Summary:

Amidst the fear of border conflicts between Vietnam against China and Cambodia, Dora-the-Kid and Dora-nikov finds very little option but to act alone. Meanwhile, the Polish Archbishop and former Iraq War veteran Radosław Chiemycz, who has a surprising encounter to Kid and Nikov, also departs to rescue a victim from a story recorded by him.

As the police and military is assembled in the Mekong River's province of An Giang, gun fires occurs between ISIS supporters and the army. Kid and Nikov, who see the gun fires from the far, make a surprising strike and defeat the ISIS force. There, one of them challenges Kid and Nikov if they can truly capture Mouhamed Boukhar.


"Radosławie, nie można podjąć innego ryzyka." (Radosław, it is impossible to take another risk.)

"Tymoteusz, sytuacja staje się teraz bardzo wrażliwa. Seria bombardowań w mieście pokazuje, że się nie poddadzą. Państwo Islamskie nie przestanie i będę musiał to szybko przyjąć." (Tymoteusz, the situation is becoming very sensitive now. The series of bombings in the city shows that they won't give up. Islamic State will not stop and I'll have to take it fast.)

"A może trzy dni żałoby w Wietnamie? Co z ofiarami ataków?" (And how about the three days mourning in Vietnam? What about the victims of the attacks?)

"Będę musiał się tym teraz zająć, Tymoteusz. Moja krew GROM wraca i nie pozwolę Daeshowi kontynuować." (I'll have to handle it for you now, Tymoteusz. My GROM blood is running back, and I will not let Daesh continue.)

In a vehicle, a small truck one, the Polish Archbishop had taken weapons and arms, as well as wearing his old GROM uniform. Even though he had retired from the army in 2008, he had never forgotten the memoir of his duty.

This was him, Archbishop Radosław Chiemycz. Chiemycz cared about the victim and the people in danger, and so, when the three days mourning started, he left the big city to the land in border of Vietnam and Cambodia. He gave the task to Tymoteusz Barczewski to handle the problem in Ho Chi Minh City, so he could go to An Giang.

The bombings in the city had prompted the government to wage a war against a new group, in which the name was Champa Shariah Jamaat, which was the identity of the new group formed at least three years ago. Champa Shariah Jamaat was a Salafist radical organization calling for the establishment of Shariah rule, with Salafism as the main Islamic doctrine. They also demanded for the overthrow of Vietnamese rule in Central Vietnam and later declared support for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The threat however, was not looked seriously until the bombings.

Kid and Nikov had read about that when they traveled alone to the An Giang Province, which was now declared martial law, using a private vehicle similar to the truck Radosław was using.

"Shit … Champa Shariah Jamaat … why wasn't the United States issuing it a terrorist organization, given its tie with ISIS?"

"(The organization only began to appear in the aftermath of the bombings. Previously, they fought under the banner of Daesh in Yemen, Libya and Syria. Recently however, the increase of recruitment of members from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam granted them to return.)"

"Cambodia?"

"(Despite Vietnam being the largest of Cham population, Cambodia hosts the largest Cham Muslim population, at least 5% of Cambodian population. Six months ago, a brutal suicide bombing had occurred in Sihanoukville, killing 37 people and ISIS acknowledged the attack. But I guess the method was done nothing else but by the Champa Shariah Jamaat organization.)"

"However, since it is influenced by Islamic State, the level of attack has become even more surfaced and diversified. Three months ago, a brutal shootout occurred also in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, killing 11."

"(Two months before the bombings, they launched a brutal attack on the city of Zamboanga. 56 people were reported dead.)"

"They're expanding … in Southeast Asia."

Kid and Nikov were trying to understand how could a pro-ISIS organization surface in Vietnam, a country which is known for being repressive against dissidents. As such, the attack became a sensitive issue. When they were coming on the province, tanks, helicopters and armed vehicles were heading to the city of Long Xuyên.

Long Xuyên, Vietnam

"Chú ý, chú ý! Hiện nay quân đội và công an nhân dân đang vào cuộc truy bắt và tiêu diệt những phần tử khủng bố của tổ chức Nhà nước Hồi giáo tự xưng! Xin phép bà con không ai được ra ngoài và lệnh giới nghiêm sẽ được ban hành từ 8h sáng cho đến 6h tối. Xin cảm ơn." (Attention, attention! Currently the people's army and police are on the hunt against the terrorists of the self-claimed Islamic State! Please people no one is allowed to go out and the martial law will be put from 8h in the morning to 6h hour in the evening. Thank you.)

As Kid and Nikov were on the road, the street and all vehicles were closed except for the military one. Kid and Nikov had to stop there and used the river road to cross.

"Fuck!"

When Kid and Nikov were on the run, the patrol police and army troops were on there. Since there is nobody who could speak Arabic, the police had to enforce a Qatari translator who knew English. They feared there would have Arab fighters as well.

"We are ordering the terrorists in the city, those who have used it as a hiding base to show up, or we will attack."

It was taken in both Vietnamese, English and Arabic, but there were no sign of answer being taken.

Meanwhile, Kid and Nikov were quite cautious.

"How is the strength of the Champa Shariah Jamaat?"

"(At least 2.000 fighters, maybe more.)"

"Comparing to Vietnamese army, they are more professional in battle. But seriously, with the experience of the ISIS fighters, it is unclear."

"(Hold on!)"

Nikov signaled danger when they discovered a guard of the Champa Shariah Jamaat. Looking the face, they understood he was not a Cham, because he looked more light-skinned like a North African man.

On the run, they kept watching on as the situation became even tenser by time and the shooting scenes … it looked like getting closer.

After persuading didn't bear fruit, with the terrorists refused to answer, the military prepared to take a response, as the helicopters were watching from the sky. One of the helicopters just watched about the city's ground as the troops, police and other military personnel were on their ready.

As the troops began to walk into the empty city and the empty ground, suddenly, some voices yelled.

"Takbir!"

"ALLAHU AKBAR!"

Then, a bazooka fled from an opposite corner to the paramilitary force. An officer shouted: "Coi chừng!" (Look out!)

"BOOM!"

The attack was the first among all the attacks, and this prompted the Vietnam People's Armed Forces to react. A counter strike occurred and shot into the right opposition by a military vehicle, an armored personnel carrier brought from Russia.

Outside the sea, the U.S. SEAL Team meanwhile was on their deployment, waiting if the Vietnamese Government could allow or not. They were in the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.

"Did the U.S. Ambassador try to be a risk over fighting there again?"

"I expect to be harder and more difficult." Commander of this SEAL Team, the Salem Team, named after Peter Salem, a well-trained and strong 40 years old Bryan Puchís exclaimed: "While current American-Vietnamese relations are friendly, the issue is the Vietnamese regime, an authoritarian, is still afraid of our influence. So while they oppose the growth of China, we are not certain if Hanoi wants us to fight the ISIS militants or not."

"Sergeant, Vietnam has a long standing military tradition. I think they can handle them." Another SEAL member claimed: "They have recently bought a new number of equipment from the United States."

"But ISIS is international. They have launched a series of attack on several countries there before one of its branches emerged in this nation. Vietnam is also authoritarian and repressive, it cannot help solving Cham solution in long term." Sgt. Bryan touched on the head, assuming it was his first oversea mission: "I live within a group of Cham community in San Diego, and I know that. The Chams are not friendly to Vietnamese people despite both opposing the same communist regime."

"It is the begin of a battle!" Kid and Nikov are well-aware with it. Then, they heard someone speaking in Arabic as they were still on the run to find the head of those ISIS militants. But with the streets blocked, they had little but to keep itself in check, with their car unable to go across the thin and slippy road anymore.

"تحرك للخارج! تحرك للخارج!" (Move out! Move out!)

Arabic for Kid was quite clear. Kid understood that, the influx of foreign fighters coming to Southeast Asia has left a huge consequence there.

"Dang, I was right. The Champa Shariah Jamaat is not solely based from one ethnic people, it has many fighters from across the world."

"(And they are not a bunch of un-equipped force. They have smuggled weapons from many parts to prepare for these attacks. They knew who they're fighting.)"

"When I watched the video seeing them representing ISIS declaring the Wilayat of Champa, they have no longer in passion anymore."

"(Champa has a tragic history, as the country was completely absorbed to Vietnam from 15th century to 19th century, and a following Vietnamese conquest to several neighbors have put this relations tenser. Meanwhile, the arrival of Islam has a great impact.)"

"The Chams adopted Islam …"

"(Yes. In 1471, Islam became widespread, but it was undone because the Vietnamese defeated them in the 1475 war. Having conquered Champa, the Vietnamese declared destruction of mosques and burning of Qu'ran. Hence we don't see any mosques in Central Vietnam despite being the homeland of Cham people.)"

"Islamic State has used the same judgement. When it comes to Spain, the ISIS militant group issued their jihad in hope to retake Spain and Islamize it again."

With Kid and Nikov were on the run very fast, beyond the long tree lines, talking about Spain … the Vietnamese also had a Spanish advisor. Quite average and dwarf-alike looking, but he was actually an experienced man.

"Mr. José Herracio." Colonel Mạc Đăng Hồng, who also took charge of it, talked.

"Yes?"

"Islamic State also uses the same tactics when it comes to Spain. They told Spain was an 'ancient Islamic land', and they wanted it to be conquered again. With Vietnam also conquered the Cham land as Islam was spreading, I think you know how ISIS wants, right?"

"The matter is much more complicated. The Chams hate Vietnamese already since the fall of Champa. On the other hand, the muslims of Spain have been quite more integrated though not without trouble."

Herracio then called to Amina, his henchwoman and a Moroccan muslim who raised as a Spaniard, to take the solution over the history of Vietnam and Champa.

"Amina, do you know any Chams in Morocco?"

"Yes. They do tell about the Champa nation, but that's it. Outside, they are a very small community."

"Thanks."

Amina stood there as Colonel Mạc and José took a little bit conversation.

"This. The problem is among the Chams. They have yet to forgive the genocide campaign."

"Yet, if we become too humane, ISIS will use it to spread."

"Hence, while using violence maybe a way, I don't think it can ever answer … unless we address with the local Muslim community."

The battle began as the military got ambushed, but eventually they could sneak deeper. However, fierce resistance began to witness and some houses were damaged. In some street, Arabic graffitis also revealed.

The words "Death to Vietnamese infidels" and "Champa Wilayat", as well as the black flags of Islamic State, were found everywhere. Gun fires kept going, as those fighters exchanged in Arabic.

"محاربتهم! حارب الكفار الفيتناميين!" (Fight them! Fight the Vietnamese infidels!)

Fighting between the Vietnamese army and Champa Shariah Jamaat's fighters intensified by time due to growing military movement and the ISIS resistance there. It scared the locals as no one, even market, was functioning at the same period. Gun fighting continued but ISIS soldiers proved to be more efficient than expected. They held the Vietnamese army very long and inflicted several damages.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Although those ISIS jihadists were killed as many, there was no sign of immediate end. Thus, Colonel Mạc Đăng Hồng had to request support from the Defense Ministry.

"Chúng tôi cần lực lượng đặc công, xin chờ chuẩn y từ Bộ Quốc phòng!" (We need the sappers, waiting for approval from the Defense Ministry, over!)

Report from the Colonel to the Defense Ministry was soon approved, but it would require at least 15 minutes to move from Vũng Tàu to Long Xuyên to unite with the armed police and armed forces. The city was razed by gun fires.

Far away, Mouhamed Boukhar, still under mask, became aware with the threat of Vietnamese sappers.

"الجيش الفيتنامي ينشر القنادس. حاول إخلاء وتقليل الأضرار في أسرع وقت ممكن!" (The Vietnamese army is deploying the sappers. Try to evacuate and reduce damages as soon as possible!)

It appeared that he knew about Vietnamese sappers, a legacy of Vietnam War. Coined to be one of the most elite sappers in the world, Mouhamed was aware that if he could leave the city safety and retreated to the canal channels of the Mekong river, the force would be still maintained.

But, Kid and Nikov were quite immediate. As they reached to the canals, they saw a boat transporting a group of masked men, wearing black and yelling in Arabic and English.

Kid and Nikov soon found that, behind the trees, this was used as a transport for ISIS fighters.

"Shit … I get it."

"(Kiddo, I think they use boats to evade being captured and also, they want to be avoided from watching.)"

"Can we sink these ships before they move elsewhere?"

"(I guess so.)" Nikov carried on together an AK-47, indicated that he was ready. Kid put his air gun up to hand and aimed to the wooden boat transporting ISIS fighters.

Kid looked on carefully and …

"Boom!"

His gun shot and it headed directly to the ship transporting ammunition and weaponry. Carrying with a black flag of the Islamic State, they just kept sailing on the canals until …

"BOOM!"

A mass explosion occurred in the large river which killed all of those men on board. Kid and Nikov understood that, the ISIS organization wouldn't leave it alone, so they had to hurry and spot on other ship.

Meanwhile, the same small truck but with different color stopped there. The man wore a military uniform of the old GROM force.

"It's the time."

He soon took his spot, trying to find out any possible members of the Champa Shariah Jamaat movement, now a part of wider Islamic State. It was the Archbishop, but no longer in the clothes of a Catholic priest.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese sappers were deployed. Unsurprisingly, being armed with Israeli Uzi guns and heavily trained, they're seen as one of Asia's best sapper commando forces and among top 20 elites. All in green, they gathered around. Just only small portion from 3 to 7 men were enough to break through and survive for over 48 hours.

The Colonel was escorted with the other troops in a jeep.

"Được rồi đồng chí, giờ thì đánh thọc hậu chúng đi." (Okay comrades, now go stab them from the back.)

"Tuân lệnh!" (Roger!)

Arriving to the city, they quickly came on and began a massive operation to monitor the movement. As the army failed to break through and suffered several casualties, the sappers became an option. Gun exchanges stood still and ongoing with more bloody scenes.

A sapper found a young man, with distinct African hair, looked like from South Arabia. The young man shouted but was quickly taken down. Sapper movement became faster and faster as they sneaked into the Tunnel Brick factory, where Islamic State fighters had taken it as a temporary base.

The army kept following from behind as the whole square was turned into fire.

"يستغرقها وقت قصير جدًا للإخلاء. لماذا لم يستجب أحد؟" (It takes them a very short time to evacuate. Why has no one responded?)

Mouhamed Boukhar, still in cover in darkness, pushed his anger as he started hearing about the increasing casualties of his force in the city of Long Xuyên.

"يهز الفيتناميون أرضنا! إنهم يتجهون إلى الشرق ، حيث قواتنا أكثر مبعثرة. محافظ ، يرجى اتخاذ النظام." (Vietnamese sappers are encircling our ground! They are heading east, where our force is more scattered. Governor, please take order.)

Mouhamed Boukhar got even more pissed off due to the length of time perpetration. Even when they got a plenty of it, something …

… denied them.

"Hang on!"

"Governor, what's going on?"

In Islamic State's global caliphate ideology, each Wilayat has one Governor. Mouhamed Boukhar was the first self-claimed governor of the Wilayat of Champa. And so, he became the Governor, or the Bey, in the self-proclaimed region.

Mouhamed Boukhar could not hold still with such tense moment, until he realized …

"Wait, what about …"

He looked on a cell being taken over, and he understood the motivation of it. He guessed that …

"Quick! Move out of here. Someone is stabbing from the back."

Those fighters immediately departed further away from the side of Hậu River in order to avoid completely from direct confrontation. Thus, they had to leave the camp with those remaining fighters and trying to retreat closer to Cambodian-Vietnamese border.

With this move, he chose to abandon the city already.

On the same time, Kid and Nikov had yet to see Taha, but money distribution to other jihadist movements in Southeast Asia was clear.

"I just wonder … how much Taha has distributed. And why did he use the money of the Saudi millionaire?"

"(I have no idea either. But the way Ahmad Al-Salih work indicated more than just one. And the Saudi millionaire seems to know where is he.)"

"Should have interviewed that bastard before allowing the SEALs to make an arrest."

"(It's okay. We'll visit him. Anyway, we are aware that the establishment of Champa Shariah Jamaat had the hand of his.)"

"However, the initial leader is not just one." Kid mentioned about yesterday's research: "There are two person influential on the establishment of this terrorist organization. One is Mouhamad Boukhar. And another one is Khatag Safawi. But only Boukhar, so where is Khatag?"

"(Khatag Safawi!)" Nikov startled: "(Why did we forget this person?)"

"Khatag is a renowned Malaysian terrorist of Cham descent but born in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh."

"(Khatag has a strong connection to Ahmad Mohamad Al-Salih, and has visited Vietnam twice. In the past, he channeled the black money to finance Salafist movements across Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.)"

"Khatag is instrumental for the rise of Islamic State's branch in the country. So Khatag is very aware of his business."

"(But when the Champa Shariah Jamaat issued anti-Vietnamese manifesto, only Mouhamad Boukhar and not Khatag Safawi. Meanwhile, Khatag was once a former servant of Ahmad Mohamad Al-Salih, which the millionaire considered him like his son.)"

"Khatag knew about Taha Belal Abdallah Al-Shami! And he surely knew that because he lived with Ahmad Mohamad prior to his departure."

"(And the relations with Mouhamad Boukhar. We should have mentioned together.)"

"Yeah, maybe …"

But when Kid and Nikov were watching on the river, suddenly, some men shouted: "الكفار!" (Infidels!) This interrupted Nikov and Kid, forcing both to take action against those fighters. ISIS fighters immediately appeared, some covered their faces, some didn't.

Kid and Nikov, however, soon proved why they were too much. They put their guns and took down plenty of them. Not just that, they ran very quick and wolf-soul Nikov became even more scary after being transformed to wolf. The duo kept making a stunning form, with Kid even killed them by katana.

Kid switched between katana and air gun. Nikov became a wolf. Neither ISIS fighters were able to detect their positions, and each time, they killed, either by stabbing, shooting, biting to decapitation.

Kid and Nikov were burning.

Meanwhile, the Catholic priest was moving beyond, and also, on the same time, he was a GROM soldier. Although retired from the army to become a Catholic priest, he never forgot his duty and prayed to God.

"Our Lady, please bless us to final glory."

He had just killed an ISIS fighter to seize the boat to transport to the other side of the river. He was going to gain few hope for the final win.

The sappers showed to be effective, but if they had not known, Kid and Nikov had actually cruised the backbone of the militant organization.

ISIS fighters in the eastern part of the city, at Mỹ Long district, tried to put detonation to prevent Vietnamese army from seizing the last of the militant group. There, a lot of them had to take decision.

"لن نتراجع. سنلحق الضرر في أقرب وقت ممكن. لن يسقط جيش الإسلام أبداً ، وسوف نذهب إلى الجنة." (We won't retreat. We will inflict damage as soon as possible. The army of Islam will never fall, and we shall go to Heaven.)

However, when the group sought to detonate themselves in a rice store, something arrived.

"FREEZE!"

"Shoot them!"

ISIS militants decided to fight back and shot, but they were taken down all, except one. It was …

"You want?"

The last ISIS militant, who was carrying an M-16 rifle, challenged all the sappers who entered here, alongside Vietnamese troops who also took their arms against. The ISIS militant, covered the face too, didn't have anything to fear anymore. He had failed to make a final assault to commit suicide attack, and this became the only option for him: do or die.

But even before he could do it, something hit him from the back, causing him to collapse into the front. There was no sign of shooting, nonetheless.

It was done by a soldier from the back, and the masked man fell, with little to discuss. From this point, seeing so many damages in the city and casualties, which cost many, they decided that the city was clear of terrorists.

"Báo cáo với cấp trên." (Report to the High Command.)

Kid and Nikov after fighting a bunch of ISIS fighters, had gone exhausted, but luckily, no more people around.

"No more … bro … no more."

By then, a man, lying on the ground near the remaining shipping boat which was used to transport weaponry. Kid and Nikov then walked there, like they never lost power overall.

The lying man, wearing Islamic State black clothes, got surprised, as he was breathing the last … and Kid added a question in the language of his.

"لذا ، أين محمد بوخار وما هو هدفه في فيتنام؟" (So, where is Mouhamad Boukhar and what's his goal in Vietnam?)

"Inshallah …" He still sneaked some little laugh before dying: "يجب أن تراه قريبًا … الكفار … بوخار أكثر ذكاءً منا جميعًا … وسيجعلك أنت وهؤلاء الكفار الفيتناميين … ليشعروا بمزيد من الآلام … سوف يتم إحياء تشامبا … الولايات … سوف يولد … إن شاء الله ، النبي ، … المجد الأخير لله والخلافة العظيمة … سيأتي … قريبًا جدًا …" (You shall see it soon … infidels … Boukhar is smarter than all of us … he shall make you and those Vietnamese infidels … to feel more pains … Champa will be revived … the Wilayat … will be born … in the will of Allah, the Prophet, … the final glory of Allah and the great Caliphate … will come … very soon …)

He then stopped breathing, but Kid and Nikov were aware that, there were some abandoned buildings far away 5 kilometers. It meant a lot for Kid and Nikov.

"They had left for the other bank. We will see where it went."

Kid and Nikov guessed out, and they didn't need to prosecute the dying ISIS terrorist anymore. So, they departed from there to go to the other bank, trying to wander what's going on next.

"The Vietnamese army confirms it had cleaned the terrorist presence believed to have spread to Long Xuyên, but it had to pay with 7 deaths and 15 injured. Report says that over 30 ISIS militants were killed but the number might be increasing due to another deaths being unreported." ABC News.

"People in the city are still being frightened due to two and a half hours fighting between the government's armed forces and Daesh force after discovering a growth of Daesh presence. It was done following the terrorist attacks in a pagoda and a Catholic diocese in Ho Chi Minh City, which Islamic State's branch, the Champa Shariah Jamaat, claimed responsibility." CBC News.

"The shocking strong grip of increasing muslim militants prompted the national police and armed troops to storm several mosques in the city. Two of them had been shut down. For the Vietnamese people, which their country has never experienced Islamic extremist attacks, as well as the small presence of muslim community which is at least over 1-2% of Vietnamese population, the attack had prompted more Vietnamese to be hostile toward muslims." CNN.

"An hour following the attack, three Indonesian muslims in the city of Danang were beaten to death by locals accusing them for being supporters of Islamic State. Police had to reduce and push the angry mobs still engraved by the brutal attacks to Thiên Hậu pagoda and Sài Gòn Basilica in the south." BBC.

"The outcome of the terrorist attack proved to be very influential because Vietnam is a recent growing tourist destination, with its long beaches, passionate people, great cuisine and a friendly culture, which emerged after many years in trauma of the old Vietnam War and the Sino-Vietnamese conflict. The attack will have a negative effect as Vietnam has already received 16.5 million tourists last year. 4 million came from Korea." Arirang.

"Dang it!"

Mouhamed Boukhar was pissed off as he relocated to a safer ground where more and more muslim fanatic followers in there. Either of Vietnamese or foreign nationalities, those standing with him tried to calm their own governor.

"Governor … the fight for Caliphate is still ongoing. Champa Wilayat will not fall, we will continue our struggle for the belief."

"I should have killed all of them." Mouhamed Boukhar remembered that he and several of his men ambushed a bus and killed the driver, kidnapping a group of tourists turned out to be girl group. In the end, with the ransom being paid, Mouhamed released all but one, and it was …

"That bitch …"

He suddenly remembered to Fauzi Abdel Galam, who was now in Vietnamese prison elsewhere. Hearing that Fauzi would be sent to the U.S. for trial, he expected about possible way to respond.

"Hold on."

"What's that, governor?"

"They still have 48 hours. But we can trigger them earlier, while I will help you all to enter Cambodia safely."

"You mean …"

"Send the Vietnamese regime a video … In exchange, we demand the release of Fauzi Abdel Galam."

He whispered some few words, and they quite understood very fast. The group soon departed and ready to make some kind of threat.

03:35

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

After performing the mourning, and the appearance of the Holy See's chargé d'affaires Daren Kalabagian, Tymoteusz Barczewski stood a moment watching from the sky at the night. He could not sleep, even though …

When he looked further away, he was afraid of something bad.

"Gdzie do diabła jesteś, Radosławie? Nie idź na kolejny śmiertelny moment." (Where the hell are you, Radosław? Don't go for another deadly moment.)

While he was looking from the church, the feeling ranged between so many kinds of moments. But … Tymoteusz felt it stronger to stand with Radosław because they were brother in arm as kids.

When they were sitting, suddenly …

Himari Uehara woke up with a lot of fear, as she got scared with the past and present. She didn't want it and Tymoteusz had to comfort her.

And then, Himari cried, cried again into the body of Tymoteusz. The Polish priest might've sensed something over …