary water from his lungs. The interrogator smiled as he motioned for his silent compatriots to help the man sit up.

"Our leader is probably dead by now. As well as senior leadership. On failure their instructions were clear. Burn any lose ends and destroy any evidence. I'm sure you have a building fire somewhere started under mysterious circumstances. As for the rest of my cell, you took them hostage. All that's left is what they called the Epsilon team. I have no idea who they are or where they are. Except for one thing. How does the military hospital feel about flower deliveries for patients? I hear the queen likes French lilies."

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[ManBear]

Military Institute of Medicine - Warsaw, Poland - 0130

The air was eerily silent as the smell of gunpowder and smoke filled the hallways. Deep, gouging wounds chipped away at the once white concrete walls of the hospital, flashing red emergency lights casting eerie shadows among the gouges, the shards looking like grey and blackened teeth of some unknown monster that had come to prey upon those in the hospital. Viscous pools of red liquid flowed along the floor of the hallways, sporting a dusting of white from concrete and paint chipped away form the automatic gunfire. Every so often the soft sound of splashing would sound as a black boot would step into the fluid leaving additional tracks as the boots moved their way through the maze of hallways.

The swishing sound of pants legs moving against each other would be temporarily deafened by the sudden crack of a rifle firing into the body of some unknown assailant, adding viscera to the new pool of viscous red fluid pooling in the floor. The boots were near their destination. They had slowed to a crawling pace as the flashlights all aimed at the last door that had yet to be cleared.

A boot left a imprint on the door of the viscous red fluid as it impacted the wood of the door. The sound of splintering wood would fill the air as a female screamed and the sound of something metal hitting the ground would come from the room as the armed boots would hastily enter the room, flashlights scanning the room as they entered.

Another crack of gunfire would come from the room as a sole pair of boots would emerge from the room. A man dressed in dark military clothing and a balaclava would speak into the radio attached to his belt rig.

"Principle is secure. Alert medics to head this way. Two enemies KIA. Two friendlies KIA. Principle is secure. I repeat her majesty is secure."

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The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 0200

"Her majesty is safe and sound. What information from the ground team we have gotten so far is her two bodyguards were killed in action but not before a secondary service weapon was given to her majesty. One assailant was killed in the hallway while the second was killed in the hospital room apparently by her majesty after her bodyguard was shot and killed. We recovered two Russians pistols identified as PB Pistols. Her Majesty is being transported to the military base where the 1st Armoured Brigade is stationed. Medical facilities there have been deemed appropriate and several key medical personnel will be transported with her. They have been vetted with the hospital, security personnel, and ourselves. Word will be passed to His Majesty shortly to inform him of what has occurred and the outcomes."

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Basement Sublevel 3, The Office - Warsaw, Poland - 0200

"Dmitri I have bad news for you." The original man spoke to the hanging man as he lowered the music volume to a manageable level. "Your Epsilon team failed. They're dead. Her majesty is safe and thanks you for the lilies. She was absolutely thrilled for the gift that informed me to give one to you too."

A single shot cracked through the air from the pistol held in the original man's hand.

"Burn his body with the rest. Let their spirits be damned for all eternity to walk this land with no peace." He spoke to two other men dressed similarly to him, wearing masks, as he walked out of the room.