President Mark was a chess grandmaster. Ariella knew that. Every move counted. He watched everyone. Tested loyalty. He had spies everywhere. In the government. In the army. Even in Samuel's group. He was paranoid. Always ready.
Ariella had to be careful. Double careful. She had to look loyal. Play the trusted friend. While she tore him down. One wrong step and she was gone.
Mark's army background made him dangerous. He controlled the military. Loyal men in key spots. He was a hero. The only one who could keep order.
Ariella couldn't be careless. Mark was strong. Smart. Ruthless. He wouldn't think twice about killing anyone. Even her.
"He's closing in," Ariella said. "I can feel it."
"What do we do?" Samuel asked.
"We use his strength against him," Ariella said.
"How?" Kan asked.
"He trusts his army," Ariella said. "We make him doubt that trust."
"Doubt how?" Samuel asked.
"We give him a reason to doubt," Ariella said. "A small reason. A seed of doubt."
"What kind of reason?" Kan asked.
"Information," Ariella said. "Information about a traitor. Inside his army."
"A real traitor?" Samuel asked.
"Real enough," Ariella said. "Someone he trusts. Someone close. Someone like a general."
"Which general?" Kan asked.
"That's the tricky part," Ariella said. "We don't tell him which one. We let him guess."
"And then?" Samuel asked.
"Then we watch," Ariella said. "We watch him turn his own army against itself."
"That's risky," Kan said.
"Everything is risky," Ariella said. "But this this is how we win."
"And what about you Ariella?" Samuel asked. "What is your role in this?"
Ariella paused. "I ensure that the information reaches the right ears. That the doubt is planted. I am the whisper that starts the storm"
He felt it. Something big.
"Samuel," she said, her voice calm. "I've decided."
He looked at her. "What?"
"I'll deal with Mark," she said.
"No!" Samuel said. "Too dangerous. I won't let you."
Ariella knew he'd say that. "You have no choice," she said. "It's the only way."
"I can't let you do this." Samuel said, his voice strained.
"You don't have to 'let' me," Ariella said. "This is my choice. You lack the military skills. Mark expects you. Not me."
She told him her plan. How she'd use her power. Her knowledge of Mark's weak spots. Surprise was key. He'd never see her coming.
Samuel listened. His face grew tight. He knew she was right. But he hated it.
"There's another way," he begged.
"There isn't," Ariella said. "This is it. I'm the only one who can do this."
"But-" Samuel began.
"No buts," Ariella cut him off. "This is how we win. I'll get close to him. He trusts me. That's his downfall."
"And if you're wrong?" Kan asked, his voice low.
"Then we lose," Ariella said. "But I'm not wrong. I know him. I know how he thinks. He won't see this coming."
"What exactly is your plan?" Samuel asked, his voice filled with dread.
"I will make him see a threat where there is none, and then I will remove the real threat, which is him." Ariella said. "He is expecting an attack from the outside, from you, or Kan, he is not expecting an attack from the inside."
"And how will you do that?" Kan asked.
Ariella smiled. "That, gentlemen, is my secret."
Ariella shook her head. "No other way, Samuel. Best chance we have. Trust me."
She took his hand. Firm. "You stay. Lead the revolution. After Mark's gone."
Her eyes met his. "This is my fight. I'll finish it."
Ariella, started her plan. A mix of risks, tricks, and moves. To take down Mark. Without revealing herself. Her weapon was trust. Her place as his advisor.
First, she weakened Mark. She fed him lies. Made the rebels look strong. Showed him the army's anger. Made his friends look like enemies. She played on his fear. A scared leader makes mistakes.
"They're closer than you think," she told Mark, her voice calm.
"Who?" Mark asked, his eyes sharp.
"The rebels," Ariella said. "They have support. More than you know."
"From who?" Mark asked.
"From your own people," Ariella said. "They whisper. They plot."
"Who?" Mark demanded.
"That's the problem," Ariella said. "You don't know. You can't trust anyone."
She watched his fear grow. Good.
"And the army?" Mark asked. "They're loyal, right?"
"Loyal to you," Ariella said. "But they see what's happening. They see the people suffering."
"They'll follow orders," Mark said.
"Will they?" Ariella asked. "Even orders that hurt the people?"
She let the doubt sink in. She was planting seeds.
"What do you suggest?" Mark asked.
"We need to find the traitors," Ariella said. "Before it's too late."
"Find them how?" Mark asked.
"By watching," Ariella said. "By listening. By making them show their hand."
"And how do we do that?" Mark asked.
Ariella smiled. "We give them a target. A target they can't resist."
She then worked to cut Mark off. She made his friends fight. Planted doubt. Made them look bad. Slowly, he trusted no one. She used the media to hurt his allies. He was alone.
She made herself look good. Smart advice. Loyal friend. She fed his ego. Made him think she was his biggest fan. She became needed. The only one he trusted.
She also talked to the generals.
The ones she knew would help. She promised them peace. Order. A better future. An army they could respect. No more Mark.
"They're turning on you," she told Mark, her voice soft. "Your own people."
"Who?" Mark asked, his voice hard.
"It doesn't matter who," Ariella said. "The point is, they are."
"And the army?" Mark asked.
"They're watching," Ariella said. "Waiting." Mark insisted.
"Waiting for what?"
"For you to make a mistake," Ariella said. "A big one."
"And you think I will?"
"Everyone does," Ariella said. "Unless you act. Now."
"Act how?"
"Show them strength," Ariella said. "Show them you're still in control."
"And how do I do that?"
"You make a move," Ariella said. "A bold move. A move they won't expect."
"What kind of move?"
Ariella smiled. "That's where I come in. I have a plan."
She leaned closer. "A plan that will make them all see who's really in charge."