fandomhigh | Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 12 [Wednesday, Period 2]

"Welcome back, everyone," Tahiri said, and up at the front of the room, near her on the desk, there was a large bowl of leftover Easter candy because she didn't know how she'd ended up with so much of it in the first place and teenagers were more likely to appreciate it. "Remember how Sun Tzu talked about six types of ground in last week's chapter? Well . . . there are nine varieties of it that he talks about in this week's chapter, but the previous chapter was speaking in terms of advantage and disadvantage. This chapter is called 'The Nine Situations,' and it's more about recognizing your circumstances and planning accordingly. For instance, he advises that if you're in your own territory, you want to avoid a fight; if you're in a position that puts you in contact with allies, use them. Is your situation secure enough that you can afford to spend some time working on a side project or two without compromising your main goal, or do you have to act right away?"

Guess who had a record of being terrible at recognizing that there were situations where you didn't have to act right away? No, wait, don't guess.

If you didn't guess "Fandom Students" in general, or Tahiri specifically, you had not been paying attention to the last twelve weeks of class.

"While Tzu makes a great many points about the nine varieties of ground, this chapter is where he and I part ways when it comes to how to lead," Ghanima stated briskly. "He speaks a great deal on how a general should deal with his men, including 'He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.' That is a very good way to get yourself killed, when your officers don't have all the data they need to make decisions in the field. Remember how we talked about getting kings out of the way and letting generals fight? Well, sometimes the generals get in their own way, too."

Tahiri nodded, just one very definitive downward jerk of her head. "I'm not actually on board with his advice in this chapter either," she agreed. "While there's something to be said for reputations and the power of a public image, you're under constant pressure to maintain that. Do you really want to have to keep track of an elaborate cover story when you've got a lot on your plate already, unless you absolutely have to? Besides that, you're likely to have some very unhappy subordinates if the truth surfaces."

She paused. "I can't completely endorse what he says about putting soldiers into a hopeless situation to make them fight more effectively, either. While that works, it only does up to a point, at least in my experience."

"When your options are fight or die, you fight, but not always well or smartly," Ghanima said flatly. "Unless you have been trained from the cradle with the win-or-die mentality, the odds that you will make it out alive are very, very slim."

"My family specializing in seeing -- and changing -- the future, and even I would not place money on the odds of the survival of a unit of regular soldiers put in that position."

"Some people work well under pressure, others don't," Tahiri added. "But it maybe goes without saying that we expect you to be able to decide for yourself how this book applies, and not just take it at face value without questioning. Now, what he says about skillful tacticians being versatile, comparing them to snakes -- that's less debatable. Being able to solve problems in multiple ways is always a useful skill."

She was not entirely convinced that description of the shuai-jan snake wasn't actually of an amphistaff.

Or a description of a member of the Fedaykin. But to strike everywhere and anywhere was what they were trying to teach these children.

"Today we're going to discuss the reasoning behind Tzu's suggested approaches to each situation. Why do you think he thinks these to be the proper responses. Is that what you would do? Why or why not? Do you feel it holds true or false for every situation?"

[OOC: OCD up!]

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"How could I turn down a chance to verbally spar with you?" Kathy asked with a cold smile. "Bluffing is useful for small-time maneuvers, or for getting your enemy off-balance and striking immediately. Use a bluff when you have a specific goal in mind, not as an open-ended strategy. I'm trying to work my way towards an understanding of such convoluted thinking. It doesn't seem to make sense, even taking into account your...insight."

"If you find my insights miss the point, you are welcome to offer criticism," Lucille replied with a sigh. "But that made no sense at all, considering what I was saying. But perhaps I shouldn't expect more from someone who doesn't even manage to keep her secret obscene writing a secret."

Lucille knew that was a bit low, and very much off topic, but she really wasn't in a mood to deal with Kathy.

"ENOUGH." Ghanima threw the power of the Voice behind the word, making it a command almost impossible to resist. "Miss Li, Miss Sharpe. Our classroom is not the place for personal attacks or vendettas."

"You lack subtly, you fail to use the text to your advantage, and your use of the terrain is pathetic. Your tactics, quite frankly, are abysmal, and this battle is over."

She's not throwing you out because you got in a catfight, ladies. She's doing it because you were stupid about it and didn't use anything you'd been taught all semester. Honestly.

She looked over at Tahiri. "Unless Jedi Veila has another suggestion, you are dismissed from class. Immediately."

Edited 2016-03-30 18:01 (UTC)

Kathy--who had been looking horrified at Lucille--transferred that look of horror and shock over to Lady Ghanima. Kicked out? Of class? That had literally never happened to Kathy before. Never.

Today was the worst day. The literal worst day. Okay, maybe not as bad as getting temporarily murdered by evil carnie classmates or becoming enslaved to a magic mirror, but academically speaking?

Definitely the worst day.

Lucille glared at Kathy. Yes, she was unnerved by the strange tone of voice Professor Atreides had used, and she was also embarrassed to be thrown out of class by a teacher she admired.

This was Kathy's fault. Why had the girl insisted on picking on her? Lucille only wished that she had been able to fight back in a more elegant and superior way.

Tahiri was frowning slightly, but it was hard to read much into her expression beyond disapproval.

"No, that sounds reasonable enough to me, though I'd suggest you use the time instead to think about a more suitable way to handle this conflict in a classroom setting."

Like never talking to Lucille again? Because Kathy could do that! Kathy would be more than happy to ignore Lucille's existence for the rest of their natural lives.

"But--but--" she sputtered while her brain tried to engage. "But--!"

Fortunately, she didn't get further than that before her brain rebooted, reminded her that the only thing likely to anger her teachers more was arguing with them, and that the best thing to do would be to make a strategic retreat.

"Yes, Lady Ghanima, Jedi Veila," she said in a whisper, bright red. "I apologize for disturbing the class." She gave them both an apologetic bow, grabbed her books, and all but scurried out of the classroom door.

Lucille was more realistic. This would no doubt happen again, although preferably not in this class, and then she would be better prepared.

After Kathy had left, Lucille calmly got to her feet. Blushing slightly, she said: "I apologize too. It won't happen again."

With as much dignity as she could muster, she left the classroom.

Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 12 [Wednesday, Period 2]

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