Prologue: Come Marching Home
People often talk of the fog of war. Some see it as a metaphor. Those who do have obviously never fought the Earth Kingdom's finest. After several months of fighting on-and-off, skirmishing, and finally the use of a traitor among the Dai Li (Long Feng covers all the angles) the Fire Nation's Army Group of Firelord Sozin had penetrated the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. For about a week this was considered a victory in and of itself. Now, however, it was all falling apart.
Lu Ten warded off another Earth ring with a jet of fire from his foot, swinging around and kicking an Earth Kingdom soldier in the head. Behind him, another earthbender threw a boulder at him, knocking him off his feet. Springing to his feet, he whirled around and fired a blast of fire at the man's head, which he protected with another boulder, which he then threw at Lu Ten. Lu Ten ducked, and as he came up, while the Earth Kingdom soldier smashed another boulder at another of the 1st Army (who promptly fell, unmoving, his head bent at an unnatural angle) he slashed at him with a Fire Whip, burning him.
What had been the first solo test for General Shi, his father's protégé, had become a disaster. The First Army was to engage General Fong's Earth Kingdom forces and drive them out of the Laogai region. Along the shores of Lake Laogai the two armies engaged each other. The idea had been to use the First Army's superior numbers to form a deeper army than that of Fong, and to use this superior depth to break through Fong's center, and then use the cavalry to drive the right flank of Fong's army toward Lake Laogai, trapping them and forcing Fong's surrender.
This wasn't what happened, however. As General Shi had hoped, General Fong's center buckled and began to curve, like a bow. However, Fong had positioned his elites, the Terra Team, at either flank, and they began to roll up the flanks of the First Army. Meanwhile, the Earth Kingdom Cavalry on the left flank rode around the two armies to engage the Fire Nation cavalry. The Second Cavalry Group, under the command of the Earth Kingdom's Colonel Yi, managed to separate the Fire Nation cavalry from the rest of the Army, driving them away, while the First and Third groups, under the command of Colonels Yansu and Chen, respectively, attacked the First Army's rear. The Fire Nation was trapped.
Lu ten dodged another boulder, rolling and springing to his feet with dual fire whips that were blocked by a Terra Teamer. The Earth Kingdom elite slid his foot along the ground, tugging the ground right out from under Lu Ten. He fell, just as the Earth Kingdomer produced another boulder. He threw it directly at Lu Ten's head.
Suddenly, a jet of fire pushed the boulder out of the way, and it passed by Lu Ten's head, just barely scratching his cheekbone. "Watch yourself, Major!" the man who had just saved Lu Ten's life called. "Thanks, Captain Ji!" Lu Ten called back. Ji frowned. "It's Lieutenant Ji, sir," he replied. Lu Ten grinned: "Not anymore, Captain; I'll talk to General Shi after all this is over." Ji returned his grin, buoyed even more now by this impromptu promotion; saving the Firelord's grandson's life has its perks. "Now let's just try and get our sorry asses out of here alive so I can talk to General Shi," Lu Ten called.
Just the then ground rumbled beneath their feet. In the distance Lu Ten could see the outlines of more cavalry coming. Fire Nation cavalry. Could this be-? "Care to join the party, Colonel Mongke," Lu Ten called out. The Rough Rhino's CO grinned. "Sorry kid, but we're here to clear the road. Your dad says to get all ya outta here before old Fongy kills you all," Mongke called back. Just then, over the din, a horn sounded, calling for a retreat. The tattered remains of the First army streamed through the gap created by the Rough Rhinos, as they held General Fong's forces at a distance, giving the First Army time to escape.
Iroh stood up as Lu Ten walked into his tent. "Sir, I would li-" he got out, before Iroh enveloped his son in a massive platypus-bear hug. Lu Ten gasped, surprised. "My son," the Fire Nation General of Armies murmured. "I was so worried." He released his son. Lu Ten straightened up again. "I have a candidate for promotion I would like to present to General Shi," he said. A shadow crossed Iroh's face. "General Shi is dead," Iroh said. Lu Ten started "Dead?" he asked. Iroh sighed. "General Shi led his men into the greatest disaster the Fire Nation has seen in living memory. Less than a fifth of his men, you included, escaped with their lives from the Battle at Lake Laogai. If the Rough Rhinos hadn't abandoned the cavalry to their fate, and opened up that gap, you all likely would have been killed. As it was, 45,000 men were killed, including all the cavalry. The First Army is finished. A little bit more than 7,000 of you remain. General Shi didn't want to live after this disgrace."
Lu Ten looked gravely. "What'll happen now?" he asked. Iroh considered. "The First and Second Armies will be combined into a new First Army. You will be placed under the command of General Tazu. We'll have to pull back from the Dunsai hills; we don't have enough men to hold them anymore. Effectively we'll hold the breakthrough and the Bonzu Plain and that's it." Iroh shook his head. "I won't mince words about how bad the situation is. The Siege may succeed yet, but this won't be the 'home before Winter Solstice' campaign we all expected it to be." Lu Ten nodded.
"Now then," Iroh began, "Sit down, my son. Have some tea. You tell me there's a young man who you think deserves a promotion?" Lu ten smiled, and explained not only how Lieutenant Ji saved his life, but other moments where Ji had shown merit throughout the campaign.
Hey it's me. Just wanted to let you know reviews are welcome. Please send a messenger hawk to Whale Tail Island. Also any corrections and proofreads are desired as well. Seeya.