Analysis, Frustration, and Eagerness (Open to a Master)

[Eeli Surik]

Eeli ran her fingers through her red hair for a fifth time, a reflex borne from frustration. She stared down at the holo-display as a battle simulation took place. She'd been stuck on this problem for close to two weeks now; 'I'm better than this' she thought to herself. A natural strategist and tactician, Eeli enjoyed devoting herself to this method of training. Whilst no stranger to practicing her lightsaber forms, for her, however, this form of meditation through critical mental application was always renewing. Unless she was stuck. As she was now.

In a cozy yet large room in the Jedi Library, Eeli sat alone, her face illuminated with the light blue glow of the holo-projection. The occasional fellow padawan walked past every now and then, but they had all long since learnt that offering their help was often more of a hindrance than a help to Eeli.

Staring down at the display she couldn't see why her attack was failing. She had the flanks of the enemy restricted and there shouldn't be any supplies reaching the fortress, the enemy should be completely cut off. Granted, their anti-air batteries were still operational, so that ruled out an airstrike, but typically in this situation the enemy would either reach starvation or would simply surrender. Removing a target's mobility and supply chain is a fundamental tactic to overcome the enemy. 'So what's preventing their surrender?' she thought to herself.

'Maybe it's something to do with the people inside the fortress?' She glanced over the readout again that contained all the information for this simulation.

<Defenders: Human's, primarily adult males. Since the assault began 20% of these perished, but were immediately replaced by women of similar age or teenage males>

'Well that's odd' she thought to herself. 'Why are women and children filling the places of the dead? That makes no sense whatsoever, rather than surrender they would sacrifice that which they would protect?' She runs her hands through her silky red hair a sixth time.

"What would make them do such a thing? Why would they not resign and accept their defeat..." she whispers aloud with a tone of frustration. A warm, quiet voice appears in Eeli's left ear: "Well, if you look again, the read-out says that they are not soldiers, but rather a militia of the local populous..."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

A smirk crossed the face of the Weaponmaster as he spoke. He'd been watching her stare at the hologram in wonder for quite awhile now. He wondered why none of the other Masters had taken her as of yet... Was it because she was too absorbed in her strategy? Maybe because she wouldn't take help? Regardless.... DragonsFlame saw potential in her, and figured he'd lend a hand.

"Militia like this, especially in select locations... Don't exactly discriminate when it comes to their numbers" he explained. "To someone with morals... Or to Jedi... That seems inhumane. To others... Such as Sith... It's not"

@[member="Eeli Surik"]

 

[Eeli Surik]

Eeli was startled slightly, normally her ability to sense those around her was a passive gift, but for some reason she didn't pick up on this person until he revealed himself; and it was only then that she realized just how long he'd been watching her. Normally when someone would offer advice, such as fellow padawans, or, in some cases, knights, it would generally be of little help to the point that Eeli had almost deafened herself to the passing comments of 'why not just do this?' 'why not just rush them?'. Whilst the latter is a valid tactic, it would inflict too many casualties on both sides of the engagement; something that as a strategist, and as a person, Eeli found upsetting and illogical. A phyric victory is no victory at all.

She listened to his advice, taking it on board and running the simulations in her head. She looked at the holo-display again, something wasn't matching up, these soliders - no, not soldiers, people, were wanting to fight - a flash of light triggered in Eeli's mind, she reached out and tensely grabbed the person beside her.

"Master! They're neither! They're not fighting because they're being forced to, and they're not fighting because they want to - they're fighting because they have to!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I didn't notice it before, but with your words I" her tone drops and a shadow casts itself over her eyes, "- I'm the aggressor in this simulation, it is my command that is driving these people. They are fighting to survive, and seemingly my command in this simulation is to destroy, I-"

She looks down at the holo-display again, "-I've never seen a simulation like this before..." she whispers.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He gently put a hand on her shoulder. "You must always pay attention to your surroundings, and whats going on around you. If you miss a little detail like that... Well, it could be disasterous"

He smiled a bit.

"Yes, they're fighting to protect themselves. From you it seems. But what do you do now?" He asked. "You've attacked them, angered them, cost them casualties... And only now do you realize the truth. What is your next move?"

@[member="Eeli Surik"]

 

[Eeli Surik]

Eeli stared down at the simulation again. Whilst only particles of blue light, she felt sorry for them. Her job in this simulation is to destroy. There is no reason why, and there is also no reason why she should not. But still, there was a lingering within her that made her reluctant to press a full assault and claim victory. She glanced at the Master beside her, who had placed a warm hand on her shoulder. 'What is my next move?' she thought to herself. Feeling slightly more rushed than usual thanks to the presence of the person beside her, she made a bold decision. A few fingers taps later and the simulation changed pace, shifted forward in time, and finally a number appeared granting a rating of tactical and strategic ability:

<Tactical Average Achieved: 100%>
<Strategic Average Achieved: 95%>

"I suppose a tactical victory will always mean a strategic imbalance" Eeli voiced wistfully. With those few taps on the display Eeli had instead turned her blockade into a relief effort by sending in food and water, after a diplomatic understanding was reached of course. In acknowledging their sovereignty Eeli had ended the conflict and prevented further loss of life by reaching a mutual understanding. The cost of allowing these people to hold their ground meant that it could not be converted into a base of operations for a future excursion, accounting for the 95% rating rather than a 100%. Similarly, in allowing the people to lay claim she likely forges better relations with them, and, with enough prosperity, they might forge an alliance. Tactically this is more viable over a longer period of time, even if most of it is supposition.

She lifted her head and smiled at the Master: "A little below my average I have to admit, but generally achieving 100% is rare at best; it really does seem that in the method of strategy seizing what is required achieves the highest grade, but in turn lowers the tactical rating. I don't see any possibility to ever achieve the perfect result, though I suppose the perfect result is no war at all." She looks at the display again, "each time I come across a problem like this, I think back to the history classes in at the Academy. These simulations are realistic enough, but seeing the effect of war with your own eyes, I wonder how so many commanders in the past remained firm in their conviction, how believed that in spite of the blood shed it was all worthwhile. Even worse, I can't comprehend how someone would enjoy such violence. I don't like to admit it, but I want to understand their motivation for such acts; if only for the purpose of being prepared in the future..."

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"This is why the Jedi always shoot for peace" he explained. "No casualties, no war.... No fighting... We are the keepers and protectors of the peace, that's a mindset you need to always go for. For a Jedi, that is the ultimate strategy"

He patted her shoulder with a slight smirk. "You did well" he said. "You turned a war with innocents into a peaceful agreement that will only prove more beneficial for both sides then if you were tearing each other apart. You've accomplished the Jedi mission quite well"

@[member="Eeli Surik"]