Sergei & Vanya Valerian

Sawtooth Valley Gang Report #302
''The Valerians, our local love birds. It was real fun looking into these two, really love dealing with the time zone differences. Sergei & Vanya's story goes all the way back to Eastern Europe, Sergei Valerian's family is involved with the Bratva, nothing major league, mostly running chops shops and some low level smuggling. They're not stepping on anyone's toes and no one's stepping on them. Vanya Abramov, however, is a mafiya princess. Her family's big time, like, international crime family big. Human trafficking, political assassinations, money laundering, the works. These guys aren't running Russia, but they're basically competing with one other family to do so. Eventually, these tensions boil over and we get the Reznya (The Slaughter), otherwise known as the First Mafiya War. For five years, people all over Russia were ducking for cover. These families went to the mattresses. Targeting each other soldiers, family members, anyone connected to the group. I'm talking judges, politicians, union leaders, police officers, CEOs, it was a bloodbath. Now with, the two big families duking it out, the small timers had to decide what side of the fight they want to be on. Sergei's family goes with the Abramov's, maybe hoping to have their loyalty rewarded if they come out on top. Sergei gets assigned as Vanya's bodyguard slash driver, and I'm sure you've heard this story before. Vanya's got family in New Oxford, Sergei has the ability to get them out of the country, and suddenly INTERPOL loses them while the NOPD picks them up. ''

''Now, Vanya and Sergei have just fled to an entirely new country with barely the clothes on their back. Although both left on decent terms, financial support was hard to come by given the circumstances. NOPD logged that the were living in the Russian section of Bennett, with both of them occasionally taking work from the Abramov Family members located there. Marriage records pulled from the City show that they officially married in New Oxford, while NOPD surveillance photos show a tasteful wedding held at Eastern Orthodox church. Maybe it was the prospect of starting a family, maybe it was the possibility that the Abramovs' enemies were hunting them down, but it appears that the Valerians decided to start making more than scraps. Vanya's mother's family was descended from military stock, with multiple family members imbedded in the Russian military, various mercenary groups, along with a few private military contractors. They provided the weapons that Vanya requested, all shipped through the supply lines that Sergei's family operated. It was a win-win for both sides, the Valerians get money in their savings account, Vanya's family gets some retirement money, the Abramov's state-side get some drinking money, and the Abramov's back home get some funds in the war chest.''

''In 20XX, the Valerians decide to set up shop in Sawtooth Valley. They open a gun store on the main strip, selling weapons and doing custom modifications. As best as we can determine, all the guns sold in the shop proper appear to be legitimate, Operation [REDACTED] between the SVSD and the ATF failed to locate any illegal weapons or practices within the shop. Random check ins, both uniformed and undercover, have also been unsuccessful. Currently, the Valerians are believed to be arming the Augmented Mob, along with provided Lloyd Dixon arms to smuggle out of state. With tensions rising between the Augmented Mob and the Sons of Satan, Deputy [REDACTED] recommends 24-7 surveillance on the Valerians due to the likely increase in trafficking.''

''Haven't been able to track down the exact reason they decided on Sawtooth Valley. There doesn't appear to be much overlap between them and other members before arriving here. Not like they can go back to Russia, that place has been in a three-way war between the government and the two crime families for years now. Maybe they needed a fresh start. Maybe they needed a place to hide out from the [OTHER RUSSIAN FAMILY].''

''Off the record, Deputy [REDACTED] believes that the Valerians be allowed to operate as long as possible before arrest and weapons seizure. I took my service revolver out there last month and it's honestly never shot straighter. I'm going to miss them when there gone.''

- B.D.