It was 10am the following day.  After a final inspection, the men had been sent to bed just after midnight to get some rest.  Things had taken a bit longer than they'd hoped in the armoury; mainly because the Cat had kept stopping people to give them fashion advice about how to wear their weapons.  Lister, Rimmer and Ethan had stayed up most of the night devising their strategy and had finally crashed out at about three in the morning.  It was Ethan who awoke first.  He shook Lister and Rimmer.  "Time to rouse the troops," he said grimly.

            They sent the word around the men.  Meet at eleven sharp around the communal fire to await orders.  And be ready for battle.

            Meanwhile, the three generals were putting the finishing touches on their plan.  They would march out and meet the Furies on the open plain, as far from the village as possible.  Each would lead his own battalion of 150 men; Ace in the centre, Lister to the left, Ethan to the right and try to close in on the enemy in a pincer shape.  Sword and spearmen to the front, bowmen to the back and five men in each battalion carrying bazookoids.

            As Lister had predicted, when Kriss got back at about ten to eleven, he was still busy with the others, preparing.  Kryten found them in Ethan's hut, going over the plan one final time.  "Just to let you know, Sir, Miss Kochanski has flown the remaining villagers out on Starbug."

"Kryten, you should have gone with her!" Lister said, "You can't come out with us, you can't kill!"

"I know, Sir, but I thought that perhaps somebody should stay behind to begin caring for the casualties when they start coming in." Kryten replied reasonably. 

"He's right, Dave." Ethan added, "It probably is a good idea to have at least someone waiting for when we come back.  It will take the others a few hours at least to make it back on Starbug.  Until then, we're going to need all the hands we can get."  Lister sighed, "Alright.  Just be careful, okay, Kryters?  If everything goes wrong, you can still use Wildfire to make it back to Kriss and the others."

"Very well, sir." Kryten nodded, "I'll just start setting a few things up here then."

"And we have to go and get ready to meet the troops," Ethan said, "Come on, guys.  Let's pick up our stuff and get out there."  As they wandered out, Rimmer leaned over to whisper in Lister's ear.  "You must have known he wouldn't leave without you," he said gently.

            They stopped off to pick up their weaponry.  They each had a heavy broadsword and Lister and Rimmer both had bazookoids as well.  The armour was...well, a joke really.  Just toughened leather jerkins and a shield each, but it was better than nothing.  Ethan, who was slightly more used to getting the stuff on, went out first to let the men know they were on their way.  Lister and Rimmer struggled a bit more with the buckles and things. 

            Rimmer's heart was pounding and not just because of what they were about to do.  There was something he needed to say, while they were still alone.  But if what he'd seen yesterday, when Lister was saying goodbye to Kriss, was what it seemed then...

"Lister...?"

"Yes?"

"Look...Before we go out there, I just wanted to tell you something."

"Yeah?" Lister looked up at him and suddenly the room seemed a lot smaller.  "Yeah...me too actually," he said, squaring his shoulders and looking up into his eyes, "There was something I had to say as well."

"I just...I don't know how to say this," Rimmer stammered, "But...I wanted you to know that...I...Smeg, this so hard..."

"Rimmer," Lister reached out to him tentatively, "I think I know what you're trying to say and...well, I know because I..."

"Guys!" Ethan stuck his head round the door, "Come on.  We have to get going."

            Lister and Rimmer hesitated for a moment and looked at each other desperately.  "Come on, then." Ethan said impatiently.  He walked away, obviously expecting them to follow him.  Lister sighed and shook his head sadly,

"It doesn't matter," he said softly, "Forget I said anything, man, okay?"  He trailed miserably after Ethan.