Contrary to many other crews of sailors chosen to embark on adventure, the four ladies of the Team Sports Ball Crusade were not chosen to venture into the great unknown because of their brute force. Nor were they chosen for this mission because of their remarkable strategic planning. In fact, these ladies were rather ordinary. However, it soon became clear that they did have a strength: determination to stick to procedure, even in the face of disaster.
Their determination and refusal to quit proved useful, as a monsoon hit during their first month in the jungle. The Sports Ball Crusaders decided to use this emergency to press for resources, even though they had begun their stay in the Congo with an Olive Branch, a promise of peace. Though the girls felt badly for making the natives gather extra resources, the natives seemed to understand the urgency of the situation, and rewarded the crew with goodwill. While other explorers may have quit then and there, they decided to press on.
With the worst behind them, they began their second month in the jungle. However it wasn’t long before rain hit. Not wanting to cause too much hostility, they sacrificed their own resource to provide for both themselves and others during the storm. The natives rewarded their charity with more goodwill.
Month three arrived, and finally the sun gods seemed to be on their side. Not forgetting the mission, they pressed for resources, and the weather stayed pleasant. It was a rough first two months, and the natives were sympathetic. They continued to track resources for the sailors and continued to spread goodwill. The good weather and goodwill lasted for another two months, and the ladies decided to lay low for a bit, not wanting to ruin their good relationship with the natives. By month six however, they knew they had to continue their mission if they wanted to profit, and pressed for resources. The sun gods must have known they were being greedy, and they were punished with rain. Additionally, the natives responded with hostility. The girls remained passive however, and continued with their business. They lay low for month seven, with peaceful results, however when the natives responded again with hostility in month eight, even after the crusaders passed on pushing for resources, they decided being nice wasn’t getting them anywhere.
For the remainder of their stay, they attacked the natives, and pressed for resources every month. The natives fought back, but at this point the ladies did not care. They came for one reason only: profit. And profit they did! With a surplus of five resources, they patted themselves on the back for a job well done. They arrived back at work, eager to show the boss the rewards of their hard work. However, they soon learned that another expedition had arrived first. Heartbroken, they vowed that the next time they journeyed out into the great unknown they would not be so pleasant in the beginning.
