A Boat Load of Problems: the tenth mission

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

One hundred thirteen dead bodies in a shipping container at San Diego. Normally problems of this sort are not our concern but one of the people wasn't quite dead when the container was opened, and she exhibited signs of psychic powers before her death. Further on scene investigation revealed that it was likely her influence that caused the container to be opened in the first place.
Using the cover of possible terrorist development of bio weaponry, the local office was able to examine the bodies and container. Latent impressions showed that approximately thirty percent of the inhabitants were psychically active before they died, remarkably high. As you are aware, only forty five percent of our agents are psionically active and we actively recruit the most likely candidates. Initial background checks to identify the deceased have had very little success, though the few hits have all been for peasants and other low status inhabitants of poor countries; not usual candidates for psychic activity, especially in such high rates.
I've decided that the local agents don't have the man power to properly investigate this situation, so I am sending them some aid. For obvious reasons, I will not be using Department 8 agents; rather, I've decided that their recent string of remarkable successes has earned Edwards's team the opportunity to return to California and figure out this case. I have every confidence that their various talents will allow them to bring this to a successful resolution.

Atlanta Journal

by Randall Sumner

"For the charge of murder in the first degree, we, the jury, find the defendants, Walter Rounds and Torrence Zaffudo, guilty on all counts." With those words, the Southern Surgeons were convicted of four counts of murder. Mr. Rounds was also convicted of four killings committed late last year, and has been sentenced to death. Mr. Zaffudo was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 30 years for assault with intent to kill and resisting arrest.
As our readers may remember, the two men were apparently convinced that some kind of occult ritual would grant them incredible supernatural powers, and that the organs found at their residence were a part of this ritual. The prosecution made good use of the crime scene photographs and forensic testimony to prove that the various parts had come from the four victims. The presence of sodium pentothol and other sedatives that were also found in the victims' systems was almost as damming. Despite the lack of murder weapons, the jury only needed to deliberate for two hours before emerging with their verdict.
This brings to a close one of the most gruesome and tragic periods of Atlanta in the new millennium. Sources have informed this reporter that the officers responsible for the arrests are recovering from their injuries and have all been commended for their exceptional bravery and professionalism.