Chapter 11: International Relations

Kinala was the capital city of Gualand. The democratically elected government had a strong base and the economic reforms were effective in the city.

It seem like they were winning the civil war but the war didn't have any epic battles. It was a stealth war where people didn't know who to trust.

The Freemantlish embassy's attaché sent two MI6 agents and some of the embassy's guards on a mission. It sounded easy to Harry Fitzgerald and Scott Boswell; both agents were young and they wanted to do a mission they thought that was important. However MI6 had little to do in Gualand and any mission was welcomed.

Both agents arrived at the Kwowo House. It was modest house; it had two floors and an attic, with small front garden and large back garden. In the driveway was a white five-door car.

Harry, a chimpanzee and Scott, a rhino got up to the front door of the house. Harry knocked on the door. It took a minute before Agolo's wife answered the door.

"Swa Kwowo?" Harry asked.

"Yes," she said shyly in her African accent.

"Harry Fitzgerald, Freemantlish Embassy," he said. "We have come at your husband's request."

"What did he want?" Swa asked. She had little news of Agolo for the passed six months and missed him desperately.

"He wants you and your children to come with us to the embassy," Scott said.

"Who are you?" Swa asked.

"Scott Boswell."

"I just want to know," Swa said. "Why does he want me to with you?"

"For your own safety," Harry said.

"Do you have any identify?"

"Of course," Harry said politely and both MI6 agents show her their diplomatic cards.

She examined the cards for a moment before saying: "can you give me five minutes. I need to get a few things for and the children."

"We'll wait at the door," Scott said.

Swa shut the door and Harry and Scott looked outwards to make sure the area was clear.

"Can't you get that computer to hurry up!" the fascist spy, a dusty white male hedgehog with fine spike ordered.

"This is top of the range," the computer operator, a male wildebeest answered.

"Still not good enough," the hedgehog said taking a drag off his cigarette and looked out the window to see the chimpanzee and rhinoceros standing on Swa Kwowo's doorstep.

After another five minutes the computer finished it search and the wildebeest shouted: "shit!"

"What is it?" the hedgehog asked.

"The men," the wildebeest answered, "they are called Harry Fitzgerald and Scott Boswell; both of them are MI6 agents."

"GET YOUR GUN AND GO DOWNSTAIRS!" the hedgehog ordered, picking up his pistol.

But there were too late when they reached downstairs and got out the house. They saw Swa leaving with the agents in their embassy car.

Damio Pullson had been transferred to Central Diamond Police Station for further question. Special Branch, MI5 and MI6 thought he was more likely to talk if in the area of danger.

Winston Drake personally wanted to question Damio. Winston growth up in Diamond; his father was a teacher, his mother a chef. He went to Thomas Crawson School, a decent private school. He then went to Diamond University and got a first class honour degree in Maths and Philosophy. It was after his student days when he was recruited to MI5 and rose up the ranks to be pretty much a decorated officer.

Winston was a brilliant interviewer, even though he used tough tactics. He normally had two other men with him and if the suspect didn't cooperated he ordered them to use physical force against him/her.

Winston and his two strong men, a rabbit and an elephant entered the room. Damio was sitting on a chair with his hands cuffed behind his back. He was weakened by the bullet in his knee and the continuing question by government intelligence agencies. However he didn't give any information to them let.

"Mr. Pullson," Winston said, "I have read your file and it made fun reading."

"Why's that?" Damio asked.

"Why for someone to be a fascist they normally come from a poverty stricken background, have been educated at university or have a prejudice against a certain section of society. I'm not too sure about the latter but you call from a lower middle-class background and you never went to university, just went to your local college for a HND in Business.

"I also read that your father was a Liberal councillor and even try to run as a MP, unfortunately he never got elected."

"Stupid idiot!" Damio muttered.

"Who? Me or your Dad?" Winston asked.

"Both of you."

"Ah," Winston said. "So it was an act of rebellion. Normally people in your situation would either become socialist or conservative."

"God! They offer nothing!" Damio spat. "Socialists will force our country to be allies with the communists whiles the conservatives are too reliance on the Premierian and other nations; anyway the Conservatives and the Liberals are now one and the same now."

"As interesting as this is we may as well get to business," Winston said. "How many bombs did the FFCI planted?!"

"You get straight to the point. I like that in a man."

"Just answer the question."

"Fine, we planted ten," Damio answered.

"And do you care to tell me where they are?"

"Nah."

"Okay, I'll repeat that," Winston said. "Tell me where the bombs are or you'll suffer a painful experience."

"I'll not betray my colleagues," Damio relied.

"Number two," Winston said and the elephant did a karate chop against Damio's back, causing him a high amount of pain.

"Funny you should mention your mates," Winston said, "because we arrested everyone; Shijo Ajiu, James Westle, Francis Becker, everyone at Buro Business Park and at Terracor House. Agolo Kwowo has converted and is now working for us."

"Who?"

"Agolo."

"Never heard of him," Damio said, he was telling the truth.

This was serious for Winston but he decided to continue with the interview.

"Where are the bombs?" Winston asked.

"I'm not telling you I have faith..."

The rabbit punched the fox in the stomach.

"Your faith is misguided," Winston said. "This country will never become fascist! Your methods are pointless; bombing civilians is just making your cause more unpopular. This isn't a poverty stricten rural country but an industrialised democracy with a stable government and system that has never fell, no manner what happened.

"So I'll ask again where are the bombs?"

"There is one at St. Michael's."

"Becker told us about that one."

"One's at Famesbury Park."

"Got that one."

"Sounds like you don't need me then," Damio said.

"You would think so, but we haven't found all the bombs let."

"And what makes you think that'll I tell you?"

"Despite the obvious that your cause is foolish, we have evidence to send you down for life," Winston said. "However if you cooperate with us you'll get a more lenient sentence."

"I'm going to take my chances with the courts."

"And as I said you'll never feel freedom again. Anyway it's your patriotic duty to tell me where the bombs are."

"Bullshit!" Damio spat and the rabbit punched him in the face.

"I could always get a psychic to read your mind but I feel it's best for you to tell me yourself."

"Say if I tell what concessions would I get?"

"You're sentence will be reduced to no more then 30 years and the possibly of parole. You'll have luxuries available like television, radio, newspaper, etc. Also you'll be tried separately and possibly be on a lesser charge."

"And what assurances do I have that these things would happen?" Damio asked.

"None," Winston answered. "You'll just have to trust me."

Damio thought for a moment. He knew that he was going to prison no matter what happened and it wouldn't be easy if prisoners found out what he done and what Winston 'offered' him seemed tempting. But if he did accept then his life would be in danger and the FFCI will see him as a traitor. He'll never be able to rejoin them.

"Will my number be kept secret?"

"Yes."

"Okay; all the bombs are all in Diamond," Damio started off.

"The troops have entered the city," Admiral Fisher told the cabinet. "They will set up road blocks and be involved in policing actions. However if the police or MI5 request help in raids the troops can easily be used."

"Thank you Admiral," the Prime Minister said to chairman of the Chief of Staff.

"I have reports from the hospitals in Diamond," the Health Secretary said. "There are hundred people injured with ranging from first degree burns to serious spinal injuries."

"Are the hospitals coping?" Edward asked.

"The doctors are but the ordinary staff are having difficulty with the visitors."

"Call your department if you need to."

Moments later Edward's phone started to ring. Edward picked it up and said: "Hello."

"Mr. Prime Minister," he secretary said. "I have the Troham ambassador on the phone and she's not in a good mood."

"Could you tell her to hold a moment?" Edward asked and put the phone down. He then looked at the Cabinet. "I have an important phone call," he said. "Just take a break, make phone calls, whatever you need to do. George, Caroline, Pauline, I want you to listen in on this."

The Foreign Secretary, DG of MI6 and Deputy DG of GCHQ all grabbed earphones that were attached to the phone and put them in there ears. Ever though every phone call was recorded he needed his foreign affairs experts available to him for advice.

"Mrs. Ambassador," Edward said into the phone.

"Monsieur Prime Minister," the ambassador answered back.

"Oh please call me Edward," the Prime Minister said.

"Then you can call me Fleur."

"Well Fleur," the PM said, "I'm sure that this is more than a social call."

"It is. One of my citizens has made a complain to my country's police about the kidnapping of her husband. When the story when up the chain it made it to government ministers there called me and wanted me to call you."

"It isn't pleasant when someone is kidnapped but there isn't much I can do about it."

"I haven't finished," Fleur said. "The people who kidnapped him were Freemantlish."

"This is really a matter for my home and foreign offices to deal with. Just fax them the details and they'll be very willing to help."

"Are intelligence analysts have been to the scene. They believe it was a highly trained military force, possibly SAS or ex-SAS."

Edward was stumped. He didn't know how to react to what Fleur Penniz just told him. Admittedly Edward's knowledge of Foreign Affairs was weak compared to his ideas of Economics and Domestic and Social Policy.

Luckily he had George Tinnal with him; one of his most senior and experienced ministers. George had a degree in History and International Relations. After university he joined the Navy and worked as a consultant for businesses wanting to explain to foreign countries. His previous job in the Cabinet Defence Secretary and in 1994 he ran for the party leadership. When he realised he couldn't win he supported Edward Bear and when Edward became Prime Minister rewarded him with the task of being His Majesty's Foreign Secretary.

"Ask her why she thinks that," George said in a whisper in his Irish accent.

"Why do your intelligence services believe it was the SAS?" Edward asked over the phone.

"First off the attack was organised; the phone and power lines to the house were cut and the men attacked two areas at the same time. Second was the weapons the men used; they were MK-16s, or what the intelligence analysts determined by the victim's description. Also the men not only took the man but all of his files and computers," Fleur finished off.

"What next?" Edward asked George, putting his hand over the phone.

"Ask her if there is a report and if so fax it to me and you," George answered.

"Have you intelligence services comprised a report?" Edward asked Fleur.

"Yes they have."

"Then can you send a copy to George Tinnal and me?"

"I'll have to clean it with them first but I'm sure you can get a copy," the ambassador said.

"Good," Edward said. "I assure you that there will be an investigation about this; no stone will be left unturned."

"As long as something is done," Fleur said. "My government offers are best wishes to you, your government and your country over today's tragic events today. If you need any help don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you Fleur," Edward finished off and put the phone down.

The Foreign Secretary and the DGs took their earphones off and Edward looked at Dame Caroline Walters.

"Is there something you should tell me," Edward said.

"As I said we at the SIS run deniable operations and we work with the SAS," Dame Caroline said. "Most of the time I'm not told about them until the mission is finished. Anyway I have been here all the time since the bomb has gone off so I couldn't have ordered any missions."

"Fair enough," Edward said. "But I don't like it when I'm in the shit with our allies."

"The Trohams are not ones to complain," the Foreign Secretary said. "They run dark ops on us and other nations. Hell, every country does it."

Dr. Wallis, a 42-year-old hamster, had Amy's test results and x-rays. He had to go into her room with her parents and husband-to-be.

Dr. Wallis entered the room and saw two male hedgehogs and two pink female hedgehogs.

"Hi," Dr. Wallis said, shaking hands with Sonic and the Roses. "I'm Dr. Wallis and I've been Amy's Doctor for the tests we ran."

"Am I par…" Amy was about to say when the doctor interrupted.

"No it isn't that bad," Dr. Wallis said. Noone in the room like it when he said 'that bad'.

"But I can't feel my legs," Amy said panicky. "I can't move them or anything. Surely that is bad enough."

"Just let the doctor explain," Amy's mother said.

"Okay," Dr. Wallis said after taking a gulp. "What we determined from the tests that something large and hard has hit Amy in the lower spine. Her spine is now bruised and unfortunately she has lost the use of her legs."

"Oh God," Amy said smashing her head down onto her pillow.

"Don't worry," Dr. Wallis said. "It's only temporaries. As long as you do physiotherapy then you should be about to make a full recovery."

"How long will that take?" Amy's father, a white hedgehog, asked.

"Hard to tell because of the bruising but a fair estimate is four months."

"Four months," Amy cried.

"Thank you," Lord George Rose said. He got up and shook the doctor's hand once again just before he left.

"Don't worry Amy," Sonic said. "Four months can go by very quickly. At less you will heal; there are people who can never recovery."

"It's easy for you to say!" Amy snapped. "If this happened to you then you'll be up and about by now."

"I'm just putting it into perspective for you."

"Sonic," Amy's father said. "Can you come outside with me for a second?"

Sonic got up and walked with Lord George Rose. Sonic opened the door and went out first. Lord George was second and shut it so Amy couldn't hear.

"Don't worry about Amy," Sonic's future father-in-law said. "She is just in shocked about what happened. It happens to most people."

"I know," Sonic answered. "It's just that I can't stand to see her like this."

"You have been with Amy for hours. That's more that enough for now. Just go home and get some rest. Come back here later if you are able to."

"Thanks Mr. Rose," Sonic said. He turned around and took two steps.

"Sonic," he heard from behind and turned around again. "How many times have I told you? You can call me George."

Swa Kwowo and her children, two sons and one daughter were confused about the situation they were in. They didn't know why they were there; expect that it was for their safety.

But at least Swa was getting good service from the embassy staff. They were in a large room with chairs, a TV and an intercom so that she could order food and drinks.

After a few moments of waiting a 43-year-old male Orang-utan entered the room.

"Mrs. Kwowo?" the Orang-utan asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"I'm Toby Jenkins," he said. "I'm the ambassador here."

"Nice to meet you."

"Thanks," Toby said. "I'm sure you're wondering why we bought you here."

"It would be nice to be aware of thing," Swa joked.

"As you're aware your husband is in Diamond. He has been working with Fascist terrorists for three years. But luckily our agents at MI5 have convicted him to convert and gave us information. However he had one condition."

"And I assume this is it," Swa said.

"Yes; he wanted you in a safe location."

"Why?"

"Because the fascists were watching you and your family. They were using you as a bargaining tool to make your husband work for them. But now you're here the fascists can't get you."

The terrorist, a young lion, loaded his Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher. It was able to hold three RPGs before it needed to be reloaded. But there were other people in the building, all locked onto the target; but he had the responsible of starting the attack.

He leaned out of the window, holding tightly to his weapon. He pressed the trigger and Grenade smashed into the embassy and exploded.

"WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED!!" Toby Jenkins shouted. He heard the explosion and felt the building shake.

He heard and felt two more explosions, followed by gunfight from outside. A male wolf in red dress marine uniform rushed the room. He was in a panic about the situation that was happening. There were only twenty-seven marines; seven of those were just for ceremony.

"Mr. Ambassador," the wolf said. "We're being attacked. You need to go to the secure room."

"Okay," Toby said, "but they are going with me."

The marine lead Toby and Kwowo family towards the emergency secure room designed to withstand any attack to the embassy. It was meant to protest all the senior officials; but it had enough room for most of the staff and Toby wanted as many people to be in the room unless there was a way out of the building.

When they arrived at the secure room the Ambassador's first act was to call the President of Gualand for assistances.

"What information do you have?" the President, a 61-year-old male zebra, asked.

"Not much Mr. President," Toby answered. "All we know that the people firing at us with Rockets and small arms. I have sent my marines to fire back but we are outnumbered and outgunned."

"I can order police to block off the area and I can get intelligence on the site," the President said.

"I also need you to release my country's troops into my commander," Toby requested.

"You know the agreement my by Your Government and my," the President said. The agreement was that only the Prime Minster or the Foreign Secretary could request the release the troops from the command of the President.

"I know it, but this is an emergency."

"But we also need the troops."

"But they only about three-hundred, a fraction of your army."

"That three-hundred are very experienced and bound by an international agreement."

"When you see what the situation is like here you'll have to let us use our troops."

"And as I said I'll send the police to investigate the area," the President said.

"That'll have to do for now," Toby said and hung up.

The next available to Toby was to call the Foreign Office back in Emerald straight away.

Agolo took Stars and Natalie to a garage complex in the industrial area of the city. Diamond's only industries were textiles and food and it only a small section of the city.

Agolo took his garage key out of his jeans' pocket and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and all three walked in. He then shut the door by pulling a piece of blue rope dangling from the door.

Stars turned on the light and saw Agolo's a black and a red and white motorbikes.

"Nice bikes," Stars said.

"Thanks," Agolo answered. "One of my few passions." He took off a white sheet over a table near the wall showed a PC and four monitors.

"What else do you enjoy then?" Natalie asked.

"I've always been a football fan," Agolo said. "The only good thing about being is Diamond is I got to see United play."

"Which match?"

"Late week's against Yarnbrook."

"That was good one," Natalie said.

"It was; but they really need to get Jack Laser back."

"I know; he is there best player."

Agolo had started the PC up and was watching scenes from within another building.

"What are you doing?" Stars asked.

"Intelligence gathering," Agolo answered. "See I have set up web-cameras around the warehouse Hammal is in. I thought it could be useful."

"What do you need to know?" Natalie asked.

"How many men are there, what they are armed with, where there are or what guarding routine there are in. I sure you get the picture."

Agolo watched the screens for five minutes to demand what the situation was in Hammal's base.

"Okay," Agolo said spinning his chair around to face the star cats. "There are thirty people in the warehouse, including Hammal. He has fifteen ex-SAS and other Special Forces mercenaries. He has also got other heavily armed men."

Agolo got up from his chair and bend down to get a folded piece of paper. He went to table near the bikes and unfolded the paper.

Stars and Natalie went up to the table to see what Agolo had picked up. It was blueprints of the warehouse.

"As you can see the warehouse has four floors," Agolo started off. "Our entrance is going to be the roof." He pointed to a stairway on the side of the building. "There are normally two guards dressed as security guards. There are armed with nightsticks and pistols. But we should avoid them easily."

"What is the aim?" Stars asked.

"For you, to find out where the bombs are," Agolo answered.

"And yours?"

"To kill Hammal and anyone that gets in my way."

"Christ almighty!" Stars shouted. "Why don't you just let us Mets and he could send the police or the army or God knows what."

"Stars, you have to understand that Hammal has taken me away from my country and has threatened to kill my family. I admit from a tactical standpoint that it would be wise to get the police involved. But I want to kill him myself."

"If you do it," Stars said, "and kill Hammal we are going to call MI5 right away."

"Fair enough. Anyway the warehouse is a five minute bike ride away: can either of you two ride a bike?"

"I can," Natalie said.

"Good," Agolo answered. "You and Stars can take the red one." He then looked down at Natalie's brown high-heal boots. He turned around and when to cabinet on the side of the garage. He opened it up and took out a pair of old grey trainers. He then took out the keys from a draw in the desk.

"Catch!" he shouted and threw the trainers and keys at Natalie. She caught them but not with ease.

She looked at the trainers with some surprises.

"There is no way you can run and fight in those shoes," Agolo said.

Agolo then gave Stars and Natalie helmets which there put there heads. Agolo grabbed a briefcase next to the PC tower before put on his helmet. At the same time Natalie took off her boots and put on the trainers.

All three of them took their motorbikes out of the garage, Agolo shut the door, locked it and then all three were on there way to Mount Hammal's Diamond base.

"News just coming in," Charlotte Banks said, pushing her earpiece deeper into her ear. "We are getting reports of the Freemantlish Embassy in Gualand is being attacked.

"We have reporter Simon Jones on the phone. Simon can you hear me?"

"Yes I can," the male voice answered. On the screen now was a map of Gualand with Capital, a coastal city in the West, and in the corner a picture of male spider monkey in a blue shirt.

"What can you tell us about the situation?"

"Not much," the journalist answered. "All that I am aware of is the embassy was attacked half-an-hour ago with rocket propelled grenades and other weapons. There is footage taken by a local news crew and we are trying to obtain it."

"What are the governments of Freemantle and Gualand doing about this?" Charlotte asked.

"I'm unsure about what our government has done but I know that the Gualand's President and Interior Minister have ordered police to the area to monitor who is attacking the embassy, attempt communications and block the area from civilians."

"Who do you think is attacking the embassy?"

"It definitely not the Gualish government, both Freemantle and Gualand have been allies seen 1994. If it's the rebels then this is an unprecedented step since it now adds an international dimension. A possibly is that it's a fascist splinter group who could be taking advantage of what has happened in Diamond today."

"This is major!" Edward Bear said in shock. This day was turning into the biggest crisis in his country's history seen the Great War. Not only had Diamond's city centre been bomb and many bombs were found; now they were being attacked in foreign country by other fascists. "What do we do?"

"I'll have to make calls to the Foreign Office, our ambassador in Gualand and the President of Gualand," George Tinnal answered. "This was what I feared would happen if we were attacked." Before the treaty was signed the Conservatives were against it because it didn't give the Freemantlish government much freedom if there was an emergency. The Labour Government didn't think it was likely.

"Caroline," Edward said addressing the Director-General of MI6. "Can you tell us why there are attacking the embassy and what possible outcomes could happen in to us in Gualand and the wider region?"

"No," Dame Caroline Walters answered. "I'm not an expert on West Mirarci. And even if I was, I couldn't make an analysis in a spilt second. However I can call my head of the West Mirarci intelligence and get you report in about an hour."

"Do it now."

Agolo and Natalie parked the bikes in alley next to the warehouse. The grounds for the warehouse were open with a car park at the front and a small field behind it.

"Where did your learn to ride?" Stars asked.

"Jack taught me when I thirteen," Natalie answered.

Both watched Agolo opening his briefcase and took out a semi-automatic machine gun. He wanted to take down Hammal for so long and now he had an opportune to do.

"Let's go," he said and started to walk to walk out of the alley and towards the car park. Walking around the warehouse a man, an elephant, dressed in a security guard's uniform that looked similar to a police uniform.

Agolo waited for the guard to finish his parole around the building. It took a minute and Agolo ran to the side of the building. Stars and Natalie stayed close behind the gorilla.

The group of three stopped at the stairwell and Natalie panted, putting her hands on her knees and was bent forwards. This normally happened to her because she was never very athletic and her asthma made things worse. Stars and Agolo on the other hand didn't seem to show any exhaustion. Both waited for Natalie to recovery.

"Are you okay?" Stars asked putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine," she answered. "This always happens to me after sprinting."

"Are you able to continue?" Agolo asked.

"Yeah."

"Good," Agolo said. "Stars, you go first, take out you gun and use your psychic powers to make sure there no guards up there. Once you're up there and things look safe wave us up."

"Got it," Stars answered, putted out his pistol and started to walk up the stairs to the roof.

To be continued…