<Drohn> Well, crap. This may be Valm's weakest point, but it's still a huge fortress with thousands of soldiers. How are we supposed to take this out?
<Porygon> Our best bet is a surgical strike, taking out their commander. A small group can infiltrate the compound while your other soldiers can take care of the remaining forces.
<Athena> Our other soldiers?
<Camo> Yeah, you know, the thousands of warriors we brought over from Ferox on the rest of those boats.
<CJ> The ones who have been apparently following us along this whole time even though they've never been mentioned.
<Athena> Oh, yeah, those guys, right. I guess they can provide a distraction while we sneak in.
<Porygon> Hopefully the Resistance forces will show up to help us out, too.
<Athena> Then we'll have even more faceless soldiers to forget about, yay!
Camo and CJ went off to get into position while I aligned our own forces. There were 3 entrances we planned on using, so I sent Keeper and Celever to take the right, Drohn and IE to hold the center, while Drac, PMJ, Cinesra, and I took the left. Light was to stay as close to the center of everyone as possible to keep up the heals, and TT and Palutena had a special mission to sneak around and loot the enemy chests.
Things went smoothly for a while. Keeper and Celever single-handedly took care of all of the right hand forces while the rest of us split up into different corridors to take out the remaining foes. Drac and PMJ on Minerva flew along with TT and Palutena to beat off the enemies while they looted the chests. Then the sound of footsteps on stairs reached our ears. The Resistance was here!
... but they were no longer on our side. Instantly, their outfits changed from green to red, signifying their solidarity with the enemy. We had been betrayed, and the turncoats were coming to reinforce the enemy. IE and Drohn rushed to take care of a large group that had come in towards the right while the rest of our group positioned near stairwells to take them out in surprise attacks as soon as they arrived. Cinesra and I rush to the General's quarters, hoping to flush out her remaining guards and end this quickly, though IE scored the final blow, taking out General Pheros with a jab from her new lance.
The battle was won, but we were losing the war.
<Porygon> Ohshi- we're surrounded. The entire Resistance is finally united, but they've all turned on us. I'd bet my bloomers DNA is threatening their families and they turned on out of fear.
<Cinesra> How can you be so sure?
<Porygon> I heard about it in an NPC conversation that Athena didn't write down.
<TT> Dude, why didn't you tell us?
<Athena> Sorry, we were in the middle of battle! I had a few other things to worry about than paraphrasing all the stupid text that appears in this game, especially when a bunch of guys with axes are running at my head. But, yeah, this sneaky Sage guy showed up and had a chat with Pheros about how he and DNA are extorting the Resistance members. He looked a lot like Haunted Water, now that I think about it...
<Porygon> Yes, it was Haunted Water. He is a strategist for DNA.
<CJ> Well, whoever it was doesn't exactly matter. Our forces have been slaughtered, the Resistance members are closing in around us, and I've received word that DNA's armies are coming down from the North and Kecleon's from the south to trap us. To make matters worse, a lot of the survivors from our side have also joined up with the enemy. We're boned.
<Athena> In that case, we need to get out of here now before we're really trapped.
<Drohn> We need a plan first, what should we do? Most of our hundreds of thousands of faceless soldiers are either dead or turncoats. This whole invasion has been a disaster.
<Athena> Don't worry, I have a plan.
<Everyone> Woohoo!
<Athena> We attack both DNA and Kecleon's Armies at the same time.
<Everyone> ... ... ...
<Athena> No, seriously, this is what we have to do in order to survive. One group needs to lead a small group into a feint against DNA to distract him and keep him in one place while the other, larger group goes after Kecleon where we have a chance of winning.
<CJ> So, it's a suicide mission against DNA to buy time, eh? Sure, I'll volunteer.
<IE> You can't do that! In the future, this is how you die! DNA himself kills you!
<CJ> Well, I guess I'll just have to void him then. But someone needs to lead this mission, and I've got the best chances of pulling it off.
<Camo> Don't worry, I'll go with him and keep him safe.
<IE> But... destiny! The future!
<CJ> Don't put any stock in this destiny hogwash. I told you that was my line, Athena.
<Athena> You're right; sorry.
<CJ> Also, your future can kiss my big brown Feroxi arse. I'm not going to die here; I promise you that.
<Drohn> Alright, good luck. The rest of us will start the march south.
And so we split up again, with Camo and CJ leading a small force of our remaining faceless soldiers, and the rest of them coming with mine and Drohn's group. We snuck out past the Resistance members (who didn't even put up a token resistance against our leaving now that DNA's baddies weren't breathing down their necks). Kecleon's army was still a decent ways away, so we were able to hide and set up camp for a night to rest and recover before another battle.
<Athena> Hey, Celever, I want to practice some strategies before we go against Kecleon's army. Would you mind playing some more strategy games with me to get me into the mood?
<Cinesra> Oh, trust me my dearest, I know all about getting ladies into the mood. *bows*
<Athena> ... ... ...
<Cinesra> Yes, of course, I'd be happy to play with you.
...
<Athena> Augh, you keep beating me! Maybe you should be the tactician of our army instead.
<Cinesra> Before you say that, take a look at the pieces. Even though I've won, my army is a tatters.
<Athena> Hey, you're right. A lot more of my soldiers are still alive, even though you won.
<Cinera> You see, my sweet, I am an expert at this game... but only when playing Casual mode. Since this game file is in Classic mode, if I were in charge, we'd have no one left to fight with. You, on the other hand, always make it a priority to keep all of us alive, for which I and many others are eternally grateful.
<Athena> Well, when you put it that way, thanks.
...
<Keeper> Oh, Celever!
<Celever> Hullo Keeper. ^_^
<Keeper> I finished the Dragon friend I made for you with magic, take a look!
<Celever> Hey, this is just an illusion! :<
<Keeper> Well, yeah, it was made with magic, so it's not actually real.
<Celever> That's no good! I can't talk to and tell jokes with an illusion. :\
<Keeper> I thought you just wanted to breathe fire at it. >_> Oh well, back to the drawing board. Don't worry, though, I'll come up with a great friend for you, you'll see!
<Celever> Thanks Keeper, you're the best! :D
Cinesra and Athena attained support level B! Keeper of Night and Celever attained support level A!
While we rested and recovered, CJ and Camo were already beginning their side of the mission...
<Camo> Man, your scouts weren't kidding about the size of this army. Phew. My arms are getting tired from killing things.
<CJ> At least we're still holding strong, but... ohshi- did you see that?
<Camo> A whole platoon of guys just died in a single round. Oh god, it's just one man.
<CJ> DNA, it's gotta be. Don't worry, I got this.
<Camo> Wait, CJ, no, don't go running towards him... *facepalm*
<DNA> Ahahahahahah! *smash* *strike*
<CJ> Ohshi- I'm down to 1 HP.
<DNA> Impressive. You're the first since Kecleon to survive beyond a single stroke.
<Camo> Yeah, and I'm not letting him die yet! *epic dual guard*
<CJ> Camo, get out of here, I'm done for. I don't even have an Elixir on me.
<DNA> He's right, you know, he is done for. *crits*
<CJ> Ack! Camo, here, take this gemstone.
<Camo> But this is.... Redy, one of the gemstones for the Fire Emblem! You had this the whole time and didn't say anything?
<CJ> Yeah, well, he seemed so excited about going on a fetch quest, and I didn't want to ruin it for him. But take it back to him for me, would ya?
<Camo> Take it back to himself yourself, I'm not letting you die!
<CJ> Too bad! *dies*
<Camo> CJaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy....!!!