12-30-2014, 09:47 PM
Lt Aaron Kamenashi entered the Red Cross office out of uniform and with a few of the Sierra Leonean auxiliaries at his back. He and the five men with him were all dressed in common civilian clothes and carried backpacks and rifles that were, for the moment, slung. The officer's expression was serious and just a bit harried; they hadn't much time to work with, after all.
"The Legionnaire is correct. I am taking the children for a nature walk. Three hours ago, understood?"
He and the men with him moved into the room without really stopping to waste time on explanations, instead moving to try and round up the children towards the fire exit that would lead them to the rear of the small refinery, where the government troops hadn't bothered watching. They had swept the area on their initial arrival and moved on as there hadn't been any refugees there.
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The government troops made no move to interfere with the Legionnaires, but the dozen-and-some hired auxiliaries still in sight were unceremoniously disarmed. The soldiers weren't exactly aggressive about it, not under the eye of the reporters, but there was little room for negotiation to be had. Their weapons were collected, but as the government troops moved to toss those rifles in their trucks, Jacques did what the magazines thought he did best. Take the spotlight.
He intercepted the government troops while leading the camp elders towards their commanding. And in so doing, also drew in the attention of the group that was headed towards the Red Cross offices where Natalie and the children were. He spoke with the group for a few long minutes, and by the end of the conversation the confiscated weapons were being carried to the Legion vehicles instead of the army's.
He turned slightly to look at Jared and offered a tired smile. "I expected nothing less of her."
He would, of course, use it to his advantage. Her stubbornness would help distract from his men trying to sneak off with the children.
Lt Folami, the government forces officer, approached Jacques upon realizing that he had started directing the soldiers away from the Red Cross offices. He had two armed men at his back, while Jacques stood only with Jared at his side, although there could be no construing Jacques' posture as worried.
"Mr Danjou. If I find you telling my troops what to do again, your time in the spotlight will not protect you."
The Lt delivered his warning with a hand on his hip-holstered pistol, but Jacques merely nodded in understanding.
Jacques turned to Jared, nodding to the man, "I shall go collect them myself, Lieutenant. I was just assuring that my property was not misplaced. I am sure you do not wish to do the paperwork to explain my rifles in the backs of your trucks, yes? Now, these men are the representatives of the gathered refugees and would like to offer you their full cooperation in this change of administration. I thought that hearing assurances from yourself that your men will be able to provide the medical and social assistance the Red Cross staff have been giving them. Or that they will be relocated to the capital at the earliest convenience, of course."
Then, rather then waiting for the man to answer, Jacques turned and started walking, slowly, towards the Red Cross offices
The representatives took Jacques lead and started questioning Lt Folami, and with the officer's waved permission, he continued towards the Red Cross offices.
Other government troops closed on the reporters finally. Adisa Jackson, the Sierra Leonean freelancer was quick to shut down his camera and submit to the military's search. He was on thin ice to begin with, being that he wasn't a foreigner and thus had no foreign parties backing him if he were arrested. They could take him and lock him away for years and no one outside his family would likely ever realize.
Jared Wilson, for all his brunt approach to interviews, had been around enough to know when not to cause too much trouble. He questioned the men that approached him, but rather then making foolish demands he cooperated, for the most part.
Two soldiers approached Monday, both carrying their rifles with a casual arrogance. Legion Premiere was known throughout Africa as an organization that did not sit idly by or simply roll over, but they had given in to Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson's orders without a struggle. That misinterpretation of the situation had given the men a false sense of security, which meant they didn't waste time with her apparent assistant. Yet.
"Put away your camera and get in your vehicle."
There was no question, no request. It was a statement of what she was going to do, as far as they cared, and was seemingly not open to interpretation. "Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson has ordered that all foreigners are to make their way to the capital. Any with no business here will be deported."
From their tone, they likely felt that she had no business in their country. Every reporter they got rid of would make their General's goals easier to achieve.
"The Legionnaire is correct. I am taking the children for a nature walk. Three hours ago, understood?"
He and the men with him moved into the room without really stopping to waste time on explanations, instead moving to try and round up the children towards the fire exit that would lead them to the rear of the small refinery, where the government troops hadn't bothered watching. They had swept the area on their initial arrival and moved on as there hadn't been any refugees there.
-----
The government troops made no move to interfere with the Legionnaires, but the dozen-and-some hired auxiliaries still in sight were unceremoniously disarmed. The soldiers weren't exactly aggressive about it, not under the eye of the reporters, but there was little room for negotiation to be had. Their weapons were collected, but as the government troops moved to toss those rifles in their trucks, Jacques did what the magazines thought he did best. Take the spotlight.
He intercepted the government troops while leading the camp elders towards their commanding. And in so doing, also drew in the attention of the group that was headed towards the Red Cross offices where Natalie and the children were. He spoke with the group for a few long minutes, and by the end of the conversation the confiscated weapons were being carried to the Legion vehicles instead of the army's.
He turned slightly to look at Jared and offered a tired smile. "I expected nothing less of her."
He would, of course, use it to his advantage. Her stubbornness would help distract from his men trying to sneak off with the children.
Lt Folami, the government forces officer, approached Jacques upon realizing that he had started directing the soldiers away from the Red Cross offices. He had two armed men at his back, while Jacques stood only with Jared at his side, although there could be no construing Jacques' posture as worried.
"Mr Danjou. If I find you telling my troops what to do again, your time in the spotlight will not protect you."
The Lt delivered his warning with a hand on his hip-holstered pistol, but Jacques merely nodded in understanding.
Jacques turned to Jared, nodding to the man, "I shall go collect them myself, Lieutenant. I was just assuring that my property was not misplaced. I am sure you do not wish to do the paperwork to explain my rifles in the backs of your trucks, yes? Now, these men are the representatives of the gathered refugees and would like to offer you their full cooperation in this change of administration. I thought that hearing assurances from yourself that your men will be able to provide the medical and social assistance the Red Cross staff have been giving them. Or that they will be relocated to the capital at the earliest convenience, of course."
Then, rather then waiting for the man to answer, Jacques turned and started walking, slowly, towards the Red Cross offices
The representatives took Jacques lead and started questioning Lt Folami, and with the officer's waved permission, he continued towards the Red Cross offices.
Other government troops closed on the reporters finally. Adisa Jackson, the Sierra Leonean freelancer was quick to shut down his camera and submit to the military's search. He was on thin ice to begin with, being that he wasn't a foreigner and thus had no foreign parties backing him if he were arrested. They could take him and lock him away for years and no one outside his family would likely ever realize.
Jared Wilson, for all his brunt approach to interviews, had been around enough to know when not to cause too much trouble. He questioned the men that approached him, but rather then making foolish demands he cooperated, for the most part.
Two soldiers approached Monday, both carrying their rifles with a casual arrogance. Legion Premiere was known throughout Africa as an organization that did not sit idly by or simply roll over, but they had given in to Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson's orders without a struggle. That misinterpretation of the situation had given the men a false sense of security, which meant they didn't waste time with her apparent assistant. Yet.
"Put away your camera and get in your vehicle."
There was no question, no request. It was a statement of what she was going to do, as far as they cared, and was seemingly not open to interpretation. "Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson has ordered that all foreigners are to make their way to the capital. Any with no business here will be deported."
From their tone, they likely felt that she had no business in their country. Every reporter they got rid of would make their General's goals easier to achieve.