150 soldiers attack the embassy. they begin freeing hostages, telling them to crawl to avoid being shot. the rebels take control of the embassy months earlier, during a cocktail party, and initially hold more than 400 hostages, most of whom are let go in the first few weeks. but more than 70 are held inside the mansion, as the standoff drags on for 18 weeks. the military digs a tunnel underneath the come pound, and when it's finished, the order is given to strike. the fire fight rages for nearly 45 minutes. the stately, white pillar embassy becomes a smoking bullet-ridden war zone as hostages methodically make their way down the stairs to freedom.