Lucullus Papirius's Story

"Our focus shouldn't be on the girl, but formally prosecuting the man behind the kidnapping." A Voice echoed through the room as a young man in a light blue police style uniform entered. The uniform was unlike anything seen before on Terra or Niihama, with it's geometric shapes and somewhat alien design.

"I'm Detective Papirius of the Galaxy Police, Mr. Suzuki..." He said, passing an envelope to the Taiyou officer.

"You are no longer in charge of this investigation, the ISSP is relinquishing authority over this case and it's extradition of Mr. Kenneth O'leary is null and void."

The Taiyou detective scowled slightly, and then shook his head. "So this has become a Galaxy Police matter..." He said, as the other officer turned to Shelly.

"This is a new extradition order for Mr. O'Leary. You're to deliver him to the custody of the Volarian Monarchy as soon as your government is able." He said, turning to the other officers. "These are the logs from the Aschen Slaver registry leaving Cryo, this particular one caught my attention." He said, passing copies of logs to the other officers, a highlighted section showing a woman resembling Shanthi.

"This woman is registered under Tech Con, and is currently on Langara owned by a Tech Con employee whom we have as of yet been unable to ascertain. However, according to Aschen slave registries, the woman is alive, registered in the Province of Leonis."

The young GP officer was quite happy with himself, having swooped in on the entire investigation.

"Any questions?"

"The girl is out of our reach," Shelly told Rick and Aries. "She's not one of ours, and we have no jurisdiction to go stomping around Aschen space to find a Taiyou girl. Our concern is what's going on right here in our own cities, not halfway across the galaxy. There are people that are being seized and sold to remote regions right here on Terra. Women and children being sold into prostitution and worse. Let the Taiyou handle their own."

As if on cue, Detective Papirius barged into the room. Shelly's mood was rapidly souring, and her lips were pressed into a tight crease.

"You may have assumed control over the ISSP's end of the investigation, but need I remind you that O'Leary's crimes against Shanthi Hakkar were committed prior to Volaria joining with the AXIS nations, and it doesn't absolve him from responsibility for the countless crimes he has committed against TNG citizens. Our decision to involve the ISSP in this investigation at all was a courtesy."

She briefly viewed the extradition paperwork before refolding it neatly. "Your request for extradition will be reviewed by the NPA in good time. I suggest you take it up the director though, because even if I wanted to give him to you, I don't have the necessary clearance to sign off on that."

She shook her head "But if you think the NPA is going to just turn over our primary witness in bringing down an entire operation, just to settle a personal vendetta and the disappearance of a single girl, you had best be ready for a long struggle. Until I see a signed order in my hands from director Lebrun, Mr. O'Leary will be remaining right where he is, secure in our custody pending further investigation into his crimes and his associates."