17 Chapter 16

After months of preparation, the Dutch East Indies finally dispatched their troops for the second Aceh expedition led by Jan van Swieten. The Acehnese people had been preparing themselves too, thanks to the training provided by Daud and his A.I, along with the clever commanders and soldiers gathered by the Sultan.

Daud sat in his study, deep in thought as he tried to come up with a plan for the upcoming war with the Dutch. He knew that he needed to act quickly and decisively if he wanted to protect his people and his kingdom from the invaders.

He turned to his AI assistant, Venus, and said, "We need a plan, Venus. Something that will give us the upper hand in this war."

Venus responded, "I have been analyzing the situation, and I believe that we should gather our troops and board the ships we took from the first expedition. Then, we can hide those ships in Sabang Bay and wait for the Dutch troops to dock in Kotaraja Harbor in Aceh. Once they are there, we can attack the Dutch ship in the harbor, cutting off their supply lines. After that, we can attack the Dutch troops from both the front and the back sides, catching them off guard and hopefully winning the battle."

Daud listened carefully to Venus's plan and nodded his head. "That could work," he said. "But we need to make sure that we have enough troops to pull this off."

Venus responded, "I have already calculated that we will need at least 10,000 troops to execute this plan successfully."

Daud nodded his head and said, "Then we will gather as many troops as we can and prepare for battle. We must protect our people and our land at all costs."

The Sultan and his advisors were gathered in the palace to discuss the strategic plan that had been received from the mysterious organization. They were eager to see what the plan entailed and how it could be used to defeat the Dutch troops.

One of the advisors, a seasoned military strategist, spoke up, "Your Majesty, we have received a strategic plan from an organization that claims to know how to defeat the Dutch troops. They suggest that we gather our troops and board the ships from the first expedition, then hide the ships in Sabang Bay. When the Dutch troops arrive in Kotaraja Harbor, we let them advance towards the palace, and then we attack their ship in the harbor, cutting off their supply line. Once their supply line is cut off, we attack them from both the front and back sides."

The Sultan and his advisors listened intently, nodding their heads in agreement as the strategist finished speaking. After a moment of silence, the Sultan spoke up, "This plan is risky, but it may be our best chance at defeating the Dutch. We must act quickly and make preparations for our troops to board the ships and head to Sabang Bay."

Another advisor, a diplomat, interjected, "Your Majesty, we must also consider the consequences of such an attack. It may lead to a prolonged war with the Dutch, and we must ensure that we have the resources and support to sustain it."

The Sultan nodded, "You make a valid point. We must be prepared for the long haul and gather support from our allies. But we must also be willing to take risks for the sake of our people and our independence."

The advisors continued to discuss the plan, weighing its risks and benefits and making preparations for its execution. The fate of Aceh rested in their hands, and they were determined to do whatever it takes to defend their land and people.

Daud and Venus knew that the success of their plan depended on the cooperation of the Aceh commanders. They needed the commanders to understand the plan and to be willing to carry it out. To do this, they decided to send a black-robed man to work with the commanders and refine the details of the plan.

The black-robed man arrived at the new camp, which was located near the decoy home. The Aceh commanders greeted him warily, unsure of his intentions. The man introduced himself as a representative of a mysterious organization and explained that he was there to help them refine the plan for the upcoming battle against the Dutch.

The commanders were skeptical at first, but they soon realized that the man was a skilled strategist and that his knowledge could be useful to them. They began to work with him to refine the details of the plan. They discussed everything from the placement of troops to the timing of the attack. They even discussed the possibility of using local villagers to help with the attack.

As they worked, the black-robed man proved to be an invaluable asset. He was able to offer insights and suggestions that the Aceh commanders had never considered before. They were impressed by his knowledge and his dedication to the cause.

As the days passed, the Aceh commanders and the black-robed man continued to work together, refining the plan until it was as close to perfect as they could make it. They knew that the success of their mission depended on every detail being carefully planned and executed.

The Aceh soldiers had been preparing for months for the arrival of the Dutch troops. They knew that the battle would be fierce, and the stakes were high. The fate of their kingdom was on the line. As they waited for the Dutch to arrive, tensions rose amongst the soldiers.

Some of the soldiers were nervous, pacing back and forth, their eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of the Dutch ships. Others were more stoic, standing silently in their positions, their weapons at the ready. The air was thick with anticipation and fear.

The commanders of the Aceh army were working tirelessly to keep their soldiers calm and focused. They knew that if their soldiers panicked during the battle, the consequences could be disastrous. The commanders moved from group to group, offering words of encouragement and reassurance.

"Stay strong, my brothers," one commander said, addressing a group of soldiers who were beginning to look nervous. "We have been training for this moment for months. We are prepared. We are ready. We will not let our kingdom fall to the Dutch."

Another commander was working with a group of archers, checking their arrows and making sure they were all in proper condition. "Remember, aim for the eyes," he said. "The Dutch armor is strong, but their eyes are vulnerable. A well-placed arrow can take them down."

As the hours passed, the tension continued to build. The soldiers could see the Dutch ships on the horizon, growing larger and larger as they approached. The commanders gave final orders and made last-minute adjustments to the battle plan.

As the Dutch ships approached the harbor, Jan van Swieten addressed his troops with a sense of urgency. "Men, we have arrived at our destination. We are about to engage in a battle that will determine the fate of the Dutch East Indies. Be brave, be vigilant, and remember that victory is within our reach!"

The troops cheered and prepared themselves for the imminent battle. Meanwhile, the Aceh soldiers had already gathered at strategic points around the palace, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Dutch troops.

As the Dutch soldiers advanced towards the palace, the Aceh soldiers waited in silence, hidden in the shadows, ready to strike at the right moment. The air was tense, and everyone could feel the tension rising with each passing moment.

The sound of battle echoes through the air as the Aceh soldiers execute their plan. The hidden ships launch a surprise attack on the Dutch troops in the harbor, cutting off their supply and killing many. The Dutch are caught off guard and scrambling to respond, but the Aceh soldiers continue to press their advantage.