Tahiri Veila (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
weetuskenraider) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2016-04-05 10:59 pm
weetuskenraider) wrote in fandomhigh2016-04-05 10:59 pm
Entry tags:
Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 13 [Wednesday, Period 2]
Class had been instructed to meet in the Danger Shop today, and the fact that Tahiri was wearing shoes might be an early hint as to what she and Ghanima had planned for the day. More accurately, she was clad in full Tusken garb, complete with gaderffi stick. The headgear covered up her discomfort about the shoes, anyway.
Also, there was the fact that students would find themselves standing in a desert.
"'The Attack By Fire,'" she said, sounding a bit muffled but not nearly as guttural as anyone might expect a Tusken Raider to sound (if they knew how one was supposed to sound, at least). "That's what this chapter's called, and we thought we'd take it fairly literally. Sun Tzu describes fire as a very effective weapon, but one that has to be treated with care and respect. It's fast, and devastating, and very hard to combat, but it can be just as treacherous to the person wielding it as it can be to their opponents. The desert is much the same way, as some of you may already be aware."
She could have been grinning, she could have been frowning; it was hard to tell under all the wrappings, and if the effect was somewhat disconcerting that was exactly what she was going for.
"So for maximum educational impact, we have decided to combine them to test your understanding of previous classes." Ghanima, for her part, was dressed in a white Fremen stillsuit and over-cloak, the only visible features were her blue-on-blue eyes, as her goggles were still perched on her head. "Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire," she lectured, watching them inscrutably, voice crisp and unhindered by the rebreather. "The first is to burn soldiers in their camp, the second is to burn stores. A third is to burn baggage trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; and the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy. A rain of fire, if you will."
Tahiri nodded. "He goes on to say that there are certain weather and seasonal conditions for an attack by fire, and that's nothing new from what we've learned so far, really: you want to suit your methods to the situation. But then, like the various outcomes a general should be prepared for depending on the terrain, he lists possible developments to be prepared for when making an attack by fire: When fire breaks out inside to enemy's camp, respond at once with an attack from without."
She held up one gloved hand and raised her thumb then went on, ticking each subsequent item off on her fingers as she continued quoting. "If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy's soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack. When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are. If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favorable moment. Last, but not least, when you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward unless you wish to feel your own flames."
"Playing with fire is no simple task," Ghanima agreed. "And, while it might seem like a surefire way to win, you must always keep in mind some of the closing words for this chapter: 'But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.' At what cost, victory? Is it victory if you inadvertently end up causing the destruction of the very thing you wished you conquer? For fire is capricious, and is just as willing to turn on your and thwart your intentions as it is to destroy the enemy. You may have planned to simply eliminate their stores... but scorched earth grows no future."
"In other words, the short and simple version: always remember to consider the long term," said Tahiri, and never mind that she still wasn't great at doing that herself. "That said, you're going to be doing a little work in some fairly extreme conditions today. Constant heat may not seem as dangerous as literal fire, but believe us, it's no less unpredictable or deadly if you fail to take it seriously enough. Proper gear's been provided for all of you, and make sure you use it. You'll have a couple of scenarios to choose from: you can either try to mount a defense against attackers, or try to get some passing locals to help you get back to the city. Let's see how well you can apply what you've learned so far this term, huh?"
Also, there was the fact that students would find themselves standing in a desert.
"'The Attack By Fire,'" she said, sounding a bit muffled but not nearly as guttural as anyone might expect a Tusken Raider to sound (if they knew how one was supposed to sound, at least). "That's what this chapter's called, and we thought we'd take it fairly literally. Sun Tzu describes fire as a very effective weapon, but one that has to be treated with care and respect. It's fast, and devastating, and very hard to combat, but it can be just as treacherous to the person wielding it as it can be to their opponents. The desert is much the same way, as some of you may already be aware."
She could have been grinning, she could have been frowning; it was hard to tell under all the wrappings, and if the effect was somewhat disconcerting that was exactly what she was going for.
"So for maximum educational impact, we have decided to combine them to test your understanding of previous classes." Ghanima, for her part, was dressed in a white Fremen stillsuit and over-cloak, the only visible features were her blue-on-blue eyes, as her goggles were still perched on her head. "Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire," she lectured, watching them inscrutably, voice crisp and unhindered by the rebreather. "The first is to burn soldiers in their camp, the second is to burn stores. A third is to burn baggage trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; and the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy. A rain of fire, if you will."
Tahiri nodded. "He goes on to say that there are certain weather and seasonal conditions for an attack by fire, and that's nothing new from what we've learned so far, really: you want to suit your methods to the situation. But then, like the various outcomes a general should be prepared for depending on the terrain, he lists possible developments to be prepared for when making an attack by fire: When fire breaks out inside to enemy's camp, respond at once with an attack from without."
She held up one gloved hand and raised her thumb then went on, ticking each subsequent item off on her fingers as she continued quoting. "If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy's soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack. When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are. If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favorable moment. Last, but not least, when you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward unless you wish to feel your own flames."
"Playing with fire is no simple task," Ghanima agreed. "And, while it might seem like a surefire way to win, you must always keep in mind some of the closing words for this chapter: 'But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.' At what cost, victory? Is it victory if you inadvertently end up causing the destruction of the very thing you wished you conquer? For fire is capricious, and is just as willing to turn on your and thwart your intentions as it is to destroy the enemy. You may have planned to simply eliminate their stores... but scorched earth grows no future."
"In other words, the short and simple version: always remember to consider the long term," said Tahiri, and never mind that she still wasn't great at doing that herself. "That said, you're going to be doing a little work in some fairly extreme conditions today. Constant heat may not seem as dangerous as literal fire, but believe us, it's no less unpredictable or deadly if you fail to take it seriously enough. Proper gear's been provided for all of you, and make sure you use it. You'll have a couple of scenarios to choose from: you can either try to mount a defense against attackers, or try to get some passing locals to help you get back to the city. Let's see how well you can apply what you've learned so far this term, huh?"
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
"What would you suggest?"
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
She looked to Lucille. "I believe we should fight."
Surprise, surprise.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Along the side of the building.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
For a value of 'better' that basically amounted to her being a human battering ram when she got going. "I--"
She didn't finish her sentence. There was a weapon in her face, and she did not bother waiting to see if she would get a split second of confusion from her assailant to save her; she knocked it straight into his head and then slammed her arm into his solar plexus.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
She found herself wishing to face another enemy.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
She examined the weapon in her hands briefly. She had no idea how it worked, but she suspected it would function just fine as a blunt instrument.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
"They are getting closer, aren't they?"
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
She hardly had time to notice the sword appearing out of nowhere before finding herself on the floor of the Danger Shop, breathing heavily.
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
Where had she gone?! Cassandra was not about to let the question distract her, but it was heavy in her mind. She parried a blow from the soldier's sword with the bulky weapon in her hands, then smashed it into his face. She dropped her weapon and grabbed the sword the moment it hit the ground, ripping it out of the soldier's hands.
"Lucille?!"
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
"Cassandra?"
Re: Survive In the Desert: Sietch Tabr
She would find Lucille later.