I'm sure there are any number of perfectly innocent reasons to need to break out the emergency axe.

Panel 1: An emergency axe in on the wall inside a glass case.

Caption:

Meanwhile, in another part of the building…

Panel 2: The glass case has been opened.

Panel 3: A mysterious individual with a claw hand grabs the axe.

Panel 4: An empty case - the axe has been taken.