pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
to come down; to go down; to hang; to dangle; to move back; to step back; to deteriorate
side; edge; beside; while (doing); in addition to; at the same time
to present; to offer; to show; to display; to assume (e.g. a shape)
to defend oneself; to protect oneself
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
in preparation (for); in case (of); in the lead-up (to)
last night; yesterday evening
adjutant; aide; aide-de-camp
smooth; undisturbed; uninterrupted; harmonious
armed forces; military; troops
commander; commanding officer; CO
probe; inquiry; enquiry; investigation
to find out; to discover; to locate
capture; seizure; prehension; apprehension; understanding; grasp
to make good one's escape; to get away; to outrun; to hold on (and win); to win narrowly
shielding; sheltering; screening; shading; masking
in either case (used specifically in the instance of two possible outcomes or situations); either way; one way or another
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
eyesight; vision; visual acuity
retreat; falling back; recession; waning; backspace (key)
binoculars; field glasses
reflection; reverberation; reflex; reflexes
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
meticulous; careful; discreet; scrupulous; prudent
role of the villain; the bad guy
group; party; team; squad; section
only; merely; but; no more than
civil war; insurrection; rebellion; domestic conflict
military force; force of arms; strength of an army