towerofanimus | Infiltration Plans

Entry tags:

Infiltration Plans

Characters: Tohko Amano, whoever she asked to show up, and any random person who feels like possibly dying for a good cause.
Setting: Floor 11, 28th, early evening.
Format: I'm starting in prose, but I'll match you.
Summary: Tohko, after getting Dax's note, has sent out a few notes of her own and told people to show up here to discuss plans. How well these plans will go is anyone's guess.
Warnings: If people like Ganon or Sephiroth try to show up, there will be arguments and scuffles to chase them out. I don't think that'll happen though.

It was cold in the eleventh floor, and the water was frozen, which made standing a little difficult. However, Tohko didn't think anyone would come in here, due to how cold it was..which was why she had told people to meet her here to discuss things.

She had sent out notes and tried to get other people involved. All she could do now was sit on the cold floor and wait for people to show up before starting to form plans. She had never been a leader of a fighting group..but there was a first time for everything.

Especially now.

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[Diarmuid nods and then spreads his hands in a helpless gesture.]

I really wish I knew more so I could offer more alternatives. Unfortunately, I do not. However, you already know I will do all I can to help. All you need to do is ask, and even if my knowledge is limited, I will always be glad to listen. Strategy and planning is something I am pretty good at for the most part. If nothing else, I have a pretty good eye for finding flaws in plans that others might have missed.

[And Tohko will just ignore that gesture..but even she will have to admit that without a way in, they can't do anything for now. Except plot and plan.]

That's pretty useful, actually. I can form plans, but I sometimes get stuck in my own head and miss simple things if I don't ask someone or if someone doesn't point things out for me.

..I've actually been forming a battle formation of sorts. If you could listen to it and give me suggestions, that could be helpful.

You have also not seen actual battle so it is only natural that you miss things. That is why it is important to have fighters and non-fighters around. It can be easy to miss things from one view or the other just because of different focuses and experiences.

[Diarmuid smiles at her.]

Of course, I will listen. What are you thinking?

That's true..but even outside a battle, I miss important clues. Sure, I latch on to other important things sometimes..but I also miss other things. But you are right: it is good to have fighters, non-fighers and people of different persepectives in a group for this reason.

[Tohko returned the smile as she started to explain.]

First, the group that goes down should be rather small. I don't know how large the Administrator level is, but the fewer people, the less chances we have of being spotted. Maybe only fifteen people, tops.

Healers and non-combatants should stay in the center of the group so that they can better heal and not get easily killed.

Lancers and archers should stay at the front of the group, for obvious reasons, and the guide should be a bit ahead of them, along with the leaders. But not too far up ahead.

Swordsman and other fighters should surround the healers and non-combatants, ready to take out what the lancers and archers leave behind.

..How does that sound? Any suggestions?

[Diarmuid smiles gently at her.]

Did you read that in a book? I get the impression you have been doing some research, because yes, that is a basic formation, though it would be best to keep Archers at the back of a group. They are ranged attackers. You don't want them up front where they can be easily taken out. Ideally, they wouldn't even be with the man group at all, but off away in an area where they could try to pick people off before they even encounter the main group.

However, the organization you are talking about is really much more complex than what we will probably need. The basics are solid--non-combatants and healers should always be where they can best be protected--but being much more complex than that may lead to trouble if things go bad down there. Fighters will know they need to keep an eye on each other, but especially on those who aren't fighting or are healing. That may be all we need.

A small group to start is good, though. I would even suggest perhaps a much smaller group than 15 if the right group can be assembled. Do you know how big the groups that were down there before were?

[Tohko kept smiling and nodded at his advice. It was pretty sound, and she burned it all on her brain. Hopefully she would be able to retrieve it later.]

Actually, I haven't been doing much research. I've read stories where battles happened and people worked in stealth groups, but I haven't done any actual research apart from fiction.

I'll remember your advice about the archers though. I'm not sure it's possible to set them up somewhere beforehand to pick off people, but if it becomes possible, we should try it. If not, we'll keep them to the back.

[Tohko looked a little puzzled when he said that her strategy was too complex, but she nodded anyway.]

Alright then. I'll think of a simpler formation then, just in case.

However..I don't know right now how big the groups were that went down first. I'm guessing they were no larger than twenty, but that's just my guess. However, I do agree with you. If I had my way, I would restrict it to just ten or six people and no more. However, there may be a lot of people who could help us out in ways we don't realize yet, and a few latecomers. So..it's fifteen tops. It probably will be smaller though.

The thing about anything you read in a book is that it is usually set up for a perfect situation where everything goes right. Any fighter will tell you that never happens on the battlefield. That is why it is often more important to be set up in a way that is flexible. That way, as things change on the battlefield, you can change with it.

[There is a reason warriors learn so many different weapons after all.]

As for the archers, honestly I don't think having anyone separate from the group down there is a good idea. If someone can only fight from a ranged position, it will probably be better to have them elsewhere. Remember, as you pointed out, if we get a lot of people to help, we might just want to pick those best equipped to go down there. A purely ranged fighter would not be a good choice in this situation.

Diarmuid..you're forgetting that people lose a lot in stories too. Not all battles there have the heroes win. But you are right-it's best to have a flexible battle strategy.

[Tohko nodded, thinking.]

You're right. If people can't fight in close groups downstairs, we'll leave them topside. We'll probably have a different use for them there anyway.

[Something flicks across his eyes for a moment. Is she really telling him heroes don't always win? Of course, he knows that! Could she really say he had won in the end?

Diarmuid doesn't say anything though, pushing the flare of emotion away as quickly as it came. This is Tohko after all. He knows she doesn't mean anything. He's just so worn out that he's finding insult where none is intended.]

It's good to think ahead, but sometimes that can cause trouble too. Why don't we let things go for now. Find out more about who wants to help and talk to your friend. Just keep an eye on yourself. If you overwork yourself now, it will mean mistakes later when we can't afford to have them.

[Tohko didn't mean to insult her friend. She was just pointing out something she knew from reading and not thinking about how to say it gently to those around her.

..Tohko couldn't really say that anyone in the Tower had 'won' in the end. They were still fighting, after all.]

..I probably will talk to him later and see if he's interested in helping. And don't worry, I won't overwork myself. If I stop working and take a break, I'll give myself too much time to brood and slip into despair again. I can't help anyone in that state.

[Yes, Tohko was converting all her sad energy and trying to make it something positive. It's good that Kyubey couldn't contract anyone here, or she would be prime Meguca bait.]

[Worry enters into Diarmuid's eyes when she mentions falling into despair.]

Are you okay? Do you want to talk? I know there is so much going on...

Edited 2013-03-03 20:38 (UTC)

[Tohko sighed, but she kept smiling.]

I don't think anyone is really okay right now..but I'll be okay, in the end. Just a large of large weights and rug-pulling. I'll be alright. How about you? How are you holding up?

[Diarmuid reaches out and squeezes her shoulder comfortingly.]

You're right. No one is probably okay here right now. We are just doing the best we can to keep moving forward. I'm...moving forward.

[Tohko paused for a moment at the shoulder-squeeze, but it was appreciated. She nodded and tried to pat him on the shoulder.]

That's good..I'm glad to hear that. If you have any trouble, I can give you a good story to keep keep you running.

Thank you.

[Secretly, Diarmuid is glad she doesn't ask him any more questions about his own state. He doesn't want to distract her from more important things, especially since he is the only one who can fix himself.

He bows to her.]

There are several others drifting in now. I will let you go and talk to them. You know where to find me if you need anything. Please, be careful.

You're welcome.

[While Tohko wouldn't believe that he was the only one who could heal himself, she wasn't going to press about things that he didn't want to talk about. She was slowly learning to not be nosy.

Slowly. Tohko nodded her head in response.]

Alright then. Thank you..and don't worry, I'll be careful. If you ever need my help with anything, let me know. Good luck.

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Infiltration Plans

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