Chapter 11: Strategy

None other than the current leader of Hueco Mundo, Tier Harribel stood between Sartino and Solomon. "I care not which side of the war you are on. However, I will not have your battle threaten the lives of anyone who serves me. And the way this battle his headed, it could threaten someone I do not wish to die."

"That's the reason?" Solomon growled. "Because it could?"

"Yes."

Sartino charged at her, swinging his sword at her head. Harribel blocked the attack with her sword and water shot from her sword and into his mouth. He struggled and attempted to attack her, but in the end he fell to the ground unconscious. She pointed to Matthias and Lurk. "Take your ally and leave."

"Yes, ma'am." Lurk took her unconscious teammate and sonido'd away.

"I also want to keep the bloodshed to a minimum."

"How the hell can you say that when you're going to have a warrior?" Solomon shook his head. "Hypocrasy."

"I don't want to go to this war. Just like you didn't want this battle to happen but it did anyway, this war is inevitable."

"So that makes it okay? You just said that you don't like bloodshed."

"Tell me. Do you enjoy fighting, Arrancar?"

"No. If I did I would have joined up with one of you warhawks."

"Does it make it okay for you to fight, even if you don't want to?"

"It doesn't. But that's different."

"Different how? Because you say so?"

"Because my battles aren't about to kill a lot of people."

"What if Baraggan and all of his forces attack you? What are you going to do then? Are you going to fight back, or are you going to stand still and stick with these principles of your's?"

Solomon thought for a moment.

"Your logic is flawed, Perrault Solomon."

"How do you know my name?"

"I have a file on you. I know your name, where you life, and several of your abilities."

Not close enough for the Tercera to hear them, Loly whispered, "Matthias. I want you to attack her from behind."

He gripped his sword and Sonido'd behind her. He slashed at the back of her head, but she caught his sword. His eyes widened as she bombed him in the chest with a large mass of water. "And I also know you too, Matthias Iscariot, favored test subject of Sosuke Aizen."

"Sosuke Aizen...?" He asked.

Ignoring him, she pointed to Loly and Menoly. "Should you threaten me again, I will have to deal with you. It will not be pleasant for any of us."

Harribel turned and left.

When they all got back inside, Matthias asked Loly what she meant. "So the man you served is the one who tested on me?"

"I'm sure she was lying." Loly said.

"She was not. But you are." He growled.

"Just drop it, okay? Please?"

"No." His eyes focused. "Why should I serve you, if you served the man who experimented on me?"

"I don't serve Aizen anymore. I didn't even know that you existed while he was still alive."

Matthias relaxed. "Harribel knew my name. But I don't think she was involved in the testing."

"So what do you think it means?" Menoly asked him.

"I think it means that she was going to free me, but you got to me first. So I might have served her the way I served you."

Solomon was lying on his bed, looking at the ceiling while his conversation was happening. She knew me. She could have wiped me off the face of the planet just as easily as she defeated Baraggan's solider and Matthias as well. So why didn't she? Is it because I don't pose an immediate threat? Even if she didn't give the order, I assume the Sexta Espada would have attacked me regardless. So she must have explicitly stated not to attack me.

He rolled onto his side. But why? She doesn't seek to gain anything from my life, unless she wants to make me into a slave for her forces after she destroys Baraggan's side. Still. I cannot morally involve myself with this war, even if Harribel is sympathetic to me.

"Are they dead?" Baraggan asked Lurk, as she carried Sartino to his hideout.

"No. None of them are."

"You have failed again. Do you understand what that means?"

"Sir, Harribel attacked us. There wasn't anything we could have done. We would have won the fight, if she hadn't shown up."

"So, they joined up with Harribel after all?" He thought for a moment. "That would mean we can eliminate all of them in one fell swoop. You will reap no punishment for your second lose, but only because Harribel attacked you by surprise. Next time, there will be repercussions."

"Thank you, sir." She bowed to him. "If I may ask a question, sir?"

"Ask." He said, partially annoyed.

"What will happen if I lose again?"

"If you lose and come back alive... I will kill you myself. I will crush your tiny skull in the palm of my hand. It will be like snapping a twig."

"So, why didn't you kill them?" Grimmjow asked Harribel. The Sexta was leaned against a entrance doorway. "They're going to attack us eventually. It's only matter of time. It might be after we win this war. It might be during a battle. But you can bet your ass that they're going to attack us."

"You do not understand strategy, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. You may be a good fighter, but you are not a strategist. Which is why I do not consult with you when coming up with a strategy."

"Yeah, so what?"

"We haved acted favorable to them. Should we need their help, I hope they will think of us as an ally. Baraggan's forces are strong, yet act unfavorable to them. Should they join any side, it will be our's."

"No. They'll view your kindness as weakness."

"Once again, you know nothing of strategy."

"We'll just have to wait and see." She turned and walked into the building.

Inside the building, the Tres Bestias were writing a report. "I have witnessed each of their fighting styles first hand." Harribel said. "Matthias will do whatever Loly tells him. He swings his sword around like a large piece of metal, not a blade. He will use his Cero, Tail, and teeth to gain the upper hand in battle. Solomon will use tactics to overwhelm his opponent. He's smart. Loly and Menoly will attack from a distance."

"Sorry ask, ma'am, but why are you having us do these reports?" Apacchi asked. "I understand about having us do them on Baraggan's men, but why these guys?"

"In case some of us have to fight them. Put a code on them so Baraggan can't get his hands on them."

"Yes, milady." All three said in unison.

The three of them had a stack of papers that was nearly a foot high.

Baraggan had his forces sitting beneath him once again. "We will attack Harribel's fortress soon. There are going to be three forces. One lead by myself. One lead by Ichimaru. And one by Tosen. We will divide our Arrancar fleet into thirds, and a third will be from each party. I will have all of the hollows with me. Tosen and Ichimaru will attack from each side. Kill anyone insight. Destroy the entire building, if you have to."

"Sir, how will we divide our fleet?" Tosen asked.

"My team will have all of our hollows. I will also have Nnoitra Gilga, Sartino Juare, Rafael Vazquez, Paula Cloe, and Tesla Lindocruz. Ichimaru's fleet will have Pietro Massilo, Renzo Ledanaro, Priscila Espinoza, Zommari Rureaux, and Rico Nataniel. Tosen's armada will have Noe Aaron, Donn Cervanias, Zaffon Mariez, Cirilli Lurk, Aaroniero Arruruerie, and Yammy Llargo."

Coyote Starrk was standing alone in an empty part of the desert. He was so far away from Las Noches, it was merely a spec of dust on the horizon. There were not even the dead trees that grew through-out the desert. With any luck, he'd be able to intercept Baraggan here. If not, he'll have to Sonido him there.

He sensed a spirit energy coming from behind him. Not a threat. Someone he didn't really know, however, he knew they wouldn't try to attack him.

Rudbornn Chelute approached. "Primera Espada Coyote Starrk. Baraggan is planning an attack soon."

"I understand. Just tell Harribel's Fracciones to have their friend guide me to where they're going to run into me."

"Yes, sir." He said this and bowed, but he didn't leave.

"What?"

"Won't you need back up?"

"I'm not here to attack them. Nor am I even here to hold them back. I'm only going to take Baraggan out of the equation. He knows my strength. He knows that he won't be able to send his cannon fodder after me. So he'll fight me himself."

"Do you think you can defeat him?"

"I do. There is a reason why I'm the Primera and he's the Segunda."

"How are you going to counter his Resperia?"

"My spirit energy is going to be strong enough to counter it." He put his hand on Rudbornn's shoulder. "He won't be able to stop me. There is no way someone like him will be able to defeat someone like me."

"Lilynette Gingerback will be here soon." He vanished.

"So his plan is to divide and conquer?" Harribel confirmed.

"It would seem that way." Sung-Sun nodded.

"Fine. We will face him. After Starrk takes Baraggan, the main assault team will be weakened. Knowing him, he probably had his team the weakest, due to his strength. Our main forces will attack there, we will conquer them with numbers. Then several of our strongest Arrancar will face their flanks. Knowing this, I still want us to be cautious. If you can, take them out at a range. Destroy as many as you can. I do not want this war to last any longer than it has to."