As the team socialized, the officials at the top discussed their own worries..

The Chief of Police began with: “Listen, this... isn't something I wanted to discuss. Not today, at least, but there's not much time now. Brigitte and her team have been bringing us trouble. They aren't careful enough in their missions; now a foreigner arrives and gets arrested by her too. This can't continue. We have to get rid of them, somehow.”

The Assistant Chief, confused at this, asked: “But why one of our strongest and most loyal officers?”

The Chief explained: “It's not just me... you see, the Jalcap Council Chamber warned me of this. This teams' recent actions have been stirring trouble. Yes, they are very successful at their arrests, but they tend to go too far in their efforts; being too unrestrained and daring in general.”

“Why has this just now become a problem?” asked the Deputy.

“Let me explain... For starters, the Council is uneasy. The increasing number of foreigners 'visiting' Reglom is concerning. Not just for them, not just for the Jalcap area, but for multiple council chambers of Reglom West and outside it.”

“Yes... that's an outgoing concern.” noted the Assistant Chief.

“And that's not counting things like... the issues occurring at certain habitations; the foreigner populations outright moving into areas in Nikean territory; the increasing problems with the hybrid freaks; the growth of those strange 'movements' in the Inhabited Regions; plus the never-ending disputations between Reglom West and North on how we should respond to such problems...

The Jalcap Council and the other councils fear all of this... is a prelude to a new Centennial War.” the Chief of Police elaborated.

All the men looked, worried and in silence. The Assistant Chief broke said silence and said:

“If we have another such war, this time involving foreigners too, it would be the end of it...”

The Deputy then asked: “I... understand the concerns about foreigners, Chief. But... how does this relate to Brigitte or her team?”

The Chief answered: “The Council has issued orders to all departments to relieve of duty any officers that could be considered troublesome, with the goal of keeping down any potential dissent. At first, I didn't think it would be an issue, but recent actions have led to them directly warning us.”

The Deputy continued asking: “Have they forgotten just who she is?”

“I didn't want to fire her in the first place... Not only is she too useful, I... I really don't want her to know we're trying get rid of her. But if we just fire her now, she'll immediately suspect. The Council doesn't want the populace to know about their arrangements, so if we just fire her like that, other people too will begin suspecting something.”

“Why is that an issue?” questioned the Assistant Chief.

“The Council warned us we should avoid attention, just telling me to 'find a way' to get rid of her. I've tried to stall this, this is why she's been left guarding the over-atmospheric stations more often, so she's somewhat avoiding attention. But with this new foreigner arriving and getting arrested by her, she'll be on their sights.”

“On their sights? Only now? How is that?” the Assistant asked again.

“The Council had cut us some slack, for a while. Giving us time. But these recent events have agitated them. Once they find out about the whole foreigner arrest, they'll call us out.”

The Deputy began to say: “Well... maybe it's not that dire a situation. We just fire her and-”

“As you said, she's one of our top officers in terms of strength and loyalty, even if she's a bit abrasive... Again, we can't fire her without it being obvious. Moreover, I fear if we don't get rid of her and her team... the Council will do it their own way...” the Chief clarified, interrupting him.

The Assistant Chief and the Deputy looked worried and contemplative for a moment.

“Perhaps... we could just send them to the Pansive planets right now?” suggested the Deputy.

“Something like that, maybe we can send them on a long mission until we figure out how to deal with this.” added the Assistant Chief.

“Or even better, send them on a mission and then find some way to make them stay off-planet!!!” the Deputy proposed.

The Assistant Chief then said: “Wait, what about the foreigner? He was recently arrested, but right now he's only on a temporary cell. Maybe we can use this?”

The Chief of Police thought for a moment, saying: “Hhmmm, we could use this, indeed... we rarely ever have foreigners incarcerated in the long term...”

“What do you propose now?” asked the Deputy.

“I propose we, basically, make her and her team go on a long 'trip' across many planets, on the edge of Nikean territory. First we should make them take the foreigner to a Habitation. One way or another, we'll make sure they stay out there. As long as they're off-planet, the Council Chamber should be satisfied. At very least, it would buy us more time.” explained the Chief of Police.

But the Assistant Chief had doubts: “What happens if the foreigner causes trouble for them?”

“He's just a foreigner, how dangerous could he be? She already beat him on her own. We may be unsure, but...” the Chief of Police said, as he thought for a brief moment and concluded with “...we'll have to take the risk.”

“What if they end up getting in trouble with other foreigners out there?” the Deputy questioned the Chief.

“Even on the unlikely worst-case scenario, if it happens off-planet, then the danger is already lower. Such a problem is much more easily contained. Even if they do cause trouble on a foreign planet, we can just pin the blame on them instead. But I doubt this will be a problem.”

“So, we are definitely doing this now?” the Deputy asked,  accepting the plan.

“Still... do we have to remove the others right now too? Can't we just separate her from the team and send her with others?” questioned the Assistant Chief.

The Chief answered: “No, they're with her too often. If we don't send them with her, they'll only stay to ask questions.”

The Deputy sighed, asking: “Very well then... what do we do first?”

Meanwhile, back downstairs, Officer Latymer continued talking with her team.

“So, Rob, is your TypeTalky having problems too?”

“...No?” he replied.

“Well, you haven't been responding to the messages sent by the Inspector.” explained Brigitte. 

“Oh yeah... I forgot to check.”

Brigitte asked him: “Didn't the alarm catch your attention?” 

“...I muted it.” he replied, almost whispering.

“Again?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

They were interrupted by another officer, standing by the doorway, saying: 

“Brigitte, they are calling you, they want you upstairs!!!” 

Yet another officer standing behind whispered to him: “And her team too.”

The officer added: “And your team too!!!” 

“Don't hold your breaths.” said Ben. 

They all swiftly went upstairs, fearing what they'll be told.