The halls of the police station have been cleared, and are void of most officers that would be bustling through the building, as today was the open talk that Vari Arak'Than, the leader of the K9 Police Unit, arranged. A few people alraedy have enetred the halls, waiting for the event to start. A woman, a kemonomimi kitsune with white tails, ears and hair, dressed in a police uniform, was standing on the little podium that has been set up. She was looking at the small crowd, and at the few officers that are standing in the corners and the entrance for security reasons. Then she cleared her throat. "Welcome, citizens of Fairhaven. My name is Vari Arak'Than, and I am the one leading the K9 police unit. And I am the one that invited you here, so you can ask me any question you have about me or the Unit, and to make your concerns about us heard. Because I know that some of you are still doubtful about us, and our mission." The kitsune nodded. "For this event to run as smoothlHappy as possible, I would like you to stand up when you have a question, or want to say something. I will point at you in turns, so everyone can be satisfied."

Glancing at the handful of neighbors around the room, Melan raises their hand. As Vari acknowledges them with a simple nod, they stand up. "H-hello, Captain Vari. I wanted to thank you for your service in keeping the streets a little safer--I know you don't exactly have it easy--but as a victim of feral activity, I just wanted to get that out of the way. I am curious how the other citizens have treated you--especially get big-fish operatives who might view your public service as competition..." They gulp, nervously, before sitting back down for to await the captain's response.

Vernon crumples up the crude copy of the event poster and slips it inside the pocket of his shirt. He appears thoughtful as Melan opens up the talks on behalf of the audience. "I'll second that," he says nodding towards the Okami Boi. "And I add my thanks, as well." He clears his throat and begins, "My question for you is, how have you continued your work in recent years. Do you track down criminals from before P-Day, if you were still a force back then? Or do you investigate crimes committed in present situation only?"

Vari nodded back in greetings. "First of all, no need to thank us. That is our duty after all, and we are not alone in these efforts. We have sympathizers who help us, even if they are not part of our group. There are citizens on patrol, who are in no way obliged to help us, sent reports our way, or risking their lifes. But we haven't met with only positive feedback. There are people who spread misinformations about us, things like that we are working with Zephyr, or are in the pockets of some big wigs. Both are not true. We are, so far, a self-funded operation. We have our own contractors for equipment, this building was built out of our pockets, and we have no obligations towards anyone except ourselves. We are not working for Zephyr, RSX or the Prometheans. But it is true that we had a close cooperations with the latter, in the resocializing efforts of ferals. But while we worked closely with the Prometheans at that point, we never accepted money for it." The kitsune looked at Vernon. "We have no desire to hunt people down for crimes they did before P-Day happened. Mostly, because it is hard to track back, collecting evidence for crimes that happened then and finding witnesses. So instead, we are focusing on the present. Also, we have only been established a few years back, and expanded our efforts only recently, when we rebuilt this station properly." The vixen adjusted her glasses, and closed her eyes afterwards. "Of course, if we have definitive proof that someone did something before P-Day, that should be punished, then we will try to get that to court as well. We are only a police force. We are not the judges."

After the captain fielded the questions, Melan stood again. "Captain, what do you need--besides creds--that the citizenry might be able to assist you with? Is K9 hiring, or are you still undergoing organizational growing pains?" They again, sat down, looking absent-mindedly at the sparse furnishings of the room.

Vernon breathed a sigh of relief hearing the reply, and quickly made for an empty seat provided for those gathered. Then he settled down and waited his turn to ask another question. "That was an interesting tidbit about your history," he starts when he has the opportunity and rises up to his feet. "Uh, if you are self-funded, how are you any different from the goons who run protection racket? Not that I know of anything like that going on in the city." He raises both defensively in front of his chest. "I mean, is there a higher authority that sets down rules for you or...?" He leaves rest of the question unfinished, as he hesitates. "I am curious."

A tall kemo dragoness stands among the crowd one had resting on her swollen belly. "I have noticed some of your members who are here currently moving around in military clothing, and even your own uniform shows such aspects are you thinking of forming an army?" She asks her blue eyes staring at Vari with interest.

"The one thing we don't need are funds, actually." Vari answered. "Money is not an issue. But we are hiring, as we still are in need of specialists for different tasks. Negotiations, interrogations. A mediator, or a specialist in firearms, for instructing our recruits. Medics, psychologists. The list is long enough. But with the recent developements redargind a new government, the interest in taking such a position has been heightened, so I am confident that we will find those people soon enough." The vixen smiled. "We are different from the 'goons' as you tell them, in the fact that we actually are trying to be a part in the forming government as the official police force. We are different in the fact that we do have talks with prominent political figures in trying to figure out what is best for the society. We are no different from them in our desire to serve and protect." The woman looked at Vernon. "And while there is no higher authority at the moment setting rules, we stick to the moral code that any police force should abide by. As I said just a moment ago: Serve, and protect." She then looked at the dragoness. "I am not planning on building an army. That would be overstepping our boundaries. The fact that some of us wear military equipment is simply the scarcity of ressources, so wearing something that is available and ready in opposition of making something new is much more ecologically sound for a self-funded operation such as ours."

:nods at the captain's words, glancing at the handful of others' reactions. The dragoness' concerns echo their own, but the captain seems, at least to Melan, competent and sincere. Half of civics was participating in it--and they should be so lucky to have an opportunity, before a power vacuum happens and people begin clinging to whatever power they can hold onto. "What would you like each of us to leave this meeting with?" they remain standing for a few moments, stretching their legs from being subjected to uncomfortable folding chairs.