Paranormal Police - Book 2 We're in the Army now

Joint Operations Command, Bungendore NSW

Alexa pulled into the carpark for the Australian Defence Force Joint Operations Command at Bungendore, ADF HQJOC (B). She was still a little bemused by the sign she had just passed. Even after living in the area for her whole life, she hadn’t known there even was a Nudist Club in the ACT, never alone that it was just down the road and across the border from the JOC. She idly wondered if many shifters were members.

She was here to meet with Lieutenant Charles Mbabazi who would be her contact for the project of integrating shifters into the Australian Defence Force. She parked in the appropriate visitor parking area, grabbed her duffle bag, and went through the main entrance.

Going up to reception, she presented her badge and ID. She glanced at the Midshipman's ID and said, “Constable Alexa Smirn from the AFP to see Lieutenant Charles Mbabazi, Midshipman Morris. He’s expecting me.”

Midshipman Sandra Morris tapped away at the computer for a moment, then compared the information on the screen with Alexa's id.

“I’ll let him know, ma'am."

The midshipman made a call and then said, “He will be down in a minute, ma’am. You can sit over there if you would like.” She passed her a visitor’s lanyard.

“Thank you, Midshipman Morris.”

Alexa went to the indicated seating area, but chose to stand, looking out of the window. It looked like a brilliant day to fly.

A few minutes later, she noticed the reflection of a tall man, dressed in a Navy Lieutenant’s uniform in the window. She turned around and used her eagle sight to read the name badge from across the foyer. Yep, this was the correct person. She slung her duffle over her shoulder and started to walk towards him.

He was tall, about two metres, fit - like a runner rather than a body builder - brown eyes, black, curly hair and the darkest coloured skin she had ever seen. She shook her head and said, “Hello Lieutenant Mbabazi, I’m Constable Smirn.”

“Welcome to HQJOC, Constable Smirn. Would you mind if we grabbed something from the mess before we went back to my section? I could do with a coffee.”

Alexa noticed a slight accent. So, Charles was probably not born in Australia, but had been here long enough to sound mostly local.

“That’s fine, Lieutenant.”

He led them through a couple of sets of doors and into a large, open area filled with tables and chairs.

They lined up to be served and Charles asked, “Coffee or something?”

“Large hot chocolate, please.”

“Anything else?”

Alexa looked over the range of cakes, pastries, and snack bars. “How are the muffins?”

“The blueberry muffin’s nice, but the banana’s a bit so-so.”

“I’ll go for the carrot cake then.”

---***---

They arrived at his section; an open plan set of offices, with six desks. Currently, they were the only ones in the office.

Alexa got down to business. “So, what have you been read in on and what’s your clearance?”

Charles answered, “Negative Vetting level 2 – NV2. I’m on the ADF team for Paranormal integration.”

Alexa got her phone out and messaged her boss, Joey.

“Can you run me through what you understand the situation is and outline where you are intending to go from here? This will help me to identify what help I can be. FYI, I’ve got PV clearance for this project in the AFP.”

“Well, it’s all a bit academic since there are no paranormals within the ADF, but we’re looking at how we can change our policies to keep everyone else safe.”

Alexa closed her eyes for a moment and parsed what had just been said. It didn’t sound good. “Out of curiosity, how have you ensured that you do not have any currently?”

“I had our HR run a report to identify anyone who’s got a history of absence during the full moon. Plus investigated those who suffer from hypertrichosis, that is, with excessive body hair.”

“And what measures are you looking at to keep everyone else safe?”

“Well, with them being out of control once a month, we obviously cannot have them in any positions with access to dangerous weapons or in positions of authority.”

“Where are you getting your information from?”

“Well, just stuff I’ve read, plus Commodore McClaine, who is apparently an expert on the supernatural. He’s in my chain of command.”

Alexa’s phone rang. She looked at it and said, “I need to take this, is that OK?”

“Sure.”

“Sir, thanks for calling back.

“Yes. I’m over at the ADF HQJOC having the initial meeting with my contact. Yes. No. Quite concerned, yes.”

Alexa continued to talk for a couple of minutes, making sure to not say anything out loud that would cue Charles into how worried she really was. “Apparently, they’re getting their information from a Commander McClaine, who’s a bit of an expert on the supernatural. Sir, my initial issue is I need to confirm what information from our project can be shared with the project over here at the ADF.”

“Yes, sir. No, I don’t think that is clear at all, sir. Lieutenant Charles Mbabazi, NV2 security clearance.”

“Right, so to confirm, I can share anything from our group except names and an individual’s details, but it must be verbally as there can be no electronic transfers. You will get back to me shortly on the other query.”

“Thanks, sir. Yes, that is my plan. OK, that should be fine.”

Alexa sent some messages on her phone and then returned her attention to Charles.

“Right, well I recently finished helping the AFP complete the initial integration study for paranormals, have you done something similar for Defence?”

Charles said, “Integration? I thought you’d be all about detection and containment?”

“Why? What actual, physical evidence do you possess that an individual is a risk?”

“Well, none, but everyone knows...”

“OK. Gonna have to stop you there.

“Up until the last month or so, there was no official information on shifters. Everything was based on hearsay and superstition. Would you like people to treat you based on hearsay and superstition? Do you think that will lead to good outcomes?”

"But they're unstable."

“OK. Let’s get back to basics. From your accent I can tell you were not born in Australia. Where did your parents come from?”

“Uganda, but I don’t see what…”

“So, they were skilled migrants then?”

“My father’s a surgeon and my mother’s a Nursing Unit Manager.”

“And you were treated at school as dumb, uneducated, slow, good at sports, but won’t amount to much academically. People assumed you were some gang member, dishonest and likely to be violent? Am I close?”

“Yes.” Anger and hurt were bleeding into his voice.

“So, did you deserve what people assumed you were like? Was it fun to be the subject of discrimination? For people to assume they knew about you before they had even met you? In fact, it was so much fun that you want to give shifter’s a chance to enjoy the same sort of treatment?”

Now that Alexa had momentum up, she was steamrolling over Charles.

"So where exactly is your evidence for that? Has the Australian Government released some study or report saying this? You admitted that you do not have personal experience, so are you basing everything on hearsay? What about you basing your actions on facts and real experience? Why can’t you allow each person to stand on their own merits? Why do you insist on adding extra barriers to an individual because of an accident of birth?”

“But how are we going to do that if there aren’t any werewolves in the ADF?”

“Firstly, there are very few were-wolves in Australia. There are, however, about a half percent of the population that are shifters. In other words, have a were-animal of some kind. So that’s about one person in every 200. Now, you have basically no shifters in the air force or navy, but you have about a full percent in the army, so, including Reservists, about 500 shifters. What can I say? As a career choice, Army is popular among shifters.

“There have been three preliminary studies done on shifters in the last three months by our government - with the final results due out in a couple of months. The preliminary results are that a shifter is no worse of a risk or danger than a non-shifter. Period. No influence by the moon, no periods of lack of control. Links to these studies will have already been sent to you, but email me if you have trouble locating them and I will resend the links.

“Now, of course these could be biased, as the Government is supporting that line. But, at the moment, you do not have any contra evidence. Therefore, you have no grounds to do anything other than work towards integration.

“OK, let’s move on. What’s a working definition of ‘discrimination’? When you assume an individual will act in a way that you think members of whatever group you have assigned them to act, you have discriminated.

“See, the act of assuming someone is better, worse or even different because of some membership in a fictional or actual group is discrimination, and part of this whole exercise we’re doing, is to ensure that we don’t discriminate. The Australian Government is trying really hard to stamp out all discrimination, the last thing they’ll want to do is to add more. We’re trying to move towards a society where each person gets to be allowed to be them. Not in a ‘sit on a mountain top and find themselves’ kind of way, but that their strengths are nurtured and encouraged, while their weaknesses are identified and minimised.”

“How do you know all of this?”

In a spooky voice, Alexa said, “I’m from the AFP, We Know Things.” Then she laughed and added, “Plus I am a shifter myself.”

She sighed at the fear that was in his eyes at this revelation. “So, Big Naval Officer scared of widdle old me? I think you need a demonstration so we can move forward. Is this Commander also on the Shifter Taskforce?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe the whole taskforce needs to be there as well. Do you have a secure place we could use for this? It needs to be large, with a tall ceiling. Indoor basketball court, maybe? Large lecture theatre?”

“Umm.”

With a sigh, Alexa said, “Take me back to the mess and I’ll stay there until you organise things, OK?”

Charles nodded. They got up and went back to the mess in silence, where Charles left her. She noticed that he had kept an extra bit of distance between them during the walk.

Alexa got out her phone and sent some messages. She then got out her laptop and started to work on her list of hints and suggestions she could feed this group, once everything got sorted.

---***---

A half hour later, Charles came back into the mess. “We’ll be using the gymnasium like you suggested.”

“Will most of the taskforce be there?”

“Not initially, no.”

Alexa’s Spidey Sense started to let her know this wasn’t good.

Alexa packed up her laptop, sent some messages on her phone and pre-loaded the agreed upon panic signal, ‘im fine’, as an SMS to Joey and kept her phone in her hand, ready to send. Everything else was packed away in her duffle and slung over her shoulder.

“Let’s go then.”

Charles led Alexa through the maze that was known as HQJOC (B) until they reached the amenities area. A set of bollards with a reserve sign were positioned in front of the doors labelled ‘Ball Court’. Charles went to the doors, opening the left one and holding it open for Alexa.

Alexa smiled at him and stepped into the room. She heard the door snick behind her, then realised that she was facing a navel officer, holding a 9mm pistol.

Alexa pressed the button on her phone, sending the SMS, and said, “Hi, you must be Commodore McClaine. Please lower the gun as this is not an authorised situation for you to be using it.”

Commodore Anthony McClaine held out a heavy, silver chain with a standard crucifix on it. “Put this on now, demon!”

With a sigh, Alexa pocketed her phone and took the chain and put it around her neck. “Once again sir, I must ask you to lower the gun before this incident goes further than it needs to.”

“With the silver crucifix, you’re not going to be able to shift, demon!”

McClaine pulled the trigger, shooting her in the chest.

Charles yelled, “No!” and Alexa collapsed to the floor, in a growing pool of blood.