The war was going badly. Norway hadn't told Denmark this, but they were almost completely surrounded. The supply lines from France had stopped getting through; the American troops were moving in.
He probably should have told Denmark, but ignorance was bliss, after all.
The situation was not completely hopeless. At least, not yet. He still had a few moves left before America put him in check.
The camp seemed dead now, especially at night, since lights were not allowed. But even during the day, people talked in hushed tones, as if not wanting to attract attention to themselves.
They were hungry. It seemed that America wanted to starve them into doing something stupid. If nothing else, he could starve Norway's army into submission.
Norway wanted to say that it wouldn't work, that his army would remain strong in the face of starvation.
But his was an army of humans, and humans needed to eat. Hunger was a great motivator. If they starved in defiance, and were fed in defeat, Norway knew which one they would choose. It was the way of the world, the nature of humans.
He sighed. He'd been at this too long; the words on the paper were starting to blur together, his hands shaking from lack of sleep. The last few days, he'd had very little sleep and less food, sustaining himself almost entirely on coffee alone.
The sun dipped below the horizon. With a sigh, Norway turned the lamp off. Too much of a bomb risk if any lights were left on.
Sunset would not halt his work though; the moon was full enough, bright enough, for him to see in the dark.
Once outside, he saw a glow on the horizon to the west. He smiled. It was part of his tactics: build a fake camp, complete with campfires, that was twice as large as the real one. It was far enough away that bombing would have no effect here; in fact, it distracted the American pilots.
He sat down at the base of a nearby tree and began filling out more paperwork. He really needed to talk to China, but that would have to wait until morning. "Lights out" meant all lights, even computer monitors.
He lost track of time as he filled out various forms: supply requests, troop requests, and numerous others.
The quick *rat*a*tat*tat* of gunfire caught his attention. There shouldn't be gunfire this close to camp.
He signaled to a soldier standing guard nearby, who lifted his rifle in readiness. They weren't far from the edge of camp at all; this "lone" gunman could prove to be a problem. If the Americans had found his camp…
A lone figure burst from between the trees, his back to Norway.
The lone figure seemed familiar. Norway did not give the signal for the guard to shoot- not yet.
The shots stopped. Norway couldn't see what the gunman had been shooting at, but it seemed they had all run off or been killed.
The figure turned around. Norway signaled for the guard to stand down as he ran over.
"Switzerland, what are you doing here?"
"You need allies."
"Well, yes, but you are always neutral. I thought you didn't believe in choosing sides."
"You were neutral once, Norway, and look where it got you. Besides, no one messes with my little sister."
Norway frowned. "America attacked Liechtenstein?"
"He did."
"It must not have gone well for him."
"It did not," Switzerland agreed.
"Can I offer you something to eat or drink? Water, maybe?"
"Water is fine."
Norway led him to one of the water coolers in a nearby tent. "How many soldiers did you bring with you?"
Switzerland shook his head. "I came alone."
Norway frowned, but changed the subject. "What did you see on the way here?"
"The American troops have set up camp about fifteen miles to the east."
"I haven't heard anything from my scouts-"
"They've been killing your scouts. They thought I was a scout, but alas," he patted his rifle almost fondly, "they do not better than to mess with a Swiss man with a gun."
"Did you teach them?"
"I tried, but dead men are slow learners."
Norway chuckled, then regained a serious tone. "The numbers?"
"I shot about fifty on my way here. The American camp is at least twice the size of yours."
Norway sighed. "Have they showed any signs of mobilizing again?"
"Not that I saw."
"Thank you, Switzerland."
The Swiss man shrugged. "I'm not doing this for you."
"I know, but…" Norway shook his head. "Never mind. I'll have someone show you to a tent. You must be tired."