C497 The Defense

Back at the border, the remaining Lions gathered around the table, trying to find a way to defend the massive stretch of land they had been ordered to protect. The rough map of the Anglo-Scottish border was spread across the table. Cipher stood over it with her arms crossed. She looked at me. “Cracker, the defense you spoke about earlier. Will it cover the entire 154 kilometers?” I smiled. “That depends on what we're actually creating.” I pointed toward the map. “If we install the sensors I mentioned, then the first thing we need to discuss is electricity.” Chipmunk immediately shook her head. “I don't think sensors are a good idea.” Everyone looked at her. “The defense we build should be dangerous enough to stop the enemy from getting close in the first place.” Kiddo raised an eyebrow. “Like a mined area?” Chipmunk nodded. “Exactly.” She pointed toward the map. “But how are we going to set it up?” She shook her head. “We can't possibly place mines across the entire 154 kilometers.”

Cipher smiled. “I like the idea.” She looked at the map. “But I was thinking about building something similar to a wall.” She pointed toward the border. “Then we can place traps around it.” Bighead frowned. “A wall?” He looked around. “Where are we going to get all the bricks and other materials?” Survivor laughed. “Bighead, why do you always want to be the first person to comment and then say something stupid?” Bighead grinned. “I was asking a serious question.” Survivor pointed toward the forest surrounding us. “We don't need bricks and all those other materials.” She looked at him. “Didn't you notice all the forests we passed through on our way here?” Bighead looked toward the trees. “Oh.” Cipher smiled. “Exactly.” She pointed toward the forest. “That is what I was thinking.” She looked at the map again. “We can build a wooden wall.” Kiddo nodded. “Using the trees?” “Yes.” Cipher Nodded. “Tall enough that an enemy soldier can't simply climb over it.” I looked at Cipher. “If we build a wooden wall, wouldn't it be destroyed if the mines explode?” Bighead immediately nodded. “See? That's what I was thinking when I asked about bricks.” Cipher smiled. “That is possible.” She picked up a pen and piece of paper. “But it can be avoided.” She placed the paper on the table. “Let me draw it.”

Everyone gathered around her. Cipher began sketching. “Both families will work together to cut trees and build the first wooden wall.” She drew a line across the paper. “However, as Cracker said, the wooden wall cannot be too close to the mines.” She drew another line. “So there needs to be a large enough space between the wall and the traps to prevent an explosion from destroying the wall.” Chipmunk suddenly stopped her. “Wait, Cipher.” Cipher looked up. “I'm lost.” Chipmunk pointed toward the drawing. “If we build the wooden wall here, it will still be on our side of the border, right?” “Yes.” “And if the mines are placed outside the wall…” She paused. “…then technically they would be on the English side.” Everyone became quiet. Chipmunk looked at Cipher. “Would the English government even accept that?” Cipher stared at the drawing. Then her eyes widened. “Oh.” She nodded slowly. “Yeah. You're right.” She looked back at the map. “Looking at it that way, it would definitely raise questions.” I studied the rough sketch for a moment. Then an idea came to me. “Wait.” Everyone turned toward me. “What if we deceive the enemy?” Cipher looked at me. I pointed toward her drawing. “We build the wall exactly where you've drawn it.” I tapped the space behind it. “But instead of putting the traps outside the border, we create them inside our territory.” Cipher listened carefully. “We dig a large trench behind the wall.”

I continued. “The trench will be deep enough that anyone trying to jump over the first wall will fall into it.” I pointed toward the second line on the paper. “Then we place the traps inside that space.” I looked at everyone. “After that, we build a second wall behind the traps.” Cipher's eyes narrowed as she understood. “So the enemy sees the first wall and thinks that's the entire defense.” “Exactly.” I nodded. “If they manage to break through the first wall, they won't immediately reach us.” I pointed toward the space between the two walls. “They'll fall into the traps we built without knowing they were there.” I tapped the final line. “And beyond the traps will be the second wall.” Bighead nodded. “Yes. That's it.” He looked impressed. “They'll think they're breaking through one defense, only to discover another one waiting for them.” Cipher nodded. “Exactly.” Bighead's expression suddenly changed. “But I think using explosives might be too much.” He pointed toward the paper. “We could destroy our own walls if the explosion is too strong.” Cipher nodded. “That is a problem.” She thought for a moment. “If explosives don't work, we can use sharpened wooden stakes.” Survivor nodded. “Yes.”

Cipher continued. “We can build them into the traps. Anyone who falls inside will be seriously injured.” Kiddo looked at the drawing. “But building two walls is going to take a lot of energy.” She looked around at everyone. “Everyone will have to work hard.” Then she looked directly at Cipher. “How are you planning to make the First Family join us?” The question silenced everyone. Cipher stared at the map. For several seconds, she didn't say anything. Then she slowly smiled. “I will lay out a plan.” She looked at everyone. “And if anyone challenges my authority…” She paused. “I will kill them.” The room became completely silent. “You all heard what Grandpa said.” Cipher's voice was calm. “I am the leader now.” She pointed toward the map. “That means I cannot hesitate every time I have to make a difficult decision.” I frowned. “Cipher, killing them will only make them more angry.” Cipher looked at me. “But they will be afraid of me.” Chipmunk immediately challenged her. “Fear isn't the same as respect.” Cipher's expression became serious. “But right now, we need both sides to understand that I am in charge.” She looked around at all of us. “Guys…” Her voice became colder. “We are way past the generous stage.” Nobody interrupted her. “The only thing you should be thinking about now is whether you kill or get killed.” The words hung heavily in the air.

Cipher continued. “The coaches told us exactly what happens if someone is badly injured.” She paused. “They don't save you.” “They finish you.” Everyone remembered what Hammer had told us earlier. Cipher looked toward the border. “We cannot allow fear, hesitation, or fairness to control every decision we make.” She looked back at us. “If we want to survive, we have to be prepared to make difficult choices.” Nobody answered. For a few seconds, the only sound was the wind outside the tent. Then Cipher's phone suddenly rang. Everyone looked at her. Cipher answered. “Yes, Pixel?” Pixel's voice came through the phone. “Cipher, we are fifteen minutes away.” Cipher smiled. “Good.” She looked around at the Lions. “You debriefed everyone, right?” She paused. “They understand their mission?” Pixel didn't answer. Instead, two voices came through the phone at almost exactly the same time. “Yes, Cipher.” Cipher's smile widened. “Good.” She ended the call. Then she looked toward the border. “The Trojan Horse has arrived.” She turned back toward the Lions. “Now I will begin with the distraction plan.”