Shemaru

"I think we should skirt around and attack," you declare as confidently as you can. "It'll give us the best chance to get the best positioning on them, and then we'll launch our attack. We have a great opportunity here, and we don't want to waste it on prudency. We need to get as close as possible."

"Are you all retarded?!" Stuart explodes. "This won't work! If they see us before we get where we want...all the advantages will instantly become their's. And then what?"

Janis shakes his head and smirks. "That won't happen as long as we do this thing right. Now, here's what we need to do. Once we're up the cliff we'll hug the trees. They're going to be surrounded by a forest. We'll continue along there until I give the signal to attack, and that'll be when we are directly behind them."

This time Stuart remains silent, and so Janis begins the grueling march up the gorge. Luckily, it was easier than you had expected. The cliff wall that had appeared staight up was achieved, and you find yourself staring at the enemy encampment.

A peculiar sight greets your eyes. All eight members of the other team are huddled around a fire in the middle of them all. Apparently there is something of relative importance in the middle, because they all seem to be fixated on one spot (it is hard to tell though; you can only see their backs).

This might be good, you think. If they're all looking at something there's less chance they'll spot you. Presently the rest of the team makes it up the cliff.

Janis nods at you as if to urge you tocontinue. You take the lead, staying near the forest as Janis had advised. This procession takes awhile for a two reasons: one, you're trying to stay out of the enemies' line of sight, and the forest sort of rings around their camp, meaning it'll take you longer to get near them.

Eventually you can begin to hear brief clips of the enemies conversation. "Yes, this'll help us...so when are we going to attack?"

Your smile widens. It is them who will be attacked! This surprise attack might really win the game.

The enemies continue speaking. "Hey, Gerard, the fire's dieing...why don't you go get some wood?"

Some of the guys laugh as the sentence could've been taken as a double entendre, but one of the boys steps out of the circle and MOVES TOWARDS YOU!

Your mind and heart begin racing. Gerard is going to find you and your team any second now, and then he'll warn the other members of his team, and all surprise would be lost.

And Gerard does find you. He freezes in midstep, and yells "What the hell-guys! It's-"

Janis cuts him up in midspeech. "Attack now!" Janis yells. Our cover is blown!"

In the ensuing chaos due to a failing plan, you and the others on your team unsheathe your swords and recklessly charge.

The man who must be the beta tester on the other team takes charge. "Use it! Jeff, use it now!"

Another boy raises some piece of equipment, and next thing you know one of your men is down. There is an arrow in his gut! They must have a bow!

A second boy goes down. That's it for Janis. "Retreat!" he screams. "Back into the woods!"

Your team listens to him and makes a mad retreat towards the forest. By an incredible stroke of luck you change direction just as another arrow misses your body.

"Keep running!" Janis shouts. "Stay together! Keep running! Deeper into the forest! We'll regroup!"

After about two minutes of a full sprint, Janis finnaly yells "Halt!"

You catch your breath as Stuart berates Janis. "What the hell is wrong with you? You are the most retarded person in the world! They beat us with a bow! They killed two of our men! Now if we go back to attack again we'll be outnumbered, and that means a lot more than you might think. The whole game is ruined now! We cannot win! Your plan killed us!"

Janis shakes his head, but he appears shaken. "No, no we still can win. But I don't know how they got that bow so quickly! There aren't supposed to be any bows near your home base...maybe a virus. It wasn't my fault. Just a minor virus's fault. We can still win."

"Minor virus my ass!" Stuart would not give up. "You're pitiful. And I'm not going to take it. I'm leaving you. I'll go and fight the others on my own, and anyone who wants to come with me can. We won't fight you, Janis, but we'll actually win."

"No you won't!" Janis shot back. "You can't win with a splintered group! And there are things only I know about this game!"

"Based on what I've seen, you know nothing," Stuart says coldly. "I'm leaving." He looks at you. "So, who're you gonna side with? Me or Janis?"
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