[Zimbabwe] Harare Riots Suppressed

[Owen]

The Australian High Commissioner would have the gates locked. He would go out and speak to the police commander.

"If you attempt to raid these premises you are in violation of International Law and will be tried and prosecuted accordingly. We are yet to receive any formal indication of persona non grata status. Any attempts to arrest us without giving ample time to leave will also be in violation of International Law."

J.Hyde

 

[Strix]

A situation eerily similar to the one in Belgium a year ago would yet again rise up to the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the Portuguese Embassy was not targeted, the current policy is to let it remain that way. Portuguese guards stationed in the Embassy would be higher in number than usual due to recent events, and a constant line of encrypted communication would be established between the Portuguese and Brazilian embassies. Four Guards armed with their standard-issue Walther P38 and their HK G3s would station themselves near the embassy's entrance. They would keep an eye on the unfolding situation, making sure that it wouldn't get violent. Three other guards would remain within the building, Two carrying their P38s and G3s, and one carrying a Benelli M4.

The Portuguese Embassy was quick to establish contact with the homeland, relaying everything in detail. In turn, the Portuguese Government would also be relaying encrypted information to their Brazilain Allies in regards to the current escalating situation. While the Embassy doesn't know about the situation in both the Brazilian and Belgian embassies, it would attempt to establish communications with nearby embassies, in response to the situation at the Australian one.

An encrypted line would be established.

"Brazilian Embassy, this is the Portuguese embassy. Due to what happened with the Australian Embassy, we want to know if you're alright. The riots have spread far into the city, from what we can tell, but the Portuguese embassy is free of any hostile activities."

A similar message would be broadcasted to any nearby embassies, including the Dutch and the Belgian ones.

---

JakeDorent Flying Damascas Dutchy J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

Owen

"Consider this your formal notification then," The commander said, while pointing aggressively at the ambassador. "Pack your things, and get out. You have..."

The commander glanced at his watch to check the time.

"Two hours. If you're not ready by then, we'll be coming in whether you like it or not."

 

[Owen]

"Two hours is also against international law. 24 hours is the minimum required." He would reply back.

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

Owen

"You're on Zimbabwean land. You will abide by what we say," He shot back without any concern given to the ramifications the Australian ambassador had informed him of. "Two hours, and we're coming in whether you are ready or not."

With the deadline reaffirmed, the officer turned and walked away to report the situation back to command, while the rest of the Zimbabwean police officers present began milling around and chatting amongst themselves.

 

[Owen]

"Where do you expect us to go? You've closed all the airports and the land borders..."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

Owen

"I'm sure you're a smart man!" He shouted back. "Figure something out. Otherwise, you're going to go where we put you."

 

[J.Hyde]

Owen

With the two hour deadline passed, the police officers outside of The Australian Embassy in Harare formed up, while a bulldozer was commandeered and brought to the scene. The construction vehicle was used to break down the gate, allowing the police to swarm in and begin arresting the staff inside. Anyone who resisted physically was beaten with batons, while any armed security staff that attempted to fight back were promptly shot.

 

[Flying Damascas]

The Security Staff Task Force at the Belgian Embassy would be authorized by Brussels to utilise lethal force in the given capacity, from the roof of the embassy a red flare would be fired into the night sky signaling the start of defensive actions.

Within minutes of the flare, the HMG would train its FN MAG on their Zimbabwean adversaries and strike a lethal blow which was quickly followed upon by the sound of FN FNC rifle fire.

Using cover and regulating their burstage, the security team would stand their ground determined to prevent a repeat of the Australian embassy with three M72 LAWs being handed out to several infantrymen who were ordered to keep their eyes peeled for any murading bulldozer

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

Flying Damascas

Due to the police stationed at the Belgian embassy being ordered to just screen who was in the area, they were not facing the embassy boundaries. The opening salvo of gunfire struck various officers in the back, causing the rest to scatter in terror at the sudden and unprovoked attack. Those that survived the beginning of hostilities immediately began returning fire.

"Command, this is HOTEL-PAPA-NOVEMBER-ONE!" One of the officers radioed. "The Belgians are shooting at us. I repeat, The Belgians are shooting at us. We need support! Over!"

"HOTEL-PAPA-NOVEMBER-ONE, this is Command. Report acknowledged, extra units will be deployed to the scene to support you. Out."

Zimbabwean police units were swiftly dispatched to the scene, where they took cover and attempted to engage the Belgians.

 

[Flying Damascas]

Swarms of men in blue bearing riots shields and Klashnikov Rifles could be seen converging towards the point of contact near the embassy. The HMG team would lay down suppressing fire on Zimbabwean police personnel while two fire teams were organised ready for engagement on the ground. The objective of the defenders was to resist the enemy at all cost til extraction became a viable option. Minutes after the first three bursts of suppressing fire from the FN MAG, several flash grenades were thrown in the general direction of the enemy so as to capitalize on their fear and anxiety. Now twas to time to do or die but whatever it was they would have to act fast for time was of the essence.

J.Hyde

 

[Strix]

Gunfire would be heard throughout Harare, which would raise alarums within the Portuguese Embassy. An urgent encrypted message would be forwarded to the Brazilians, stating that the Portuguese Embassy can be used as a safe house for civilians within their embassy. A message would be forwarded to the Zimbabwean Government (J.Hyde) wherein Portuguese diplomatic staff and possibly Brazilian staff would be departing within the next 24 hours. The reasoning is that the current situation within Harare is unsafe, and once things return to normal, business would continue as usual. A flight would be quickly chartered by the Portuguese government, secretly accompanied by some elements of the SIS. The guards would remain their guard but avoid flagging the local police in order to keep aggression low.

---

JakeDorent J.Hyde

 

[Owen]

The police would arrest all the Australian embassy staff. There would be no armed security as the threat assessment didn't see the need for it.

The Ambassador would speak.

"We demand to speak to a lawyer!"

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

Strix

The message regarding the withdrawal of Portuguese diplomatic staff was acknowledged by Zimbabwe, which sent a reply informing Portugal that they would not be prevented from leaving the country. However, there was a demand that their exit be as swift as possible.

---

Owen

"You won't be needing a lawyer where you're going," An officer responded to the ambassador's demand before providing a baton strike to the stomach of the Australian envoy. "Now shut up and start moving!"

The Australians were then dragged to an array of police vehicles so that they could be transported, piecemeal, to Harare Remand Prison situated at 53RC+F5 Harare, Zimbabwe.

 

[Owen]

It would be publicly broadcasted the arrest of the embassy staff. They would shown to be pulled away in police vehicles. The Australian Government would note that they were being arrested and would update Brigadier Hindmarsh and the Special Forces onboard HMAS Manoora which was quickly approaching Mozambique. News crew would show the embassy staff being taken to the Harare Central Prison, as it was not stated that this was done in secret. This was noted by the Australian Government as well. The exact location within the prison was unknown.

 

[Flying Damascas]

The Belgian embassy in Harare would continue to resist knowing that to do otherwise would result in a most unpleasant end as seen during the Australian incident. Security Personnel would set claymores around the gated portion not far from the streets. The fighting was rather sproadic for the first couple of hours but the peace in between was short lived, broken by bursts of machine gun and rifle fire.

 

[J.Hyde]

Flying Damascas

The weight of firepower being poured upon the police had forced them to take cover and, instead of attempting to engage, merely wait. While they had the ability to have supplies and ammunition dispatched to them, The Belgians weren't so lucky. In addition, the Zimbabwean police had been able to get in contact with the local utilities company and order them to shut down all electricity, water, and gas to the embassy. The assault was now a siege.

 

[Flying Damascas]

Without power and running water, the security staff agreed to conserve every minute drop and rely on flamesless ration heaters from which to prepare food in between combat and routine patrols. Orders remained the same, take no prisoners and inflict as much carnage and death as possible before they met their end. Those armed with LAWs would be assign to the two and third floors to stiffen the defense. All while their enemies fell into an abyss

 

[J.Hyde]

Owen Flying Damascas Logan JakeDorent

With reports coming in that French troops had arrived on Zimbabwean soil, and that the army had, apparently, mutinied or collapsed, the dominoes falling quickly claimed their first casualty, the police. Officers, in groups or individually, began deserting. The cordons thrown up round the embattled embassies quickly disintegrated, as vehicles or weapons were abandoned, or taken away, by officers who chose to flee or, quite simply, walk home. Eventually, the cordons were gone, the only trace of their existence being the bodies of fallen officers, spent bullet casings, abandoned weapons and vehicles, and blood.

---

The Australian embassy staff had been locked up in the Harare Remand Prison, they would become aware of anxious mutterings among the police officers manning the facility.

"Did you hear about the army?"

"What about them?"

"They're refusing to leave their barracks. Foreign helicopters with soldiers have arrived near Harare, the country's lost."

"Shit! Really?" The officer yelped, before glancing over at the imprisoned Aussies. "They'll probably be coming for them."

"What do we do?"

"Do what you want. I'm out of here."

The officer quickly waltzed out of the building, he had broken a lot of laws during his time as an officer, including being a participant in the illegal arrest of the embassy staff. He had no intention of being found and punished for those crimes. The prison quickly emptied of officers, leaving the prisoners, and the Australians, locked up and alone.

A little while after the prison had been abandoned, a single police officer arrived with a cuffed citizen in tow.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" He called out. When no response came, he put the suspect he had brought in into a cell and then scratched his head.

"Where did everyone go?" He said out loud before noticing the mass of white people occupying a huge clump of cells. "Who are you people?"

 

[JakeDorent]

The Brazilian Security Personnel would continue to watch closely the Zimbabwean Activity.

The Brazilian Ambassador would answer the Portuguese call through an encrypted line.

"It's good to hear your voice Mr Ambassador, we have heard shots ring from the Belgian Embassy and have also received information about what has occurred with the Australian Embassy, we have activated our security protocol as the Zimbabwean Police are standing right in front of our Embassy's grounds, right now the situation is peaceful, but they are detaining their own citizens."

The Ambassador had his eyes glued to the outside to see what occurred.

---

After a while, seeing the Zimbabwean Police beginning to flee the scene, some of the Embassy's personnel would breathe a sigh of relief, the security officers confused.

The Ambassador would call the Portuguese through an encrypted line, notifying them of what was occurring.

"It seems that the Zimbabweans have...retreated? The situation is confusing, we are maintaining our Security protocol." The information would be relayed to the Government in Brazil through encrypted channels.

J.Hyde Strix