NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: International responses welcome.

IC:

That day at Primary School Two in the small city of Fashira started off as a lovely day. The sky was blue and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. A cool breeze swept across the city giving the resident the idea that this Spring would be a beautiful one.

Primary School Two was just an average primary school in Hallad, in an average city. Fashira was a old city in the north-eastern region of Ryydra with some forty thousand inhabitants. At its heart was the "old city" -- many mud-built buildings of antiquity and the cities mosque. Around it was the modern city and its suburbs. There were some one thousand children going to school at School Two and that morning there hadn't been a single care or worry in their minds. As usual, they had their morning recess and enojyed their time on the playground.

Then the bell rang and the children were rounded up by their teachers who got them all into very neat lines, and did an initial head count. Then there was trouble. One of the teachers scream, startled by the group of men who had very suddenly appeared from the otherside of the school.

There were some twenty of them, clad in camoflauge and masks that covered their faces. And they had rifles and pistols. One of the teachers, a woman, approached them.

"Excuse me," she said, "but the Militia isn't supposed to come onto school grounds."

This wasn't the oddest thing she'd ever seen, though she was somewhat confused by their arrival. Men with guns wasn't uncommon in Hallad. Halladis were notoriously well organised into militias.

"We're not militia," one man stated, pointing his gun toward her. The womans eyes widened. The masked men then began to fan out, giving orders.

"Get the children inside!" Yelled one, who appeared to be their leader. "Inside, everyone!"

The children began to realise that something was amiss. These weren't their parents practicing to defend their nation. This was something else. Something bad.

The teachers, afraid for the lives of the children and their own, complied with the men.

Then children and teachers were split into two groups. Half of them went into the auditorium of the school, the other half were forced into the gymnasium. Soon after this, ten more men arrived, dressed the same way. They had a video camera with them and brought flags that they hung up on the walls. They were like Halladi flags, but the sickle and hammer in the centre had been replaced with Arabic calligraphy that said "Allahu Akbar." God is great.

There was a great deal of noise and confusion and the men, who said they were Servants of Allah, tried to get everyone to be quiet. This did not work. The teachers tried to get the children to be quiet, for their own sake. It did not work. They were young children, and they were irrated and confused. The Leader of the Servants of Allah, who was in the auditorium, yelled over everyone.

"Shut up!" He yelled. "Shut up, all of you!"

It didn't work.

"Shut up, or I will kill him," he yelled, refering to a male teacher who was close by to him. The man tried frantically to get the children to be quiet, but the threat seemed to make them only more rambuncious. A noise echoed beyond the school -- a single gunshot. A bulelt pierced the skull of the male teacher who had been promised certain death by the Leader of the Servants of Allah. He slumped to his side, blood pouring out the hole in his head.

Then there was silence.

The Leader went to the office of the principal. Civilians at home had called the police claiming their heard gunshots coming from School Two. Now it was confirmed.

"Police Dispatch," answered a womans voice.

"I am a servant of Allah. Me and my comrades have over one thousand children held hostage at Primary School Two. You will listen to my demands or I will kill fifty children."

Halladi News Network
BREAKING NEWS

Hostage Crisis at Halladi School

FASHIRA, Hallad -- It has been confirmed by the local police that atleast twenty armed men seized Primary School Two in the city of Fashira this morning. It is reported there has already been atleast one fatality, though the identity is not confirmed. Police are calling for military assisstance. More details as they arrive.

"In spite of our...differences with Hallad, we fully condemn this brazen act of cowardice. We wish Halladi law enforcement the best of luck in apprehending the monsters responsible for this crime before more lives are lost. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the hostages and their families."

Dr. Joe M. Rothman
Commissioner of External Affairs and International Cooperation

The Worker's State will gladly assist Hallad in ending this sad hostage crisis. A Special Actions and Operations (SAO) team is on standby if you so request its' assistance.

"While negotiating with terrorists is abhorrent to every fiber of my being, allowing the deaths of innocent youth is even more abhorrent. I therefore call upon the hostage takers to please release the children to their families, safely and without delay. In return for your full cooperation, I will pay whatever sum you wish. No price is too high when lives are at stake."

Generalissimo J.L.


Secret IC

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To: The Government of Hallad
From: Commissioner of External Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Joe M. Rothman

My government has a plan for bringing the monsters responsible for this crime to justice. In return for freeing the children, we will offer to have a 'middle man' pay them off at a secret location. When they arrive at the location, we will have Halladi agents in hiding, and when the signal is given, you can make your move.

I will not lie to you. Our government has no love for your country. However, terrorism against one innocent person is terrorism against all people. We must not let petty ideological differences take precedence over the lives of children.

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The local police contacted the military and government at once and gave them recordings of the conversation between the police dispatcher and the Leader. Nearly all of the available local police and the police from nearby villages began to arrive at the school and formed a perimetre. It was nine thirty when the first military personnel arrived and ten o'clock when the local militia got word of it. Leaders from the three organizations met together to discuss their strategy.

"We should negotiate," said the Cheif of Police. "If only to buy us time, we should negotiate."

"We cannot negotiate with terrorists." Stated the Red Army Colonel, for the hundreth time. "It is against State policy."

"State policy is going to get my daughter killed, then!" Bellowed the voice of the elected militia commander. "And the children of my comrades, too! No, no, I'll have none of it. I vote in favour of negotiations. That's two against one, we're doing that."

"This operation is not democratic," sneered the Red Army Colonel. "You -- both of you! -- will do as you are instructed. We will not be entering any serious negotiations."

* * *

Inside the school the Servants of Allah began to round certain people up. They would go around to each person and ask, "Do you believe in the one God, Allah, and Muhammad, his prophet?" If they answered "yes," they were left alone. If they said "no," they were asked what they believed. If they said they were atheist, they were brought into another room. If they were christian or some other religion, they were brought into a separate room.

The relgious ones were forced to convert to Islam. The atheists did not enjoy such treatment. The Servants of Allah, who had a camera, set it up on a tripod to film the events. There was a carpet laid down and a flag put up behind them on the wall. Then the atheists were forced to beg for mercy -- but there was no mercy from the terrorists. Each one was brutally killed with one Servant with a machette.

* * *

Premier Muhammad had been alerted of this immediately and prepared to make an response, informing the nation -- and other nations -- of the demands of the terrorists and insisting Hallad will not back down. He sat at his desk, with a small Halladi flag off to the corner of it, and waited for the camera to turn on. The camera man made the motions, "Three, two, one -- live."

There was a pause before he began. "My comrades and fellow Halladis, as most of you undoubtedly know, at approxamately nine o'clock this morning terrorists calling themselves the 'Servants of Allah' took hostage Primary School Two in the city of Fashira. There are over one thousand being held hostage by an estimated thirty terrorists who are heavily armed and prepared to kill. As far as the authorities know, there was been one death. The identity of that person has not been confirmed, but we know it was a male teacher.

"I have listed the demands of the terrorists. I feel it is something that the Halladi people have the right to know. To know that they wish to destroy our society. They demand the following:

"De-secularisation of Hallad. Immediate revokation of the title "Worker's Republic." Sharia law enforced in Hallad. Political power transfered to Hizb'allah and the clergy.

"This will not happen. Ever. The Halladi government is doing its best to resolve this crisis and stop these terrorists and we will never, ever give into their demands. God bless Hallad and long live the Republic."

* * *

"The Republic thanks those in the international community for their support. We are doing all we can to defuse the situation."

Talal Ghazi
People's Commissar of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs
The Worker's Republic of Hallad

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TO: The Government of Hallad

We of the Indonesian States will do as much as we can to get these school children and teachers back to safety. If you need anything, please tell us and we will send it to you.

Muhammad Hanka,
Acting Presdident of the Indonesian States

-----------------

TO: Generalissmo J.L. of Maghda.

If possible, we would like to help you in capturing these terrorists. We will provide some of the sum. I believe that the "servants of Allah" will be more willing to take money from a Muslim Nation, but, this is just a theorey.

Muhammad Hanka,
Acting President of the Indonesian States

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From the Office of the Shansekian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To: The Government of Hallad

Let it be known that the state of Shansekia condemns these "Servants of Allah" for these acts of terrorism. Taking hostage innocents, children no less, for political machinations is pure evil, and we are dumbfounded that these terrorists have done so. Though I myself am not muslim, I know that Islamic teachings never taught of such things as murder. The Shansekian Special Operations Group 17 will be on standby if you need it.

Signed,
Minister Hiroshi Yamauchi of Foreign Affairs

It was finally decided on, after much pressure from the militia, police, and government officials, that a negotiator begin to open dialogue with the terrorists -- but in the interest of buying time more than anything else. Through loudspeakers, the negotiator and the Leader of the terrorists exchanged words.

All and all, it got nothing done, and the military was getting itchy. Special forces noticed alot of movement and they suspected the terrorists were setting up bombs throughout the school. It actually took several hours before the police and military noticed something out of place -- the vehicle that was parked in front of the school was a police van. The odd thing was that it had not been put there by the police. It was quickly decided that the terrorists must have acquired it somehow and used it to infiltrate the city unnoticed. After a few calls it was revealed that the van had been reported missing only a few hours ago and that the officers who had been driving it were missing.

The Negotiator was a short, balding man. He had a constant weeze to his breath, probably due to the cigarettes that he chain-smoked. He took a puff of the cigarette and then read off to the terrorist some information that had just came in.

"Alright," he said, "This is just in from the nation of Magdha... Generalissmo J.L, their leader, has offered you any sum of money if you will release the children and teachers. Any sum, comrades."

The Leader was not impressed -- in fact, the notion seemed to anger him. "You are idiots. You insult us with your offers of money. We are doing the work of Allah, it is selfless work, and we will never take money for it. For this insult, three children will be killed."

Surely enough, three gunshots followed by screams were heard from the building.

The Halladis significantly considered scrapping negotiations and attempting an immediate seige of the building, but then decided against it. They would try to keep them talking -- and sure as hell wouldn't offer them money again.

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TO: The Government of Hallad

I know this would seem very awful, but I believe the only way to get the upper hand in this situation is to lie. Say that you will give them what they want, but ever so slightly twist their words. It may be harsh, but either that or get a person to infiltrate the "Servants of Allah" (which is much more dangerous).

Ayen Pipiputri
dept. of Foreign Affairs,
The Indonesian States

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The People's Republic of Sulaymaan
Parva sub ingenti
(The small under the protection of the great)

Attention; The Halladi Workers' Republic
Origin; The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism
Regards; Current terrorist situation within your borders
CC; The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Ground Command, The office of Fleet Admiral of the Republic Zack Matsuda

It has come to the attention of The Peoples Republic, that an extremist group in your country, recognized as the 'Servants of Allah' have taken militaristic actions against your state. As a nation, The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan condemns all acts of terrorism and religious extremism. Standing in agreement with the world, the Imperium Assembly recognizes one act of terrorism against the innocent as an act against the international community as a whole.

In light of this development, The Peoples Republic would like to offer the assistance of one of our special counter-terrorism operations teams. It is standard policy in The Peoples Republic that the likes of these 'Servants of Allah' be given no quarter and the facility known as 'Primary School Two' be raided immediately. If the force is too deeply entrenched for an effective military raid, though Sulaymaan experience dictates that terrorist are rarely prepared for heavy armor, the building should be eradicated by air-strike to show the extremist they will receive no quarter or tolerance for their acts within the borders of The Halladi Workers Republic.

Citizens of the great nation of Hallad should be impassioned to be given the chance to die in the defense of their great nation, and know their sacrifices strengthen the road to world peace and unity.

The Republic has anti-terrorism elements available and ready for mobilization in your area, for both proposed courses of action, should the military of Hallad not wish to involve itself in such an operation for fear of the publics reaction.

Sincerely,
Field Commissar Thantos Rhodes
The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism

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The People's Republic of Sulaymaan
Parva sub ingenti
(The small under the protection of the great)

Attention; The Halladi Workers' Republic
Origion; The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism
Regards; Current terrorist situation within your borders
CC; The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Ground Command, The office of Fleet Admiral of the Republic Zack Matsuda

It has come to the attention of The Peoples Republic, that an extremist group in your country, recognized as the 'Servants of Allah' have taken militaristic actions against your state. As a nation, The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan condemns all acts of terrorism and religious extremism. Standing in agreement with the world, the Imperium Assembly recognizes one act of terrorism against the innocent as an act against the international community as a whole.

In light of this development, The Peoples Republic would like to offer the assistance of one of our special counter-terrorism operations teams. It is standard policy in The Peoples Republic that the likes of these 'Servants of Allah' be given no quarter and the facility known as 'Primary School Two' be raided immediately. If the force is too deeply entrenched for an effective military raid, though Sulaymaan experience dictates that terrorist are rarely prepared for heavy armor, the building should be eradicated by air-strike to show the extremist they will receive no quarter or tolerance for their acts within the borders of The Halladi Workers Republic.

Citizens of the great nation of Halladi should be impassioned to be given the chance to die in the defense of their great nation, and know their sacrifices strengthen the road to world peace and unity.

The Republic has anti-terrorism elements available and ready for mobilization in your area, for both proposed courses of action, should the military of Halladi not wish to involve itself in such an operation for fear of the publics reaction.

Sincerely,
Field Commissar Thantos Rhodes
The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism

they don't care about dying. you raid, they kill hostage. you lose.

Attention; The Republic of the Indonesian States
Origin; The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism
Regards; Your response to Sulaymaan's statement
they don't care about dying. you raid, they kill hostage. you lose.

Citizens of the great nation of Hallad should be impassioned to be given the chance to die in the defense of their great nation, and know their sacrifices strengthen the road to world peace and unity. Purging the extremist is the only way to ensure the nations stance on their vile acts is never called into question, and that further extremist activity does not persist.

The situation report at this time has also provided that the 'Servants of Allah' have already executed several Halladi citizens, and that negotiations have had ill effect. A properly executed raid, most notably making heavy use of sensory deprival munitions and gasses, greatly increases the chances of the survival of the remaining Halladi citizens.

We all must pay the dearest dues when the safety and unity of the state is threatened. I know personally, I would not hesitate in giving the order if my family was involved in this display of cowardice. I am also positive my family would do the same for myself, and that the people of The Republic share my firm convictions.

Sincerely,
Field Commissar Thantos Rhodes
The Peoples Republic of Sulaymaan; Imperium Assembly; Foreign Affairs Bureau; Department of Terrorism

OOC: Hallad's objective is to get the hostages out safely, without any more casualties. Air-raiding the school would probably, hmm, kill people. Chance to die for your nation in defence? your bacically attacking the allies by attacking the enemy.

OOC: Hey Hallad, if you want, you can trace the origins of the terrorists back to my nation.

OOC: Hallad's objective is to get the hostages out safely, without any more casualties. Air-raiding the school would probably, hmm, kill people. Chance to die for your nation in defence? your bacically attacking the allies by attacking the enemy.

OOC: I am well aware of what hitting a school with a laser-guided bomb will do. But, in that it is an 'RPG', I am RPing - 'Role Playing'. The nation I am creating, that of the Sulaymaan Republic, exercises a very strict policy on such things. As such, like many a nation, they would offer such advise to those afflicted with an issue.

I am very well aware that people don't want to intentionally risk the lives of hostages, that people don't want to incinerate their children, and that the very proposition and the characters ardent belief in it could be offensive. But, as they say, Its the Sulaymaan way.

OOC:
OOC: Hey Hallad, if you want, you can trace the origins of the terrorists back to my nation.

Nah, these guys are domestic.

IC:

"The Republic thanks the nations of Sulaymaan and the Indonesian states for their advice and will consider them. The situation is as under control as it can be at the present moment and we have no need for foreign forces entering Hallad to help deal with the situation, though we thank those who have offered."

Talal Ghazi
People's Commissar of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs
The Halladi Worker's Republic

* * *

It was the dawn of the second day of the stand-off. Inside the school, the children and teacher had been deprived of water and food for almost a day now, and those who weren't sleeping soon began to feel the effects of this. Although most people resolved to simply sleeping now -- there was nothing else to do and the Servants of Allah threatened to kill more people if they were "too loud." Still, there were small conversations being held. The children talked about how they were hungry and thristy. A few water bottles were circulated, but not nearly enough, by a Servant of Allah who felt the hostages ought to be given atleast water.

Outside it was quiet. Snipers watched the school carefully and the Negotiator prepared for a second day, knowing it would only get worse was the situation lingered.

* * *

Halladi News Network
BREAKING NEWS

Second Day of Crisis Begins

FASHIRA, Hallad -- Police, militia, and military personnel have surrounded Primary School Two in the small city of Fashira. Concerned parents were allowed in the area, though were not permitted to talk to the terrorists, as he police negotiator, Omar Rafiq, felt it might cause the terrorists to kill more children. "They might see it as a victory or they might see it was a reason to kill the children," said Rafiq. He noted that the terrorists, calling themselves the "Servants of Allah," have claimed 24 "infidels" have been "purged," including atleast three children. We will release more updates as the news comes in. Stay tuned.

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To: Acting President Muhammad Hanka
From: Commissioner of External Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Joe M. Rothman

That would be adequate. We welcome and appreciate your offer.

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The second day had been uneventful until it was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon. It was then that the terrorists agreeed to let five children go, as a token of "good will." This was, unfortunately, only deceit on the part of the terrorists. Packed in one of the backpacks of the children was a bomb that would be remotely detonated by the terrorists. The child had no idea.

The front doors to the school opened and the children were released, they ran toward the crowd of law enforcement, who sent out a team to grab them. They were brought back into the crowd and sent to the ambulances, so they could be checked out. And that was when it happened. The deafening boom erupted out of the cheers of exctatic parents, many were thrown to their feet as the shock from the bomb sent them keeling over. Over a dozen were dead and atleast double that wounded. They had destroyed and ambulance and damaged two others and a police cruiser.

There were no further negotiations on the second day.