Jörg. H. Trauboth - Three Brothers

The crisis team Weier/Fischer, internally abbreviated to WEFI , has to rely on the reports from the intelligence agencies for any new developments. And, in fact, the CIA recently reported that two Germans were taken hostage and presumed to be in Northern Iraq. All efforts from Team WEFI are being spent looking into these reports.

Rudolf is aware that the relatively comfortable times of when kidnappers were only interested in a ransom are now over. Since Germany has become more involved in the fight against international terrorism, the number of cases of political extortion have sharply increased as the chances for the hostages have dramatically decreased. On his way to the crisis center, he sees Dr. Bloedorn approaching him frantically.

“Dr. Kürten, I’m so glad I found you! We just received a YouTube video with a threat from the Islamic State with an ultimatum. They are threatening to behead Weier and Fischer on December 25th if Germany does not cease its support in the fight against ISIS!”

For a moment, Rudolf forgets that he is no fan of this eellike Dr. Bloedorn. The man is an expert at talking for twenty minutes without ever saying anything remotely meaningful. The top of the class at the school of diplomacy. The ministry has actually only parked him here in the crisis center. He even starts to hyperventilate in crisis situations as though he’s having some kind of a crisis orgasm. Unfortunately, more due to blind activism than out of true concern for the people involved.

It is those people whom Rudolf is now thinking about as his eyes scan the situation room, passing over the computers, fax machines, and encryption machines, before coming to rest on the nine synchronized railway clocks quietly ticking on the wall.

Northern Iraq is two hours ahead. When are they supposed to be beheaded? On December 25th, nine days from today! That allows a little bit of time at least. Every hour is now precious. They need to switch to full speed.

“Mr. Bloedorn, call the WEFI Crisis Team for a meeting at 4 o’clock local time. And inform the executive level.”

Rudi rushes into his office, the unforgiving ticking of the clocks still resonates in his ears.

“Sandra, call Silverlocks to come here and give me my blazer, please.”

His secretary Sandra knows that when he trades his Harley jacket for his blazer, then it’s serious. And she also knows, of course, that Director of the German Federal Police Office Hartmut Busch, a.k.a. “Silverlocks,” is the top expert on Islamic terrorism and a shrewd negotiator as well.

“I wanted to tell you that both Weier’s and Fischer’s wives have just called. Chief, they are each at the end of their ropes.”

“Are we able to contact them?”

“We are.”

“Please tell them both, I will call them after the meeting.”

He knows how terrifying it can be for the families to hear about threats of beheading in the news media and even to potentially witness such beheadings somewhere on the internet.

He then immerses himself in the reports on the situation. What do we know? What will the assessment be?

It’s already clear to him that this could be the first beheading of a German citizen this year. Somehow, the RAF was more predictable, he thought, we knew who the enemy was then…

“Sandra, I think we will be getting an important visitor today.”

“Do you really think so? She has been here only one single time in the past two years and then it was only an official visit to commemorate her inauguration.”

When Susanne Ehrlich, the administrative assistant to the German Chancellor, hears the strangely reserved voice of Federal Foreign Minister Georg von Rüdesheim on the telephone, it was clear to her that it was urgent. She suspected there would be no positive highlights on her boss’s schedule for today.

“Is the Chancellor available? She’s not answering her encrypted cell phone,” inquired von Rüdesheim.

“It’s possible she’s on the other phone, Minister.”

“These encrypted cell phones are extremely impractical,” he retorted curtly.

“May I assume that she’s in Berlin? I need to speak to her urgently.”

“May I ask what it’s about?”

“You may,” answered von Rüdesheim, a bit more sharply.

It irked him that all the office assistants in this world have as much power as he does.

“ISIS seems to have the two German hostages Weier and Fischer in their possession. They have made clear threats to behead them if we don’t withdrawal.”

“I’ll put you through, Minister. Is your encrypted cell phone activated?”

“Of course, that’s what I am calling you on.”

German Chancellor Henriette Behrens is on the way from her residence in the southern part of Berlin to the Chancellery, accompanied by security agents in the car in front of her and behind.

Henriette enjoys being the Chancellor. She was born in to a diplomat family and lived in Rome for a number of years studying political science, history, and philosophy. The topic of her thesis was the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. She is well-liked in her country for her compassionate nature and her objective politics. Her political views are transparent, just as she herself is transparent and authentic. She can be tough, but she is predictable. The German Chancellor says what she wants and keeps her word. She is trustworthy, both nationally as well as internationally.

However, she cannot stand the leader of the opposition party, but recognizes her need for him to ensure her power as Chancellor. He is a necessary evil. And she needs to hold on to this power as she is now leading a brand new, complicated three-party coalition government and is surrounded by political opponents who are all just salivating for her to make a mistake. After all, the goal of every opposition is to overthrow the leaders.

Henriette had picked out her white silk blouse and a dark blue pantsuit to wear today, along with a subtle string of pearls and small diamond earrings. She doesn’t like to wear any more jewelry than that. For the past two decades, the forty-nine-year-old can easily be identified by the delicate scent of her favorite perfume, Ypsilon . In the meantime, it has become more difficult to find the perfume anywhere on the market.

The chancellor is often viewed critically by the other female ministers, but receives overwhelming admiration from her male colleagues, especially from her Italian counterpart. Not merely for her affinity for Italy, but because she is young, single, and extraordinarily attractive. A picture of Signora Henriette has stood on his desk in Rome ever since his wife has left him.

Her black, shoulder-length, layered hairstyle was deemed the Henriette look . Handbags and shoes have taken on her name as their trademark. Her choice of clothing is an ongoing topic in the boulevard press. The Times ran a front-page story entitled “ Germany’s Best Brand ” about the overwhelming charm and brains of a one-of-a-kind phenomenon among European Heads of State.

What in the world should I wear later to receive the Emir of Qatar, she mulled over the event to herself. Von Rüdesheim stressed to her that Qatar is very rich and is becoming increasingly more important for Germany, and now is the right time to strengthen political ties with them.

She looks in the mirror and runs her lipstick over her lips, presses them together, and carefully inspects her mouth.

At least with the Emir, she doesn’t run the risk of getting hugged.