Police Operation

by H. Beam Piper

"Police Operation" by H. Beam Piper is a science fiction novella originally published in the mid-20th century, specifically in 1948. The narrative follows the unusual case of a rogue extraterrestrial creature—a Venusian nighthound—that has escaped to a rural setting and is causing havoc among livestock, leading the protagonist, Verkan Vall, to embark on a perilous mission to capture or eliminate it. The story explores themes of parallel universes and the interaction between different timelines, all wrapped in a police procedural format. The plot centers on Verkan Vall, a special assistant to the Paratime Police, who is dispatched to a Fourth-Level timeline to deal with the aftermath of Gavran Sarn's reckless actions in bringing a deadly nighthound to Earth. As Vall tracks the creature, he navigates through thrilling encounters and utilizes his knowledge of the beast, which is a genetically modified hunting animal. The tension builds as Vall contemplates the impending danger posed by the creature if it were to attack humans. With its unique features and hunting techniques, the creature becomes a formidable adversary. The story concludes with Vall effectively resolving the threat while reflecting on the potential complications of paratime travel and the consequences of human interference in alternate realities.