Moxie felt the weight of the council's scheme pressing down on her as she scanned the camp. The once orderly rows of tents now buzzed with frantic movement as soldiers armed themselves and strategists huddled around maps, frantically plotting their next steps. The council had played them perfectly, diverting their attention just long enough to put their true plan into motion. The question that gnawed at Moxie's mind was simple yet ominous: What exactly was their true objective?
Captain Vance stood in the center of the command tent, his presence like a steady rock amidst a turbulent sea. His eyes met Moxie's with an unspoken understanding—they were racing against time. "Our scouts have been dispatched to all the possible targets. The council's real strike could happen at any moment," Vance said, his voice a low rumble of controlled urgency.
Moxie nodded, glancing over the map spread before them. "We need to split our forces and prepare for every eventuality. Their feint was a distraction, but they may have left clues in their retreat."
Elara, standing nearby, stepped forward with a determined glint in her eyes. "I'll lead one of the scouting teams. We need to find any signs of their real target. If we can't figure out what they're after, we're finished."
"Agreed," Vance said, handing her a sealed scroll. "Take this. It contains updated orders for all squads in the field. Be swift and cautious."
Moxie felt a surge of determination as she watched Elara and her team leave the tent, their faces set with grim resolve. They were moving into the dark, hunting shadows that the council had carefully woven around them. Moxie turned back to the map, tracing possible routes and attack points with her fingers. "They won't go for something obvious," she mused, half to herself. "If they're playing a long game, they're aiming for something that will cripple us permanently."
Vance looked at her, his eyes sharp. "What are you thinking?"
Moxie hesitated, piecing together the fragments of information they had gathered. "The supplies," she said slowly, her eyes lighting up with sudden realization. "They're going for our supply lines. If they cut us off from food, weapons, medicine—"
"Then we're doomed," Vance finished grimly. "We need to secure the routes immediately."
Without wasting a moment, Moxie and Vance issued orders to dispatch units to guard the supply routes. Soldiers scrambled to prepare for departure, their expressions a mix of fear and steely determination. The atmosphere in the camp grew thick with tension as they moved, the impending danger a palpable force in the air.
As Moxie prepared to join one of the scouting units, a scout burst into the tent, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. "Captain! Moxie! We found something!"
"Where?" Moxie demanded, her heart pounding.
"To the west, near the river outpost. There's a mass of troops gathering under the council's banner. It looks like they're preparing for a siege."
Vance swore under his breath. "They're not just attacking the supply lines—they're going for the outpost itself. If they take it, we lose our main source of resupply."
Moxie clenched her fists. "We need to move now. We can't let them gain that foothold."
Within minutes, the camp was a whirlwind of activity. Moxie, Vance, and a battalion of soldiers mounted their horses, setting out at a breakneck pace toward the western outpost. The ride was tense, the silence broken only by the thundering hooves and the rustle of wind through the trees. Moxie's mind raced with possibilities. If the council had amassed a large force, they were looking to cripple them in one decisive blow.
As they approached the river outpost, Moxie spotted the enemy troops in the distance. They were assembling siege weapons, their banners fluttering in the wind like a declaration of impending doom. The sheer size of the force made her stomach churn—they were well-prepared, and the outpost's defenses were insufficient to withstand a prolonged assault.
Vance raised his hand, signaling a halt. "We can't engage them head-on with these numbers," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the enemy lines. "We need a plan to stall them until reinforcements arrive."
Moxie's eyes swept the area, searching for anything they could use to their advantage. The river's banks were steep and rocky, and a narrow bridge connected the outpost to the main road. An idea formed in her mind, risky but their best chance. "We destroy the bridge," she said, her voice steady. "Cut off their advance and force them to find another way. It will buy us time to regroup and strengthen the outpost's defenses."
Vance considered the plan, nodding slowly. "It's a gamble, but it might work. We'll need to act quickly."
They split into two groups—one to lay charges on the bridge and the other to prepare defensive positions around the outpost. Moxie led the charge group, navigating the rocky terrain toward the bridge with a small team carrying explosives. As they worked in the shadows, the sounds of the council's forces echoed across the river, a constant reminder of the ticking clock.
Sweat dripped down Moxie's brow as they planted the charges along the bridge's support beams, her hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Almost there," she whispered, glancing at the distant enemy lines. They were moving, their siege engines inching closer to the riverbank.
"Hurry," one of her team members urged, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "They're getting closer!"
"Just a little more…" Moxie gritted her teeth, securing the final charge. "Done! Fall back!"
They scrambled up the bank, retreating to a safe distance. Moxie held the detonator in her hand, her heart pounding as she watched the bridge. The enemy troops were drawing near, unaware of the trap laid before them. She waited, counting the seconds until the first of their vanguard set foot on the bridge.
"Now!" Moxie shouted, pressing the trigger.
A deafening explosion rocked the air, and the bridge erupted in a shower of debris and dust. The central span collapsed, plunging into the river below and taking several enemy soldiers with it. Shouts of confusion and alarm rose from the council's troops as they pulled back, thrown into disarray by the sudden destruction.
Moxie exhaled a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "It's done," she said, turning to Vance, who had watched the destruction unfold from the ridge.
Vance gave a curt nod. "That will slow them down, but not for long. We need to bolster the outpost's defenses and prepare for the next wave. They'll try to cross at another point."
As they regrouped at the outpost, Moxie felt a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. They had bought themselves time, but the council's plans were far from over. This was only the beginning of a larger confrontation that loomed on the horizon.
With grim determination, Moxie and Vance set to work, reinforcing the outpost and readying their forces for the battles to come. The council had underestimated them once, but Moxie was determined that they wouldn't do so again.
The web of deception had begun to unravel, and Moxie was prepared to follow its threads to the bitter end.