Liquid War (v5.6.3) - Fanfic




What's this?
============


  Quoting Gavin: "I wrote a liquid war fanfic some time ago [...] I wrote it
  after a friend claimed that there wasn't any liquid war fanfic because it
  wasn't possible."

  So here it is, a Liquid War fanfic, enjoy! (and special thanks to Gavin)



The Battle of Emberlificoted
============================


  ...
  ---

    The General presided over his massing army in his seat, or rather hovering
    ring, of power. It dipped slightly as he flew low over his troops marching
    through the viscous marsh-like terrain. They were like children: obedient,
    loyal, and they ate a lot.

    Glancing at the status panel mounted in front of him he grimaced; the other
    five armies: Yellow, Green, Orange, Turquoise, and, of course, Red, were
    also readying armies of a similar size to his own. His violet clones would
    have to fight hard and eat well to win this day.

    Today would not be a battle of luck, the General mused, it would be a
    battle of tactics, of alliances, and of betrayal. Every clone was identical
    - that was the general idea behind clones - and the terrain seemed
    strangely symmetrical; it would not give advantage to any of the six armies
    amassed today. Glancing at the hologram of the battlefield projected in
    front of him the General noted that he would have to move quickly, Orange
    and Yellow were too close for comfort, though fortunately Baron Red's army
    of eponymous coloured clones was the furthest.

    General Violet's fingertips were sweaty even before they touched the four
    main control keys in front of him. They were labeled 'W', 'A', 'D', and, of
    course, the full retreat button - very useful for misleading foes and
    ambushing them as they pursued - 'S'. The keys were arrange in a roughly
    equilateral triangular pattern; with 'S' forming the base and being
    adjacent to both 'A' and 'D', 'W' formed the tip of the triangle.

    A long breath left his parched lips as at last he made his move.

  ...
  ---

    "Dammit!" he screamed moments later. He had misjudged Captain Yellow and
    Commander Orange; he had expected one at least to attack immediately, one
    he could have handled. They were working together - foiling his attempt to
    shoot between them to near the center of the battlefield to gain a better
    vantage point. Yellow had shot down towards him, cutting off his advance,
    and now Orange had sealed his escape route. "It's not over yet" muttered
    the General. He opened a voice channel with Commander Orange:

    "Very clever. Flawed, but still clever."

    "Flawed?" came the reply.

    "Yes flawed, when the good Captain is finished devouring my army who do you
    think he will turn to next?", bluffed the General - his hands worked
    quickly as he manoeuvred his hovering control ring, all that his troops
    ever saw of him, carefully towards the weakest section of his attackers. If
    he could just break out a few units he could soon turn the tide against
    both Yellow and Orange.

    "We have an alliance..." Orange's voice was unsure now.

    Time for some sarcasm to through her even more off balance, thought the
    General,

    "I gathered", he spoke softly, slowly, and with too much meaning. Then
    closing the channel he turned his attention back to his escape.

  ...
  ---

    "Yes!" wooped the ecstatic figure of the General. Fifty or so of his troops
    had broken free undetected and were even now working their way cautiously
    towards the camps of the Yellow army, only the front lines were still
    actively fighting; this opening gambit of Yellow and Orange had turned into
    a stale siege and Yellow's army had pitched tent.

    General Violet steered his hovering guidance ring to the center of the
    Yellow camp. His troops struck, both those who had got behind the lines and
    those who were still besieged. Yellow reacted too slowly and suddenly found
    that her army, was shrinking back from the onslaught. There was nowhere to
    run to, and bye now her only ally - Commander Orange - had abandoned her to
    her fate; he was too busy engaging Sir. Turquoise, who had managed to
    escape from the slaughter that the Baron had caused to the Turquoise ranks
    and was even now valiantly attacking the flanks of the Orange troops.

    A glance at the status panel showed that Yellow's life force was fading
    quickly: 8%, 3%, 1%, Gone.

    The General smiled, he always enjoyed getting the first kill, and by now
    his armies life force had grown and his clones had replicated. With his,
    now, formidable fighting force it was no problem to engulf both Sir.
    Turquoise and Commander Orange's brawling armies and annihilate them. Once
    again his army grew in size and power. Now if only the Baron didn't notice
    that..., thought the General.

  ...
  ---

    "Too late!" yelped the General, now thrown into panic, as he saw the
    approaching Baron. His army had also grown in size and power - having
    fatally injured the Turquoise army within the opening moments of the
    battle, and having finally managed to catch the elusive fleeing form of, or
    what remained of, Emperor Green.

    Gripping the controls harder the General thought quickly, his army doesn't
    so completely outnumber me that this is already over, however unless I can
    cause him to make a mistake that allows me to take the upper hand then I
    will inevitably lose. Maybe I can...

    This thought was terminated and replaced by another as the Baron's angry
    red troops broke through the undergrowth that had covered their movements
    and started to surround the General's army. The thought that now throbbed
    through the panic-stricken mind of General Violet was simply 'Run!'.

    Even as he signaled the retreat and made for what seemed to be the only
    possible means of escape the Baron's blood red control ring appeared at the
    opening. The General knew it was over, even before the host of red beings
    appeared at the opening.

    There was no escape. His life force was almost depleted and he was
    surrounded. Then it was that the Baron decided to communicate:

    "Too bad. It was a good game"

    The General blinked, gaped, and was generally gobsmacked. Just before his
    life force completely failed and his own weary eyes closed in defeat he
    snarled,

    "What!? This is not a game!" were the General's dying words.

