-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Mister Feldspar looks at Aaliyah. "These gangs have a little deeper hold than the gangs in many cities. The usual things like drugs, smuggling, and regional "security" rackets are the primary ones, though the last one is complicated by the fact that they have a few neighborhood watch companies that appear to operate legitimately." He stares briefly at the AR projector. "I believe the issue is that he is clearly preparing for much more than simply stomping out the gangs. That would have seen more requisition for human intelligence collectors."
He pauses to listen to Chikage's proposal. "Yes, I agree with your assessment. Most of the heavier equipment - signature reduced APCs, for example - have not been delivered. However, at least a couple shipments of automatic weapons and grenade launchers have been delivered already." He leans forward and types into the top of the table as if a keyboard rested in front of him. The AR display flickers and displays a map of the city, with three locations in the south-west quarter marked. "These are three active armories and storage facilities that Event Horizon uses. I wouldn't recommend the armory and motorpool on Seventh Street, but the others have not seen extremely heavy personnel movement and would likely be easier to compromise. If enough marked equipment is put into the hands of the underworld, Erickson's superiors will find out about it, and will take steps that will allow my employer to discover who they are." He chuckles quietly. "It is unlikely that delivering a single shipment to them would destabilize the region, but it would also likely open further contacts in the area if you have to return."
Feldspar nods to Baron. "His public speeches have all been on the conveniently public matter of the existence of gangs, but his reorganization has been highly distributed. Cryptolinguists of extremely high caliber have already been deployed, and these are signs to the intelligence community that something more is afoot. What disturbs me is that we cannot determine what those plans are, nor the extent of his support."
Feldspar listens to Aaliyah's point. "A valid concern. While I am sure some might argue, particularly for the relatively recent Red Glen, the Pottsonians have been a significant social force in Peoria for nearly fifty years. While they have had quite a bit of trouble with the local security providers, being declared illegal twenty years ago seems to be the greatest catalyst of trouble. Their presence has also prevented the Triads and Yakuza from gaining a large foothold. If the Yakuza had a larger share in the underworld they might be more calm, but competition is often a good catalyst for violence."
"...that means loud and flashy, which will mean more risk..."
"Assuming that you target the public, yes. As long as his strings to his unknown benefactors is shaken they will have to act. Attacking that link directly is one option, though uncertain given the fact that neither I nor my employer know who all of his supporters are. Attacking his reputation in the public will shame Erickson's supporters for having tried to put an inept person in place. It is likely that publicly shaming his stated mission will not only disrupt his covert plans, but will also almost certainly shame his supporters."
"While I do not like to ask for a rush, it is important that he is destabilized before November. Past that point, the eyes and ears that have been put in place may no longer be where they need to be to see all involved."
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Peoria is owned and controlled almost 75% by megacorps, with 8 of the big 10 having formal offices and full extraterritorial districts in the city, though some are not extremely large. The UCAS government controls slightly over 20%, including Illinois University in the east side of the city. The remainder is controlled through private ownership and small businesses. The criminal underworld is dominated by three gangs: Pottsonian, Red Glen, and Fondulak, with the next major force being the Triads, Vory, and Yakuza. There is a small presence of smaller groups like the Sons of Sauron, and the Ancients who recently were pushed back by a combination of other underworld powers and police operations. Peoria is a transportation community that lies at the center of the vast majority of North America's transportation, primarily material and partly-manufactured goods. As a transportation nexus, it is a major site of smuggling.
The heavy control - direct and indirect - of Peoria means that it is policed by a variety of security companies. Lone Star is responsible for the general area out of the city, and Sakura Securities at 12% territory is the largest non-megacorp security provider. Most of the rest of the city is policed by Big Ten providers, usually active in most of the district surrounding their extraterratorial holdings. Ares and Aztechnology are the largest presence of the megacorps.
Captain Erickson grew up a citizen of Horizon, and was a supply and personnel manager for his first ten years. He worked in security the next ten years before moving to Los Angeles and working as Captain there for two years. He has shut down several information networks but has not been noted for distinction outside Event Horizon. After the Nafarroa Informant scandals, he was promoted to chief of police in Peoria.
