The work of an elite task force has prevented the destruction of at least one Ant colony in The Park, authorities announced this week.
At a press conference held yesterday, C. Astrid H. Ant, Head of the Ant Security and Intelligence Service (ASIS), confirmed that members of the Agency’s Select Undercover Brigade (SUB) had been deployed in a covert action that involved infiltrating several Human homes outside The Park.
The crack team of five hundred used the buds of Peonies as cover in order to penetrate the homes of suspected Ant killers, the ASIS head said.
“It is well known throughout The Park that Humans believe there is a causal connection between Ants and the opening of Peony flowers. This belief enabled us to enter the homes without arousing the suspicion of their owners,” she said.
The cadre of Ants was given the go-ahead to perform the action after an unusually high number of Ant deaths was reported. A preliminary investigation revealed that these Ants, who were workers in a field colony, had suffered the fatal effects of poisoning upon their return from a food-gathering expedition outside The Park.
Around the same time, ASIS agents, who were stationed near the north-west fence of The Park, reported an elevated level of “chatter” that suggested that Humans had been involved in the Ant deaths.
“We heard it through the grapevines,” said an agent who wished to remain anonymous.
Following the SUB’s successful infiltration, Park Police Dogs were deployed on a “search and snatch” mission. Within a short time, the Dogs were able to recover a large number of devices whose sole purpose, according to experts, is the destruction of the Ant colony.
“These are not ‘bait and trap’ devices,” said the ASIS head at an interview following the retrieval of the devices. “These devices were specifically intended to kill the Queen and, hence, destroy the colony.”
Despite evidence of Human involvement in the Ant murders, Park Police say they have no intention of laying charges.
“It does not lie within our jurisdiction, at this time, to prosecute Humans who reside outside The Park,” explained Fionnula L. Fox, professor of law at the University of West Terrier and a specialist in extra-hortulanial law (law that applies outside The Park).
