The opulent chamber of the Emerald League Council in Tehran shimmered with the deceptive glow of jade sculptures and tapestries woven with threads of pure gold. It was a gilded cage, beautiful but ultimately confining. The air was thick not only with tension but also with the scent of expensive perfumes and dupa – a testament to their clinging to the comforts of the past as the storm approached.

Reza, a man with dark brown hair with funny mustache, addressed his colleagues. "Esteemed colleagues," he began, "we stand at a precipice. Or perhaps a gently sloping hill leading directly into the Red Nation’s barbecue pit. Resistance, as they say, is like trying to stop a sandstorm with a teaspoon. Futile, messy, and likely to get sand in your tea. Let us not be martyrs in a tragedy already written in very large, very red letters. Pragmatism, my friends, is the new black. Bending the knee isn’t surrendering; it’s… strategic kneeling. We can preserve our prosperity, our way of life – albeit with slightly more red flags – under their iron fist. Think of it as… a hostile takeover, but with better insurance."

Nigel, his red eyes blazing with defiance, shot back. "To surrender, Governor, would be tantamount to dishonoring the very legacy of the Emerald League, a monument to the courage and defiance of our forebears. The Red Nation offers not peace, but gilded chains, shackles that will bind us to their insatiable greed. We will not be reduced to mere vassals, drained of our resources and spirit!"

A councilor, his voice tinged with doubt, interjected. "But Nigel, are we strong enough? Their war machine is unmatched. Can we truly stand against such might?"

Kaveh, his face etched with concern, added, "The capture of our Green Palace is a disaster. That is the nail in our coffin."

Nigel, with a dramatic flourish, threw out his hand, silencing the murmuring dissent. "We may not be able to match the Red Nation's military power, but we have something they lack—our spirit. We have the resolve to fight for what we believe in and to stand up against their oppression. We will not bow down to their greed and we will not surrender our freedom. We will resist and we will prevail."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "The Emerald Oasis, a natural bastion of our terrains. We possess not only the unwavering loyalty of our mercenaries but the wisdom honed by generations of cunning minds. Let us not underestimate the potency of defiance etched in the blood of a thousand ancestors!"

Reza leaned back, a predator savoring his prey's struggle. "Noble sentiments, Nigel, but words cannot stop a storm. Their airship armada blots out the sun, their tanks grind the earth to dust. What will your defiance offer but a swift, bloody end?"

Crips, the broker, her voice a low growl, cut in. "Our blades, Governor, may not match their cannons in thunder, but they carry the sting of a desert viper. Our bullets, though few, pierce with the bite of a lioness. We may not face them with an equal array of arms, but they bleed too, and their fear will be our greatest weapon. Look at Hazel and his serpents; they fight like lions! And we can do that too!"

The chamber erupted in murmurs, a cacophony of fear and defiance. A young councilor, eyes blazing with newfound resolve, spoke up. "Let the red sands of the Oasis run red with their blood!"

The clamor escalated, voices rising in a defiant chorus. Nigel, a grim smile playing on his lips, surveyed the room. "The Emerald League has spoken! We raise the banner of defiance! We steel our hearts, sharpen our blades, and prepare to meet the Red storm head-on! On the emerald dunes, we shall write our own destiny!"

The chamber echoed with the thunderous cry: "Emerald League!"

The room erupted in shouts of defiance and determination, filling the air with the thunderous cry of "Emerald League!" Nigel stood tall in the midst of the chamber, his conviction unwavering as he surveyed the room with a grim smile. He was heartened by the passion and courage of the councilors, the unity of their message, the resolve in their voices. The Emerald League had spoken and they would not be swayed by fear or intimidation. The banner of defiance was raised and they were ready to face the Red storm head-on.

Tensions simmered in September 2405 as the Red Nation's puppet faction within the Emerald League, led by Governor Reza, tightened its grip on lucrative trade routes and resources. Reza began stockpiling arms from the black market along the Caspian Sea coast in Mazandaran, his intentions as murky as the waters he plied.

Mid-September saw Nigel, recognizing the threat Reza posed to the Council's autonomy, initiating secret talks with Crips and Nara. He proposed a daring plan: exploit the mountainous terrain near Alamut Castle to ambush Reza's forces.

"Hey, Nigel," Crips began, her voice laced with intrigue. "Do you know what Alamut Castle was in the past?"

Nigel thought for a moment, recognizing the name but unable to place its history. "Hmm, I know it's significant, but I can't recall exactly what happened there. Can you refresh my memory, Crips?"

Crips grinned, her eyes sparkling with historical knowledge. "It was the birthplace of the assassins—the epic ninjas who killed and spied on important people during the Crusades. They even held out against the Mongol invasion. Go read up on it; it's a pretty neat part of history."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Nigel nodded, impressed. "Wow, that's really interesting. I didn't know it was the birthplace of the assassins and that they were involved in the Crusades. And they held against the Mongol invasion, too? That's pretty incredible. I'll have to do some more reading up on it." He smiled at her, grateful for the knowledge transfer.

Crips leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Yeah, and now it's our turn to follow in their footsteps against Reza."

Nigel's eyes lit up with inspiration. "You're right, Crips. We can use Alamut Castle as a base for our ambush, just like the assassins did against the Crusaders. And just like them, we will stand against oppression and tyranny. We will write our own destiny, just like they did all those years ago."

In late September, Crips leveraged her extensive network to gather valuable intelligence on Reza's movements and supply lines. This intelligence was crucial for the success of the plan. Meanwhile, Nara, working closely with Hazel's tanks, began mobilizing her crack team of mercenaries, honing their skills in anticipation of the clash to come. Every detail was carefully evaluated and planned, leaving no room for mistakes or surprises.

By October 1st, Nigel, alongside skilled engineers, had worked tirelessly to manipulate the treacherous mountain passes, creating strategically placed landslides and hidden chokepoints that would funnel Reza's forces into the killing zone. The "Emerald Maze" was constructed with precision and cunning, ensuring that no stone was left unturned in the plan.

Crips continued to sow misinformation among Reza's soldiers, sowing confusion and eroding morale. Meanwhile, Nara trained her mercenaries in deadly hit-and-run tactics, ensuring maximum damage with minimal exposure.

Mid-October saw tensions reach a boiling point as Reza, lured by a fabricated opportunity to secure a valuable artifact, ordered his troops to march through Alamut. The Emerald League forces lay in wait, ready to spring their trap.

At dawn, Reza's army, unaware of the danger ahead, entered the Emerald Maze. Nigel unleashed the first strike, triggering controlled landslides that blocked the advance and retreat routes. Chaos erupted as Nara's mercenaries rained down upon the trapped Red soldiers from hidden vantage points, utilizing the narrow passes and steep cliffs to their advantage. Crips' operatives further sowed panic, sabotaging communication and spreading doubt within Reza's ranks.

Nigel's strike force cut through the chaos, its warriors carving a path of carnage through the enemy lines. The strike force was led by Nigel himself, his brilliant swordsmanship and strength paving the way for the showdown between him and Governor Reza.

"You fools! You have no chance to defeat the next Red Army invasion!" Reza shouted, his voice filled with defiance.

Nigel stood his ground, his determination unwavering. "You can threaten us all you want, but we will not back down. The Emerald Nations will not bend to the will of the Red Army. We will not give in to the oppression being waged against us. We will withstand the power of the Red Nation and resist their invasion. The people of the Emerald Nations are strong, and we will not surrender."

Reza led a small group of his bodyguards in a desperate attempt to break through the lines, facing fierce resistance from the strike force led by Nigel. But they were no match for Nigel and his warriors. The governor's attempt at escape failed, and his bodyguards fell one by one, facing a wave of furious attacks from the strike force. As the situation spiraled out of control, the governor sought to flee, his chances of escape becoming narrower and narrower.

"Alright, if you think I can't fight, then you're wrong, Nigel!" Reza shouted, his voice filled with desperation.

The confrontation between Nigel and Governor Reza was a brutal one-on-one duel. The Governor, a strong fighter in his own right, pushed Nigel to his limits, their swords clashing vigorously in a battle of strength and endurance. But in the end, Nigel's superior strategy and tactics proved too much for the Governor to handle, and he was defeated in the clash. Reza's forces, demoralized and leaderless, either surrendered or fled into the unforgiving desert, leaving behind a victory for the Emerald League.

As the battle dust settled, Nigel's gaze turned toward the desert at the horizon, lost in thought. The battle was over. The governor was down. The traitor was defeated. But the Red Army was still out there, looming across the horizon.

Crips walked up behind him, breaking his reverie. "And so we once again stand united and ready to face the Red Army. To reclaim the Green Palace. Let's go, White Devil!"

Nigel smiled, his resolve hardening. "Let's go."

As Nigel returned to their base, two figures emerged from the shadows, long rifles slung over their shoulders. One was a man dressed in what seemed to be a Napoleonic-era uniform, and the other was a woman in a simple vest, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

"Hey, white demon," the man called out, his voice laced with familiarity. "Do you still recognize us?"

Nigel's eyes widened in surprise. He scanned their faces, trying to place where he had seen them before.

"I'm Baker," the man continued, "and this is Sarah. We fought each other back in the academy. Now we're mercs. Nara summoned us. But don't worry, we're not just here for the money. We want to settle some scores with the Red Nation."

Nigel was shocked to see them alive, considering the brutal battle they had fought years earlier. He was relieved to hear they were on the same side now.

"So, where's the hug, man? You still a cold person?" Baker asked with a grin.

Nigel chuckled softly. "Yeah, I've been called a lot of things, but I don't think I've ever been called a 'warm person' before. I'm afraid I'm not the hugging type, Baker."

As they walked together, Baker continued, "Well, speaking of devils, do you still consider yourself a rich boy?"

Nigel laughed heartily. "Yes, I'm still a rich boy, Baker. And don't you forget it."

"Good," Baker said, "because we're damn broke. Maybe you can donate some credits. I need women, drinks, and ammo!"

Nigel was taken aback by Baker's brazen request. He stared at the mercenary, trying to gauge if he was serious. Eventually, he responded with a humorous tone. "I'm not just going to give you money, Baker. You're mercenaries, not beggars. If you want money, you can earn it."

Baker scoffed. "Yesterday, I took twelve heads of the Red Army without a scope! And Sarah managed some knife kills."

Sarah chuckled and grinned. "Indeed. And I'm much better with my knife this time."

Nigel chuckled along with them, impressed by their skills. But his admiration was overshadowed by the thought of the Red Army and the destruction they had caused. He knew he had to stay focused and prepare for another confrontation.

"Well, if you still feel stingy today, at least let me access the kitchen for loot and food," Baker said. "You can pay us later."

Nigel considered the request. "That seems reasonable. You can access the kitchen for loot and food. It'll make things easier for us all. We can discuss payment later, at a more appropriate time."

Sarah nodded in agreement, a slight grin on her lips. "That's a fair compromise."

As they separated in the base, Baker and Sarah rushed into the cafeteria. Crips approached Nigel, her expression serious.

"When you guys were talking, I was scanning their background," Crips said. "They have a bounty on their heads. Baker and Sarah are some of the most wanted outlaws."

Nigel raised an eyebrow. "A bounty? You're sure?"

"They fight effectively against the Red Nation," Crips confirmed. "Sometimes they resort to drastic measures. In one mission, they sabotaged an entire base. But in some countries, they're known for their atrocities. They even robbed banks."

This confirmed Nigel's gut feeling that the two mercenaries weren't exactly selfless. He wondered what ulterior motives they might have for joining the force. Maybe it wasn't just about the payout.

"If I were you," Crips continued, "I'd keep them separated from our main forces."

Nigel took Crips's suggestion into consideration. He decided to keep them separated while carefully monitoring their actions and behavior.