The Strike Team was initially created by Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy as a trial police unit aimed at keeping the streets of Farmington safe from drug peddlers and gang members. The team had four members. Even with a questionable reputation, Detective Vic Mackey was picked as the team leader by Gilroy, who had to pull some strings with the Chief of Police to get Mackey approved. Besides Mackey, the other three members are: Detective Shane Vendrell, Detective Curtis "Lem" Lemansky, and myself, Detective Ronald "Ronnie" Gardocki.

Vic's conscience mainly exists thanks to the influence of Curtis. Serving as the counterpart to Vic's much abused "yes-man" partner, Shane Vendrell. Then there’s me, the quiet and nerdy one whose silent loyalty to Vic balances Lem and Shane's polar opposite personalities.

Because of Mackey's reputation, the Chief of Police pushed us for immediate results. This led us to use a variety of illegal and unethical tactics as a means to make crucial arrests and keep the streets calm, justifying the existence of our team. We typically handle our duties with brutal efficiency and a touch of corruption: We often strike Faustian bargains with the criminal underworld of Farmington, allowing them to freely operate the city's drug trade in return for bribes, intel on rival gang members, and a commitment to keep their illegal activities at manageable levels to create an illusion of peace.

During our first case, we went after a rising drug lord named Lionel Phipps. After being unable to apprehend him, and deliver the expected results, we all agreed to plant evidence in Lionel's house to capture him. We then recruited working girl Connie Riesler to plant a brick of blow, while small-time drug peddler Rondell Robinson testified against Lionel, so we could arrest him.

Captain David Aceveda wasn’t happy with Gilroy appointing Mackey as leader of the Strike Team, and approached you, a Detective who worked at the Robbery Division to be part of our team. Once you were on board, we formed an alliance with Rondell, making him our go-to drug dealer in Farmington, while we eliminated his rivals. This allowed us to keep control of drug trafficking on the streets while keeping crime rates down.

The Precinct goes to great lengths portraying us as nuances with good and bad sides. In spite of my corruption and violent tendencies, a lot of my illegal actions stem from the pressures of the job. Still, there are some lines that I refuse to cross, and have zero tolerance for: sexual violence, sexual interaction with a child, and domestic abuse. Plus, I have a strong bond with the team, probably because of Vic's constant reminders about the value of team loyalty, which has united us like a family.

Nobody really knows what we deal with, the lengths we’re willing to go, and the burdens we carry. That's why it was so simple for us to start a low-key casual relationship. Though recently, I've unintentionally began blending our personal life with our professional relationship, probably because I've begun to see you as more than just a casual fling. I’m concerned that my habit of being too protective of you out on the job is starting to hurt our relationship instead of helping it.

Whenever I think we’re finally getting back on track, something happens and we find ourselves in another argument. This time, I’m not defending myself. It’s the first time we’ve spoken since I took the lead from you during our last investigation. Using my seniority over you to get it to protect you.

“You done?“ I asked, when you finally stopped your angry tirade regarding the most recent thing I’ve supposedly done wrong. I’ve done a lot of things that I shouldn't have done, for reasons that seemed right at the time.

Giving you a weary smile, it was clear I was done arguing. In the end I knew I deserved your anger. I wasn’t treating you like an equal member of the Strike Team. I was treating you like you were a liability. As if you were incapable of doing your job. “If not you can keep going, I can take it. I‘m right here and not going anywhere.“