Pokémon: International Police Operations

Mars smiled briefly at the agents. "Since as IP agents you are free to operate in the field as you wish as guaranteed by the Code, sure, Elodie. Feel free to go to the department store! Hopefully, you won't be needing whatever supplies you'll buy. Just don't forget to go to the Galactic Energy Company's headquarters for investigation. It's a principle of the Code that you have to follow orders within reason."

In fact, Mars decided it would be more useful if she were in Veilstone City itself in light of the current situation. "You know what? I think I'll come with you, since things are very tense as it is already." Thankfully, as her laptop was portable and easy to transport, it wasn't before long that Mars had packed all her equipment with her. Laptop, weapon, Poké Balls, and all.

Shady Pirate, CattyNeko

By then, Mars led Kira and Elodie out of the secret IP office and to nearby Veilstone City. Upon entering the city perimeter, it was evident that the smell of smoke continued to fill the streets which made it difficult to breathe but not unbearable - albeit it made Veilstone City look and feel like it was anything but a normal city. Tactical teams, armed with ballistic shields and all, walked around the city constantly. It was clear that the area was under lockdown, and it was not a pleasant sight either.
The agents gathered near the police station, behind the Pokémon Centre, where Mars addressed them. "Okay, I'll be setting up my laptop at the police station, so for the time being you can go to wherever you need to go. If it was me, I'd love to go to the department store too," Mars admitted.

Mars, though, was interrupted by an approaching Officer Jenny, who glanced suspiciously at Kira. Mars expected this and quickly reacted by showing her own ID and badge, saying, "I'm Mars from International Police Intelligence. We're doing business here on behalf of the International Police. What's going on here?"
Jenny replied, "Well, I was going to warn you to remain indoors since the city is on high alert, but I suppose you know more than enough that there has been a bombing at the Galactic Energy Company. Currently, the city is doing what it can to put out the mass fires and the wreckage the bombing has caused, but that's not getting rid of the smoke anytime soon. For now, we've got tactical patrols on foot patrolling every sector of Veilstone City we know."
"What about the civilians?" Mars added. "Are they allowed to move around?"
"Civilians are free to wander around but are strongly advised to remain indoors until the situation has passed," Jenny explained. "However, that doesn't mean they can't be outside. They just have to be escorted by a tactical patrol. In your case, however, I advise you keep your ID with your at all times if you're questioned."

It seemed like Jenny had more business to do with Kira, but Mars quietly took Jenny aside and gave a thorough six-second explanation, in which the latter quickly nodded in agreement.
After Officer Jenny had left them, Mars prepared to head into the police station, but not before saying, "At least the city will be secure for now. I'll be at the police station, so you two can go where you need to be. As well, I'll be monitoring the city with their surveillance systems and keeping in touch with you through communcations channels. That is, unless you'd really like me to join you."

(You're free to go around Veilstone City, even though the situation is quite serious and the air is tense. When you're ready, head to the Galactic Energy Company to the scene of the crime.)

 

Still in the Veilstone police station, Mars could only shake her head when she monitored their movements with the city map but also with the department store's cameras. They were going to buy groceries at this time! However, such behaviour was not against the Code, so Mars had no objections.
The world is facing a problem with Fiera, and they're buying groceries, she thought. They can take a save-the-world situation pretty casually! Such was the work of International Police, Mars figured. Seeing she had no need to use her weapons at the moment, Mars put her Taser on the desk and sent out Purugly.
"It's been a while since we were in Veilstone City, eh, Purugly?" Mars remarked. "International Police were hunting us here back then, and now here we are working for that same agency. Well, IPI doesn't count." Purugly only stretched her legs and sat down beside the table.

Outside the Galactic Energy Company headquarters, a tactical team was conducting its routine patrol. A Veilstone fire crew had mostly put out the smoke that was coming from the warehouse behind, but they didn't dare touch anything until the police had finished investigating. Saturn, a former leader of Team Galactic and now operations manager of the company, was standing right outside the warehouse watching the fire crews extinguish what was left of the smoke. From what was gathered by company workers, there had been separate bombings of which one had destroyed a functioning reactor generating power to the entire city. While Saturn had ordered power be quickly restored using backup reactors, the damaged reactor clearly had resulted in a huge fire which was being dealt with fire crews. Now that the fire was mostly gone, but smoke continued to plague the city, it was up to the police to investigate what was the cause.
Cyrus was due to arrive any moment now.

(Fun fact: Veilstone City is the very place where Mars got her fresh start after Team Galactic, so it brings back memories.)

 

Mars watched Kira wait for the elevator and for Elodie, supposedly. "Seems like you have your hands full, Kira," Mars said. "And Elodie is...?"
Indeed, Elodie had walked up to Kira at the elevator and was holding quite a bunch of berries! Even so, she noticed a tactical officer - dressed in full-bodied gear and holding a shield - walk around the store to buy a bottle of water. Was security really that necessary everywhere?! Even a civilian like the department store had to be under surveillance.
Mars sighed.
Maybe I ought to join them for a meal as well, Mars thought. In truth, it seemed like a good idea, but work came first.

At the same time, Saturn was watching the police cordon off the warehouse with police tape. Granted, as manager, Saturn had access. He watched the police interview witnesses which included workers within the company. The smoke still covered all of Veilstone City and it looked like not even the use of Defog would get rid of it anytime soon. As the situation progressed, Saturn looked over to see a familiar face talk with one of the officers who afterward let passed under the police tape to join him.
"Ah, Cyrus," Saturn greeted emotionlessly. "Good to see you."

 

(Watch it! Mars is actually in the police station, but she's watching Kira and Elodie through the store's security cameras! As well, she is using every camera in the city to look around, for that matter! In short, it's just Elodie being the other in the Department Store.)

Mars couldn't listen to exactly what Kira was saying, but she seemed distracted. At first, Mars considered talking to Kira through the communications radio, except that could also mean blowing their cover which was dangerous enough as it was. However, she supposed that was the wiser option in the end.
"Kira," Mars said, speaking into her microphone. "Just try not to blow your cover."

(Don't forget that Mars, Kira, and Elodie have radio earpieces).

 

"Glad to hear it," Mars replied to Elodie, hearing her voice through her earpiece. "Well, I'm not sure how you're going to approach the crime scene with all those groceries. It would make you look quite silly! Nah, you better have those dropped off first."
Still sitting at her desk in the police station, Mars continued to check on the maps and surveillance cameras with her computer. With help from Chief Shaw, Mars could access information from local sources, which in turn would help with the investigation.

Shady Pirate, CattyNeko

Meanwhile, outside the Department Store, Kira and Elodie were once again in the midst of a Veilstone City shrouded by smoke. The air was dense, the sky was thick, and for all anyone cared - the sun looked like an orange circle. The smoke was simply hiding out the sunlight and filtered it into nothing special. Civilians were walking about with at least one tactical officer accompanying them, with plenty of other patrols walking around too. As the two girls walked away from the Department Store, a tactical officer walked to that store to exchange duties with the initial officer there who was just ending his shift.

 

(Been a while, hasn't it, friends? I guess we've all been busy)

As Elodie and Kira had made it to the latter's house, Mars had been monitoring them through the use of local surveillance cameras whilst making phone calls. Kira's house was in one piece, that was for certain, and was a distance away from the Galactic Energy Company building. The update so far was that the smoke from the building's warehouse would probably take days, if not weeks, to clear.
"Agent Mars," someone, a tactical officer, said through a communicator. "Where are those agents the International Police has promised?"
Mars sweatdropped.
"Uh... would you believe... grocery shopping?"
Unsurprisingly, that response left a deafening silence on the other end.

Near Kira's house, two tactical officers on patrol noticed Kira and Elodie approaching the area.
"Hey, you two!" one of them called out, motioning for them to stop. "Stop right there! Where's your escort?"

 

(Haha and here I am trying to balance my time with exams as well. They'll rack up for me in a month. Thanks for waiting, Shady!)

Almost instantly, the two tactical officers recoiled upon seeing the IP badges the girls had just presented to them. They lowered their shields first.
"Oh, my apologies, madam," the officer said. "Indeed you should be able to take care of yourselves. It's just that - I guess you've heard - the city is under a terrorist alert. But I suppose you've got your own reasons for being here so..."
He motioned to his partner, who nodded and walked away talking on a radio. "Alright. My partner is notifying other patrols of your presence in this area, but there's nothing I can do for other patrols recognising you straight away, so I advise you to present your badges and ID whenever necessary."

Such was the similar advice Mars had given earlier. After that, the officer rejoined his partner and continued their routine patrol, leaving Kira and Elodie to themselves.
Through the communicator and radio, Mars said, "Well, I'm glad you handled that well. Not that it was too big of an issue to begin with."