Lieutenant Gray saw a great multitude of tents set up in camped in the valley below. The enemy’s quarters were many in number.
The bulk of our side’s troops were amassing along the battle lines over the ridge. Our army was massive and growing daily. The General was directing the troops along the lines in preparation for the battle that was soon to come.
We knew that the enemy was formidable. He had been plundering our cities and stealing from us for many generations. This battle would be the start of the end. As the General directed each of the Lieutenants, we could see His battle plans unfolding. Yet, we knew that the entire plan was far from being known.
The enemy had positions on top of many of the surrounding mountains.
The General approach the battalion. He directed each position to a specific place for battle. Lieutenant Gray, however, wanted to maintain his position over the large camp that he originally had spied out. He consulted with the General that this camp was large and posed a great threat to us. In spite of the General’s direction, Lieutenant Gray insisted upon maintaining his position. Our troops were growing in great number, so the General decided to let Lieutenant Gray maintain his position and focus on coordinating the rest of the great army for battle. He would deal with Gray at a later time and could not sacrifice the masses for one.
As battle lines were drawing and night drew, Gray allocated all of his resources around the enemy’s camp. Gray had been entrusted with a great army himself and had been assigned as commander of ten thousands. He had also been given the keys to some of the most formidable weapons for battle against the enemy. This victory, he thought, would certainly be a major one for our side.
Meanwhile, in the darkness below, Gray could not quite see the enemy’s movement. He thought that there was rustling in the brush, but nothing was there. He thought later that he could make out movements in the shadows and had many of his troops reposition to the left flank around the valley below. He knew that his proactive movement would catch the enemy’s attack off guard and allow him to cut these troops off in two.
Several miles behind him, the General amassed the troops in preparation for the great battle to come. Positions were taken on the bases of the mountains. Eagles soared overhead pointing out enemy positions and movements. The troops had been prepared for this battle for many years.
Gray continued to reposition his resources and soon came to the point of opening himself up for direct attack from the front. He had thought that the enemy’s movements around the flank were coming, but nothing was happening. This made him vulnerable and subject to breakdown. He directed spies be sent down into the enemy’s camp to help identify where and when attack might come.
The spies were dispatched just after midnight and proceded down to the camp below. As they entered the camp, they found nothing. There was no enemy there. The camp had been set up as a decoy with dummy soliders set up in various places. Word was sent back to Gray that nothing was there.
Meanwhile, the great battle had begun many miles away on the mountains where the enemy had truly entrenched himself.