Takers of the Lost Arc, Part Ii

...Then working with the government, who always liked more western cash, they set up an agreement that they hoped could contain this backlash. Two scientists could see the arc, and work to verify its age, one from Harvard, and one Cambridge, and to Axum both made their way. The American, an old man, Professor Hammond was name, the Brit was a young grad student, named Alice, with a genius brain. As they settled into their work neither of the scholars could know that in neighboring Somalia an evil man plotted a blow. He went by the name Ibrahim, whether it was real, no one knew, established as a terrorist, an Islamist, quite tried and true. He’d built a name in civil wars, the kind that always racked that place, made a reputation with force, he left death, and people displaced. And though the man gained followers, he was frustrated by his land, ruined and lacking resources, Ibrahim was an ambitious man. When he heard the arc had been found, an idea grew up in his mind, Christians and Jews worshipped the thing, a route to more money he found. He took with him one hundred men, slipped the border, went to Axum, keeping his people outside town until shadows of nightfall had come. Then they attacked St. Mary’s Church, stormed the building with guns blazing, killing priests, security guards, anyone they found resisting. Quickly they sieved the old relic, took Alice, Hammond, and four priests, hostages until they got paid, at which point they {might" be released. Chased by police they all fled east, back into the Somali state, where they hid amongst the chaos, where all involved did celebrate. A scheme pulled on the infidel, they would now pay to arm their foe! They had no choice, if they did not then to hell their relic would go! Ibrahim put out a message, a video, as such types do, demanding millions for the arc, it was seen by more than a few. And there was a bunch of chatter, amongst talking heads on TV, talking of how such a relic just found, could soon be history. Religious types the world over spoke of how it would be a crime if such a thing would be destroyed, the loss of a wonderous find. All knew some action would come soon, too many folks were up in arms, talk of commandos, and or raids, to Ibrahim it raised alarms... CONTINUES IN PART III.