fandomhigh | Macro-Tactics, Monday

"So far, we've been talking about the nitty gritty of macro tactics. Resource management, picking your battlefield, deciding where and when to build your bases," Kerrigan said, stalking gracefully from one end of the classroom to the other. "Today, we'll take it up a level. After all, the most important resources you have are your friends-- and your enemies."

She smiled. It didn't look too nice. "Nobody goes to war in a vacuum," she said. "Depending on your level of influence, you'll have any number of people looking on. Neighbours, far-away friends, rival powers. If you don't manage them right, it can break your campaign. Obviously, I don't have the time or the interest to be teaching you all diplomacy, but I can tell you about the basics of warcraft." She glanced around the room.

"If you stray too closely to what some might term 'war crimes', you'll have all hell on your heels. If you stray too closely to the wrong border, you might get shot in the ass. If your opponent has treaties with some of your neighbours, then attacking them might be a really bad choice if you don't want half the world marching into your backyard. Of course, if you have a big enough army, nobody's going to have the balls to cross you, but most of the time, that's not going to be the case."

"Take stock of your neighbours. What interests do they have? What treaties? Can you make allies of them? You know what they say about the enemy of my enemy. Having someone to back you from the rear can be very useful. Talk to them before you take any steps. Show your flanks favourably. Make promises. You don't have to keep all of them - just make sure you can keep the few that matter, or you have the manpower necessary to overpower them when the war is done."

She may have gone on on that topic for a little while before she stopped, in front of the large map of Europe she'd been using to underscore her point. "I want you all to pick an enemy," she said. "It doesn't have to be anyone you know well. It doesn't have to be anyone in this class. Just make sure it's someone significant to you. Now partner up with someone - preferably someone you don't know well - and try to convince them to help you out, or at least do nothing when you tackle your enemy." A beat. "It's just a hypothetical, so don't get your panties in a bunch."

A pause. "We all know high school's just practice for the real world, anyway."

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And this was the problem as Faramir's technology hardly stood a chance. Though if Ewoks could do it...

Faramir shook his head. "I have not, but Master Skywalker is a teacher, is he not?"

"He is," Leia said, nodding. "He's also a Jedi Knight. They were the guardians of peace and justice in my world before I was born, and they have remarkable abilities. And Darth Vader has those same powers and uses them in the name of evil and tyranny. He won't be easy to beat."

Faramir nodded thoughtfully. "That does sound familiar. Sauron's power is much the same, though I do not even fully understand it. He has fell creatures fighting in his service, and even Men who he bullied or twisted to be his servants."

"How would he do against a battle cruiser, though?" Leia had to wonder. She studied Faramir thoughtfully. "Our worlds are so different, but we have similar problems."

"It seems evil comes in many shapes, but its essence remains the same," Faramir agreed. "I would not know. I can scarcely imagine what a battle cruiser is, let alone how Sauron's might would stand against it."

"Something tells me that it wouldn't be that easy," Leia said. "Even assuming we could somehow get a battle cruiser to your world." Did portals come in extra extra extra large?

"I think for the purposes of this discussion we're going to have to imagine we come from similar worlds," she went on. "Like your Sauron and my Vader and Palpatine are one and the same."

And wasn't that a scary thought?

It was a rather unnerving thought.

"I believe that you are correct," he agreed. "Then it would seem that it is my turn to warn you of the dangers?"

"Well, if I was a princess in your world, how would you persuade me to aid you in your fight?" Leia challenged.

It probably wouldn't be too hard, actually. Leia wasn't one to sit still while there was evil to be fought.

"I would almost find it common sense if you are of Middle-earth. Yet, reality proves how wrong I am to assume so," he explained wryly.

"Sauron wants to rule the whole of Middle-earth. For now, Gondor bears his hatred and we stand as ever between him and the West. While he gathers strength, our numbers dwindle and if Gondor were to fall it will only be a matter of time before he comes beating down your doors. If we want to live, we must stand together."

"I don't think I'd be too hard to convince," Leia agreed. "It's in my nature to stand against injustice and tyranny. If I agreed to help you, would you promise mutual aid between our countries?"

Faramir nodded. "Gondor remembers her allies. We will stand with you when time comes."

"We're too much alike," Leia grinned. "This is an easy assignment."

He chuckled. "It is, perhaps we should have sold our aide at a higher price? Should we pretend to be disagreeing?"

His father, he guessed, would not be as pleased about the matter.

"You can't trust allies you have to buy with money or promises of something more than mutual aid," Leia pointed out. "I'll pay for troops if I have to, but I'd rather work with people who share a common goal."

Macro-Tactics, Monday

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