The Wardenclyffe Compound. Constructed during the years 2223 to 2229 under the false pretense of being a simple, small-scale military outpost meant to better protect the citizens of New York from internal threats, the electric fence and night patrols in Central Park had never done an especially good job of helping Manhattan's citizens feel safe. A highly secure location despite the seemingly questionable need for its existence, its true purpose had always been to house an advanced underground facility designed by Dr. James Hessemer for the explicit purpose of containing the legendary Pokemon, Zapdos, and harnessing its vast power for the sake of the Regime.

It was in complete shambles.

As Dr. Jenner stepped into view of the still-active spotlights that surrounded the compound's main gate, he could practically taste the destruction in the air. The usual patrols were nowhere to be seen, having either been recalled into the compound or sent off to chase down the escaped Pokemon, but a very small contingent of guards still manned its entrance, glaring suspiciously at him as he approached the gate. Compared to the peacekeepers in the city, their Pokemon were visibly stronger, healthier, and in all likelihood more accustomed to combat - the soldier who approached Jenner did so with a rhydon and sandslash at his sides, both of which had taken up aggressive postures of their own accord the moment they had seen Sabi. The seviper looked down at them both, amused rather than intimidated; she knew how much of a threat she posed to them.

"This is a restricted area," the soldier recited once the two humans stood face to face with one another. "Identify yourself immediately."

"Dr. Nicholas Jenner," Jenner answered with a hint of poorly-concealed exasperation, unclipping the security badge from his coat and handing it to the man for inspection. "Head of Research at the Seattle National Laboratory for Pokemon Research - before my reassignment, at least, but seeing as my access rights remain untouched and I've known about this facility since before it was even [i]constructed[/i], I'm sure that you can at least allow me to come in as a visitor."

The man looked the badge over to his satisfaction before responding, his tone authoritative and humorless. "We're operating on a state of high alert. Visitors already on the premises are to be contained within the secure areas of the facility until the situation is under control, but I have no reason to allow you entry before then."

Unamused, Jenner took his badge back and glanced over the man's shoulder, into the crater where the steel interiors of what were supposed to be several underground corridors still glowed red from the heat, their normally hard edges fused into the exposed dirt around them. The shouting of rescue teams attempting to coordinate their efforts as well as the plaintive cries of those in need of their help filled the night.

"I can assume," Jenner began, giving the soldier a downward look, "that your communications equipment was sabotaged at the beginning of this attack."

The soldier remained silent, unwilling to confirm his assumption - or that the damage had even been caused by a deliberate attack.

"...And the auxiliary power is clearly working," the doctor continued, "so whoever did this couldn't reach the generator on... I believe it was level D, yes? But the wiring for the radio tower crosses the hallways on the very first level at least twice, and [i]anyone[/i] with access to the facility could plant an explosive [i]there.[/i] I take it the other two bombs were used to disable the grounded blast doors that should have come down to fortify the central containment unit and disconnect it from the primary power grid."

"Sir," the soldier finally interrupted, "I [i]cannot[/i] authorize you to enter the compound until this crisis has been resolved. Please leave or I will have to remove you by force."

"I've written [i]papers[/i] about how inefficiently this place was designed," Jenner growled. "So why don't you stop wasting my time and contact your superiors so that they can give me whatever permission I need to walk through this gate and restore it to working order, hm?"

This time the soldier scowled but hesitated to offer a proper rebuttal, and after a moment of thought, pulled out his personal radio and stepped back enough that the speaker on the other end couldn't be heard. Dr. Jenner watched him impatiently, placing a hand against Sabi's scales as she stared down at him. He had no actual intentions of repairing the facility, even to the limited extent that such a thing was possible; what interested him instead was the information that was stored within. Even if he could no longer realistically meet with the rebel forces responsible for such destruction, the ongoing crisis had still created an unexpectedly convenient cover for him to dig through the prison's data-banks and make off with whatever he liked. The Regime would blame the intrusion upon whomever had sabotaged the facility, and if that information came into rebel hands...

He smiled in spite of himself, earning a dubious look from the guard in front of him. That could certainly lead to some very frustrating setbacks for his self-assured employers.

"Here," the soldier said after a moment, offering his radio to Dr. Jenner. "Explain what you think you can do and what you'll need to accomplish it."

Accepting the device, the doctor raised it to his ear and spoke in a cordial tone, entirely unbefitting of the situation at hand. "Good evening," he said, grinning smugly at the soldier in front of him. "Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to tonight?"