Cherry's Secret Trio

**Highest Ranked**: Cherry (Winner/18)

Cherry's Secret Trio was an alliance from Survivor: China.

After being completing ignored during the pre-merge, the minority members of the merged tribe worked together and were able to over throw their veteran rivals.

## History

### Pre-Formation

During the pre-merge of *Survivor: China*, Cherry was the only veteran from Survivor: The Australian Outback to not be included in the Australian Outback Veterans Alliance. Chord and Jade, as new players, were continuously on the outs of their pre-merge tribes because the veterans held the majority.

### Origins

Cherry, Chord and Jade were placed in the minority on the merged tribe because the rest of Hae Da Fung comprised of Australian Outback Veterans and their new ally, Caroline. This trio decided to vote for Winston at the first merged tribal council, thinking that he would be the easiest target to flip his allies on because he won the previous season. However, this was not the case and Chord was forced to play his Hidden Immunity Idol. Caroline was voted out by the post switch Fei Long veterans in a surprising turn on events because they didn't like having a newbie within an alliance of veterans.

### Cherry's Plan

Caroline's blindside fractured the Australian Outback Veterans. Cherry, fearing they could set aside their differences and work together to get rid of him, found the tribes idol and concocted a plan. He told Chord and Jade that he would be trying to work with the post switch Fei Long in order to gain intel on their plans. Since he didn't have a connection to them previously, he was able to slip in comfortably and they agreed to vote for Aida. At tribal however, she played her idol. With the only second highest number of votes, Winston was eliminated by his former post switch Zhan Hu allies.

Cherry continued his facade that he was aligned with the Fei Long Four (now three), and thought it would be good if someone else got intel from the Zhan Hu Four. Cherry spoke with Chord, and he agreed to fake aligning with the alliance, with the intention of allowing the two alliances to implode and avoid the alliances targeting either of the men or Jade. At tribal, Jade voted alone to keep appearances, Cherry and his allies voted for Karleigh but the majority now with Chord eliminated Trey.

The Zhan Hu Alliance told Chord that the next target was Jade. This didn't sit well with Chord because of his connection to her and Cherry. Chord approached his trio and told them of Zhan Hu's plan, so it was agreed they should be targeted next at tribal. They brought in Bailey who had lost all her allies in addition to Dion, who was wary of Aida now because she didn't disclose the idol that she found. At tribal, this group of five blindsided Aida and she was made the fifth member of the jury.

### Exposed

At the Final Seven, Cherry and Chord's secret dealings and alliance with Jade was exposed by Bailey. She was able to convince the remnants of the Australian Outback Veterans together and vote for Cherry at tribal council. However, he played the idol he found previously and Bailey was voted out with the second highest number of votes. With no facade to hide behind, the Secret Trio went head to head against the Australian Outback Veterans. Dion assumed he would work with the trio because he worked with them in the past, but Ashleigh and Karleigh through him under the bus for their own safety. The trio eliminated Dion on Day 33. With an advantage in numbers, the trio remained united and voted out Ashleigh and Karleigh at the following two tribal councils.

### Final Tribal Council

The Secret Trio created by Cherry was able to make it to the Final Tribal Council together. The jury, comprised of the entire Australian Outback Veterans Alliance, criticised Jade for not leading any strategic moves or bothering to create any personal relationships with them. The jury was hung between Cherry and Chord, as Chord was praised for his charming social game but Cherry was given credit for creating the plan to secretly work with the Australian Outback Veterans. In the end, Cherry was awarded the title of Sole Survivor.

## Trivia

* This is the first alliance in *Survivor* history to entirely make it to the Final Three together.