1996, Raccoon City Police Department (R.P.D.), Downtown Raccoon City
In 1996, Raccoon City was shrouded in an illusion of prosperity.
Under the vigorous promotion of Mayor Michael Warren, an urban renewal project named ‘Bright 21st Century Raccoon City’ was officially launched.
Road widening, new district development, medical upgrades, police reform…
The entire city seemed to be striding towards modernization.
Yet few knew that behind all this prosperity stood the same shadow: the Umbrella Corporation.
Umbrella injected massive funds into the municipal government, securing deep infiltration into city policies, land approvals, and the public security system.
In exchange for political achievements and funding, Mayor Warren willingly handed over the lifeline of Raccoon City to this seemingly glamorous but secretly virus-ridden and murderous enterprise.
That autumn, the Raccoon City Police Department underwent the most significant reform in its history.
With direct funding from Umbrella, the police department officially announced the formation of a new elite unit.
S.T.A.R.S.
Full name: Special Tactics And Rescue Service.
On the day of its establishment, the conference hall of the R.P.D.
building was filled with high-ranking police officials and ‘observers’ sent by Umbrella.
The Chief of Police stood at the podium, reading the founding declaration with impassioned fervor.
‘From today, S.T.A.R.S.
will become Raccoon City’s first line of defense, responsible for high-risk missions such as counter-terrorism, major crimes, disaster rescue, and mountain search and rescue!
All equipment, funding, and training resources for the unit are fully and freely sponsored by the Umbrella Corporation!’
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
No one noticed a man sitting in the shadows of a corner, watching the entire farce with a cold, silent gaze.
The man wore a black suit and dark sunglasses.
His face was stern, and his demeanor was unnaturally composed for an ordinary police officer.
It was Albert Wesker.
By this time, he had long since left the Arklay Research Facility, having spent years lying low within Umbrella’s intelligence department. This story is hosted at g.com.
On the surface, he was obedient and followed orders, but in his heart, he was always plotting his escape from Oswell E.
Spencer’s control.
The formation of S.T.A.R.S.
was not a police reform to him, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be marginalized.
As soon as the meeting ended, Wesker turned and walked into the secret office of Umbrella’s Raccoon City branch.
The person in charge was already waiting inside.
Seeing him enter, he directly handed over an encrypted file.
‘Mr.
Wesker, the company has arranged everything for you,’ the person in charge said in a low voice.
‘The police department has fully accepted Umbrella’s recommendation.
You will directly assume the position of Captain of the S.T.A.R.S.
Alpha Team.
Your cover is ‘former military special forces instructor,’ and your resume is impeccable.’
Wesker took the file, his fingertips lightly tracing the words ‘Alpha Team Captain.’ Behind his sunglasses, his eyes showed no emotion, only a deep, unfathomable calm.
‘Good,’ he said flatly.’S.T.A.R.S.
is fully funded by Umbrella.
The police department has no say.
Once I’m in, the entire unit’s operational direction, intelligence gathering, and mountain patrol authority will be in our hands.’
‘Mr.
Spencer’s intention,’ the person in charge added, ‘is for you to firmly control S.T.A.R.S.
Should any abnormalities occur in the Arklay Mountains or the Research Facility, you can immediately seal off information, clean up traces, and if necessary…
deal with any witnesses.’
‘I understand,’ Wesker’s tone remained calm.
‘I’m not doing this for Spencer.
I’m doing it for myself.’
To him, S.T.A.R.S.
was not a mission or a job.
It was a springboard to escape control, gather power, and achieve his own evolution.
A few days later, Wesker officially appeared in the R.P.D.’s S.T.A.R.S.
operations room under the guise of an ‘elite external recruit.’
Brand-new tactical gear, bulletproof vests, firearms, helicopters, and dedicated vehicles were all in place, each bearing Umbrella’s discreet logo.
The newly appointed S.T.A.R.S.
Commander, Albert Barry, was the first to greet him.
Barry was burly, honest, and skilled in firearms and mechanical repair.
Unaware of Wesker’s true identity, he simply saw him as a top-tier expert from the military.
‘Captain Wesker, welcome aboard,’ Barry extended his hand.
‘I’ll be counting on you with the Alpha Team.
Kevin Dooley is the captain of Bravo Team.
We’ll cooperate fully.’
Wesker shook his hand lightly, his tone formal and steady.
‘A pleasure to work with you.’
Standing in the center of the operations room, his gaze swept over the list of members on the wall.
A faint, imperceptible sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
S.T.A.R.S.
was divided into Alpha Team and Beta Team.
The personnel roster had already been finalized jointly by the police department and Umbrella:
———— S.T.A.R.S.
Roster ————